Family life, professional life, discrimination… How do we live with HIV today?

Florence, 56, discovered her HIV status 26 years ago. Or in 1996? At the time, he told himself the end was near, while the virus had killed 30,000 Frenchmen before him. For his part, 31-year-old Yassin, who discovered that he was HIV-positive six years ago, immediately imagined himself without hair, his face hollowed out. Today, however, everyone leads an almost normal life. Florence has a full family and professional life, Yasin is a model and sports coach. The biggest burden for them is not the virus itself, but rather the discrimination they suffered. In honor of World AIDS Day this Thursday, December 1st, they tell us every day how they live with HIV.

HIV, for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a type of virus that attacks the body’s immune system. It weakens the immune system and, if left untreated, is responsible for AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS was discovered in 1981 when young patients were suffering from diseases that usually affected the elderly. Two years later, HIV is detected and isolated. It will lead to the death of 40 million people worldwide.

In 1996, when AIDS had already killed 30,000 people in France, a turning point occurred. it was the beginning of modern triple therapy. Dr. Lafeillade, the former head of the Infectious Diseases Department of Toulon Hospitals*, remembers this time.That year I had a patient whose immune system had completely collapsed. I received his mother and told her: “Sorry, but I don’t think we’ll make it this time.” Then we got treatment, he got it, and he’s still alive today. I still am. That day I decided that I would never make a definitive prognosis for any patient again.“.

Almost a normal life despite HIV

This treatment was a real revolution. Florence benefited from it two years after her infection. He remembers taking dozens of pills a day. painful side effects every day. “It was completely different from today’s treatments“, he recalls.

Today, an HIV-infected person has two different options for treatment: either by taking a pill every morning, the solution Florence used, or by injecting Yassin every two months. Due to this, the virus is undetectable, but also non-transmissible. several studies have proven this over the past twenty years. “And it takes a lot of weight. This fear of transmitting the virus is even protected. Like the fear of the plane, it was irrational– confides the fifty-year-old.

From now on, Florence has a lifealmost normal“. “Almost normal in quotesHe is supportive, however, because despite a full family and professional life, he knows he is living with a deadly virus.

Discrimination, including in the medical setting

But people living with HIV also have to live with another weight every day, with many prejudices against them. For several years, associations have been warning about the discrimination that still affects too many people living with HIV. Some are rejected by their parents, others are excluded from their friend groups. Some have problems in the medical environment. Florence remembers the surgery appointment. The anesthesiologist wanted him to go last.not to take risks“:”But I didn’t pose a risk.“He is upset again.

Yassin also admits that he suffered the same kind of discrimination. “I had problems with a dentist who was offended when he found out about my status at the end of the consultation. When I gave him my carte vitale, you could see I had an infection. I was told in a moralistic, even insulting tone, that the next time I came to the office, I should have said that I was HIV-positive in order to take special measures.“.

“This is not the end of the world. It is possible to live a happy and healthy life. »

Yasin, 31 years old.

Because of these prejudices, many people do not dare to reveal their HIV status and live with this crushing secret. The testimony of a general practitioner, published in 2018 on the website of the association Aides, is painful.If I do not testify publicly, it is because I refuse to suffer the expected consequences of public exposure. Because it’s cruel, but it’s true, I can’t imagine for one moment that people would agree to have them follow, their children to follow a doctor who they know is HIV positive, whether it’s out of ignorance or stupidity or stupidity. both of them. Yet that’s what I’ve been doing for 23 years. Take care of others. Caring for the other, the other that I don’t believe is capable of accepting me as I am.»

“I met this general practitioner at an appointment. I remember his testimony very well. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke“, comments Florence, who decided to speak openly about her illness. Yasin himself waited five years before he decided to talk about it. The question is, rightly, offensive clumsiness on the part of those around him.

“Several times we went to see people with whom I was starting to communicate in the evening, suddenly let’s warn. “Be careful, he has AIDS.”– he says bitterly. Another example that reflects the ignorance and confusion between HIV and AIDS. “I posted a photo of a guy I was dating on Instagram. A few days later, this boy received a message from a stranger advising him to be careful“, he also remembers. By deciding to speak openly about his HIV status, Yasin was able to regain control of his privacy.

HIV is transmitted by those who are afraid to get tested

At the end of his anonymous testimony published on the Aides website, the general practitioner rightly states:Treatments have improved over the years, are better tolerated, less toxic, but must be taken for life. Everyone should know [trois choses] HIV continues to kill those without access to treatment. HIV continues to be transmitted by those without access to treatment. HIV continues to be transmitted by those who are afraid to get tested“.

Since it is the lack of screening that is partially killing today, alert the experts of the issue. In 2021 again, according to Public Health France, 29% of infections were detected in an advanced stage of infection, which is “loss of fortunefor patients.

* Life and HIV. Living with the AIDS virus every day, 2020. Sydney Laurent Editions, by Alain Lafeillade and Nicole Fau.