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| for and by young people with HIV |
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free time It could be that talking about HIV in your free time is about the last thing you want to do. But sometimes you might just feel a need to meet with someone who knows how it is to live with HIV. In any case, people with HIV don't have to stop doing sports, going out, taking part in youth groups, going to the film or travelling, for example.  |
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| anonymous The other day I went to a "Deel je hiv" discussion group. I had a little bit of the jitters before going, so we roamed around a little. Now that the discussion group is over, I can really say that is was really fun to have taken part. And to make cool new contacts. I'm not always especially busy with all sorts of HIV activities; I don't really need that just yet. With lots of friends in my circle I am coping with my HIV. Through laughter and tears, everyone's standing besides me, supporting me as they have in the past and as they will in the future.
Read another personal story: |
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activities for people with HIV
Hiv Vereniging Nederland
Sensoa
Siréas
Aide Info Sida |
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| going out and therapy compliance It is a real challenge to comply perfectly with your therapy, day in and day out (see also 'medical info and health'), especially if you don't live according to a very regular schedule. You might forget to take your medication when you go out for a late night with friends, go somewhere for a whole weekend or go see a film with your boyfriend or girlfriend. But it is also often difficult to take your pills, especially when you are with people who don't know about your HIV infection. The use of recreational drugs and alcohol can be dangerous in any case. They can influence the effect of your anti(retro)viral drugs, but they can also endanger your therapy compliance. |
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entry restrictions People with HIV sometimes encounter restrictions when they are travelling. You might have questions about how to take your HIV medication along with you safely, but perhaps also about adjusting your pill-taking regimen when you are in another time zone. In addition, some countries have strict laws regarding people with HIV in connection with tourism, a long-term stay, residency or work. These rules vary from country to country. As an EU citizen, you will have no problems travelling within the European Union. The same holds for carrying your medication. You do not need a visa. A well-known example of a country with travel restrictions for people with HIV is the United States. You can find more information about this eatg.org. To be completely sure, you can best get information in advance from the embassy of the country you want to visit or from the local HIV association in that country.
You can get more information about entry restrictions from your doctor, your medical social worker or Hiv Vereniging Nederland (in the Netherlands) or Sensoa (in Belgium).
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medicines If you use HIV medications, it is advisable to take with you the entire amount that you will need during your trip, since it can be difficult to get medication in another country. Take your medications in your carry-on luggage. That way you can be sure that you have them with you (in case your suitcase is lost, for example). If your destination is a place with a warm climate, pay careful attention to the instructions on how to keep the medicines you take with you; most medicines - also non-anti(retro)viral drugs - cannot withstand high temperatures. Some medicines even need to be kept cool.
You can figure out in advance how to best avoid forgetting to take your pills while you are on holiday. After all, your daily rhythm there may be slightly different than normal. During your travels, you need to pay attention to time differences. Consult with your doctor: if there is going to be a major time difference, discuss the possibilities for adjusting your schedule for taking your medications.
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| vaccinations If you travel to far-off countries, you will often need to get inoculated against diseases that occur in those countries. If you have HIV, it is possible that certain vaccines or malaria medicines will not work properly for you. This is the case, for example, for a vaccine against yellow fever. Make sure you plan your visit to your doctor enough in advance to get all the information you need about the necessary and possible vaccinations.
The Netherlands:
Belgium: |
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| travel insurance It is highly advisable to choose a travel insurance policy that will completely reimburse the costs of repatriation. If you become sick while you are abroad, you will be flown back home as quickly as possible. Sometimes insurance companies will refuse to pay the cost for someone who is HIV positive, due to what they see as a 'foreseeable risk'. To avoid this, you can ask your doctor for a statement that says that you will be starting your trip in good health. This should prevent any problems with reimbursement at a later stage. Read the conditions of your insurance policy before you leave, take them along with you on your trip, and make sure that you always have the telephone number of your insurance company so you can contact them in case of emergency.
For information (in Dutch) about ways you can prepare for your trip in terms of medications, entry restrictions and more about travel: |
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