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Episode 4: How do you deal with the emotional challenges of lifelong HIV therapy? First Austrian podcast for people with HIV by people with HIV.
Vienna (OTS) –
“Positive” on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube and in the future also on https://livlife.com/de-at/
The podcast “Positive vote”, which was launched in 2020 in cooperation with GSK and ViiV Healthcare, can now also be heard on YouTube in addition to Spotify and Soundcloud. In the future, there will also be “positive mood” https://livlife.com/de-at/, a platform for people with HIV and above all co-developed by PLHIV (People living with HIV) to clarify the most important questions about the infection, to learn from one another and to support one another.
Podcast episode 4: Lifelong HIV therapy in everyday life
In the fourth podcast episode, Wiltrud and Memo report how they deal with their HIV therapy in everyday life and which emotional challenges have to be overcome. Birgit Leichsenring, who has been active in science communication and in the area of HIV for many years, once again asks sensitive questions and receives open answers, for example “How do you deal with it when you know that you have to take medication for life?”
“In a positive mood” through life
Wiltrud has been living openly with HIV for 26 years. In other words, she has come out in her private as well as professional environment. Many years ago, Wiltrud founded a self-help group called “Pulsiv”, which she continues to manage herself. For them, open communication is the most important thing. What does it mean for you to have to take lifelong therapy? Wiltrud encourages you: “That actually didn’t scare me, everything else scared me, like the general conditions. A lot has happened in my head. It took me a long time to simply understand that the therapy actually gives me life again and also largely restores my normal life. “
Memo is 34 years old and was diagnosed in 2013. At the beginning, Memo had the feeling that “the end of the world “, but over time he said to himself: “Okay, I’m not going to hide this. I will fight against it and I want to stand up for people with HIV. “
How did the protagonists deal with the therapy at the beginning and how are they today? What are the emotional challenges of HIV therapy? When asked by Birgit Leichsenring: “If you could slip a piece of paper into someone who is just starting therapy, what would it say?”
Memo: “My note would simply say,” Everything will be fine. “
HIV therapy has changed a lot over the past few years and decades. Therapy now not only means that the HI virus can be physically under control, but it can also mean “U = U” (Undetectable = Untransmittable). U = U means that the virus can no longer be passed on if the virus is below the detection limit. But what does that mean in practice?
Memo: “I have to say, U = U made a lot of things easier, of course. Especially when looking at dating or relationships. “
Wiltrud thinks it took a long time to put this into practice and to really believe this certainty.
More information and emotions in the new podcast
To learn more, listen to the latest podcast for people living with HIV by people living with HIV.
About ViiV Healthcare
ViiV Healthcare is a global HIV company founded in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to advancing the treatment and care of people living with HIV and from people at risk of HIV infection. Shionogi joined in October 2012. The company’s goals are a deeper and broader interest in HIV / AIDS than any company has had before. ViiV Healthcare is taking a new approach to providing effective and innovative drugs for HIV treatment and prevention, and to helping people living with HIV. For more information about the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline and commitment, please visit www.viivhealthcare.com.
GlaxoSmithKline – a leading global, research-focused healthcare company – empowers people to live more active, healthier, longer lives. GSK researches, develops and produces in the 3 areas of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare. GSK has been a member of Transparency International Austrian Chapter since 2013 and is number 1 in the for the seventh time in a row Access to Medicines Index. For more information, see www.gsk.at and www.gsk.com/about-us.
Inquiries & contact:
GlaxoSmithKline Pharma GmbH
Mag. Barbara Masser-Mayerl
Corporate Communications Lead
+43 1 970 75/518
barbara.b.masser-mayerl@gsk.com
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