Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Interview 16

He was taking a combination of anti-virals (zidovudine, nevirapine and abacavir) with no side effects. He has less energy than he once did, but is not sure if this is due to HIV or getting older.

  • Background

    A retired solicitor in a 20 year-old relationship with another HIV positive man living in a quiet coastal town.

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 14

    He believes dealing with multiple difficulties in his life like HIV has made him stronger. He takes Fosamprenavir, Ritonavir, Tenofovir and Emtricitabine (6 tablets once in the evening) with few side effects.

  • Background

    A single gay male living in a city in the North, who also suffered from agoraphobia and from winter depression.

  • Age at interview 35
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 13

    He currently takes 4 antivirals (AZT, atazanavir, ritonavir, tenofovir) after suffering severe side effects from other combinations. His viral load was low and he attributes his good health to taking responsibility for his own wellbeing.

  • Background

    A single gay man born in South America who immigrated to the UK 15 years ago and now considers himself British. His viral load 300.

  • Age at interview 39
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 12

    He suffered from severe diarrhoea and peripheral neuropathy while taking an earlier combination of anti-HIV drugs, but he currently takes nelfinavir, 3TC and abacavir with few side effects. He has had to cope with HIV-related illness, depression and mania at various times in his life.

  • Background

    A gay man of British/Irish descent who works full-time and is in a long-term partnership.

  • Age at interview 38
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 11

    He has never needed medication for HIV. Even though he did not think he would live past his 20s, he is now facing middle age.

  • Background

    A single gay male who was diagnosed with HIV early on in the HIV epidemic. He has never been ill from HIV, and has an undetectable viral load.

  • Age at interview 39
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 10

    Today, he has considerable support from friends and family, and takes a combination of anti-retroviral drugs with few side effects (abacavir, 3TC, Kaletra). He is now in good health except for occasional chest infections.

  • Background

    Irish gay male living in London. He originally went on combination therapies as part of a trial, and has suffered from PCP.

  • Age at interview 41
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 08

    Now on anti-retroviral treatment (3TC, lopinavir, ddI), she is feeling much better and has returned to work. Her current CD4 cells are 400. Religion is important to her positive attitude. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

  • Background

    A black African female health professional who presented with bleeding due to Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in early 2005. She was hospitalised where she was diagnosed with HIV.

  • Age at interview 44
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Interview 06

    He is currently receiving psychotherapy, mainly for his HIV diagnosis and sexual assault. On benefits, he keeps himself busy, and is positive about life and returning to work.

  • Background

    A gay male who was diagnosed in 2004 after being sexually assaulted. He had a severe sero-conversion illness requiring hospitalisation, and has been off work since then.

  • Age at interview 37
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 05

    His current T cells are 600 and he is not on anti-HIV medication. He is happy to be alive now, does voluntary work (non-HIV) and training courses. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

  • Background

    A retired gay health professional with a grown child, who was diagnosed in 1995. At one stage in 2000, he did not want to go on living, and took an...

  • Age at interview 52
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 04

    He was taking saquinavir, ritonavir, tenofovir, and ddI with few side effects. He was also taking Prozac for depression. He had an undetectable viral load. Counselling has helped him to cope.

  • Background

    A retired gay male who was diagnosed with HIV in 1989. His partner died of AIDS in the early 90s. He went through a ‘mid-life crisis more recently.

  • Age at interview 48
  • Sex/Gender Male