Profiles

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



Interview 19

Although medically retired, he is very active and works voluntarily. He is currently on lopinavir, 3TC, abacavir, ddI and tenofovir, with 1700 viral copies. Side-effects have included lipodystrophy.

  • Background

    A 48 year old gay man who lives in a small village in the UK. He was diagnosed in 1986.

  • Age at interview 48
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Interview 18

    Her current combination of abacavir, AZT and 3TC has few side-effects. She feels much better having started exercising and improving her diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

  • Background

    A 33 year old black African female with a young 5 year old child. She was diagnosed as HIV positive as part of pregnancy screening.

  • Age at interview 33
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • 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