I have depression. My family says I get it from my mother but I think I have depression because I have lost so many friends in the 80's & 90's. I think depression is worse than being HIV+.

@A myHIVteam Member. Shingles was a big one for me. I had shingles twice in my 20s, then again in my 40s. My doctor recommended the Shingrix vaccine as soon as it became available.

I haven't had another outbreak of shingles, but I have also heard that outbreaks ramp up your immunity. By the third outbreak, your immune system has got Herpes Zoster back under control. Makes sense because each subsequent outbreak was milder than the one before.

One more thing, people with HIV at an undetectable level are no longer producing whole viruses. But, they may still be producing some of the components for the virus. That might explain why, even undetectable, there are elevated markers for inflammation present in the bloodstream. Chronic inflammation can aggravate conditions like cardiovascular disease.

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A myHIVte...

@A myHIVteam Member Believe me I know all about Shigellosis. I was on a heart monitor due to the K deficiency. In fact, I could not leave the hospital until the K was at blood level or higher. I had the IV K and the fizzy orange colored K drink 4 xx’s a day. Eventually, the diarrhea did go away, but I do not wish this on my worst enemy. My appetite came back with a vengeance. My Mg was also out of whack, but not by much. Funny thing is I never was nauseated or vomited.

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A myHIVte...

HPV and HSV have been with me for years. I've taken each of the shingles shot offerings and thankfully have never had an outbreak. I control herpes outbreaks with thrice daily acyclovir. None of these are related to my HIV. But time will tell if HIV exposes other things.

Now you figure that out really quick. Yes. To all. We have an immune system that’s damaged or maybe worn out from dealing with this chronic disease so it has a little harder time keeping us well. Especially as we get older! I’m 70
Years old look pretty good and I feel good most of the time but I get pneumonia every year now and have to take a round of antibiotics and steroids to get rid of it now

And that’s just one example. I have several co-morbidities that I deal with on a daily basis. A lot of us have HPV and herpies. I have problems with my skin and my eyes and my kidneys bladder prostate and I have problems sleeping as well. But I work on all of it I go to specialists to help me with all my problems mainly stemming from HIV and age