Mentally Preparing For ART
Posted by Pozziepinoy on 9:20 AM
I know you are scared. I know you finished all your lab tests including your CD4 count test. Your doctor told you that you are about to start with your ARV Therapy (ART). You are very anxious.
Here are some tips.
1. Read about ARV's. Knowledge is power. It is best that you are mentally prepared for everything.
a. Know the different cocktails and combinations.
b. Know the side effects
c. Know the time to best take them
d. Visualize your medicines. Check their sizes and forms
2. Know the importance of adherence.
a. Read about adherence.
b. Practice with your vitamins. Think of them as your ARV's. Practice taking them at the same time of the day.
c. Give importance to consistency and habit formation.
d. Be serious about adherence. Tell yourself you can't miss a dose or you can't be late in taking them.
3. Get ready with your gadgets
a. Set up your timer in your phone, in your watch, or any alarm system in the house.
b. Set aside a place for your bottles of ARV's. Usually it should be a dark, cool storage place.
c. Buy 2 pill boxes. One, for your daily doses from Monday to Sunday. The other one is a pocket box for your travels or when you need to stay late at night somewhere.
4. Track with a notebook
a. Track your daily intake of meds
b. Write the signs and symptoms of the side effects or even good reactions of ARV's.
c. Track also the dates when you will be needing to go back to the hubs for refills.
d. Tracking is also a good way for you when you are reporting to your doctor during consultations.
5. Start believing in the ARV's
a. Positivity helps a lot.
b. Give the ARV's power to help you and your health.
c. Start believing that whenever you will take your ARV's, they will work miracles on you.
6. Be honest with your doctor
a. Report all signs and symptoms to your doctor as soon as they come out.
b. Be ready to go to the hub whenever possible if there are ARV side effects.
c. Follow what your doctor tells you to do. Learn how to trust him or her.
I know you can do it. I surely did all of these and it really worked. Up to know, I am still 100% adherent to ARV's. No missed or late intakes.
Be prepared now then everything will be smooth sailing once you are holding your first pills in your hands.
Here are some tips.
1. Read about ARV's. Knowledge is power. It is best that you are mentally prepared for everything.
a. Know the different cocktails and combinations.
b. Know the side effects
c. Know the time to best take them
d. Visualize your medicines. Check their sizes and forms
2. Know the importance of adherence.
a. Read about adherence.
b. Practice with your vitamins. Think of them as your ARV's. Practice taking them at the same time of the day.
c. Give importance to consistency and habit formation.
d. Be serious about adherence. Tell yourself you can't miss a dose or you can't be late in taking them.
3. Get ready with your gadgets
a. Set up your timer in your phone, in your watch, or any alarm system in the house.
b. Set aside a place for your bottles of ARV's. Usually it should be a dark, cool storage place.
c. Buy 2 pill boxes. One, for your daily doses from Monday to Sunday. The other one is a pocket box for your travels or when you need to stay late at night somewhere.
4. Track with a notebook
a. Track your daily intake of meds
b. Write the signs and symptoms of the side effects or even good reactions of ARV's.
c. Track also the dates when you will be needing to go back to the hubs for refills.
d. Tracking is also a good way for you when you are reporting to your doctor during consultations.
5. Start believing in the ARV's
a. Positivity helps a lot.
b. Give the ARV's power to help you and your health.
c. Start believing that whenever you will take your ARV's, they will work miracles on you.
6. Be honest with your doctor
a. Report all signs and symptoms to your doctor as soon as they come out.
b. Be ready to go to the hub whenever possible if there are ARV side effects.
c. Follow what your doctor tells you to do. Learn how to trust him or her.
I know you can do it. I surely did all of these and it really worked. Up to know, I am still 100% adherent to ARV's. No missed or late intakes.
Be prepared now then everything will be smooth sailing once you are holding your first pills in your hands.
FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
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