YOU ARE HERE:
You and your doctor
The relationship you forge with your specialist HIV doctor is one of the most important you will have after your diagnosis.
Certain doctors may attract certain kinds of patients: some doctors will advocate aggressive therapy, whilst others will be more receptive should you wish to hold off treatment or use a range of complementary approaches in addition to conventional HIV care.
It's important that you find the right kind of doctor for you. Friends who are HIV-positive may be able to recommend a suitable doctor, but building up a relationship will take time. You may not develop a rapport with the first doctor you meet. Establishing a trusting relationship with your doctor is essential if you are to feel empowered and in control of your use of treatments.
Your doctor should have good interpersonal skills. The level of knowledge of your clinician is clearly important too. An effective doctor should take the trouble to explain things to you, be sensitive to personal issues raised by you, be a good listener and be able to provide you with a range of opinions.
All patients need their doctors to be open, frank and communicative – as well as honest when he or she does not know the answer to your questions.
You will need to be involved in your own care. Exactly what this means depends upon the type of person you are. Some people will want to take a more active role in their health care. They may have clear ideas about what kind of treatments they do or do not want to use. Others will be more inclined to look to their doctor for guidance.
Being prepared for your consultations is a joint responsibility. Keep asking questions until you understand. If you are likely to forget what your doctor tells you during the consultation, make notes. If you are likely to forget which questions you would like to ask, then write a letter to your doctor containing the questions you want to ask, and send it in advance of your appointment. It's also worth remembering that if you attend your clinic without an appointment, your regular doctor may not be available.
During the course of your relationship with your doctor, there will probably occasionally be issues upon which you do not agree. It's important that you learn how to manage these situations. If you become unhappy over a disagreement with your doctor, you may choose to invite a patient advocate to help you communicate your feelings.
It is important to be honest with your doctor about any risks you may be taking, or sexual practices, alcohol or drug use that may affect your long-term health. Knowing the facts helps your doctor to consider appropriate care and treatment for you. If, however, you feel unable to confide in your doctor about certain issues, there may be other staff in the department who you could talk to more easily.
Maintaining contact with the same doctor can be extremely difficult, as they are usually very busy, and staff change from time to time. Remember though, their time is no more valuable than your own. If getting access to your doctor is difficult, discuss ways of improving the situation. Would a short phone call or e-mail enquiry be acceptable? You will need to be organised to get the most from your doctor's time. Learning about the roles of other staff at your treatment centre will also help you avoid using your doctor's time when another member of staff would be able to help, and can provide you with additional sources of support. For some non-HIV-related medical problems, it might be more appropriate to see a GP.