Bournemouth, England

Positive since 2003

I was diagnosed HIV positive in March 2003 at the tender age of 18. It was a shock, seeing as I only had one previous sexual partner, but finding out explained why I was always tired and feeling unwell beginning at the age of 15.

From March 2003 until the middle of 2006, I was on the combination of Sustiva and Combivir. I would sum up the experience as “pure hell.” Not only was I coming to terms with life and my HIV status, I was also being deprived of sleep and haunted by nightmares, which led to a general anxiety disorder and a long battle of trying to get refreshing sleep.

After my combination with the above, I was placed on Truvada and nevirapine, which I remain on to date. My CD4 count is very good, and my viral load has always been undetectable. I have also been participating in a monotherapy trial (still on Truvada combo). I’m hoping to switch to only one pill and to have only one kind of drug suppressing my virus to reduce the potential side effects.

I still have a few anxiety issues and sleep problems, but they are nothing like they were. Mainly, my help was self-help, and I did a lot of this via the web. One site in particular, www.path.org, has helped me so much. It has changed me, and, more importantly, helped me get my life back.

I met my soul mate in 2009, and things started getting really good. He’s negative. 2012 was the best year I’d had since my diagnosis. I managed to get a lovely apartment in one of the most beautiful parts of the U.K. countryside. I’ve also ventured into an exciting new business that is proving to be a huge success. I’m also very spiritual and the most at peace now than I have ever been. I feel this is important—people have to look inside themselves to find the treasure housed within. Life has never been better, and where before my future seemed blank (all those years ago), I now have exciting plans, and I can see them coming to light. I look forward to the coming years.

What three adjectives best describe you?

Fun. Friendly. Crap at English.

What is your greatest achievement?

Setting up my business.

What is your greatest regret?

Experimenting with recreational drugs.

What keeps you up at night?

Not enough exercise in the day.

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?

Potential side effects.

What drives you to do what you do?

You only live once.

What is your motto?

You only live once.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?

My sleeping boyfriend.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?

A bird so I could fly high and be free.