- Learn about HIV before beginning a home treatment plan. Read information from your doctor as well as your own research. Get involved with ASOs (AIDS service organizations) and ask any questions that you might think of regarding both the disease and its treatment. With the proper education, people struggling with HIV/AIDS can learn how to take care of themselves to keep them from needing hospitalization.
- Get up to date on any immunizations that you might need but are behind on. If you have any preexisting medical conditions, consult your doctor about them and focus your attention on reaching a point of stability with it. Examine your diet to make sure that you are getting adequate nutrition to help boost your immune system and avoid unforeseen illness.
- Examine your habits and see where positive changes can be made to improve your health. Quit smoking, as the nicotine in cigarettes kills white blood cells and retards T-cell growth. Avoid excess alcohol, as it can damage the liver (where most anti-HIV medications are filtered). Drugs in general (whether abused prescription drugs or street drugs) can cause damage to the immune system and leave you open to a number of opportunistic infections; avoid any drugs that are not specifically approved by your doctor.
- Keep your body and mind active to avoid fatigue and emotional strain. Exercise everyday and make sure that you eat a balanced diet (including many fresh fruits and vegetables). Partake in relaxing activities, especially those that can be enjoyed with supportive friends and family members; this will help you to remember that while you have an illness, that illness doesn't define who you are. Consult a counselor or psychiatrist if you have problems controlling depression or emotional outbursts, as they will be able to recommend treatment options that you can use at home.
