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I’m HIV+, Now What?

Here are 5 Steps to Stay Healthy While Living With HIV

1. Find a Ryan White Case Manager

A case manager is someone who will connect you to healthcare, coordinate treatment, and be your advocate. They will evaluate your needs, those of your family and support system, and help connect you to services and medication so you can stay healthy and lead a full life. They will help you control healthcare costs. They are non-judgmental and can help you reduce the consequences of risky sex or drug use.

There are seven Ryan White Case Management sites in the state who work with Community Based and AIDS Service Organizations to serve many areas of Montana. Find a case manager at the table below and ask for a "Ryan White Case Manager". More services are available on the locator map at  GetTested.MT.gov or contact the Montana STD/HIV Program at 406 444-3565 with any questions you may have.

2. Connect to Services

Montana has much to offer persons who are HIV+. We want you to stay healthy. Talk to your case manager who will help you connect to services like these:

The   Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides HIV-related services in the United States for those who do not have enough health care coverage or financial resources for coping with HIV disease. The program fills gaps in care not met by other payers. 

The program offers many services to our clients, including medication, health insurance, case management, housing, transportation, emergency assistance, meals, health education, outreach and many others. Talk to a case manager about any of these services that you may need and visit our   Ryan White program page   to learn more about these services.

3. Talk With Your Partners

Tips for men who have sex with men (MSM).
It is important to have conversations with your partner about safer sex and healthy relationships, but that can be a lot easier said than done. Worried about how your new or existing guy is going to react? You’re not alone, many men have those fears. Check out advice from other men at   Conversation Starters.

Information for women, men and trans
This site  allows you to find information for YOU and help you lower the risk of transmitting HIV to your partner(s) through sex or injection drug use.

We’ll take care of it.
If you are diagnosed with HIV and other STDs, your county health department will contact you to ask how to reach your sexual partners, to help them get tested .  Without using your name, experienced staff will offer testing and treatment. Your name and medical information is private and confidential, at all times and will never be shared with your partners.  

4. Practice Safer Sex

• Use condoms  the right way every time you have sex.
   
• Reduce your number of sexual partners
   
• Talk to your partner(s) about   Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).A daily medicine for people who could contract HIV through a HIV+ partner.
   
• If you recently had unprotected sex with someone, they can lower their risk of contracting HIV infection by taking   Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).   Act quickly, because   it must be taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure.
   
• Stay on treatment. If taken as prescribed, HIV medicine (ART) can lower the amount of HIV in the blood, (viral load), to where it cannot be detected. People with HIV with an undetectable viral load can stay healthy for many years and have virtually no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex.

5. Practice Safer Injection Drug Use

The best way to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV through injection drug use is to stop injecting drugs. If you continue injecting drugs, never share needles or works. Visit   GetTested.mt.gov  to find locations where you can get new syringes and dispose of used. Some pharmacies will allow you to buy new syringes.

Other things you can do to lower your risk of transmitting HIV, if you continue to inject drugs, include:

1. Cleaning used needles with bleach. This may reduce the risk of HIV but doesn't eliminate it.
2. Using sterile water to fix drugs.
3. Cleaning your skin with a new alcohol swab before you inject.
4. Being careful not to get your blood on someone else's hands, needle or works.
5. Disposing of needles safely after one use. Use a sharps container, a hard sided plastic container, and keep used needles away from other people.
6. Suggest your partners get tested for HIV at least once a year.
7. Take your anti-viral therapy as directed to keep your viral load low. This will help keep you healthy, and lower the risk of passing on HIV infection to others.
8. Using a condom the right way every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Learn the right way to use a male condom.

IDU and HIV 101:
CDC HIV and Injection Drugs 101 fact sheet

Hepatitis C and IDU:
CDC Hepatitis C & Injection Drug Use fact sheet

PrEP Resources:
CDC PrEP 101 fact sheet

Substance Abuse Treatment locater:
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
SAMHSA’s National Helpline  – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

More Resources

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has information on other topics.  This link will help you better understand care, protect others, deal with discrimination, stay healthy, travel and make family planning decisions.

HIV.gov has information on living well with HIV, follow the links to Living Well to find information on aging with HIV, employment and health, exercise, diet and travel outside the U.S.

Have you been exposed to HIV or an STD?

Find a testing site near you

Contact Us

Cogswell Building
Room C-211
1400 Broadway
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-3565