(RITA!) HIV Treatment Alerts - May 2003
Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS

Sugar-coated HIV. That is the thought that occurred to me while putting together this issue. No, this has nothing to do with the sticky, "sugar" molecules (called "glycoproteins") on the outside of the HIV molecule. Rather, the sugar-coating I am referring to is about trying to stay positive about HIV—to convey hope and the idea that it's not all bad news. That is very difficult. Each issue of HIV Treatment ALERTS! is chock full of information on drug warnings and interactions, new side effects, patient difficulties, and more. This issue alone covers SARS, HIV "superinfection," and medical emergencies. But remember that there is still hope in each issue as well. Hope in the clinical trials that are being done to find new and better HIV treatments. Hope in the innovative research described in conference highlights. Hope in the Q&A section where doctors are grateful that patients are staying alive long enough to ask questions. And hope in my heart as I try to squeeze as much useful information as I can into each of these pages, knowing that readers need as much information as possible to survive with this disease. So, the news on HIV may not be sugar-coated and it may not always be easy to swallow, but we are all stronger for it and able to stay around longer because of it.

Take care, stay well, and always believe that the cure could be just around the corner.

20030510
RI030501

Copyright © 2003 - Research Initiative Treatment Action (RITA!). Reproduced with permission. RITA! is published by The Center for AIDS. Contact Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS, Editor, RITA! for permission to reproduce RITA!. tom@centerforaids.org. http://www.centerforaids.org

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