Surviving

• Michael Callen, 'Long-term Survival'
• Michael Callen, 'Surviving AIDS' (Book Info)
• Gary Null, 'AIDS Is Not A Death Sentence'
• John Lauritsen, 'Recovery from "AIDS"'

The three most common characteristics of long term AIDS survivors are:

1. They avoided taking chemotherapy/antiretroviral drugs such as AZT, ddI, ddC, d4T, 3TC.
2. On learning of their HIV status (HIV-positive), they stopped all high-risk activities such as drug use and unprotected sex.
3. They began taking charge of their lives, including their nutrition, exercise, and health.

Sources:

-- Munoz, A. et al. "Long-term survivors with HIV-1 infection; incubation period and longitudinal patterns of CD4+ lymphocytes." Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome & Human Retrovirology. 8(5): 496-505, 1995 Apr 15. "A study of 67 HIV+ men with no CD4+ decline for at least 5.5 years. The article reports that none of these 67 men had or were using AZT. Two matched groups were set up as controls: (1) a group described as "moderate decliners" in regard to CD4+, and no use of AZT; and (2) a group of 'fast decliners' who did or could have used AZT."

-- Buchbinder, Susan et al. "Long-term HIV-1 infection without immunologic progression." AIDS, 8:1123 (1994) 588 men; 42 were 10-15 year non-progressors. "Only 38% of the HLP [Healthy long-term positives] had ever used zidovudine [AZT] or other nucleoside analogues, compared with 94% of the progressors."

-- Pantaleo, G. et al. "Studies in subjects with long-term non-progressive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection." New England Journal of Medicine, 332:209 (1995) "Fifteen long-term non-progressors studied: usually living longer than 10 yrs.; no decline in CD4s; had not tak0en any antiretroviral drugs."

This research has been gathered by Kevin Doherty - "HIV- Hunting a Virus, or chasing a Ghost?"

• 'Long-term survivors or "non-progressors"'
• 'Ten Step Program'
• 'Dealing with Doctors'
• 'Life After HIV'

See also under HEAL and PSYCHOLOGY