A positive antibody test, like a diagnosis of AIDS or ARC, sets off many changes in a person's life.
Many people develop a more assertive attitude about what is happening and what to do about it.
This shift in attitude can make for a bumpy ride unless both patient and physician learn to work together. Typically, both are striving to learn what works from a variety of available but imperfect treatments. While perhaps only a minority are unwaveringly opposed to such medications, few will recommend or initiate such approaches. Even those who are sympathetic search for the right way to deal with this complex issue. Third and finally, many people with HIV find taking a more active role in their medical strategies a fundamental part of their personal empowerment.