Thread by @aproko_doctor

I heard a testimony yesterday in church and felt I should share this.

If you live with HIV and take your drugs regularly, it gets to a point where the viral load gets so low its not detected in your blood.

This doesn't automatically mean you're healed or cured please.

Now some people believe they've been cured or healed and stop taking their ARV (antiretroviral) drugs, this is where the problems start.

Before you start to lose your cool, this is not a thread to spite miracles or your belief. It's so you're aware. Let's continue.

When a person has HIV, the virus starts to replicate inside the cells and suppresses the body's immune system so that the body can't fight it

This suppression now means other infections can infect, when the body's immunity is very low, we have AIDS

HIV drugs known as (ARV) stop the virus from dividing.

Now this DOES NOT CURE, as the virus still hides in reservoirs in the body, but cannot divide again. Thereby keeping the virus level to a bare minimum. Sometimes to a level where they can't be detected

Stopping and re-starting drugs can cause drug resistance to develop, making that treatment regimen ineffective and limiting future treatment options.

Drugs may need to be changed and patient will need to stay on them longer to achieve that undetectable status again.

This means that most people will need to be on treatment for 7 to 12 months to have an undetectable viral load. It is essential to take every pill every day to maintain this status.

TILL THIS IS ACQUIRED, PROTECTED SEX IS REQUIRED FOR Couples with different HIV Sstatuses

So while miracles happen, it is important that you're aware of all the facts so you don't cause problems for yourself.

Continue taking your drugs for now. That undetectable status is maintained by your adherence to the ARV drugs. Please share this on your TL.