Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rates have been gradually increasing in Istanbul, Turkey. Many people living with HIV (PLWH) in Turkey encounter difficulties such as adapting to a chronic disease and maintaining continuous access to healthcare services. In this study, we explored the challenges PLWH face in their daily lives and understand their perceptions of themselves, healthcare professionals, their social spheres, and healthcare services via their expressed lived experiences in the healthcare setting.Method: Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face with 20 people living with HIV in Istanbul. All the interviews were voice-recorded and transcribed verbatim except one, upon participant request, for which the interviewer took notes. These logs and the interviewer’s filed notes were analyzed thematically using the inductive content analysis method. Thematic pattern tables showing the relations of relevant contexts, main themes, sub-themes, and codes were then formed. Results: The results highlighted the following themes: problems with patients’ autonomy, failure to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy of personal health data, spouse/partner notification issues, the negative effect of living with HIV on their perception of themselves, stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes intrinsic in healthcare professionals’ approaches, and their struggle to deal with such approaches. Our participants’ experiences suggest that PLWH may face multi-dimensional challenges that directly and negatively affect their lives, identities, relationships, and social status in Turkey. Conclusion: This study showed the complex and shifting nature of stigma experiences. Healthcare professionals’ discriminative or inappropriate attitudes and customs prevailing in healthcare institutions impair PLWH’s utilization of healthcare services. Additionally, structural factors such as social pressure, societal ignorance about HIV, limited access to HIV prevention, and present barriers to HIV care and support originating from current regulations contribute to these challenges. Based on these results, we argue that it is necessary to raise healthcare professionals’ and society’s knowledge and awareness concerning HIV, to train qualified community service personnel providing assistance, care, support, and education to patients, to establish a well-functioning referral system, and to develop national policies to establish appropriate partner notification services. We believe that such interventions should begin to address the social, economic, and structural factors that drive stigma.