I was diagnosed in 1997 with HepC/HIV I know that I got my Hep in 1984, but the HIV is in question and I've heard different doctor's opinions some say 1984 or 1996, who knows? I have some mild strain of Hep C, even the heavy drinker who gave it to me, the last I contacted him, he was in stage 1 after 20 years. I've had biopsies every 2 years and I am still barely in stage 1. (lucky me) I've never had AIDS as far as anyone knows, I've gone on drug holidays for a couple years and never had AIDS. So, I went back to school to get my degree and ultimately post grad degree. My life is looking up, I am interested, I get involved I go places, so, I have a hard time when the doctors constantly tell me I have depression as answer to my fatigue. I've tried 3 anti-depressants and they were horrible. Currently I am on prozac for PMS/perimenopausal symptoms and that has no affect on my fatigue. It just keeps getting worse. I don't think I am going to die of HIV, I'll just get too tired to get out of bed. I've had a lot of blood drawn, there's nothing wrong with me. I think it's the meds. I've changed them recently and in the intervening one day or so, I've felt WONDERFUL, like a whole new person. My current doctor has told me that things change and the drug holiday thing is both frowned on now and that I am on the downhill side and it would be more dangerous. So, I go to a counselor, provided by my AIDS clinic who tells me to be quiet, I should be glad I am alive... right. Okay, so if I am soon too tired to go to school, yet my t-cells will be high, I feel that I am faced with some kind of decision. Which is more important, living a full short life, or a long one in bed rotting away. I don't think that prescribing another anti-depressant will work. I really have had bad side affects from them, and I start school in a couple weeks for the summer session and don't need that type of side affect, like double vision etc. I figure there is no answer and I just need to make the decision whether a half life is better than no life. I am at a loss.

Hello,

No doubt quality of life needs to be factored into every treatment equation. I agree with your HIV specialist that drug holidays are dangerous and should be avoided.

If multiple "doctors constantly tell (you) that (you) have depression as a cause of (your) fatigue," chances are they are correct. If you've had difficulty tolerating antidepressants, I'd suggest you get evaluated by a psychiatrist to ascertain if indeed you have significant clinical depression and what would be the best course of therapy. Perhaps psychotherapy (talk therapy) would be beneficial. (And it has no side effects!) Ultimately you may need to try another antidepressant.

Whether you take your HIV medications is ultimately up to you. However, should you choose to forego recommended treatment, there are no guarantees you'll have a symptom-free "half a life." I urge you to work closely with your HIV specialist and an HIV-knowledgeable psychiatrist to find the best way forward. Read through the archives of this forum. We have whole chapters devoted to depression, causes of HIV-associated fatigue and other related topics that you may find enlightening and helpful.

Good luck. I hope you'll make a wise decision.

Dr. Bob