Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Please Help Me - Am I Seeing Things?
Mar 13, 2003
Hello Cade Fields-Gardner,
I am appealing to you for an answer to a question I posted on another forum but received no response. I'm not sure if this is the right forum but I have really enjoyed the answers and research you do for individuals writing to you for guidance and assistance. Your responses are well thought out and supported by links to additional web sites which I greatly appreciate.
I have been experiencing a lot of peripheral wasting, inluding my buttocks and have gained a lot in my belly. It seems to me that lately my head size has shrank. Is this possible? I seemed to recall reading information on the brain and how it can shrink due to advanced HIV disease. I am so afraid that this is what I am seeing. Is it all in my head? Could it be that I have lost so much that it just seems by headsize is smaller? I would really appreciate your answer. Thank you for your time.
TB
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Ms. Fields-Gardner
It is good to keep track of changes that you see and report them to your doctor. In your case it is likely that you are seeing some loss of either facial fat or facial muscle (or both). It would be a good idea to find out which one it is (or if it is both) to seek out appropriate ways to tackle the problem.
An interesting abstract was presented during the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona last year suggesting that there may be some benefit to facial exercise. In addition, if wasting of muscle tissues are involved you can check with your doctor about treatment options. The treatment options for lipoatrophy are mostly experimental at this point, but may include diet and exercise, medications (such as insulin sensitizing agents), medication switches, and plastic surgery.
Whatever you decide to do, check on your head circumference from time to time by using a tape measure just above the eyebrow level around the head. Good luck with this!
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
