Hello Docs;

I was diagnosed a year ago with a VL of >110,000 and a Cd4 of 85/9%. Started on Combivir/Viracept couldn't supress VL below 1200. Changed to Viracept, Ziagen, Epivir and Zerrit.

VL now <35 Cd4 320/15%. No OI's or other Medical Probs.

Now my question...

A few months BEFORE I was diagnosed, I started getting REALLY weak at the gym at times. I found that I couldn't lift as much weight as usual and I would get VERY tired very quickly. Heart rate would go up and pound so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest and recovery time would increase dramatically. (3-5 mins. after just one rep)

Now, I get exhausted after only 1 or 2 reps. my strength is WAY down and I find myself sweating profusely with only the slightest exertion. Even a flight of stairs gets my heart POUNDING. It's gotten so bad that I've just stopped going to the gym at all.

My doctor has tried Testosterone (even though Testosterone/Free Testosterone levels are normal) and now I'm on a Testosterone/Decca combo every 2 weeks which I think is helping slightly but not much.

Is there any hope of finding out what is causing this? Especially the sweating. I don't think it's Med. related since it started before I was on any Meds.

I'm also suffering from what I consider EXTREME Lipodystrophy. Since last August, my waist size has gone from an attractive 32 to a disgusting 34+ and I've gained 40 pounds. Is there ANYTHING (short of a meat cleaver) that I can do to get rid of the fat?

Now that you've read the Reader's Digest Condensed Book version.... Any Ideas?

Thanks for all the help this site provides!

S.

Do you know that your heart is functioning properly...it is potentially serious to have exercise-induced symptoms such as you describe. I would send you for an exercise-stress test and an echocardiogram. If these are OK, then you can worry about other issues such as lipodystrophy (by the way there is a lot of info on lipodystrophy archived at this site).

Alvan Fisher, M.D.