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Response from Dr. Sherer
The VA has many well-qualified and experienced HIV clinicians and infectious disease specialists at many of their centers. You may be able to receive care from one of these centers if you ask to do so, depending on where you receive your care. In addition, even if your doctor has more limited experience in the care of people with HIV, he or she may have access to these experts via conferences, phone conversations or email. I would encourage you to look into these possibilities, in addition to asking questions like these on this internet service.
Diarrhea is a common occurrence that occurs up to six times per year in 'normal' healthy adults. Diarrhea for 2 weeks is somewhat unusual, and if it persists or recurs, I suggest that you see your doctor and ask to be evaluated for diarrhea. In addition to blood tests and an examination, common tests include a stool analysis for bacteria and parasites, and possibly a colonoscopy. You can ask your doctor about the usefulness of these tests in your situation.
You and your doctor can also discuss whether or not this episode of diarrhea is related to any issues with your treatment. Diarrhea is not a common side effect of the Atripla regimen. It would be useful to know if your viral load has been undetectable each time it's measured, whether your CD4 cell count is increasing, and whether it is currently above 200 cells/ml, as well as other useful information related to your diarrhea, such as the presence or absence of fever and chills, weight loss, abdominal pain.
I would not be so quick to dismiss your VA doctor as 'not a true doctor'. I have known many excellent VA doctors over the past 30 years. Also, I believe it is a policy at the VA to honor a patient's request to see an alternate doctor, so, in the event that you remain dissatisfied with your current physician, you can request to see a different doctor.
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