hi, I'm 47 yo and have been diagnosed aids in 1993. I started drug then. I first received the Indinavir in 1996 but got resistant after a year. My doctor then switch my regimen but I still was resistant to the three classes of drugs. Then I've been on Fuzeon with 3 other drugs and for the fist time my VL got undetectable. The injections got so painful (inflamation) that I stopped then 2 years ago. Now I'm on Isentress, Truvada, Aptivus and Norvir. My VL has been undetectable for a year and a half with a CD4 count around 900 and a CD4/CD8 ratio getting each time better. Nevertheless, I feel exhausted, without energy. My belly is ballooning, I'm loosing my shape and can't find the courage to go to the gym. I spoke about that problem to my doctor (hospital clinic in Barcelona) but she's afraid of changing my drug's regimen because of my high resistance profil. I read about testosterone and growth hormone. Could you please tell me what do you think of my regimen (5 pills in the morning and 6 pills at night), my energy level that makes me feel I'm more than 70yo and this Testosterone or GH possibility.

Thanks very much

As far as your HIV regimen goes other drug options might include darunavir and/or etravirine. Testosterone can improve low energy levels and low muscle mass in some pxs particularly if low testosterone levels. has not been very proven to be effective at reducing abdominal fat. Growth hormone can decrease intra-abdominal fat modestly but is injected, is very expensive, can cause bone pain and diabetes, and is not approved for intra-abdominal fat issues in the setting of HIV infection in the US at least. Diet and exercise can sometimes be helpful. There are numerous excellent HIV providers in Barcelona--you may ask around to find one with the most interest/experience with lipodystrophy to see if you could get a consult if you are not already seeing that person! KH