- TheBody.com

From TheBody.com

Ask the Expert Hot Topics
April 29, 2003

Check out these hot topics at The Body's Ask the Expert forums:
Issues for Treatment-Experienced HIVers I've been on a treatment interruption since June 2001. Lately my viral load's been increasing (it's over 21,000 now) and my CD4 is dropping very slowly (it's around 600). How long should I wait before restarting therapy? I'm doing very well on Sustiva/Viread/Ziagen (viral load 52, CD4 count 680) but would like to switch because of the side effects. What are my options? I am starting Fuzeon (T-20) in three weeks. I've read that the injections are painful; are there any other side effects I should know about? Forum on Lipodystrophy & Wasting I want to take testosterone supplements, but was told I shouldn't because of the side effects (like a greater risk of testicular cancer). I don't understand: I'd only be raising my testosterone levels to those of a healthy HIV-negative person. Why should I be at a greater risk of side effects? My testosterone level is 571 (which is considered normal), but I feel I've lost a lot of muscle mass, am tired all the time and have no sex drive. Could 571 just be very low for me, even though it's normal for other people? I have mild lipoatrophy, and work out regularly: weights three times a week, cardio three times a week. Since lipo makes me lose subcutaneous fat, though, should I consider stopping the cardio (which might slim me down even more) and just eat more to bulk myself up? Forum on Pregnancy & HIV What's the current rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and exactly how is HIV transmitted via breast milk? I'd like to get pregnant, so my doctors switched me from Sustiva/Combivir to Viramune/Combivir. Unfortunately, I suffered a severe allergic reaction to the Viramune, and had to switch back. My viral load is undetectable and CD4 count is 459; what can I do now? Forum on Starting Treatment What's your clinical assessment of how well Trizivir alone can keep a person's viral load undetectable over the long term? I have a CD4 count of 535 and a viral load of 328,000. Those numbers are stable, but my doctor (who I've only seen twice) thinks I should start treatment soon, even though I don't want to. Do you think I can wait to start meds? I received post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a recent HIV exposure, but my latest HIV test came back positive. Even though I just tested positive, my CD4 is only 281 and my viral load's at 3,000. Why are my numbers so bad so soon, and could the PEP have played a role? People write all the time with their treatment horror stories; I just wanted to share my treatment success story: Before I started treatment, my CD4 count was 42 and my viral load was 750,000. After a month of treatment, they're now 251 and 140,000, respectively. I've had a few side effects, but they've been worth it! I'm so relieved!		Forum on HIV Transmission & Testing I've been obsessing about having HIV for nine years. By reading other answers in this forum, though, I've learned that my problem has had nothing to do with HIV. Fear of HIV was just a convenient way for those issues to manifest themselves. Let me tell you my story. I live in a small town, so for privacy reasons I use the Home Access HIV test. How reliable is this test? I'm currently taking interferon beta-1a (Avonex) and intravenous steroids for multiple sclerosis. Could these drugs alter the results of my HIV test? I recently went to a massage parlor and had sexual contact but not intercourse. What are my risks? Forum on HIV & the Workplace After 16 years at my job, I was fired without any cause. I'm HIV positive and was recently married; I added my husband (who is also HIV positive) to my insurance. Could this added healthcare burden have been the reason my company fired me? If I test positive for HIV, will my doctor have to tell my employer? I am HIV positive and work in retail far from my home. My daily commute is four to five hours, and at the end of the day I'm exhausted. Is it "reasonable" to request a transfer to a location closer to home? I own a restaurant, and recently discovered through a customer (who happens to be a nurse) that one of my employees has HIV. I was stunned. What should I do? What are my responsibilities to my customers and to my other employees? Forum on Cancer, HPV & HIV My friend has cancer (and HIV too, I think) and is refusing treatment. Now he's extremely sick and has lost lots of weight. He seems to be dying; is there anything I can do? I received my last Kaposi's sarcoma treatment (Taxol, after Doxil didn't work) in August 2002, but now it seems to be coming back. I am on HIV meds; my viral load is 750 and my CD4 count is in the 500s. Do I need a higher Taxol dose, or a different treatment entirely? I have both HIV and cancer, as well as very painful lymph nodes. Which disease is causing these nodes? Other Issues in HIV I feel that all these drug-making companies care about is business: As long as their drugs pass FDA regulations and improve HIVers' life spans, that justifies their money-making machines. They'll always prefer a drug that is only marginally beneficial to the patient but greatly beneficial to their pockets. I know you won't pretend that's not the case, because the minute you do, you'll lose credibility with your audience here. What do you have to say? What does it mean that 10 percent of the African workforce is infected with HIV/AIDS? Is that AIDS-related illness, or is it confirmed HIV-positive serostatus based on ELISA/EIA testing? If it's HIV, how could the numbers possibly be that high? Off the Beaten Trail What health risks are posed from worshipping a man's feet, especially if the foot hasn't been thoroughly washed?
Click here to see previous hot topics

This article was provided by TheBody.com.

Generations of Pride: What Does Pride Mean, Then and Now?

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Begin HIV Treatment

Getting to Undetectable: People Living With HIV Share Their Stories

Viva Mi Gente!: 12 Latino Celebrities and Characters Who Thrust HIV/AIDS Into Popular Culture

Positively Sexy: Volttage Provides an Online Space for Dating and Expression

More >>

New! TheBody.com App

My Health Tracker

Medication and Health Reminders

Assess Your Risk for HIV

U.S. ASO Finder

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 500 5th Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10110. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.