Getting Wasting Syndrome When You're Hiv Positive

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Wasting Syndrome

Hormone levels can affect the metabolism. HIV seems to change some hormone levels including testosterone and thyroid. Also, cytokines play a role in wasting. Cytokines are proteins that produce inflammation to help the body fight infections. People with HIV have very high levels of cytokines. This makes the body produce more fats and sugars, but less protein. Unfortunately, these factors can work together to create a "downward spiral." For...

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Exercise vs wasting syndrome

I have a question about exercise & nutrition versus wasting syndrome. First my last labs/dr visitwas 1/9 of this year. CD4 was 600, vl undetectable. I am a male, 5'8, slight build and all my adultlife weighed 145 until 5 years ago when I...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Eating healthy/exercising and carrying an appropriate (not excessive) weight makes sense for most patients even in the context of HIV infection. KH... Read more »

How Long Have I Been Positive- Feel Like I am Wasting Away

I have been married for almost two years and over the past month my sweet wife and I both have been extremely tired. Looking back on it she has been getting minor headaches for almost a year and my skin has been tingling for quite some time.She is...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,Before worrying about lifespan and HIV/AIDS staging, don't you think it would be an excellent idea to find out if you're even HIV infected? I certainly do. So get tested. If you're HIV positive, I'll address the other issues.... Read more »

weight wasting being an adolescent hiv positive

My daughter is 17 and a year has passed since she began wasting weight. Now she weights 37 kg. We are from Argentina, Ive tried many psychological therapies with no result. My daughter is constantly depressed and deserts every treatment we start. Im...

Response from Ewald Horwath, M.D.

University of Miami School of Medicine

The wasting is not a psychological symptom. In most people with HIV infection, it is a biological manifestation of caused by some of the chemicals released by the inflammatory response that the virus causes. You should consult her doctor for advice... Read more »

clinical studies needed for wasting

I think the G.P. should stand for general practitioner, because that's what you sound like in some of these posts - just kidding.Listen though - you guys are very smart, but are limited in your knowledge of muscle tissue issues in the human...

Response from Gerald Pierone, M.D.

AIDS Research and Treatment Center of the Treasure Coast

You are right that that - if you take two people side by side and compare them, the HIV person on anabolics that works out will look different from the person that is inactive and skinny. Body composition changes in response to HIV infection, HIV... Read more »

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new friend hiv positive

Posted by kms1021, 1 Reply

Have a friend who's HIV positive..he has no muscle mass in his legs & can't walk w/out the aid of a walker. I'm concerned about the progression, but don't feel comfortable asking...can anyone tell me what would cause this? He hasn't volunteered... Read more »

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The disclaimer on the ELISA, The Western Blot, and the Viral Load Test:
"There is NO RECOGNIZED STANDARD for detecting the absence or presence of... Read more »

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Hello all,

I am need of extreme help in this situation. I am very knowledgable and have read everything there is to read about hiv and it's transmission. My ex husband is hiv positive and we have two small children under four. They are too young... Read more »

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Hello,

I am the ex wife of an hiv positive dad. He became positive after our divorce. I am having a hard time dealiing with his status. We have two very small children under 4 years old. I am afraid to leave them with him alone. He has been very... Read more »

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