Fw: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's Ask the Experts Forums

May 1, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 01 May 2012 18:05:10 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlMay 1, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSHIV & Hepatitis Transmission How Can I Gain Some Weight?I'm a 37-year-old woman and I have lost a troubling amount of weight recently. What kinds of foods can I eat to healthily gain weight? Are there any supplements I can take to help me gain weight? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Can I Transition From Male to Female While Living With HIV?I'm HIV positive. I've always dreamed of becoming a girl and it pains me to think I might not be able to because I'm dealing with HIV. Can I transition from just dressing and living as a woman to truly, physically being a woman at some point in the future? If so, where can I go for information on this process? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Mental Health and HIV" forum How Can We Make My Poz Partner's Semen Safe to Swallow?My HIV-positive partner and I would enjoy it if I could swallow his semen, even if it was not immediately upon his ejaculation. Is there any way that we could make his semen safe for me to ingest? Glenn, M.A., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum Could My Wife Take Truvada Until We Conceive Another Child?I'm an HIV-positive man. I was diagnosed positive with a viral load of 500,000 two weeks after my wife gave birth. Despite plenty of unprotected sex before we knew I was positive, my wife and our baby are HIV negative. I take Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) and am doing well with a CD4 count of 440, a CD4 percentage of 20 and an undetectable viral load. We plan to have another baby and my wife doesn't want to do artificial insemination or sperm washing. Is it safe for us to have unprotected sex, and for my wife to take Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis, until we get the baby? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumDetail from:"Studio (Installation View)," 2002 FackrellVisit the May 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, " Jungle Pussy, " is curated by Yeni Mao. Can I Be Charged With Exposing Someone to HIV?I live in Texas and have been HIV positive for six months; I'm still learning how to live my life with HIV. I recently gave oral sex to someone and did not mention my HIV status. He later found out and is waiting for his test. He says he will press charges against me. Is this possible? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum How Can I Make Sure My Social Security Disability Application Is Strong?I've been out of work by doctor's orders for a back injury that happened on the job. I've applied for social security disability benefits and I've added my HIV status to the application along with my back injury. What else do I need to do to ensure that I receive these benefits? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forum Complera vs. Atripla: Which Single-Pill Regimen Should I Start With?I was recently infected with HIV, and diagnosed on February 20. I'd like to start HIV meds soon. I'd prefer Complera (rilpivirine/tenofovir/FTC) due to the lower risk of central nervous system side effects and cholesterol issues. It also fits better with my lifestyle since I can take it at breakfast every morning. I've seen two doctors; one said I would be fine taking Complera and the other recommended Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC). What's your opinion? If I start with Atripla, how easy would it be to switch if I experience side effects? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum What Can We Do About My Partner's Chronic Nausea?My 36-year-old partner has constant, daily nausea. He has better days and worse but is quick to get queasy. He's been taking Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for several years. Is there anything he can do to control the nausea? Do you recommend that he change medications? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumMore Questions About HIV/AIDS Treatment:What Do You Know About a New Ayurvedic Treatment for HIV?Can I Take Complera With the Acne Drug Accutane?Roll Call for Magnetic Couples: What's Your Experience With Unprotected Sex?(A recent post from the " Living With HIV " board)I wondered how many other magnetic heterosexual couples out there are practicing unsafe sex? We were told by our specialist that after a couple of months on HIV meds, we could decide whether to use condoms or not. We chose the latter and have been having LOTS of unprotected sex. I know there is still a risk but based on a doctor saying the risk is very low and then the Swiss study, I'm thinking that most professionals are covering their asses when they say use protection, just in case one "slips through the net."... Is there anyone out there that has adhered to medication without any slip-ups, been undetectable and not used condoms, only for their partner to still seroconvert? -- Lunar76Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! What Does Research Say About Alcohol Abuse and HIV?I was diagnosed with HIV four years ago. I'm a recovering crack addict; I stopped in May 2011 and haven't used since. At that time my CD4 count dropped from 320 to 150 in six months. It has since rebounded. I started meds six weeks ago; I take a very common three-drug cocktail. I was drinking a great deal in recent months, anywhere from one to three bottles of wine a day. I've since gotten help and stopped drinking. Could I have done damage to myself with this excessive alcohol use? Is the risk increased by my having HIV and having started meds? Does the alcohol inhibit the drugs' effectiveness? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Substance Use and HIV" forum Borderline Osteoporosis: What Are My Next Steps?I'm 56 years old and I've been taking Norvir (ritonavir), Reyataz (atazanavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) since 2007 when I was diagnosed with HIV. My bone density has decreased and although I'm still in the earlier stages of bone loss, I have borderline osteoporosis in my left arm. I want to keep it from progressing. I don't drink or smoke. Should I switch to Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) or another med and get rid of Truvada since it's linked to osteoporosis? What do you think I should do? Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum How Easy Is It to Become Infected With Hepatitis C?I understand I wouldn't get HIV from cutting myself on something an HIV-positive person just cut themselves on because the virus does not live outside the body that long. But I'm unclear with hepatitis C. I've read that hepatitis C can live in the environment for at least 16 hours but not longer than four days. How likely is it to get infected with this virus through environmental contacts? Do I need to be worried every time I get a cut out in public? Barbara McGovern, M.D., responds in the "Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection" forum What Are My Odds of Infection From a Possible HIV Exposure at Work?I'm a healthy 25-year-old nurse. Last week I was removing a catheter from an HIV-positive patient with a viral load of 170,000 and a CD4 count of 2. When I removed the catheter, there appeared to be a drop of bloody material that flicked into the air and I have no idea where it landed. I guess if I didn't feel the drop land on me, then it didn't. But if it did hit my eye, mouth or skin, am I at high risk of infection? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 Phill AIDS 2012 Plenary: "The US Epidemic" Webinar, May 10: Stories From the Ground -- Innovations, Collaborations and Victories in Defending the Rights of Sex Workers Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Make AIDSWatch Happen in Your Hometown Stop Arizona Bill 2625 Applications to Volunteer at AIDS 2012 Available April 1st Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

May 15, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 15 May 2012 17:08:06 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlMay 15, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSUnderstanding HIV/AIDS LabsHIV Transmission Should I Tell My Exercise Trainer I'm HIV Positive?In addition to being HIV positive for the past 10 years, I also have seven heart stents and see my doctors regularly. I maintain as healthy a diet as possible and take all my medications. I turned 50 last year and decided to join a gym and get a trainer. I see the trainer two times a month and trust his knowledge. Knowing my HIV status might influence what kinds of exercises my trainer gives me to do, but I'm not sure I should disclose. How important is it for a trainer to know a client's HIV-positive status? How much are trainers usually taught about HIV and body shape when they're becoming certified? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum How Can I Trust the Hospital That Broke My Confidentiality?I stopped taking my HIV meds due to the fact that the staff at the hospital in my city where I go for care informed my employer that I was HIV positive, and I was fired. How can I trust any of the doctors or their recommendations when their hospital's staff broke the law in this way? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds via the "Mental Health and HIV" forum How Can I Disclose to My Out-of-State Partner?I'm a heterosexual HIV-positive woman. I met a guy while visiting out of my state. Since I've been back home he's still been very engaged with me, and he wants a serious long-term relationship. I want to tell him I'm HIV positive before we get more involved, but find it difficult to tell him over the phone. Should I wait until we have a face-to-face meeting? What should I say? How can I start the conversation? R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum What's the Best U.S. State for HIV Coverage and Benefits?I'm a 52-year-old bi man and I've been HIV positive for 33 years. I was an HIV nurse during and after the onset of the epidemic. I have 700 T cells and I've worked with great doctors in the past. I've also lived in several U.S. states and had wildly different experiences accessing care in each place. I currently live in Riverside County, Calif., which has become a nightmare as far as coverage for indigent clients. Should I go back to a state where I got great care years ago? Do you have a sense of what the best states are for HIV care access nowadays?Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumDetail from:"In the Scheme of Things," 1997Jerry HootenVisit the May 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, " Jungle Pussy, " is curated by Yeni Mao. How Do I Keep My Kidneys Healthy?I'm a 40-year-old man and I was diagnosed HIV positive almost two years ago. I was on Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for 17 months and just switched to Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) about two months ago. My CD4 count is 440, my percentage is 20 and my viral load is undetectable. I've heard that Truvada can do irreversible damage to a person's kidneys even if they stop taking that regimen. Is this true? How can I maintain my kidney health and reduce my risk of kidney damage on Truvada? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum When Is My HIV Med Regimen Likely to Fail?I'm 59, HIV positive less than two years, my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is now over 1,600. I read that 75 percent of people living with HIV and taking meds will eventually learn they have to switch to different meds; the virus evolves and outsmarts their regimen. Is this accurate? How would age factor into this? How much time might I have before Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) stop working for me? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum How Should I Make the Switch From Sustiva to Reyataz?I've been taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) since I was diagnosed with HIV in 2009. My lab results are great -- my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 720. However, I'm considering switching to Norvir (ritonavir), Reyataz (atazanavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) due to major depression from the Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) in Atripla. I've heard that Sustiva remains in the body for a while after we stop taking it. How exactly should I proceed with the switch? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum What Could Be Causing My Swollen Lymph Nodes?A few weeks ago, I noticed a large lump in my right armpit. The fact that it didn't ache concerned me, as I've always heard those are the ones to keep an eye on for things like cancer. My doctor was concerned, but then the swelling went down. All I can feel now is a few pea-sized nodes where the lump was. I've been told normal nodes should be that size and that you should be able to feel them, but I don't feel any in my other armpit. I've read lymphoma can start off this way, with lymph nodes slowly swelling, and then it spreads. I've been feeling bad lately with fatigue and dizziness. Should I be worried? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Should I Find Out if There's HIV in My Spinal Fluid? I'm 45 years old and I've been HIV positive for 18 months. I currently take Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) and have been doing very well, with most lab results in healthy ranges. As I get older I'll be keeping an eye out for potential health issues, and dementia is one I'm particularly concerned about. I understand that it's especially important for older HIVers to be on meds that have proven to easily pass through to the brain and spinal fluids to prevent HIV replication in those areas. What does current research suggest? Should I get my doctor to test my spinal fluid for HIV? Are these tests painful? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumTo Start or Not to Start HIV Meds?(A recent post from the " Treatment & Side Effects " board)So I am newly diagnosed with HIV and am trying to deal with this the best that I can. I visited my ID doctor today and my CD4 count was 680 and my viral load is 5,160, so he suggested that I start a regimen, so that my CD4 count doesn't lower and cause me any issues. I am in great shape, with no symptoms (ever) of HIV. I'm so confused; should I start meds now? How have others made this decision?I was diagnosed a few months ago, but have no idea when I contracted the virus; however I know from whom. .... I'd also love to hear people's stories of dealing with HIV, since I don't know anyone with HIV personally except my ID doctor. -- melisss19195Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! Why Is My CD4 Count Staying so Low?I've been taking HIV treatment since 2008. I always take my meds on time, I take care of myself and I'm planning to have a baby with my husband. I avoid stress, practice yoga, have limited my nights out, always get eight hours sleep, and eat healthily. All this being the case, why after five years is my CD4 count only 206? When I first got diagnosed my CD4 count was almost 70. Shouldn't it have progressed more by now? What is going on?Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum What's the Difference Between Occupational and Non-Occupational PEP?What's the difference between the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) meds a person is given when they have a potential exposure to HIV at work versus "at play"? Could non-occupational PEP (nPEP) be less effective? Why are two meds sometimes prescribed while other times three or even four different meds are suggested? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Is a Gay Man With Crohn's Disease at Greater Risk for HIV?Does having Crohn's disease make it easier for a person to acquire HIV through unprotected receptive anal sex? If so, how does that increased risk work?Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 Election 2012: Getting the HIV/AIDS Community to Vote C2EA Youth and WhatstheT Launch Correspondent Contest Stop Arizona Bill 2625 Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

May 22, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 22 May 2012 18:04:03 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlMay 22, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsBody Shape Changes & HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSHIV TransmissionStrange but True Dear : How Did You Cope When You Were Losing Hope?I've been HIV positive for 16 years. I was hospitalized with meningitis in 2005 and have been on disability since then. I had a great career but now I just feel like a bum. I'm worn out even after a few minutes of exercise, which I continue to do daily. My life has no purpose anymore. My credit, my two homes and just about everything else is gone. My wife of 14 years can tell I'm giving up; my 9-year-old son doesn't know what's going on. I don't feel anything anymore; I think I'm just sick of living. I've lived more than many people and I'm only 48 years old. Have you ever had similar feelings? If so, what did you do? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum How Could HIV/AIDS Be a Leading Cause of Death?I read somewhere that HIV/AIDS is going to be among the leading causes of death in the world in 2030. How is this possible with so many new, better HIV meds available, and the life expectancy of a person diagnosed with HIV today dramatically increased? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Do Poz Health Care Workers Have to Disclose?I'm a medical resident and newly diagnosed with HIV. I'm scared of losing the career I've worked so hard to obtain. What are the laws in regard to whether I have to disclose my status to my residency program and to the state medical board? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum What's the Deal With Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions Under HIPAA?It's my understanding that if one has creditable insurance and does not have an insurance lapse of more than 62 days, insurance companies must offer you insurance coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. Yet in a recent newspaper article in my city, a writer claimed that his COBRA policy was ending and he was denied coverage by several insurance companies due to pre-existing conditions. What's the real story? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumWant to announce and publicize your HIV-related event? Now you've got another place to do it: TheBody.com's "HIV Events and Community Happenings" board! Keep checking this brand-new board for events in your area -- or follow the guidelines to post an event of your own. Are People of Color More Prone to Facial Wasting?I'm a gay black man. I've been taking Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for nearly two years. My CD4 count is 460 and my viral load is undetectable. I've put on about 10 pounds during this period, but I've noticed that I'm starting to lose fat in my face. I've heard blacks are more prone to facial wasting. Is this true? What can I do? Gerald Pierone, M.D., responds in the "Facial Wasting" forum When Will I Be Able to Start HIV Meds?I'm very eager to start taking HIV treatment. Last September my CD4 count was 467, and I was told to come back to the clinic in June of this year. What if my CD4 count is still high? Will that mean I won't be given the option to start meds? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Now That I'm Pregnant, Can I Stay on Atripla?I just found out I'm four weeks pregnant, and I've been taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for a while. I know Atripla is not recommended during pregnancy. What are the chances of my baby being harmed by the medication? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumMore Questions About HIV/AIDS Treatment:What's the Typical Cost of a Month of HIV Meds?Do Antibiotics and HIV Meds Usually Interact? Which Meds Are Less Likely to Make My Osteoporosis Worse?My viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is over 700. I don't have any other health issues besides HIV and osteoporosis, and because of it my HIV specialist wants to take me off Truvada (tenofovir/FTC), which I am taking with Norvir (ritonavir) and Prezista (darunavir). I've tried Prezista with Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) before, but it seemed to make me dizzy. I was hoping to try Epzicom again with Isentress (raltegravir), but my doctor is reluctant and suggested I take Isentress, Norvir and Prezista with Epivir (lamivudine, 3TC). What are your thoughts on some of these options, as far as bone loss goes? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds via the "Aging With HIV" forum How Long Before a Person Shows Hepatitis C Antibodies?I've read that 97 percent of people will show hepatitis C antibodies within six months of exposure if they've been infected. Under what circumstance would someone take longer than six months? Does being HIV positive affect this process at all? Barbara McGovern, M.D., responds in the "Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection" forum Will I Ever Find Love Again?(A recent post from the " Relationships and Dating " board)I'm 34, single and I have been positive for 13 years now. I have 3 beautiful kids and was once married. It's not easy to find someone when you're in this situation, but I'm not giving up. I know that there is someone out there for me ... but sometimes I need to be reminded. Has anyone out there ever worried about finding love, and then found it? I need some positive words ... -- southernpride34Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! Massage on Scratched Skin: Can You Help Me Stop Suffering With Worry?I had a simple foot massage at a spa. I just rolled up my trousers to my knees and had her massage my tired legs from knee to toes. After the massage went back to my room and to my horror discovered that I had badly scratched my shin area due to itchiness near the sock line. I hadn't bothered to check the massage therapist's hands for any cuts. I cannot find a clear answer to my question about the HIV risk from this encounter, and I am worried silly and can't sleep. Can't a person enjoy a simple massage without being consumed with worry about their HIV risk? Is anything safe anymore? Glenn, M.A., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum Does Constant Masturbation Affect CD4 Count?If an HIV-positive person masturbates constantly, will their CD4 count drop? Will they recover those CD4 cells after a few days, once the marathon of masturbation has stopped, or will their CD4 count remain unstable? Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 Support Enhanced Responses to HIV/AIDS for Women and Southern U.S. States HIV, Aging, Care With Dignity: Webinar on Justice for In-Home Care Support Election 2012: Getting the HIV/AIDS Community to Vote Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Stop Arizona Bill 2625 Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

June 6, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 06 Jun 2012 12:06:09 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJune 6, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSHIV & Hepatitis Transmission Longtime Survivor: What's the Chance of Continuing to Lead a Healthy Life?I'm 43 years old and I've been HIV positive since 1988. Currently, I'm the model of health; my viral load has been undetectable for many years and I'm very compliant with my meds. I've been very lucky never to have been sick apart from the usual annoying colds. However, I read a couple of disheartening articles recently that said my life expectancy was about 32 years. I don't buy that blanket assessment as it doesn't consider individual circumstances. What do you think? What are the prospects of living a long, healthy life for someone like me? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum How Long Does HIV Survive Outside the Body, Really?I recently read two articles on TheBody.com about the survival of HIV outside of the body. One reads: "HIV has been kept viable (able to infect) for up to 15 days, and even after the body fluid containing it had dried." The other reads: "Drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours." Which is true? If high concentrations of an HIV-positive body fluid were dried, would it take 15 days or just a few hours for the virus to no longer be viable? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum How Risky Is Sex With My HIV-Positive Partner? I'm HIV negative, as far as I know, and I now have an HIV-positive partner. He is on HIV meds and very stable. We have pretty safe sex but sometimes we're a little risky. I don't want to become HIV positive, but I love him so it's hard not being able to engage in some sex acts with him. What are the different levels of risk and safety we should consider? What are the chances I'll become HIV positive if we have unprotected sex? Cordova responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum If I Move Out of State, Will COBRA Follow?My partner of 24 years has an opportunity to relocate to San Diego for work (we live in Boston). I'd like to follow him there but this means I'd need to quit my job and then not have health coverage. Can you take COBRA if you quit a job? Would it be portable to another state? I'm really worried about having continuous health coverage without lapses. Is there anything else I should do to protect myself and my coverage? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumDetail from:"Vegetables," 1986Jimmy DeSanaVisit the June 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, " Maybe I'm heading into another change. I hope so, " is curated by Matthias Herrmann. If I Stopped Atripla, Why Am I Still Having Vivid Dreams?I took Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for a year. Even though I had great results, I had such vivid and intense dreams I felt like I was never really sleeping. I switched to Complera (rilpivirine/tenofovir/FTC) three months ago but, unfortunately, nothing has changed. My T-cell count is up to 758 and my viral load is undetectable, but my dreams are still very intense, I still have very low energy, and my sex drive is completely gone, and I'm only 37 years old. What should I do? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Do Any HIV Meds Cause False-Positive Tests for Other Drugs?If a person taking HIV meds took a sports doping test, but hadn't taken any performance-enhancing drugs, would this show up in any way in their drug test? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum Do Ayahuasca and HIV Meds Mix?Is it dangerous to drink ayahuasca tea while taking HIV meds? What about other kinds of medications and foods? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Substance Use and HIV" forum Could I Be Diabetic Because of My HIV Meds?My HIV has been successfully controlled for 17 years. However, I recently found out I'm diabetic, and I've been told my HIV meds may have played a role in causing the diabetes. Do you think this is likely? What do you suggest? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Can I Risk a Day Without HIV Meds for My First Colonoscopy?Now that I'm over 50, I need to have a colonoscopy so my doctor ordered one for me. Since I have to fast and clean out my system the entire day before the test, I will not be able to take my HIV meds. I take Isentress (raltegravir), Norvir (ritonavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC). These are the only viable meds for me at this point. Nothing else has gotten the virus under control in the past 12 years. I don't want to take a chance on losing their potency. Should I skip the test rather than run the risk of it causing a problem with my meds? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumCan't Someone Else Help Me Smile?(A recent post from the " Living With HIV " board)I feel like I have to think positively all the time as I live with this disease, because if I don't, I know that I don't have anyone to cheer me up when I need to be cheered up. So I try to smile all the time. Anybody out there want to share what they do to keep their spirits up? -- POSITIVELIVINGClick here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! How Often Should an HIVer Be Tested for Hepatitis C?What factors might make it more likely for a person living with HIV to contract hepatitis C (hep C)? How often should we be tested for hep C? Barbara McGovern, M.D., responds in the "Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection" forum Doc-to-Doc Advice: Should I Be Worried About My Exposure at Work?I'm a student doing lab rotations. This week I accidentally got a drop each of blood and urine (two drops total) in my eye from separate patients. There were no eye goggles or shields available to protect staff from potential exposures. I was so in shock and embarrassed that I didn't wash my eye out or report the incident to anyone. A couple of days after the exposure I had a fever, swollen lymph glands, a sore throat with chills and a productive cough. I also recently had unprotected sex with my husband. Are there any symptoms I should watch out for in him? Should I be concerned? Any parental advice you can give me? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds via the "Mental Health and HIV" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Rethinking the "MSM" Category: Webinar on June 13 Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

June 12, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 12 Jun 2012 17:36:14 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJune 12, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSHIV & Hepatitis TestingStrange but True How Long Is the Latent Phase of HIV Infection?I've read that, after the initial acute stage of HIV infection, no symptoms appear for an average of 10 years; I think it's called the latency stage. Can this stage ever be shorter -- say, five years? During this period, would milder symptoms be present, or none at all? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Coconut Water: Antiviral Action, or the Latest Fad?I've heard recently that drinking the water or juice of a coconut can aid our bodies in fighting viruses such as the flu, herpes and even HIV. To what extent is this true? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum Just Found Out My Longtime Partner Is Positive: What Now?I've been with my daughter's father for 15 years, and I just found out he's HIV positive. He has known since two years after we got together but he never told me; I had to hear it from a doctor in the hospital after he was admitted. I got tested and the result was negative, but I have to get tested again in three months. If I'm HIV positive, could my 9-year-old be positive as well? I've been so angry in the weeks since I found out that I haven't been eating or sleeping. What should I do? Should I tell my kids? R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum Burned Out on Long-Term Disability: What Can I Do With My Life?I'm 52 years old and I've been HIV positive since 1983. I went on disability in late 1995 with a T-cell count in the single digits and numerous other health issues. My kidneys failed in 2000 and I was on dialysis for eight and a half years before getting a transplant, for which the recovery took almost two years. I've now been on disability for almost 17 years. I take 14 prescription meds, including five HIV meds. My T-cell count is now 500. I'd like to get off disability, but I'm terrified that something else will come up health-wise. My only symptoms now are neuropathy, fatigue and severe depression due to HIV burnout. What can I do?Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forum Brief Trip to the US: Should I Leave My Meds at Home?I've read and heard horrible stories of what's happened to HIV-positive people who brought HIV meds into the United States. I have to go to the U.S. for 10 days for my job, but I don't want to disclose my HIV status at the border (and I don't have to in my country). I know that U.S. President Barack Obama already removed the legal ban on HIV-positive people entering the U.S., but you never know what kind of customs agent you'll have to deal with. Would you recommend a 10-day pause on taking meds to avoid problems entering the U.S.? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forumHey, nobody's perfect. We can all use a little nudge sometimes to help us remember our HIV meds, upcoming doctor's appointments, prescription refills and other tasks. Use TheBody.com's new, free, private Personal Reminder Service to:Receive a text message, email or voice mail when it's time for a medication dose.Receive reminders before upcoming doctor's appointments.Set up online prescription refills and deliveries via mail.And much more! Feeling "Off" on Atripla: Is It All in My Head?I'm a 25-year-old in-shape man who has been taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for about two years. When I first started I had a viral load of around 175,000 and a CD4 count of 350. I experienced some vivid dreams the first few weeks, but they subsided. However, lately I've been feeling very awkward and not like myself. I've been feeling depressed, confused, forgetful, lightheaded and even suicidal, which is not like me at all. I didn't think that side effects could happen after this long. Does this happen to anyone else taking Atripla? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum Should My HIV Specialist Be Giving Me Full Checkups?I'm 45 years old and I tested HIV positive four years ago. My initial CD4 count was 98 and my viral load was 1,900. Since starting to take Norvir (ritonavir), Prezista (darunavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC), my viral load has been undetectable but my CD4 count has remained low. I've been seeing my infectious disease specialist for two years. He does the basic temperature, blood pressure and weight, but I've never been in a gown at the doctors' office and have never really had a full "tap-and-thump" checkup. What should a physical exam include? Is it time to find a new doctor? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum How Should I Handle the Switch to Complera?I started taking Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Isentress (raltegravir) three years ago and have been doing well, but I'd like to switch to the once-a-day Complera (rilpivirine/tenofovir/FTC) for more convenient dosing. Is Complera only for those who are starting meds for the first time? If not, how do I make the switch? Are there other options for me? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum HIV and Drug Use: What's My Partner Doing to Himself?My partner is 26 and I'm 27. He was diagnosed with HIV about a year ago and has been using drugs a lot. He is not seeing his doctor, and he rarely brings up anything to do with HIV or what he's going through. He told me today that his viral load went from 15,000 to 85,000 and his CD4 count fell from 580 to 225 in approximately six months. Is this bad? Are the drugs making him sick? What can I do to help him? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Substance Use and HIV" forum Will My Osteoarthritis Meds Make My HIV Meds Less Effective?I have osteoarthritis and I'm concerned that the calcium and Fosteum (genistein, zinc glycinate citrate, cholecalciferol) I take could potentially block my HIV meds. Should I worry? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumMore Questions About Other Health Issues HIV/AIDS:If I Have Side Effects of Hepatitis C Treatment, Will I Be Cured?Which Areas of the Body Does Peripheral Neuropathy Affect?Are We Making Ourselves the "Underdogs" in Life and Love?(A recent post from the " Relationships and Dating " board)I was tested positive by good ol' Uncle Sam February of this year. The relationship that I was in before and after my discovery of my results had all the problems of a "normal" one. But not long after it ended, I began to realize I've sold myself short in life (or lack of). I also came to the realization that people with HIV can be some of the BIGGEST underdogs of life, and at that moment I felt a great sense of motivation to become successful. … We have done ourselves a huge injustice by not seeking to love ourselves 100% fully and completely before seeking another person to be a part of "our" success story. Does anyone else agree? Disagree? -- mil26pozClick here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! Does a Hepatitis B Test Also Test for HIV?If you test negative for hepatitis B, does this mean you also don't have HIV? Barbara McGovern, M.D., responds in the "Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection" forum Assault With a Deadly Turd?A kid on the street threw a very small amount of feces at me. It knocked the side of my head. I wasn't able to wash up right away, and only showered when I got home five hours later. If the feces contained blood, am I at risk of HIV? Is the risk higher if the feces were fresh? I know it all sounds gruesome but I have to ask to put my silly mind at peace. Do I need PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)? Glenn, M.A., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 6/19, Webinar: Community Perspectives on PrEP 6/12, NYC: New York Association on HIV over Fifty 6/21, Chicago: Come Celebrate TPAN's 25th Birthday 5/31-6/30, NYC: UNDETECTABLE Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Rethinking the "MSM" Category: Webinar on June 13 Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

June 19, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 19 Jun 2012 17:25:10 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJune 19, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsBody Shape Changes & HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSUnderstanding HIV/AIDS LabsHIV & Hepatitis Transmission How Is the "Berlin Patient" Doing?Dear Vergel: I've read some of your posts about "Berlin Patient" Brown, the guy who was cured of HIV. I was shocked to find out he's been struggling here in the United States since moving back here from Germany. How is he doing now? What's he been up to? How is his health? Is there anything the community can do to help him out? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum How Can I Support My Partner, and Hold Onto My Own Faith and Hope?I met my fiancé last year, right before he went into a coma, and that's how I found out he's HIV positive. It's been a challenging year but we've made it through. However, we recently found out he needs to start taking HIV meds as soon as possible. I don't know how we're going to afford the meds, and my fiancé's afraid he might lose his job if he can't handle the side effects. I just ask God to make me stronger in this new challenge. How can I support him on this new path with meds? How can I stop crying all the time and thinking, "Why me?" Rev. Todd A. Brown responds in the "Spiritual Support and HIV" forum I Think I Was Fired for Being HIV Positive: What Can I Do?I was hired by a local firm last July 12. On September 1 the owner's wife, who is the bookkeeper, gave me a health insurance form to complete, which led me to believe that I'd be with the company long term. On September 3 I was terminated from the company. The reason given by the company owner was that I was not a good match. During my tenure with the company I never received any disciplinary action of any sort. I think owners of the firm saw what I put on my health insurance forms and decided to terminate my employment. Can you help? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum Should I Help Others Get Low-Cost Meds From Overseas?I have friends who go back and forth to India all the time. They provide me with Viraday, a generic form of Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/TFC) made in India, which is working perfectly for me. If others want information on this, I would assist. Is that legal? Can I get in trouble for helping others access a source of lower-cost meds?Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumIt's easy for someone to tell you, "Just take all your meds, and you'll be fine." But the challenge of taking HIV meds every single day, and the obstacles that life throws in your way, can make adherence a lot tougher in real life than it might seem on paper. Check out some invaluable advice on adhering to meds from HIV experts and people living with HIV. You can read first-person stories, watch videos and get more information and advice on adherence in TheBody.com's Resource Center on Keeping Up With Your HIV Meds! Could Liposuction Work in Combating Belly Fat Gain?I've been HIV positive for five years. I take Norvir (ritonavir), Reyataz (atazanavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) and my CD4 count has always been over 600. However, I've recently developed a round belly. I've exercised and watched my food intake to control it, but it's still there. I was thinking of getting liposuction but I wonder, if I get this done, if the problem will come back. Do you know if liposuction would work, or is this a losing battle? Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum Tried Meth Once: Will It Ruin My Chance to Do Well on HIV Meds?I take Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC). I've used meth once since being on HIV meds and will never use again! I've been on meds for a year and a half, my viral load has been undetectable since three weeks after starting meds, and my last CD4 count was 964. What can I expect from my next lab results in three months? Could meth have seriously affected my body's ability to control the virus? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum Which Meds Are Best for Primary Infection?I was very recently infected with HIV, so I'm still experiencing primary sickness. What treatments would you recommend to someone in this early stage of HIV infection? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumMore Questions About HIV/AIDS Treatment:What if I Throw Up Right After Taking My Pills?Are My HIV Meds Causing My Nose to Be Dry? Are Shock Treatments My Best Option for Treating Severe Depression?I was wondering if you or anyone you know has tried electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for their depression. I have clinical depression and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). I've tried every antidepressant and had to be pulled off due to side effects or for it just not working. I spend every minute just trying to hang on so I don't commit suicide. My family and friends do not understand; it does not help for people to tell you to just take your meds because they don't want to listen to you. What can I do? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Mental Health and HIV" forum Is Different Dosing Normal for People With HIV and Kidney Problems?I have a friend that has kidney problems; for that reason his doctor changed his Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) dose to Epivir (lamivudine, 3TC) and Ziagen (abacavir) in an oral solution once a day. Is it appropriate to change from the standard doses of HIV meds for people with kidney dysfunction? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forumSeroconverted and Scared: Will My CD4 Count Jump Back Up?(A recent post from the " I Just Tested Positive " board)I just tested positive on the 10th of June. I am yet to be advised of my viral load, but my CD4 count is 334 and 29%. … I am petrified. I am getting tested again next Saturday. I was very sick with seroconversion and I am trying to comfort myself with the fact that my CD4 count will jump back up again now that I am over my illness. Can anyone offer me words of encouragement? -- ph1234Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started! Is There a Reason I'm Doing So Well?I was given an HIV-positive diagnosis in 2004. They told me I'd be dead in five years. Now I still have an undetectable viral load and my CD4 count is around 750, and I've never taken HIV meds. Is that normal? What do you think is going on?ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Can I Transmit Inactive Hepatitis B?Since there's no virus to be found in my blood, can i infect other people? How many years will it take for me to become HbsAg negative, if that can happen?Barbara McGovern, M.D., responds in the "Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection" forum Can My Daughter Safely Play With an HIV-Positive Kid?My daughter is in grade school and I recently found out that a friend of hers is HIV positive. The girls do many things together including sleepovers, summer camp, swimming and sports. I've discussed with my daughter that if she is bleeding or her friend is bleeding, they shouldn't be in contact with each other's blood. Still, though, I don't want anything to endanger her. Am I worrying needlessly? Is there anything else I need to be concerned with? Should I discuss anything else with my daughter to ensure she is safe? Cordova responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 6/26, Queens, NY: 2012 Mental Health and HIV Provider Conference (Free!) 6/21 (online): Webinar on Reproductive and Sexual Health (U.S. Dept. of Health) 6/21, Chicago: Come Celebrate TPAN's 25th Birthday 5/31-6/30, NYC: UNDETECTABLE Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

June 26, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 26 Jun 2012 18:04:25 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJune 26, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSUnderstanding HIV/AIDS LabsHIV Transmission How Long Can I Live Healthily With HIV?I see people that look healthy and have been HIV positive for 20 years or more. I'm so scared that I'll live that long, but look and feel sick. Can you tell me how long an HIV-positive person can stay healthy? Also, how long can a person stay on the same HIV med regimen? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum What's the Deal With the Green Coffee Bean?Have you heard about this green coffee bean craze for losing weight and controlling your sugar spikes and carb cravings? I saw something on Dr. Oz about it being packed with antioxidants and better for you that regular coffee beans. What have you heard? Are there any interactions between these special coffee beans and HIV meds? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forumMore Questions About Living With HIV/AIDS:Does HIV Make You Sterile?Is My Hair Loss Medication Affecting My Sex Drive? My Sex Partner's Positive, but He Pulled Out: Am I at Risk?I had unprotected sex with a man who has HIV. He didn't inform me of his HIV status before our sexual encounter, and assures me now that I wasn't at risk since he pulled out well before he came. Is this true? If I am at risk, what can I do at this point? Cordova responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum Can I Keep the Insurance I Got Before I Was Positive?I signed up for and received group life insurance coverage through my employer's plan, as well as a short-term disability plan of my own, several months prior to my HIV-positive diagnosis. I haven't received any notification of cancellation. Is my coverage still valid since I hadn't been diagnosed positive when I applied, and therefore nothing fraudulent took place?Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumGot thoughts about HIV accusations and prosecutions? We bet you do!The SERO Project would like to hear from people living with HIV, their partners, friends and family, workers in HIV fields, advocates and allies in response to a survey gathering opinions about HIV criminalization. Take the survey, and let your ideas be heard. What Could Replace Reyataz in My Regimen?I've been taking Norvir (ritonavir), Reyataz (atazanavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for a year. Ever since that time I've dealt with gut side effects like indigestion and nausea for hours after I take my meds. The side effects are taking a toll on my daily life as I can't drink or eat anything after taking my meds. I also can't drink milk anymore. My doctor advised me to switch the Norvir-boosted Reyataz in favor of Edurant (rilpivirine). Is this the best option for me? What about Prezista (darunavir), or something else? What are my next steps toward switching?ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Can I Take My Meds Only on Weekends?My CD4 count is 515 and my viral load is undetectable. I'll be going to a live-in academy soon and will not be able to take my HIV meds there. I didn't list Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) when asked which medications I am currently taking, because I'm afraid I'll face discrimination at the school for being HIV positive. Should I continue taking the pill on my nights off -- Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Or should I completely discontinue the medication? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Are My New Meds Known for Causing Night Sweats?I've been taking Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) since January with good results; my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 500. I also take generic Lexapro (escitalopram) for depression. However, I have consistent night sweats that have me up and soaking my clothes several times each night, and it's wearing me out. Is this normal? Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum Why Am I So Exhausted All the Time? I'm very active, I eat healthily and get plenty of sleep every night, but I always wake up exhausted. My lab results are extremely good -- my viral load is undetectable and my T-cell count is between 700 and 800. My weight is proportionate to my height and I drink very little caffeine. I've told my doctor about my fatigue but she finds nothing in my blood work that would indicate anything abnormal. I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) but have never had the vivid dreams. I doubt it's the meds but I'm not sure what else it might be. Any thoughts? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Mental Health and HIV" forum What Are Some Side Effects of Deca Durabolin? I have cytomegalovirus (CMV) and I'm also on Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate, Deca). CMV has been the source of many problems for me, including muscle loss and swollen glands. I went on Deca to counter the muscle loss, and I've noticed that my arms and legs are veinier. I'm also noticing headaches and bulging, pulsating veins in my temples. It's hard for me to tell which symptoms are side effects of Deca and which are caused by CMV. What are some possible effects of taking Deca? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forumTo commemorate U.S. National HIV Testing Day on June 27, we asked community members to reflect on their HIV testing experiences. Their stories are funny, heartbreaking, frustrating, empowering, and everything in between.Read other people's experiences, and share your own in the comments section of the article! Should I Be Concerned About My Liver Lab Results?I feel like I always get conflicting info about my liver labs. I get varying opinions on what's considered "normal." My liver enzyme levels are always in the normal range. Sometimes they are on the low end of normal, but most times they are at the higher end of normal. However, I've had a few folks and even a doc say that being on the high end of normal means there is some irritation and you really want to be on the low end of normal. Is this true? Does it really matter? How is the decision made as to what's normal? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Is Protected Sex Really Protected?Is sex while wearing a latex condom that doesn't break or fall off throughout anal sex really "protected sex"? I ask because several experts I have read online say the risk is low, not nonexistent, so that has me freaked out a little. I have always heard that condom-protected sex is safe sex and not to worry. I am a top and have never had unprotected sex or had a condom break or fall off, but reading that it is only "low risk," not "no risk," has me concerned. Can you give me some insight? Wohl, M.D., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 6/27, Austin, TX: FREE HIV STD TESTING AT ROSEWOOD ZARAGOSA 6/27, Austin, TX: PROTOCOL BASED HIV COUNSELING AT AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN 7/6 - 7/12: New York, NY: Screening of United in Anger 7/7: Washington, DC: Team Up To Fight AIDS Night 7/9: Staten Island, NY: A "Health Living" Luncheon for People Living with HIV and AIDS Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think? It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

July 3, 2012

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.html

July 3, 2012

Visit the Forums

"Hot Topics" Library

Change/Update Subscription

Living With HIV/AIDS

Mixed-Status Couples

Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns

HIV/AIDS Treatment

Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS

Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs

HIV Transmission

If Sushi Is a No-No for Poz People, What About Smoked Salmon?

I've read that sushi isn't the greatest thing to eat when you have immune deficiency because of the risk of food poisoning. What's your view on smoked salmon, since it's served cold but it isn't raw like sushi?

Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

How Can I Reconnect With My Faith?

I was diagnosed with HIV on June 9. I was born and raised Catholic, but struggle so much with faith. I've lost my parents and I don't have much of a support network. I need something more in my life right now as I start this journey with HIV. I have a wonderful, liberal-minded local priest whom I have known for nearly 20 years and would like confide in. Can you offer any guidance or assistance to someone struggling to find his faith again?

Rev. Todd A. Brown responds in the "Spiritual Support and HIV" forum

Can You Help Me and My Bride Prepare for Married Life?

I'm an HIV-positive guy, 27 years old, taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for the past two years; my viral load is undetectable. I want to marry my long-term girlfriend who's HIV negative. I have so many questions about what being married to her would look like for us! We've always used condoms in the past, but does my viral load being undetectable mean we can have unprotected sex? Does my past history of other sexually transmitted diseases (all treated) increase my chance of transmitting HIV? What precautions can we take before engaging in unprotected oral sex? Does she need to take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) any time a condom breaks? Can we have a child using my sperm? With all this uncertainty, should I even marry her at all?

R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

What Else Must I Do to Get a Reasonable Accommodation at Work?

I am HIV positive and have asked for ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) accommodations at work. The ADA coordinator asked me to have my infectious disease doctor complete two documents, but he's refusing to complete one of them as he says he's not an ADA assessment specialist. I informed the ADA coordinator, and now she wants to send a letter to the doctor asking for the same information. What can I do?

Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum

Detail from:

"Underwater Boy," 1998

Carle

Visit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, "Overnight Wave (For Arthur)," is curated by Rick Herron.

Can Some People Take Just 2 HIV Drugs Per Day?

I've been on Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for about three years now. I've read that treatment strategies involving only two drugs instead of three are being studied in some people living with HIV. Have you heard of this before? Can you explain this strategy?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do Customs Need to Know About My HIV Meds?

I'm planning a trip abroad for a week. Do I need to declare my HIV meds at customs?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

What Can Be Done About Low Blood Platelets?

I've been HIV positive for about 10 years. I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC), my T-cell count is 895 and my viral load is undetectable. My last lab test results showed that my blood platelets had dropped to 84,000. I had been taking ibuprofen for about a week before my labs, and my doctor told me to stop once I got these results. Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to increase my blood platelets?

Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum

Could My Eye Inflammation Be HIV Related?

I'm 33 years old, my CD4 count is 725, my viral load is 40 copies and I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC). I was diagnosed with keratoconjunctivitis (eye inflammation); it's very painful and annoying as I am trying to study. Is this condition common in people living with HIV? What can I do to curb it?

Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

More Questions About Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS:

Do You Recommend Milk Thistle for Liver Health?

Could I Have Neuropathy in My Arms and Hands, but Not My Toes?

When to Start HIV Meds: Why Not Right Away?

(A recent post from the "Living With HIV" board)

"What are some reasons why many people don't start on HIV treatment as soon as they're diagnosed?"

-- astateoftrance

Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!

To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an email address) -- click here to get started!

Why Did My Viral Load Go Up, and How Can I Make It Stop?

I found out I was HIV positive seven years ago. I eat healthily and exercise. My CD4 count falls between 750 and 800, and my viral load stays between 3,000 and 5,000. The past year my viral load has increased drastically to 24,000, while my CD4 count has remained at 800. What could be causing such a drastic increase in viral load? Should I be concerned?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do I Need to Use Hand Sanitizer to Kill HIV on My Phone?

A friend of mine had sex with an HIV-positive girl, and right afterward he touched my phone. Can I use any kind of hand sanitizer to kill HIV that might be on my phone?

Glenn, M.A., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

Worried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?

The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.

To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.

About This E-mail

This e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....

Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....

Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.

Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:

The Body's E-Mail Updates

Remedy Health Media, LLC

250 West 57th Street

New York, NY 10107

7/6 - 7/12: New York, NY: Screening of United in Anger

7/7: Washington, DC: Team Up To Fight AIDS Night

7/9: Staten Island, NY: A "Health Living" Luncheon for People Living with HIV and AIDS

7/9, New York, NY: Spiritual HIV Support Dinner Forum for all affected by HIV and AIDS

7/10, New York, NY: 2012 Annual Community Meeting -- New York City Faith In Action Coalition

Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards

Make the Pledge to Visit Your Members of Congress!

HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think?

It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer

Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop

Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS!

Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights

Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research

Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials

Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

July 3, 2012

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.html

July 3, 2012

Visit the Forums

"Hot Topics" Library

Change/Update Subscription

Living With HIV/AIDS

Mixed-Status Couples

Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns

HIV/AIDS Treatment

Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS

Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs

HIV Transmission

If Sushi Is a No-No for Poz People, What About Smoked Salmon?

I've read that sushi isn't the greatest thing to eat when you have immune deficiency because of the risk of food poisoning. What's your view on smoked salmon, since it's served cold but it isn't raw like sushi?

Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

How Can I Reconnect With My Faith?

I was diagnosed with HIV on June 9. I was born and raised Catholic, but struggle so much with faith. I've lost my parents and I don't have much of a support network. I need something more in my life right now as I start this journey with HIV. I have a wonderful, liberal-minded local priest whom I have known for nearly 20 years and would like confide in. Can you offer any guidance or assistance to someone struggling to find his faith again?

Rev. Todd A. Brown responds in the "Spiritual Support and HIV" forum

Can You Help Me and My Bride Prepare for Married Life?

I'm an HIV-positive guy, 27 years old, taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for the past two years; my viral load is undetectable. I want to marry my long-term girlfriend who's HIV negative. I have so many questions about what being married to her would look like for us! We've always used condoms in the past, but does my viral load being undetectable mean we can have unprotected sex? Does my past history of other sexually transmitted diseases (all treated) increase my chance of transmitting HIV? What precautions can we take before engaging in unprotected oral sex? Does she need to take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) any time a condom breaks? Can we have a child using my sperm? With all this uncertainty, should I even marry her at all?

R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

What Else Must I Do to Get a Reasonable Accommodation at Work?

I am HIV positive and have asked for ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) accommodations at work. The ADA coordinator asked me to have my infectious disease doctor complete two documents, but he's refusing to complete one of them as he says he's not an ADA assessment specialist. I informed the ADA coordinator, and now she wants to send a letter to the doctor asking for the same information. What can I do?

Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum

Detail from:

"Underwater Boy," 1998

Carle

Visit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, "Overnight Wave (For Arthur)," is curated by Rick Herron.

Can Some People Take Just 2 HIV Drugs Per Day?

I've been on Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for about three years now. I've read that treatment strategies involving only two drugs instead of three are being studied in some people living with HIV. Have you heard of this before? Can you explain this strategy?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do Customs Need to Know About My HIV Meds?

I'm planning a trip abroad for a week. Do I need to declare my HIV meds at customs?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

What Can Be Done About Low Blood Platelets?

I've been HIV positive for about 10 years. I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC), my T-cell count is 895 and my viral load is undetectable. My last lab test results showed that my blood platelets had dropped to 84,000. I had been taking ibuprofen for about a week before my labs, and my doctor told me to stop once I got these results. Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to increase my blood platelets?

Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum

Could My Eye Inflammation Be HIV Related?

I'm 33 years old, my CD4 count is 725, my viral load is 40 copies and I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC). I was diagnosed with keratoconjunctivitis (eye inflammation); it's very painful and annoying as I am trying to study. Is this condition common in people living with HIV? What can I do to curb it?

Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

More Questions About Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS:

Do You Recommend Milk Thistle for Liver Health?

Could I Have Neuropathy in My Arms and Hands, but Not My Toes?

When to Start HIV Meds: Why Not Right Away?

(A recent post from the "Living With HIV" board)

"What are some reasons why many people don't start on HIV treatment as soon as they're diagnosed?"

-- astateoftrance

Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!

To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an email address) -- click here to get started!

Why Did My Viral Load Go Up, and How Can I Make It Stop?

I found out I was HIV positive seven years ago. I eat healthily and exercise. My CD4 count falls between 750 and 800, and my viral load stays between 3,000 and 5,000. The past year my viral load has increased drastically to 24,000, while my CD4 count has remained at 800. What could be causing such a drastic increase in viral load? Should I be concerned?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do I Need to Use Hand Sanitizer to Kill HIV on My Phone?

A friend of mine had sex with an HIV-positive girl, and right afterward he touched my phone. Can I use any kind of hand sanitizer to kill HIV that might be on my phone?

Glenn, M.A., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

Worried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?

The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.

To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.

About This E-mail

This e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....

Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....

Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.

Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:

The Body's E-Mail Updates

Remedy Health Media, LLC

250 West 57th Street

New York, NY 10107

7/6 - 7/12: New York, NY: Screening of United in Anger

7/7: Washington, DC: Team Up To Fight AIDS Night

7/9: Staten Island, NY: A "Health Living" Luncheon for People Living with HIV and AIDS

7/9, New York, NY: Spiritual HIV Support Dinner Forum for all affected by HIV and AIDS

7/10, New York, NY: 2012 Annual Community Meeting -- New York City Faith In Action Coalition

Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards

Make the Pledge to Visit Your Members of Congress!

HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think?

It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer

Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop

Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS!

Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights

Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research

Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials

Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

July 10, 2012

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.html

July 10, 2012

Visit the Forums

"Hot Topics" Library

Change/Update Subscription

Living With HIV/AIDS

Mixed-Status Couples

Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns

HIV/AIDS Treatment

Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS

Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs

HIV & STD Testing

Strange but True

What Happens if I Continue to Live Without HIV Meds?

I have been HIV positive since 1997 and have not thought about it much. I refuse to take meds, and am just planning to go when the time comes. Recently I've been feeling fatigued and experiencing other symptoms. How much time would you guess I have left if I continue to not take HIV meds?

Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum

What's the Risk in Barebacking With a Poz Bottom?

I recently met a man who is HIV positive; I'm HIV negative. We want to have sex, and I'd like to do it bareback. I'll be the top. Am I at risk for HIV if we engage in bareback sex, even if he is the receptive partner and his viral load is undetectable?

Cordova responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

If My Tiny Company Gets a Health Plan, Will My Boss Know My Status?

I work for a small company that doesn't offer health insurance, though they did increase my salary to compensate. I'm still covered under my parents' insurance. However, my employer is thinking about a company policy. If the company does a group plan, will they be able to figure out my HIV status? Would it be better for me to shop for my own coverage?

Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forum

Detail from:

"Going to the Land of the Dead," 1983

Copy Berg

Visit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, "Overnight Wave (For Arthur)," is curated by Rick Herron.

Is There an HIV Med Regimen That Doesn't Affect the Liver?

My boyfriend has had HIV for 21 years and an AIDS diagnosis for 10 years. He's had a hard time finding a cocktail that works for him as he's allergic to sulfa drugs. For 10 months he's been on Combivir (AZT/3TC), Norvir (ritonavir) and Reyataz (atazanavir) which brought his viral load to undetectable and his CD4 count, which was 64 a month ago, has been slowly climbing. A week ago they took him off all meds due to off-the-chart liver enzyme levels. Is there an HIV med regimen he could take that doesn't contain sulfa drugs and won't harm his liver?

Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum

Why Is the Clinic Waiting for Me to Get Sicker?

I'm a 22-year-old female. Late last year I went for an HIV test, as I usually did every three months, and this time I found out I was HIV positive. My first lab tests showed I had a CD4 count of 451. My local clinic told me to come back in three months as my CD4 count didn't indicate that I should start HIV treatment. Three months later my CD4 count had increased to 699, and the folks at the clinic said the same thing as before. I'm worried that if I wait too long to start taking meds, I might get sick and my CD4 count really will drop. What should I do?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Is Now an OK Time to Switch Meds?

I was diagnosed with HIV in November 2011. I started taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) but had to stop due to severe rash. I switched to Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Isentress (raltegravir) three weeks ago, but side effects are getting worse and I can tell this isn't going to be the long-term regimen for me. Would it be possible to switch the Epzicom in favor of Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) now without difficulties? Should I give this new regimen more time?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do CMV and High CD4 Counts Ever Go Together?

I've been having some vision problems. I had my eyes checked twice and the eye doctor said I have nothing to worry about, that I just need to wear glasses and that's it. However, the person from whom I acquired HIV also had CMV (cytomegalovirus), which I know can cause blindness. Now I'm really scared. Do I need to worry about CMV, even though my CD4 count is over 800?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Can I Go 9 Months Between CD4 Count Tests?

I was recently told by my doctor that he will only test my CD4 count every nine months, as opposed to the viral load test which will be taken every three months. He told me this has to do with new health insurance restrictions. Have you heard of this before? Should I be worried that my CD4 count isn't being tested more often?

Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum

Confused After Testing Positive: What's Going to Happen to Me?

(A recent post from the "I Just Tested Positive" board)

I'm an international student in the U.S., and I tested HIV+ a few days ago. ... My getting tested just came up in a conversation I was having with a guy I just met and I told him it had been a while since I went for an HIV test (close to 12 months). He felt it was a good idea I get checked and promised to accompany me. We went in the next day and the preliminary results came out positive. ...

I went into shock and told my friend immediately because we had just had unprotected sex the night before. Luckily, he has been very supportive ... I am an African national and I am very aware of the stigma around HIV, or worse for being gay. ... I do not know what to do, how to handle telling people ... It's just so confusing to me. I sit and play different scenarios in my head of what lies ahead. Can someone, anyone, please give me some advice? -- LovingLife

Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!

To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an email address) -- click here to get started!

How Accurate Is the Oral Fluid HIV Test?

Is the OraQuick ADVANCE rapid HIV test, which uses oral mucosal transudate, a reliable test?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

My Dog's Menstrual Chew Toy: What's the Risk?

Yesterday my dog was chewing on a used tampon she got out of a stranger's trash can. She licked me on the face and lips before I knew what she had done. She might have licked me in the mouth! Am I at risk for HIV from that tampon? I am so worried!

R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

Worried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?

The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.

To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.

About This E-mail

This e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....

Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....

Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.

Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:

The Body's E-Mail Updates

Remedy Health Media, LLC

250 West 57th Street

New York, NY 10107

7/6 - 7/12: New York, NY: Screening of United in Anger

7/11, New York, NY: A Sacred NYC HIV & AIDS Conversation

7/12, New York, NY: Criminalization, Incarceration & HIV

Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards

Make the Pledge to Visit Your Members of Congress!

HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think?

It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer

Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop

Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS!

Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights

Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research

Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials

Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

July 10, 2012

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.html

July 10, 2012

Visit the Forums

"Hot Topics" Library

Change/Update Subscription

Living With HIV/AIDS

Mixed-Status Couples

Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns

HIV/AIDS Treatment

Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS

Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs

HIV & STD Testing

Strange but True

What Happens if I Continue to Live Without HIV Meds?

I have been HIV positive since 1997 and have not thought about it much. I refuse to take meds, and am just planning to go when the time comes. Recently I've been feeling fatigued and experiencing other symptoms. How much time would you guess I have left if I continue to not take HIV meds?

Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum

What's the Risk in Barebacking With a Poz Bottom?

I recently met a man who is HIV positive; I'm HIV negative. We want to have sex, and I'd like to do it bareback. I'll be the top. Am I at risk for HIV if we engage in bareback sex, even if he is the receptive partner and his viral load is undetectable?

Cordova responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

If My Tiny Company Gets a Health Plan, Will My Boss Know My Status?

I work for a small company that doesn't offer health insurance, though they did increase my salary to compensate. I'm still covered under my parents' insurance. However, my employer is thinking about a company policy. If the company does a group plan, will they be able to figure out my HIV status? Would it be better for me to shop for my own coverage?

Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forum

Detail from:

"Going to the Land of the Dead," 1983

Copy Berg

Visit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, "Overnight Wave (For Arthur)," is curated by Rick Herron.

Is There an HIV Med Regimen That Doesn't Affect the Liver?

My boyfriend has had HIV for 21 years and an AIDS diagnosis for 10 years. He's had a hard time finding a cocktail that works for him as he's allergic to sulfa drugs. For 10 months he's been on Combivir (AZT/3TC), Norvir (ritonavir) and Reyataz (atazanavir) which brought his viral load to undetectable and his CD4 count, which was 64 a month ago, has been slowly climbing. A week ago they took him off all meds due to off-the-chart liver enzyme levels. Is there an HIV med regimen he could take that doesn't contain sulfa drugs and won't harm his liver?

Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forum

Why Is the Clinic Waiting for Me to Get Sicker?

I'm a 22-year-old female. Late last year I went for an HIV test, as I usually did every three months, and this time I found out I was HIV positive. My first lab tests showed I had a CD4 count of 451. My local clinic told me to come back in three months as my CD4 count didn't indicate that I should start HIV treatment. Three months later my CD4 count had increased to 699, and the folks at the clinic said the same thing as before. I'm worried that if I wait too long to start taking meds, I might get sick and my CD4 count really will drop. What should I do?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Is Now an OK Time to Switch Meds?

I was diagnosed with HIV in November 2011. I started taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) but had to stop due to severe rash. I switched to Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Isentress (raltegravir) three weeks ago, but side effects are getting worse and I can tell this isn't going to be the long-term regimen for me. Would it be possible to switch the Epzicom in favor of Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) now without difficulties? Should I give this new regimen more time?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Do CMV and High CD4 Counts Ever Go Together?

I've been having some vision problems. I had my eyes checked twice and the eye doctor said I have nothing to worry about, that I just need to wear glasses and that's it. However, the person from whom I acquired HIV also had CMV (cytomegalovirus), which I know can cause blindness. Now I'm really scared. Do I need to worry about CMV, even though my CD4 count is over 800?

Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

Can I Go 9 Months Between CD4 Count Tests?

I was recently told by my doctor that he will only test my CD4 count every nine months, as opposed to the viral load test which will be taken every three months. He told me this has to do with new health insurance restrictions. Have you heard of this before? Should I be worried that my CD4 count isn't being tested more often?

Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum

Confused After Testing Positive: What's Going to Happen to Me?

(A recent post from the "I Just Tested Positive" board)

I'm an international student in the U.S., and I tested HIV+ a few days ago. ... My getting tested just came up in a conversation I was having with a guy I just met and I told him it had been a while since I went for an HIV test (close to 12 months). He felt it was a good idea I get checked and promised to accompany me. We went in the next day and the preliminary results came out positive. ...

I went into shock and told my friend immediately because we had just had unprotected sex the night before. Luckily, he has been very supportive ... I am an African national and I am very aware of the stigma around HIV, or worse for being gay. ... I do not know what to do, how to handle telling people ... It's just so confusing to me. I sit and play different scenarios in my head of what lies ahead. Can someone, anyone, please give me some advice? -- LovingLife

Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!

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How Accurate Is the Oral Fluid HIV Test?

Is the OraQuick ADVANCE rapid HIV test, which uses oral mucosal transudate, a reliable test?

ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum

My Dog's Menstrual Chew Toy: What's the Risk?

Yesterday my dog was chewing on a used tampon she got out of a stranger's trash can. She licked me on the face and lips before I knew what she had done. She might have licked me in the mouth! Am I at risk for HIV from that tampon? I am so worried!

R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum

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July 17, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 17 Jul 2012 18:51:45 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJuly 17, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSUnderstanding HIV/AIDS LabsHIV/STD Testing & TransmissionStrange but True To Drink or Not to Drink Grapefruit Juice: What's the Final Verdict?It seems for years I have heard that grapefruit juice is to be avoided if one has HIV and is taking meds. The forum is filled with listings concerning this question. Most answers deal with specific medications, but I'm confused as to which ones. I take Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) along with many other meds and supplements. I bought and enjoyed a bottle of grapefruit tangerine juice. Will it do me harm? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum What Can My Baby-Making Partner Do to Increase His Sperm Count?I'm trying to have a baby with a partner who's HIV positive. We're doing sperm washing and cervical cup insemination to conceive, but it's not cheap so I want to maximize our one or two tries by enhancing his sperm quality. Do you know of any supplements or techniques that have been shown to increase sperm count and motility? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum Can I Keep My Social Security Benefits While in Graduate School?I've just been accepted to a graduate school program, and they offered me a $10,000 teaching assistantship. I have been on social security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI) for over 15 years and don't want to get the school's insurance. Is it possible for me to stay on SSDI and SSI while in school?Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum Should I Continue Pursuing a Career in Nursing?I'm HIV positive and a nursing student. Do you think my HIV status will stand in the way of my being hired as a nurse after graduating and obtaining my license? Should I choose another career path, or will nursing be as safe as any other career? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumDetail from:"Wave, 0-9 (Detail #3)," 1996 BlanchonVisit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, " Overnight Wave (For Arthur), " is curated by Rick Herron. What Is an Appropriate Level of HIV Care?I tested positive for HIV two years ago. I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) and have an undetectable viral load, a CD4 count of about 500 and a CD4 percentage of 35. When I see my HIV specialist, what kind of exam should be done? How often should I go? I currently go every six months and my appointments only last 15 minutes. Usually we go over my lab results, my doctor says "You're doing great!" and that about covers it. He hasn't done a complete physical exam since I was diagnosed. Does this sound appropriate, considering my condition? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Do My Depression Meds Interact With My HIV Meds?I currently take Intelence (etravirine), Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC). Can I take trazodone for depression along with this regimen? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Why Am I Having Trouble Walking and Speaking Clearly?I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2010. My CD4 count was 339 in February of this year and I started taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC). Lately I've noticed my speech is slurred and I stagger a lot when walking. I can't jump or run, either. Could these effects be related to my HIV meds? Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forumMore Questions About HIV/AIDS Treatment:Would Taking Supplements Help Me Stay in Good Health?Timing Med Doses: How Should I Go About Switching?Can a Drug Test Tell the Difference Between Marinol and Marijuana? Does Being a Bottom Put Me at Risk for Peritonitis?I have HIV and my new partner does as well. I am also on peritoneal dialysis, and about six weeks into our relationship I came down with peritonitis. Just days after completing a 21-day antibiotic regimen, I ended up in the hospital with another bout of peritonitis. One of my doctors suggested abstaining from sexual relations for about a month to allow my body to recover. Do you think that being the receptive partner in anal sex puts me at a high risk of developing recurrent peritonitis? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Mental Health and HIV" forum How Can I Treat a Serious Infection if I Have Drug Allergies?I was injected with Bio-Alcamid (poly-Alkyl-Imide) in 2007 to treat facial wasting. Over the past four years the implant has dropped, and several days ago the spot above the implant was tender and soon became red and swollen. I would like to have the infection treated with antibiotics without affecting the implant, but my doctor doesn't seem to know what to do. I'm also allergic to penicillin and sulfa-based drugs. How should I manage this infection?Gerald Pierone, M.D., responds in the "Facial Wasting" forumMy Man Is Back After Rejecting Me: Why Do I Keep Pushing Him Away?(A recent post from the " Relationships and Dating " board)I started seeing this real nice guy a month or so before I tested positive, and informed him the same day of my test results. I thought or hoped that he would be more supportive when I told him, but he wasn't. Said that he never wanted to talk to me again and not to contact him again, which I didn't. I was hoping that if I gave him some time that he would come back around, which he did ... He's also tested negative, but here's the problem. He's willing to accept me the way I am, and wants me to be a part of his life again. I feel the same way, and know I'm very fortunate that he still loves me the way I am, but it's like subconsciously I keep trying to push him away and it wasn't like that before I tested positive. ...Does anybody have any idea why I'd do this? Do you think I just need to give it time? I know that I don't want to lose him again! -- thebird1959Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an email address) -- click here to get started! Why Isn't My Viral Load Higher in Acute Infection?I was recently diagnosed HIV positive after being notified anonymously that I'd come in contact with the virus in the last two months. I'd had zero symptoms, with the exception of slightly swollen lymph nodes under my neck around the time of infection. I'm confused with my lab results: a CD4 count of 389 with a CD4 percentage of 38 and a viral load of 14,000. I'm told people in the acute stage of HIV infection develop a similar low CD4 count then rebound, but their viral load is usually much higher than mine. What's the explanation for this?Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum Does Syphilis Increase My Chance of Transmitting HIV?I am an HIV-positive bottom with an undetectable viral load. I recently discovered that I have syphilis from a partner I had about a year before my current boyfriend. I had no symptoms and no idea I had it. Does my having syphilis increase the probability of passing HIV to my current boyfriend, who is HIV negative and a total top, when we have unprotected anal sex? If there are no sores, can syphilis still be transmitted? If so, how? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum Could My Childhood Big Fish Story End With HIV?When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I was at a fishing expo with my family. There was a fish-gutting ceremony going on at one point. I wandered off and hid underneath a man's cutting board just as he was chopping the head off a fish. I looked up just in time to be covered with a cascade of fish blood, some of which made its way into my right eye. I now suffer from a lazy right eye. Could this have something to do with HIV coming into my body when fish blood made contact with my cornea? B. Hightow-Weidman, M.D., M.P.H., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 7/23, Washington, DC: AIDS 2012 - Satellite on Food Nutrition Support in HIV care Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards All Hands on Deck for The AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall Make the Pledge to Visit Your Members of Congress! HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think? It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights

July 17, 2012

From: "News at The Body" <update@...>Date: 17 Jul 2012 18:51:45 -0400<nelsonvergel@...>Reply "News at The Body" <update@...>Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" ForumsIf you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.htmlJuly 17, 2012Visit the Forums"Hot Topics" LibraryChange/Update SubscriptionLiving With HIV/AIDSMixed-Status CouplesInsurance, Workplace & Legal ConcernsHIV/AIDS TreatmentOther Health Issues HIV/AIDSUnderstanding HIV/AIDS LabsHIV/STD Testing & TransmissionStrange but True To Drink or Not to Drink Grapefruit Juice: What's the Final Verdict?It seems for years I have heard that grapefruit juice is to be avoided if one has HIV and is taking meds. The forum is filled with listings concerning this question. Most answers deal with specific medications, but I'm confused as to which ones. I take Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) along with many other meds and supplements. I bought and enjoyed a bottle of grapefruit tangerine juice. Will it do me harm? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum What Can My Baby-Making Partner Do to Increase His Sperm Count?I'm trying to have a baby with a partner who's HIV positive. We're doing sperm washing and cervical cup insemination to conceive, but it's not cheap so I want to maximize our one or two tries by enhancing his sperm quality. Do you know of any supplements or techniques that have been shown to increase sperm count and motility? Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum Can I Keep My Social Security Benefits While in Graduate School?I've just been accepted to a graduate school program, and they offered me a $10,000 teaching assistantship. I have been on social security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI) for over 15 years and don't want to get the school's insurance. Is it possible for me to stay on SSDI and SSI while in school?Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds in the "Legal Issues and HIV" forum Should I Continue Pursuing a Career in Nursing?I'm HIV positive and a nursing student. Do you think my HIV status will stand in the way of my being hired as a nurse after graduating and obtaining my license? Should I choose another career path, or will nursing be as safe as any other career? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forumDetail from:"Wave, 0-9 (Detail #3)," 1996 BlanchonVisit the July 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, " Overnight Wave (For Arthur), " is curated by Rick Herron. What Is an Appropriate Level of HIV Care?I tested positive for HIV two years ago. I take Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) and have an undetectable viral load, a CD4 count of about 500 and a CD4 percentage of 35. When I see my HIV specialist, what kind of exam should be done? How often should I go? I currently go every six months and my appointments only last 15 minutes. Usually we go over my lab results, my doctor says "You're doing great!" and that about covers it. He hasn't done a complete physical exam since I was diagnosed. Does this sound appropriate, considering my condition? Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Do My Depression Meds Interact With My HIV Meds?I currently take Intelence (etravirine), Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC). Can I take trazodone for depression along with this regimen? ph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum Why Am I Having Trouble Walking and Speaking Clearly?I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2010. My CD4 count was 339 in February of this year and I started taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC). Lately I've noticed my speech is slurred and I stagger a lot when walking. I can't jump or run, either. Could these effects be related to my HIV meds? Henry, M.D., responds in the "Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment" forumMore Questions About HIV/AIDS Treatment:Would Taking Supplements Help Me Stay in Good Health?Timing Med Doses: How Should I Go About Switching?Can a Drug Test Tell the Difference Between Marinol and Marijuana? Does Being a Bottom Put Me at Risk for Peritonitis?I have HIV and my new partner does as well. I am also on peritoneal dialysis, and about six weeks into our relationship I came down with peritonitis. Just days after completing a 21-day antibiotic regimen, I ended up in the hospital with another bout of peritonitis. One of my doctors suggested abstaining from sexual relations for about a month to allow my body to recover. Do you think that being the receptive partner in anal sex puts me at a high risk of developing recurrent peritonitis? Fawcett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., responds in the "Mental Health and HIV" forum How Can I Treat a Serious Infection if I Have Drug Allergies?I was injected with Bio-Alcamid (poly-Alkyl-Imide) in 2007 to treat facial wasting. Over the past four years the implant has dropped, and several days ago the spot above the implant was tender and soon became red and swollen. I would like to have the infection treated with antibiotics without affecting the implant, but my doctor doesn't seem to know what to do. I'm also allergic to penicillin and sulfa-based drugs. How should I manage this infection?Gerald Pierone, M.D., responds in the "Facial Wasting" forumMy Man Is Back After Rejecting Me: Why Do I Keep Pushing Him Away?(A recent post from the " Relationships and Dating " board)I started seeing this real nice guy a month or so before I tested positive, and informed him the same day of my test results. I thought or hoped that he would be more supportive when I told him, but he wasn't. Said that he never wanted to talk to me again and not to contact him again, which I didn't. I was hoping that if I gave him some time that he would come back around, which he did ... He's also tested negative, but here's the problem. He's willing to accept me the way I am, and wants me to be a part of his life again. I feel the same way, and know I'm very fortunate that he still loves me the way I am, but it's like subconsciously I keep trying to push him away and it wasn't like that before I tested positive. ...Does anybody have any idea why I'd do this? Do you think I just need to give it time? I know that I don't want to lose him again! -- thebird1959Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own!To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an email address) -- click here to get started! Why Isn't My Viral Load Higher in Acute Infection?I was recently diagnosed HIV positive after being notified anonymously that I'd come in contact with the virus in the last two months. I'd had zero symptoms, with the exception of slightly swollen lymph nodes under my neck around the time of infection. I'm confused with my lab results: a CD4 count of 389 with a CD4 percentage of 38 and a viral load of 14,000. I'm told people in the acute stage of HIV infection develop a similar low CD4 count then rebound, but their viral load is usually much higher than mine. What's the explanation for this?Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum Does Syphilis Increase My Chance of Transmitting HIV?I am an HIV-positive bottom with an undetectable viral load. I recently discovered that I have syphilis from a partner I had about a year before my current boyfriend. I had no symptoms and no idea I had it. Does my having syphilis increase the probability of passing HIV to my current boyfriend, who is HIV negative and a total top, when we have unprotected anal sex? If there are no sores, can syphilis still be transmitted? If so, how? Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum Could My Childhood Big Fish Story End With HIV?When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I was at a fishing expo with my family. There was a fish-gutting ceremony going on at one point. I wandered off and hid underneath a man's cutting board just as he was chopping the head off a fish. I looked up just in time to be covered with a cascade of fish blood, some of which made its way into my right eye. I now suffer from a lazy right eye. Could this have something to do with HIV coming into my body when fish blood made contact with my cornea? B. Hightow-Weidman, M.D., M.P.H., responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forumWorried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth.To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@... to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information.About This E-mailThis e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@....Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop.Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at:The Body's E-Mail UpdatesRemedy Health Media, LLC250 West 57th StreetNew York, NY 10107 7/23, Washington, DC: AIDS 2012 - Satellite on Food Nutrition Support in HIV care Add Your Own Event on Our Bulletin Boards All Hands on Deck for The AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall Make the Pledge to Visit Your Members of Congress! HIV Accusations and Prosecutions: What Do You Think? It's the Best Kept Secret We Need to Share: There's a Totally Free and Public International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. This Summer Join the Black AIDS Institute at the AIDS 2012 International Community Science and Treatment Pre-Conference Workshop Train and Triumph With Team to End AIDS! Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights

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