Re: frustrated ... 17 years after

[Guest guest]

Dear Frustrated:I will write some comments below :On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 4:17 AM, dcwvemail <dcwvemail@...> wrote:

I've been poz for coming up on 17 years and am really frustrated.

VL undetectable, CD4 275 as it's been for 17 years

on Prezista, Truvada, Ziagen, low-dose Norvir

- acid reflux(held at bay with omeprazole)

- high cholesterol(maintained with crestor)

- ridiculously high tri-glycerides always around 1500(fenofibrate, Lovaza but no help)

- depression(sometimes OK with paroxetine)

- allergies(controlled with hydroxyzine) : What does your genotype test look like? If you can switch to a Norvir free combo, that would reduce your extreme issues of metabolic syndrome.  Are you consuming a lot of simple carbohydrates also?

Ziagen has been linked to depression and anxiety in some small reports. I hated the way I felt on that drug myself.  Do you have kidney problems that do not allow you to be on Viread?  

- double hip replacement 5 years ago at age 39 due to AVN: that is typical for those who took Crixivan, smoked a lot, or took high doses of corticoid steroids or Megace in the past. 

Within the past year ...

- high blood pressure(maintained with Losartan)

- type 2 Diabetes(just started Metformin)

- severe financial difficulty: Your metabolic syndrome is getting worse.  Definitely stay on the Metformin and the Losartan since they are great metabolically. You did not mention your height and weight and if you exercise. But taking the Norvir out of your combo will help since some people are very sensitive to even 100 mg per day of that drug.

I would also have your hormones checked (thyroid and testosterone).  Take 2000 mg of carnitine (1000 twice a day) to see if you can see improvement in lipids and outlook. Exercise and cut your simple carb intake to a minimum.

I'm finding it extremely difficult to follow my meds regimen.

I'm just simply tired and the number of pills it seem to be a meal alone.

My Dr doesn't have any options since I need to be on everything?

Sorry to babble!  Any thoughts on help?I am willing to help you. People consult with me on the phone weeklyI am so sorry that you are going through all this. It may be multifactorial and it would take some work.  If you want to fill out the form on this page and send it to me, I can see what else I can suggest:  http://nelsonvergel.com/contact.htm   I usually ask for a donation for Program for Wellness Restoration for my time.

[Guest guest]

I understand where you are coming from, believe me. It seems they have a pill for everything. I get so tired of taking pills .. trying to remember when I last took them. Of course the docs that prescribe them have never taken them themselves, they rely on literature to know symptoms, if not some fancy conference they write off on their taxes on a yearly basis. Love to find a doc that takes care of the whole person rather than just symptoms. From: dcwvemail <dcwvemail@...> To:

Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 5:17 AM Subject: frustrated ... 17 years after

I've been poz for coming up on 17 years and am really frustrated.

VL undetectable, CD4 275 as it's been for 17 years

on Prezista, Truvada, Ziagen, low-dose Norvir

- acid reflux(held at bay with omeprazole)

- high cholesterol(maintained with crestor)

- ridiculously high tri-glycerides always around 1500(fenofibrate, Lovaza but no help)

- depression(sometimes OK with paroxetine)

- allergies(controlled with hydroxyzine)

- double hip replacement 5 years ago at age 39 due to AVN

Within the past year ...

- high blood pressure(maintained with Losartan)

- type 2 Diabetes(just started Metformin)

- severe financial difficulty

I'm finding it extremely difficult to follow my meds regimen.

I'm just simply tired and the number of pills it seem to be a meal alone.

My Dr doesn't have any options since I need to be on everything?

Sorry to babble! Any thoughts on help?

[Guest guest]

Hey,

Reading the list of drugs and complications, it's obvious that you have a

complex history, and probably a complicated resistance profile.

Are you seen by an HIV specialist? If not, why not get a second opinion from

an experienced MD? Is there a medical school with a specialized HIV research

unit? That would be another resource.

I would not recommend changes without a full understanding of your long,

complicated clinical history.

JB

[Guest guest]

Excellent information ! Like this gentleman I have also had double hip

replacement (due to AVN)and simply thoughtit was due

to HIV because I didn't fall into any of the other categories

and my Dr. didn't know if my past HIV meds contributed to it.

NOW I have an answer....Crixivan! I was on it for 7 years.

I also have high cholesterol but that is due to Kaletra.

Fortunately I do not suffer from any other conditions. I have

very high CD4 count of 948 and undetectable v/l for over 4 years.

I am on Kaletra and Truvada after my ID Dr did a genotype so

I highly recommend that's what dcw does.

You gave him such great resources and alternatives, plus

understanding what and why these conditions are occuring.

You are truly a blessing :-)

Nena

>

> > I've been poz for coming up on 17 years and am really frustrated.

> >

> > VL undetectable, CD4 275 as it's been for 17 years

> > on Prezista, Truvada, Ziagen, low-dose Norvir

> > - acid reflux(held at bay with omeprazole)

> > - high cholesterol(maintained with crestor)

> > - ridiculously high tri-glycerides always around 1500(fenofibrate, Lovaza

> > but no help)

> > - depression(sometimes OK with paroxetine)

> > - allergies(controlled with hydroxyzine)

> >

> : What does your genotype test look like? If you can switch to a

> Norvir free combo, that would reduce your extreme issues of metabolic

> syndrome. Are you consuming a lot of simple carbohydrates also?

> Ziagen has been linked to depression and anxiety in some small reports. I

> hated the way I felt on that drug myself. Do you have kidney problems that

> do not allow you to be on Viread?

>

> > - double hip replacement 5 years ago at age 39 due to AVN

> >

> : that is typical for those who took Crixivan, smoked a lot, or took

> high doses of corticoid steroids or Megace in the past.

>

> >

> > Within the past year ...

> > - high blood pressure(maintained with Losartan)

> > - type 2 Diabetes(just started Metformin)

> > - severe financial difficulty

> >

>

> : Your metabolic syndrome is getting worse. Definitely stay on the

> Metformin and the Losartan since they are great metabolically. You did not

> mention your height and weight and if you exercise. But taking the Norvir

> out of your combo will help since some people are very sensitive to even

> 100 mg per day of that drug.

> I would also have your hormones checked (thyroid and testosterone). Take

> 2000 mg of carnitine (1000 twice a day) to see if you can see improvement

> in lipids and outlook. Exercise and cut your simple carb intake to a

> minimum.

>

> >

> > I'm finding it extremely difficult to follow my meds regimen.

> > I'm just simply tired and the number of pills it seem to be a meal alone.

> > My Dr doesn't have any options since I need to be on everything?

> >

> > Sorry to babble! Any thoughts on help?

> >

>

> I am willing to help you. People consult with me on the phone weekly

>

> I am so sorry that you are going through all this. It may be multifactorial

> and it would take some work. If you want to fill out the form on this page

> and send it to me, I can see what else I can suggest:

> http://nelsonvergel.com/contact.htm I usually ask for a donation for

> Program for Wellness Restoration for my time.

>

>

>