June 11, 2013
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Living With HIV

 How Do I Get Trim and Tone?
I work out four days a week, which includes lifting weights and intense cardio. However, I am having trouble trimming the fat around my mid-section and getting definition in my muscles. What are some diet and exercise tips? Which supplements might help?

Nelson Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

 Should People Living With HIV Take Immune Boosting Supplements?
I am currently on Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) and doing fine, however, I frequently get sick from the flu. I was just diagnosed with bronchitis and I believe it's because of my weak immune system. Is it safe for me to take immune system boosting supplements?


Mixed-Status Couples

 What's the HIV Risk of Unprotected Anal and Oral Sex?
I am dating a spectacular man who happens to be HIV positive. He's on meds and his viral load is undetectable. I am also taking Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to further minimize the transmission risk. We would like to eventually lose the condoms, but I'm still scared. If we stop using condoms, what would the risk be for unprotected anal and oral sex?


 A Hookup Site for Gay Men, Without the Stigma?
thumbnail image for blurb"The Volttage tag line is 'positively sexy guys,' but we don't actually ask HIV status. We believe that everyone should always assume that their partner is positive and proceed accordingly," says Jack Mackenroth, cofounder of Volttage, an HIV-friendly online dating site and community space. "As a result, it's created this amazing, stigma-free community where everyone feels welcome."

Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns

 How Do I Answer Questions About HIV on My Health Insurance Application?
At my new job, they provide group health insurance for all employees. However, part of the application includes a question that asks, "Have you ever been diagnosed with AIDS or AIDS related complex?" How do I answer that? Can they deny me coverage based on my answer?


 Six Reasons Why People Skip Their HIV Meds
thumbnail image for blurbNot all interruptions in treatment are based on things that you can control, especially when it comes to your cash flow. This is just one of several prevalent reasons why people living with HIV may not be able to adhere to their HIV meds.

Join the Conversation

Charles (From New Jersey) on "Getting to Undetectable: People Living With HIV Share Their Stories"

"I was sitting at my desk when my doctor's nurse called me with my lab results. She said my viral load was very low -- so low, in fact, that it didn't matter. So I flat out asked if I was undetectable and she confirmed that I was. Yeah! I asked for the results to be sent to me and when I actually read them, I was so excited."


HIV/AIDS Treatment

 How Does Stribild Compare to Older Regimens?
How does Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/FTC/tenofovir) compare to some of the older regimens? Are the side effects better or worse than regimens with Reyataz (atazanavir) or Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir)?


 How Can I Reduce Nightmares While on HIV Meds?
I was diagnosed positive and am currently taking Epivir (lamivudine, 3TC), Viread (tenofovir) and Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin). My problem is that I can't go a week without experiencing nightmares while I sleep. Also, my feet are swollen. What can I do to alleviate these two problems?


 I Used to Be an AIDS Denialist
virus and red blood cells"No one wants to have HIV," says video blogger Maria Mejia; "If someone's telling you it doesn't exist, a lot of people will say, 'Let me just go with that.'" Maria, who acknowledges that she used to be an "AIDS dissident" and didn't take HIV meds until she almost died -- sounds off against the AIDS denialist movement and shares a letter from a man living with HIV who once vehemently denied the virus' existence.

Escuche a la carta en español de un ex-disidente de SIDA.

Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS

 How Do I Handle Disappointing Lab Results Without Drinking?
I've been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and have been trying to minimize potential triggers to alcohol use. When I drank more frequently, I found that a trigger was receiving low numbers on HIV lab tests. Is this a common response? How can people cope when they feel they are trying everything without success?


 Why Can't I Get a Decent Night's Sleep?
thumbnail image for blurbA good night's sleep is an elusive dream for many people living with HIV. Poor sleep can also make it more challenging to adhere to a pill-taking schedule, which is crucial for successful HIV treatment. This article from Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange gets to the root of sleep troubles for people living with HIV.

News & Opinion

 Will Nanoformulated HIV Meds Be the Next Big Treatment Breakthrough?
I know there are ongoing studies looking for ways to deliver HIV antiretroviral nanoparticles to various tissues in the body. Hopefully this will lead to less frequent doses. Many of these drugs are already approved, so I assume they don't need to pass safety trials. What's the current state and outlook for nanoformulated HIV meds?

Nelson Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum

 What's Hollywood Got to Do With HIV Stigma?
thumbnail image for blurb"If [renowned film director Martin] Scorsese's assertion that entertainment reflects how we see the world is correct," writes Scott McPherson of The Stigma Project, "then why are we surprised that the world is still so uneducated and ill-informed about the current state of the disease?"

Connect With Others

Are We Living With HIV or Just Waiting to Die?

I'm so over the side effects, the doctors, the meds and life in general. I don't feel like I'm living my life. I'm just waiting to die and in my present frame of mind the sooner the better. Are we just kidding ourselves that we can have a "normal" life?  -- philfromoz



Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs

 Will My CD4 Count Rebound After Recent Infection?
In January, I tested negative, but in the middle of April I tested positive. My CD4 count is 350 and my viral load is 85,000. Is my CD4 count already below 500 because I was recently infected? How will my CD4 count respond to starting treatment?


 What Do CD8 Counts Mean For People Living With HIV?
My CD8 count has always been higher than my CD4 count. However, I'm not sure what CD8 counts tell me about how I'm doing. What's a normal CD8 count? Can having too many CD8 cells be a bad thing?


Strange but True




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