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Author Topic: A positive side to lipodystrophy!  (Read 11393 times)

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Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« on: December 11, 2008, 09:17:58 pm »
Yep, I finally found a positive side to having lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy.

I recently tested someone who, shall we say, is pretty sexually active. Well, at least more than I am. ::)

Anyway, he came in for the results today, gratefully still virus free. While we were talking about safer sex, condom use, oral vs. anal sex, etc., I turned to pick up some paperwork for him and he noticed the lumps on the back of my head.

Actually, they are at the base of the skull on either side behind the ear. This young man asked about my lumps. He expressed concern something was wrong. He seemed fearful I had cancer or some such.

Nice fellow, at least he didn't immediately start poking at the lumps as others have.

I calmly showed him the lumps, then the hump at the top of my spine, then the gut, which he thought was from beer until I enlightened him, then the horsecollar neck and chipmunk cheeks.

I took the opportunity to educate the youngun regarding HIV, HIV meds and possible side effects.

When I told him the lumps, bumps, humps, etc., were a side effect of more than a decade of taking HIV meds, he turned pale and gave me the tired line, "But I thought it was easy to treat HIV today?"

It is, said I. But that doesn't mean its always easy to live with the treatment.

I asked him why he thought I was always bugging him about using condoms and taking care of himself.

I think I got the point across this time. He filled up on condoms and lube before leaving and asked me how to use dental dams for rimming.

See, there is a bright side to everything.

HUGS,

Mark

"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2008, 09:24:37 pm »
Mark, you should go on Oprah :)
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline jgs

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Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2008, 09:48:40 pm »
Mark...
     Good for you!  This is absolutely the best way, however involved, to wake younger people up to problems that they face if infected.  Beats the heck out of billboards and posters and all the rest.  Bravo!
                                                                                                                                 john

Offline Ann

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Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2008, 07:48:31 pm »
Fantastic story, Mark. Sounds like you stopped one young man from joining our ranks. That's wonderful! Thank you.

Hugs,
Ann
xxx
Condoms are a girl's best friend

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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline OneTampa

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  • "Butterflies are free."
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2008, 07:51:21 pm »
Excellent post.  I bet he won't forget that S.A.T. (Show and Tell)!
"He is my oldest child. The shy and retiring one over there with the Haitian headdress serving pescaíto frito."

Offline leit

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Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2008, 03:45:06 pm »

"But I thought it was easy to treat HIV today"

Great "aztecan"!  :)

At this point, I fear that no educational campaign, but only "show and tell", may partly counter the widespread and completely mistaken belief in the "manageable HIV-disease".
« Last Edit: December 14, 2008, 07:56:41 pm by leit »

Offline Jeffreyj

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  • Posts: 1,403
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2008, 05:34:44 pm »
One down, 5 billion to go! Great job Marc, you DA man!
Positive since 1985

Offline YaKaMein

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  • Posts: 368
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2008, 12:27:38 am »
Am glad there's an useful side of unexpected body changes. Must be why i have silver highlights on my temples.
Happy holidaze to ya Mark and everyone else!! YaKa
09/11 Endocrine Consult
08/11 CD4 328 14.9% VL 0
 Disc'd Bactrim DEXA -3.1 Tscore
03/11 CD4 338 14.7% VL 0
11/10 CD4 300 14.3% VL 0 <20copies
07/10 CD4 336 14.0% VL 0 DEXA -2.7 Tscore
03/10 CD4 308 13.4% VL 0 Vit D normal
01/10 Began FOTO
11/09 CD4 274 13.7% VL 0 Chol 173 Trig 131
07/09 CD4 324 13.5% VL 0 DEXA -3.1 Tscore lumbar
03/09 CD4 207 10.9% VL 0
11/08 CD4 227 10.3% VL 0 Chol 176 Trig 156
04/08 CD4 228 9.5% VL 0
01/08 CD4 194 9.0% VL 0
09/07 CD4 176 8.3% VL 0
03/07 CD4 130 9.5% VL 0 Chol 261  Trig 227
12/06 CD4 109 6.4% VL 0
09/06 CD4  88 5.5% VL und desens'd rtd to Bactrim
08/06  Began Atripla
07/06 CD4  59 5.0% VL 145 Chol 117 Trig 104
06/06  Bactrim rash, X2 Dapsone
 EFV & Truvada Chol 128 Trig 131
05/06 CD4  6 (2.0%) VL 78667 only V179D mutation Dx PC MAC

Offline Jeffreyj

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Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2009, 11:47:44 am »
Mark,
I was just thinking how pissed off I am about my gut. I try to work out a few days a  a week for cardio mostly. My blood pressure is up there so that's the main reason. I thought It would help me lose weight and my guy....no such luck. I really discouraged.

Mark have you heard of any success stories in getting rid of the gut, or at least part of it?
Positive since 1985

Offline aztecan

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  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2009, 01:46:53 pm »
Oh, Jeffrey honey, I'm with you.

I do crunchers on that abdominal (or is that abominable) Nautilus machine with at least 100 pounds extra weight on it.

I have abs - but they don't help. I have gone from a 29 waist to a 34 in just a few years after being thin for most of my life.

At this point, I think all we can do is hope we can lower the blood pressure and lipids so we can stay healthy and active.

I don't hold out much hope for losing the gut - or the humps, and other lumps that make me resemble Jabba the Hut.

I actually switched to an electric razor for my face because the expansion of my neck has made it very difficult to shave with a blade.

Oh well, shit happens I guess.

Let me know if you come up with anything.

HUGS,

Mark

"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline LordBerners

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Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2009, 04:24:15 am »
..."But I thought it was easy to treat HIV today?"

It is, said I. But that doesn't mean its always easy to live with the treatment.

Hah, 'easy to treat'.  Even aside from the many visible side effects (which I suspect bother us elderly types less than vain youth), the real issue about difficulty of treatment seems to me to be access to treatment.  I can't imagine being as blase as your young man apparently is about being able to have access to health care - it is inherently precarious in the US.
Please, just call me Berners.. or Baron.

Offline aztecan

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  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2009, 01:42:23 pm »
I can't imagine being as blase as your young man apparently is about being able to have access to health care - it is inherently precarious in the US.

Yes, I know. I see that a lot. Younger people are usually very healthy and don't usually require many doctor visits. As a result, they have many misconceptions about what the realities of proper care for we Hifivers should be.

As for healthcare in the U.S., it is a sore point with many of us. Some are struggling with Medicare Part D, others with Medicaid limitations and restrictions.

I have high hopes that President Obama will be able to at least start to change some of this. I don't expect miracles or change overnight, but I hope we can at least embark on some improvements.

HUGS,

Mark


"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline LordBerners

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  • Posts: 415
Re: A positive side to lipodystrophy!
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2009, 01:32:02 pm »
I have high hopes that President Obama will be able to at least start to change some of this. I don't expect miracles or change overnight, but I hope we can at least embark on some improvements.

I'd like to share your hopes, aztecan, but I don't.  Such a move would be not only humane but very good depression-fighting economics.  Alas I doubt that the powers behind the throne will allow it - look at how they wittled down the harmless and already inadequately small 'stimulus package'!

Sorry for the attempted thread hijakcing...
Please, just call me Berners.. or Baron.

 


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