The Lipo Belly and the HGH Studies (aka "when are you due?")

[stella8940]

  Hi ladies, Ok I found out about 2 studies that are going on now, one in Boston and one in Pheonix, I was gonna do the one in Pheonix, but could not commit to long term study.
They are doing studies regarding the Lipo Belly..Finally! When my breasts started going up in size and I had to buy new bras the next cup size up, my Dr. thought I was imagining things... This was several years ago before they had a name for what they now call Lipodystrophy.
I often considered bringing in my old and new bras and husband to verify the phenomenon but never got around to it. LOL!
The Breasts were the first sign, then my skin was ultrasensitive to touch for a long time, then the belly started, and my face (cheeks ) got thin, my butt dissapeared and turned into love handles and my arms and legs look great!
They are using HGH in these studies, Human Growth Hormones. Now I know what your thinking, "Growth?"!
thats what I thought! I dont want any more growth!!
But it does something else other than the term growth, and from what I have followed of these studies it looks hopeful. I just wanted to share that with you, so you could ask your ID docs to look into it for you.
Another part of the studies is a DEXA scan, that measures the FAT that has accumulated internally.
Hugs to all,
Stella 

[netta]

If they can make this belly fat disapear and the hump on my neck fine, Ill try anything!!!lol

[BT65]

I would so much rather take HGH than to get liposuction.  Not that I could afford it.

[Queen Tokelove]

Ok, I am a bit confused..I thought when you had lipo that was when you were wasting? But it is also used to describe having belly fat from meds? I'm not sure if I have that, I mean I had 3 c-sections so I kind of developed a belly on my own. But you are saying it could be my meds? Does Atripla/Ziagen do this? I will definitely be talking to my ID doc about this.

[stella8940]

Queen: I did not mean to confuse you so I hope this clears some of it up for you.
Lipodystrophy and wasting are 2 different things. The lipo is a side effect of the meds, and its a certain kind I cant remember which kind of meds it is but it is a certain class that causes it. The problem is that you take a cocktail of meds that work together doing different things, and you need them all. I would not change my meds because it was causing the lipo. Why?? Because I need to save my med options  for the future incase I become resistant to the ones I am on.
Meds are really important to take when you need them and take them consistently. If you start messing around with meds, the virus has a chance to gain ground, take over, develop resistance and that will narrow your med options.
So I shared that info about the studies with you ladies because hope is what most of us thrive on.
I hope that one day these studies and others like it will bring us back to normal, or somewhere near that, and so for the time being I will just deal with the belly...
 Queen: You can look on different websites for Lipo info, theres a forum on here about it and if you type in Lipodystrophy in your computers search engine you will get a bunch of hits.
And I agree Betty, HGH is way better than someone sucking out fat with a machine!
Im off to move some cows, its a crappy job, but someones gotta do it, LOL!!
Hugs, Stella 

[MOONLIGHT1114]

If only my prescription plan would cover HGH.

But then I'd probably lose my new boobs.   

[BT65]

The class of drugs that causes lipo are the PI's (protease inhibitors).

[MOONLIGHT1114]

I was on PIs (Fortovase) for 6 years, but its also the dreaded d4t that does it, or are they one in the same?

I get mixed up as to whether it was my Videx or Zerit (one of them is d4T) that caused it, but doc said it was one of those.

Whoosh!  Fat moved around like you wouldn't BELIEVE!

I just looked it up..........

ZERIT  =  d4T  =  Stavidudine

Dammit to hell.   

[Rick1523]

Hello. I am a newbie (or so its posted) 

Ive felt like I am the only one in the world dealing with this issues.  I really have no support or knowledge how to navigate the doctors, psych, meds, how they make me feel, and the MAJOR changes my body has gone thru since I started taking meds in 2003 @ time of diagnosis. 

3/03 VL=1.75M and CD4=(218).  Things have improved after changing ID's 3x's, developed sensory/perif neuropathy (bad) in feel and lower extremeties.  Current VL 600 CD4 880.

So, I lost most of my muslce in my upper body/taurso, but shifted either out of my body via bowel movements which were very infrequent but very painful however not aware of what changes my body was going thru until it was too late.  The other fat moved to my mid section---almost like bloating from the medications.

In short, most of my research surrounding HGH in HIV patients has been positive, however I know some one else must know more than me.  Please help..I am ready to buy it for at minimum  90 days.

Rick

[BT65]

Rick, this is a women's forum here, and you're not supposed to be posting.  Please read the welcome thread.