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Author Topic: Facial Lipoatrophy  (Read 3017 times)

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Offline livelife83

  • Member
  • Posts: 34
Facial Lipoatrophy
« on: June 12, 2013, 09:04:54 pm »
Hello Everyone,
It's been a while since I have posted in these Forums. I have been having a problem with Facial Lipoatrophy for about over a year now. I've been on Atripla ever since my diagnosis in late 2010. Aside from the nightmares, Trouble Sleeping and a bit of depression Atripla has helped me achieve Undetectable status and also help raise my CD4 to pretty normal levels. I have been afraid to ask my doctor about the Facial Lipoatrophy because I taught he would think I was just being "Vain". I noticed that my cheeks are more sunken in, and my under eye area is also sunken in. I am very healthy and exercise and eat healthy. The Facial Lipoatrophy is making me very depressed, I feel I look so ugly, and like it's an clear sign that I am poz. Does anyone have any experience with Facial Lipoatrophy while on Atripla? Any Advice on which HAART meds that are better against Lipoatrophy?
Sometimes you have to give up the life you've plan and find the life that's waiting for you.

October 2009- Seroconverted
September 23, 2010 - diagnosed positive +
Labs:
10/10: CD4=156; %=18; VL= 500,000
10/08/10=started Atripla

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Facial Lipoatrophy
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2013, 09:19:36 pm »
Hi. 
Here are some thoughts -
1) doctors are expert in these things, and we are not. Try not to keep questions from your doctor.  He/she is not there to judge your character.  It is extremely important to your own mind, as well as your health, that you let doctors investigate and give their professional judgements about what may or may not be a health concern.

People are going to explain to you, in this thread, that its unlikely that you have lipo. And that's true. Its highly unlikely.  But none of us, and neither youself, can really be sure.  You put this question to your doctor and get an opinion.  If the doctor says its not lipo, then you go see a mental health professional, if you can't accept the doctor's expertise.

2) If you have insomnia and nightmares, then you need to tell your doctor, especially if these concerns are cutting your quality of life...  You might well need a change in drugs, if that is possible...

3) Facial Lipoatrophy is making me very depressed, I feel I look so ugly, and like it's an clear sign that I am poz.   
Seems that you have confirmed for yourself that you have lipoatrophy but this confirmation is not possible.
ATRIPLA can make you feel depressed!! 
Also, this statement points back to 1) - you might need some attention to your mental health. Nobody needs to go around feeling ugly.  There are plenty of people in this world who, in fact, do have rare or unusual appearances, but they don't have to feel ugly and depressed about it...

4) You probably are imagining that you have visible "clear signs" that you have HIV but this could easily be a misperception of your body, compounded by some shame or unresolved fears about being HIV+ in this world.  Think about that.  Might point, again, to a need to talk this out with a therapist.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline livelife83

  • Member
  • Posts: 34
Re: Facial Lipoatrophy
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2013, 12:26:02 am »
thank you for your reply Mecch, I have already scheduled an appointment with both my doctor and Therapist. I see the changes of the fat lost in my face, and I think that is best to ask my doctor on these circumstances. I was also curious to see if anyone in the Forums had any of these problems with Atripla, The reason I ask is because I spoke with someone a while ago in my doctors office who said he had these issues with Atripla and he switched to a different medication because of Wasting which was diagnosed by the Doctor.
Sometimes you have to give up the life you've plan and find the life that's waiting for you.

October 2009- Seroconverted
September 23, 2010 - diagnosed positive +
Labs:
10/10: CD4=156; %=18; VL= 500,000
10/08/10=started Atripla

Offline darryaz

  • Member
  • Posts: 450
Re: Facial Lipoatrophy
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2013, 08:10:45 am »
You're in your mid-20's.  You're going through natural metabolic changes.  This has nothing to do with HIV meds and everything to do with AGING.

Go ahead and ask your doctor (I TOLD mine how vain I am and he explained that Atripla is NOT known to cause lipoatrophy - I have seen this confirmed in other articles).

I have a son who is around your age.  He lives far away so I don't get to see him often.  The last time he sent pictures it took me a few seconds to recognize him because he's not the chubby-faced little kid he used to be.  His face is changing as well.

If you're this worried in your 20's just wait until you're pushing 50!!!!  :P

Oh, and PLEASE don't trust anything you hear in the waiting room at the doctor's office.  Wait to talk to the doctor for ACCURATE information.
« Last Edit: June 13, 2013, 08:20:58 am by darryaz »

 


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