Finally a body restored!

[RonG20YRSpoz]

I have just spent a year rebuilding my body after losing 45 pounds from a C. difficile infection I picked up in the hospital while having a minor cyst removal in outpatient surgery.  Well I picked up an intestinal infection from the hospital and ended up being on IV antibiotics and then oral antibiotics for 3 months before the infection went away.  Add to that the HIV meds and I was living in the bathroom for 12 weeks.  I tried testosterone, protein supplements, eating like 3,000 cal/day and would not gain.  Finally after much research found that lots of people were mentioning, especially males, lipoatrophy from Kaletra (females were talking weight gain from Kaletra).  I talked to my doc and we discusssed switching the Kaletra to Isenetress and taking either HGH or Oxandrin and I chose Oxandrin as it builds lean muscle and adds body fat too.  Well now I am ravenous, have gained back 30 pounds, continue to have an undetectable viral load and no side effects from the isenetress.  CD4 up to 397 and 39%.  My face would not regain the fat/collagen loss so I have had 5 Sculptra treatments and I feel great and look better than I did prior to this hospital acquired infection.  Thankfully I do the research and make the suggestions to my doc and she almost always agrees with what I find and will write the prescriptions for the changes.  We make a good team, I worked as a nurse for 20 years and my medical background helps with the research and in dealing with the insurance company and docs.  I am just shocked and happy that I regained the lost weight which I thought was the end when I would look in the mirror and see bones and no muscle/fat on my body.  Oxandrin has worked amazingly and not affected my liver function tests in any way, which was a risk to consider with the HCV.  Just to put my experience out there and although Oxandrin may be an old steroid it has definite impact on protein building and weight gain for those with lipoatrophy.
Good luck to those of you who are fighting the same battle trying to regain lost weight.
Ron

[minismom]

I'm glad you found something that will work for you!  You sound like it not only restored you body, but also your confidence.  BTW, is that YOU in your avitar?  Lookin' really good! 

Here's to continued success and healing of body, mind, and soul.

Mum

[northernguy]

Sounds like you went thru hell.  I was glad to see there's a C.Difficile vaccine in trials! 

[wabut]

Ron,

I just read through your story and found it very interesting.  First off, good for you in gaining the 30 lbs back.  I didn't lose as much, I only lost at the most 10 lbs back in 1999.  I was able to gain that back, but my face, legs, ect... are still a little too thin.  Anyway, I was very intersted in the Oxadrin.  I am constantly trying to gain muscle, weight, etc..  Is this something that is available and that I should talk to my dr. about? 

Another question I had for you is what do you think about the Sculptra?  How long does each injection last?  I would really like to get the lipoatrophy corrected on face the most. 

Hope to hear from you.
Rob