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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: ubotts on October 08, 2007, 11:27:29 am

Title: Body changes
Post by: ubotts on October 08, 2007, 11:27:29 am
Hi all, :-[
I started using meds about 5 yrs ago, then last year and a half ago, i noticed the fat changes in my body, and skinny legs and arms..
I was just wondering how long were you on meds before you noticed changes to your body...
Please All...get involved...thank you :-*
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: MOONLIGHT1114 on October 08, 2007, 11:42:02 am
Hi U~

I was on AZT back in 95 - 96 and then the Protease Inhibitors came out.  So, Fall '96 I went on Fortovase.  I didn't have any problems with my body changing during the six years I was on the PIs ('96 - '02).  In the summer of 2002 I had some VL blips and found that I was resistant to the PIs.  In Sept. '02 I started on Sustiva, Zerit and Videx EC.  Its the Zerit that is called d4t, and that drug was the one that caused the most pronounced changes.  I started it 9/02 and by early 2004 I could see changes.  My face was starting to look drawn, where I had been a "cherub" with a full face and some excess weight before.  My chest got bigger and my arms and legs and ass started losing fat.  The worst part was the belly.  I could still suck it in, but where the hell was it coming from?  Was it me being overweight?  Was it being 34 years old?  Or was it the meds?

So, I had been on Sustiva, Videx EC and Zerit starting in 9/02 and switched doctors in 1/05.  My new doc asked about my pot belly and I thought it was from being overweight at 5' 5-1/2" and 175 lbs.  I saw the doc again regularly every three months, and by the time Fall '05 rolled around, she decided to take me off of my current regimen after watching my body change over 9 months in 2005. 

I continued on Sustiva, but dropped Videx EC and the dreaded Zerit.  I was on Sustiva and Truvada, and actually started to "get my face back" in 2006.  My arms and legs are still without much fat, but I was a big girl before, so I think that my legs look pretty good.  My arms are pretty skinny right above the elbows.  My stomach hasn't changed, although I wonder how much worse it would've gotten ahd I stayed on the previous regimen.  I can't help but wonder how much of this is related to approaching middle-age and being somewhat sedentary.  We'll never know for sure.  BTW, the doc said that the effects of the drug are not reversible, that the lipo would pretty much stay, but at least it wouldn't get worse.

I just know that the dreaded Zerit / d4t was the drug that did this to me, and from what I've heard, its not prescribed as much anymore.  I feel that I look healthy, I don't think I look sick, and to anyone on the street, I still look pretty good.  I've read it so many times and I have to agree, its ME who is my biggest critic, because I know what I looked like before.

Hope this helps.

Pictures Below:
#1 (late 2002, 32yo) Starting on Zerit, no effects yet, too early.  This is the "chubby-faced" me.
#2 (4/15/04, 34-1/2 yrs)   On Zerit for about 1-1/2 yrs here, subtle changes just starting.
#3 (8/26/06, almost 37)  Still on Sustiva originally since '02, but no Zerit for nearly a year.
#4 (9/26/07, 37, almost 38) Same regimen with Sustiva and Truvada since October 2005.

~Cindy

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: megasept on October 08, 2007, 03:20:27 pm
Hi all, :-[
I started using meds about 5 yrs ago, then last year and a half ago, i noticed the fat changes in my body, and skinny legs and arms..
I was just wondering how long were you on meds before you noticed changes to your body...
Please All...get involved...thank you :-*

That three and one-half year thing for me too! Interesting.

Therapy started Feb, '97: 3TC + D4T (Epivir+Zerit)
Lipo: rapid changes (over 15-20 days) beginning mid-Aug '00 (3 1/2 years into therapy). I remained on this therapy through Jan '02. Most of the effect cleared gradually between 2003 and now. 25% remains.

My experience was the first where I saw the result of reaching a threshold, or the change from quantitative to qualitative. No longer an abstraction, but something I could see in the mirror at 50 feet. I never got the skinny/fat look though, because I maintain a very muscular body through both labor and exercise. I did lose a noticeable amount of fat in my face cheeks and butt cheeks. My Mother (who knows nothing of these things) who sees me a few times a year, said this while looking at my belly: "Your getting fat."
Strangely, it was the shifting (not literally) of fat from here to there that she was seeing. I weighed the same.

My combo choice was unusual then (for what wasn't there), and probably unknown now, but my experience was not that unusual.

 8)  -megasept
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: Miss Philicia on October 08, 2007, 05:34:25 pm
I was on AZT, zerit and epivir in the early 90's -- along with hydroxyurea.  I'm convinced all of these, but mostly zerit from what I read, caused all of my lipo issues.  They were a delayed effect that I didn't notice until around 1997 though at first, since I had a baby face, it was not anything worrisome nor did anyone notice it, least bit my doctors.  Seemingly there was no "lipo" name at that time.  By 2000 it was so noticeable that I had collagen injected, at considerable expense, by a dermatologist.  I could not keep that up due to the expense plus I was laid off of a job I'd had for 8 years -- highest paid employee too and that last year I disclosed my HIV because I needed to seek mental health and though I can't prove it I'm sure they were fond of an apparently diseased individual in their tres chic Manhattan design firm.

I'm starting a documentary about my lipo face pre-Sculptra injections:

http://gallery.mac.com/bedstuy65#100070&bgcolor=dkgrey

(note: it's password protected so use: "aidsmeds" as the username and "philly267" as the password)

edited:  for link/URL purposes
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: egello on October 09, 2007, 02:01:15 am
Ok, the older bros and sis here are going to kick my ass for keep complaining about this issue, but this is what i've noticed.

i have been taking the meds since Jan of this year with amazing result, I think. I feel healthier and have more energy than I ever did in my life. Few things I did notice are these.

1. My soft baby skin def. looks more dried out and lost that baby freshness, bounciness and smoothness, causing more wrinkles. My skin looks like it could use a lot more moisturizer and anti oxidant. I used to have an amazing skin and thats gone, and I know it. I also notice the same in people who are poz and are taking meds. Its very obvious the kinda cellular damage the meds are causing, making us grow older than we were genetically meant to.

2. Right now, my body looks good. Its ripped and a lot of baby fat from thighs, butts and arms are gone. If they disappear any more, I won't be very happy. However, I can't tell if that is from the meds or from the testosterone gel i am applying. Testosterone supposedly makes you loose body fat and build more muscles.

There you go,,,

Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: MOONLIGHT1114 on October 09, 2007, 06:45:14 pm
Yeah, my skin is def drier, and being nearly 38, I guess that stuff happens to women.  I don't think the meds are helping with that.

But hey, its been 12+ years on meds and I am HERE!  That's what matters most.  Just sorry I lost my butt, lol.   :D

Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: egello on October 09, 2007, 07:25:10 pm
oh shoot, is there anything i can do to keep my butt? thats all i got
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: Miss Philicia on October 09, 2007, 10:49:17 pm
What do you need a butt for honey?  You can't even get it up? :)
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: egello on October 09, 2007, 11:56:04 pm
thats why i need to keep it
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: MOONLIGHT1114 on October 13, 2007, 05:33:26 pm
Oh dear, this is where the dream stemmed from.  Philly, you are a nut, lmao!  Oh wait, that's ME  (insert pac man theme for Queen)!   :D
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: yes2life3 on October 21, 2007, 04:28:46 pm
Hi all I couldnt help but to feel for each and every one of you..I to lost a lot of fat on my body ..but luckly i was tone and muscular  my whole life so its not that bad now..i get compliments on my arms and legs because they are not flabby..but i do wish i had my face back..now  i wear my hair down to hide my cheeks. dont like to hide behind the hair but i feel people are staring at me...
Title: Re: Body changes
Post by: Nygurl225 on October 21, 2007, 11:54:14 pm
I've only been on meds for a few months and have already noticed some changes. I always had a round full face and now it is thinner looking. My skin is also very dry and I tend to get some redness on my face as well as irritation. I'm 8 months pregnant and with all of my prior pregnancies (prior to HIV as well) I gained weight all over. I was huge, now I'm all belly. My arms and legs have stayed pretty thin. I can't say for sure but I think it's due to the meds since I have a natural tendancy to pack on pounds. I'm on Trizivir and nothing else.