Sleep and Weight??

[Hardlad69]

This is my first post, and it's a long time since I was a virgin so I hope I get this right, so here goes, I've had a lot to deal with during the last 18 months, firstly catching HIV even though I always practiced safe sex or as my doctor its only safer sex, I got really ill  when I caught HIV and spent 8 weeks in and out of hospital and lost 35 pounds, 8 months later my doctors tells me from my results I am one of the few people who have quick progression and need to go on medication straight away which was nevirapine and combivir, this was a shock, after three months of horrendous nausea my doctor agreed to change one of my meds from combivir  to truvada the good news is my numbers are going the right way and the nausea has gone. I now have a number of questions  about side effects I've ask the doctor but he say they are not usually associated with the meds just want other views

Since starting the treatment I have started to gain weight around my middle, I'm eating the same and going to the gym regular, so I'm confused as to why this is happening.

The other is sleep problems, I have no problem getting to sleep, but wake up after about 3 or 4 hours then can't get back to sleep, my doctor refuses to give me any thing to help me sleep, through friends I've managed to get ambien which I use on a weekend to get a couple of good night rest but tiredness is staring to get to me. The doctor has suggested changing meds again which I am reluctant to do on a number of fronts more side effects, and running out of combinations to quickly.

After reading this through some of the posts on here these sound minor problems compared to others but its all a bit scary and overwhelming at times any help or advice would be really helpful.

[coltsteele]

Hi!

I think I have had some similar problems that you expressed in your post. I progressed very rapidly to being damn sick by May 2006 when I was diagnosed. I started Truvada and Kaletra right away, but for the 7 months I was on that combination, I would wake after 3-4 hours and not be able to sleep again. I tried Ambien and Lunesta to no avail. I also took Trazadone to "knock" me out.

I also had somewhat of a "meltdown" with mental health, and upon reflection, maybe chalk some of the sleeplessness up to being in a manic or psychotic state for part of that time.

Since switching to Atripla (Truvada + Sustiva) and getting on Zyprexa, I have slept well - 7-8 hours per night without even getting up to use the bathroom.

I have completely stopped using Ambien and Trazadone.

I had lost 40 pounds prior to diagnosis, and have since gained the weight back in good proportion and am feeling strong enough to return to resistance training at the gym.

[bobbyindallas]

I, too, have gained about 30 pounds, and it seems it's all around my waist. I am also having major problems with sleep. Although I'm only 52, I have degenerative disc disease which makes exercise not much of an option. My meds are Norvir, Reyataz and Sustiva. CD4 370 and VL -0-.

I think the weight gain has to have something to do with the meds I'm on, and I don't seem to be able to get the weight off.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with similar problems. We dealt only with weight loss for so long, this seems to be a new phenomenon.

Any ideas anyone?

[mark54]

so glad to hear from guys who like going to the gym.  thought i'd never find you.  8 years ago i got sick, went into wasting syndrome and dropped from 185 to 150.  when i got out of the hospital i put on 40lbs looked great and then started the medicine.  the protease inhibitors grabbed those 40lbs and stuck it all  in the middle.  just keep on doing cardio and you can gain control of it.  for the fatigue ask your internest to start testing your cholesterol, the lipo these drugs cause is crazy.  for the fatigue also ask him to start checking your testosterone.  almost half of us get the side effect of testosterone failure, you might as well start tracking it now cause when it drops below 200 you can't even get out of bed.  and pm me cause i need to talk with people who work out,  i'm 53 and not looking for a date.