Anyone been on Vacation????

[beenthere66]

I am a 42 year old woman that has been diagnose since 1992.  Since then I have been taking HIV meds.  In 1996 they had switched me to protease, mainly high dose of crixivan.  I have been taking off of crixivan due to kidney problems.  I also went on viracept, which increased my cholesterol and I have become hypoglycemia.  Right now I am taking Reyataz with truvada and norvir, so far so good.

when reyataz doesn't work on me anymore I really want to take a break from meds.  I want to give my organs a break and see if my lipodystophy will reverse a little.

I exercise everyday and do take good care of my health.  I am only taken a break for a maximum of a year. the doctors frown on it and I know I am going to be locking horn with my doctor.  I do respect my doctor she is a good doctor and listen to her patients.  There are times I feel like my body needs a little break from the long use of meds.

Has anyone ever taking a vacation from meds or has an opinion on this matter? 

beenthere66

[Miss Philicia]

I've been diagnosed and on HIV meds for the same length of time as you have, and I've also cycled through the majority of available meds, and have lipo (had it for 10 years).

Personally I'd never consider taking a year long break, as I just don't see any benefit in it.  It took me thirteen years to even get to undetectable, and I just can't take the risk.  Plus you have less and less med options available, or at least I do after resistance issues as a result of mono/dual therapy used in the pre-HAART years of the early 90's.

I also don't think one can reverse lipo except by cosmetic means -- it's a metabolic/cellular dysfunction and while I do think it can be halted, I see no proof that the damage can be reversed, so if that's the basis of your argument for halting treatment I find it flawed.  As far as the cholesterol issue I would assume that could correct itself during a year of HIV meds, but I can't evaluate it when you don't provide your lipid panel numbers, or state what other measures while on HIV meds you've taken to control this.  But still, what's the trade off?  Allowing your cd4's to plummet?  No thanks -- I've spent 15 years building them up.

[Lorenzopier]

Hello beenthere66,

Taking a treatment interuption can be a frightening experience if you are not able to control the crash in cd4 that occur while on the interuption.My experience in the past with treatment interuptions were very similar to what researchers have found in previous studies,some of which are posted in the links below.Most of the studies looking at treatment interuptions have drawn a firm conclusion that their is no benefit from them.However due to a lot of research and understanding of orthomolecular medicine my present results(cd4) are contraindictive of these studies.

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/342603
http://www.co-hivandaids.com/pt/re/cohiv/abstract.00126334-200411010-00003.htm;jsessionid=LPGTYr51njKHHywLLKfXnXSybkLkPGqQY0L2YCVyNsCWLXBv7Lby!1629792715!181195629!8091!-1?nav=reference
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/512681?cookieSet=1

[beenthere66]

Thank you for your opinion and your studies.  I had talk to alot of people that went on interuption and some had no problems and are checiking their blood work faithfully. One just one told me that her bloodwork went south.

It's just that I had been thinking about it for a long time.  It is frightening being that I had fought this virus for a long time.

beenthere66

[weasel]

hey been there  ,

                               I take the same cocktail as you do 

                I have been on it for 4  years ! it is my first cocktail ! so far so good !

                I was diagnosed full blown AIDS and I LOOKED like it !

                well 4 years later I look like a normal person !

               It's my belief that if you eat right and do not drink too much ( i quit july 5th ) , that you will  feel and look good .

               I was HORRIFIED by my face , now it is pretty again 

                soooooooooooooo  i would quess that if you just wait and eat right and exersize a little you will feel fine

               and start to look better !

                the  cocktail we take is  so easy , I take mine when i eat breakfast !

               it's gotten to the point i do not think of them anymore 

                                                  best of luck ,
                                                                      karl

[Lido]

Hallo i have been thinking the same to go on vacation. Am on the same comb. am on Reyataz, Truvada and Norvir. am doing well apart from the side effects.
Recently i was found with kidney stones, my eyes are yellow. I drink alot of water, somedays it is better. I have also high cholestrol. I have developed a hump which the doctor has also noticed and she says there is nothing that can be done. I have lost fat on my bumms, big tummy, big breast and thin legs. My friends and workmates have started teasing me about the hump and my bumms. They do not know about my situation, and this is real depressing  i can not hide my loss.
I have read about Norvir that it causes the side effects mentioned above. Is they any combination to Reyataz/Truvada.
I decided to go on vacation and try some of the natural medicines (propolis, mangosteen) and some vitamins while on vacation.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks