Wasting Syndrome??

[gemstone]

Hi all, I'm a newbie here and had a quick question maybe you can help me with.

First of all I have had HIV for probably 17 years or so and I was dianosed in 2006. CD4 was less
than 10 viral load really high. I had shingles really bad and thats when I was diagnosed. I have also
had 2 bouts with the MAC, I presently am fighting MAC infection in my digestive system right now. I have lost a ton of
weight after both times with the MAC. Been on and off ARV'S for the past 2 years because everytine I get a bad illness
I just cant keep them down. They are too hard on my already damaged immune system to begin with and harder
to take when I'm really ill, so my numbers are not going anywhere right now.

My doctors office says my Neutrofils (spelling?) are too low at 0.4 and should be over 1.0.
They also mentioned a drug I may need to take called Neutropin.

Has anyone taken this before and do you think this is the start of wasting syndrome? Thanks for listening.

gem

[Miss Philicia]

The clinical definition of HIV wasting is an involuntary loss of more than 10% of your baseline body weight PLUS either chronic diarrhea lasting at least 30 days or chronic weakness and fever lasting 30 days.

I'm not sure how your other medical situations have tied into this, in terms of a clinical diagnosis.  What's your doctor say?  I would assume that if they want you to take Nutropin that they've already diagnosed you formally with wasting, or am I missing something?  I've had two wasting episodes but they were not related to MAC, but from what I've read it would make sense what you are describing.  Nutropin (Serostim) is a human growth hormone approved a 5 years ago to treat wasting in HIV patients.

I also see you're female so I'm not sure how that comes into play with using things like Nutropin.

[gemstone]

The nurses at the office are the ones that call me when they get blood work back.  I guess the doctor advises them to do so.
She just said the levels were too low and I may have to take this drug.  Is woman not suppose to take this? 

As for the wasting, the MAC this time has caused me nothing but watery stool for approx. 12 weeks so far and I have lost a lot of weight and because of this.

I hope that this drug ( if I need it) helps me. I have been having such a hard time over the past 2 years since diagnosis and I just want to feel healthy again.

Thanks Philly

[Miss Philicia]

Oh, I don't know if Nutropin is any different for women than men.  If your doctor is saying you may need to go on it then I would assume gender has no bearing.  When I had wasting the put me on testosterone, and I think that's only given to men in this instance, which is why I asked about Nutropin -- but it's human growth hormone and not a hormone replacement.  I was just curious.

But yes, wasting royally sucks and can make one very fatigued, on top of the general HIV fatigue we all have.  I eventually gained all of my weight back (and then some!) but it takes a bit of time.  I recovered most of my weight in a year, and then completely within 2.  Keep us posted and good luck.

[gemstone]

Ok so I went to the doctor yeasterday to have another blood test done on the neutrofils. This is part of the white blood cells that fight infection so my levels are still at 0.4  so what happens now is I have to do a once a week injection of the Nutropin.  Unfortunately I can't get this drug for approx. 2 weeks because it is so expensive and its not covered by our health care system it needs special funding so I have to keep my fingers crossed for the next 2 weeks while they get this worked out for me.  So just have to watch for fevers and let them know because the nurse told me you can get really bad infections when the neutrofils are too low. Like the MAC isn't bad enough tailing on 3 weeks...


gem

[gemstone]

OOOpppppss I mean 3 months.... I wish it was only 3 weeks...

Silly Rabbit...

[YaKaMein]

Welcome Gemstone,
Am curious if your treatment will be Neupogen, rather than Neutropin? Neupogen has been used for years to stimulate production of neutrophils [some infection fighters in white blood cells]. The drug you've mentioned is a human growth hormone and wouldn't have a direct stimulus to neutrophils. I'd be curious to know if Neutropin is being used off label for this.

Anyway, I hope you get the treatment you need to get better fast and safely. Your ASO may be able to assist you in applying with a patient assistance program that covers either of those drugs.  Neupogen [aka Filgastrim] is made by Amgen and may even be available as a generic. Neutropin is made by Genentech. Both are injectables.

I know you're feeling crappy with MAC and hope that gets treated and managed. We're pretty sure I had I and it took a while to recover but you will over time. My thoughts are with you. -YaKaMein