Fw: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" Forums

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From: "News at The Body" <update@news.thebody.com>

Date: 15 May 2012 17:08:06 -0400

To: <nelsonvergel@yahoo.com>

ReplyTo: "News at The Body" <update@news.thebody.com>

Subject: Hot Topics at TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts" Forums

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can see the online version at: www.thebody.com/topics.html

May 15, 2012 Visit the Forums "Hot Topics" Library Change/Update Subscription
Living With HIV/AIDS Mixed-Status Couples Insurance, Workplace & Legal Concerns HIV/AIDS Treatment Other Health Issues & HIV/AIDS Understanding HIV/AIDS Labs HIV Transmission  Should I Tell My Exercise Trainer I'm HIV Positive? In addition to being HIV positive for the past 10 years, I also have seven heart stents and see my doctors regularly. I maintain as healthy a diet as possible and take all my medications. I turned 50 last year and decided to join a gym and get a trainer. I see the trainer two times a month and trust his knowledge. Knowing my HIV status might influence what kinds of exercises my trainer gives me to do, but I'm not sure I should disclose. How important is it for a trainer to know a client's HIV-positive status? How much are trainers usually taught about HIV and body shape when they're becoming certified? Nelson Vergel responds in the "Nutrition and Exercise" forum  How Can I Trust the Hospital That Broke My Confidentiality? I stopped taking my HIV meds due to the fact that the staff at the hospital in my city where I go for care informed my employer that I was HIV positive, and I was fired. How can I trust any of the doctors or their recommendations when their hospital's staff broke the law in this way? Christa Douaihy, Esq., responds via the "Mental Health and HIV" forum  How Can I Disclose to My Out-of-State Partner? I'm a heterosexual HIV-positive woman. I met a guy while visiting out of my state. Since I've been back home he's still been very engaged with me, and he wants a serious long-term relationship. I want to tell him I'm HIV positive before we get more involved, but find it difficult to tell him over the phone. Should I wait until we have a face-to-face meeting? What should I say? How can I start the conversation? Shannon R. Southall responds in the "Safe Sex and HIV Prevention" forum  What's the Best U.S. State for HIV Coverage and Benefits? I'm a 52-year-old bi man and I've been HIV positive for 33 years. I was an HIV nurse during and after the onset of the epidemic. I have 700 T cells and I've worked with great doctors in the past. I've also lived in several U.S. states and had wildly different experiences accessing care in each place. I currently live in Riverside County, Calif., which has become a nightmare as far as coverage for indigent clients. Should I go back to a state where I got great care years ago? Do you have a sense of what the best states are for HIV care access nowadays? Jacques Chambers, C.L.U., responds in the "Workplace and Insurance Issues" forum Detail from: "In the Scheme of Things," 1997 Jerry Hooten Visit the May 2012 Visual AIDS Web Gallery to view our latest collection of art by HIV-positive artists! This month's gallery, "Jungle Pussy," is curated by Yeni Mao.  How Do I Keep My Kidneys Healthy? I'm a 40-year-old man and I was diagnosed HIV positive almost two years ago. I was on Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) for 17 months and just switched to Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) about two months ago. My CD4 count is 440, my percentage is 20 and my viral load is undetectable. I've heard that Truvada can do irreversible damage to a person's kidneys even if they stop taking that regimen. Is this true? How can I maintain my kidney health and reduce my risk of kidney damage on Truvada? Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum  When Is My HIV Med Regimen Likely to Fail? I'm 59, HIV positive less than two years, my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is now over 1,600. I read that 75 percent of people living with HIV and taking meds will eventually learn they have to switch to different meds; the virus evolves and outsmarts their regimen. Is this accurate? How would age factor into this? How much time might I have before Isentress (raltegravir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) stop working for me? Nelson Vergel responds in the "Aging With HIV" forum  How Should I Make the Switch From Sustiva to Reyataz? I've been taking Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC) since I was diagnosed with HIV in 2009. My lab results are great -- my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is 720. However, I'm considering switching to Norvir (ritonavir), Reyataz (atazanavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) due to major depression from the Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) in Atripla. I've heard that Sustiva remains in the body for a while after we stop taking it. How exactly should I proceed with the switch? Joseph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum  What Could Be Causing My Swollen Lymph Nodes? A few weeks ago, I noticed a large lump in my right armpit. The fact that it didn't ache concerned me, as I've always heard those are the ones to keep an eye on for things like cancer. My doctor was concerned, but then the swelling went down. All I can feel now is a few pea-sized nodes where the lump was. I've been told normal nodes should be that size and that you should be able to feel them, but I don't feel any in my other armpit. I've read lymphoma can start off this way, with lymph nodes slowly swelling, and then it spreads. I've been feeling bad lately with fatigue and dizziness. Should I be worried? Joseph P. McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum  Should I Find Out if There's HIV in My Spinal Fluid? I'm 45 years old and I've been HIV positive for 18 months. I currently take Epzicom (abacavir/3TC, Kivexa) and Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin) and have been doing very well, with most lab results in healthy ranges. As I get older I'll be keeping an eye out for potential health issues, and dementia is one I'm particularly concerned about. I understand that it's especially important for older HIVers to be on meds that have proven to easily pass through to the brain and spinal fluids to prevent HIV replication in those areas. What does current research suggest? Should I get my doctor to test my spinal fluid for HIV? Are these tests painful? Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum To Start or Not to Start HIV Meds? (A recent post from the "Treatment & Side Effects" board) So I am newly diagnosed with HIV and am trying to deal with this the best that I can. I visited my ID doctor today and my CD4 count was 680 and my viral load is 5,160, so he suggested that I start a regimen, so that my CD4 count doesn't lower and cause me any issues. I am in great shape, with no symptoms (ever) of HIV. I'm so confused; should I start meds now? How have others made this decision? I was diagnosed a few months ago, but have no idea when I contracted the virus; however I know from whom. .... I'd also love to hear people's stories of dealing with HIV, since I don't know anyone with HIV personally except my ID doctor. -- melisss19195 Click here to join this discussion, or to start your own! To do this, you'll need to register with TheBody.com's bulletin boards if you're a new user. Registration is quick and anonymous (all you need is an e-mail address) -- click here to get started!  Why Is My CD4 Count Staying so Low? I've been taking HIV treatment since 2008. I always take my meds on time, I take care of myself and I'm planning to have a baby with my husband. I avoid stress, practice yoga, have limited my nights out, always get eight hours sleep, and eat healthily. All this being the case, why after five years is my CD4 count only 206? When I first got diagnosed my CD4 count was almost 70. Shouldn't it have progressed more by now? What is going on? Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum  What's the Difference Between Occupational and Non-Occupational PEP? What's the difference between the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) meds a person is given when they have a potential exposure to HIV at work versus "at play"? Could non-occupational PEP (nPEP) be less effective? Why are two meds sometimes prescribed while other times three or even four different meds are suggested? Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D., responds in the "Choosing Your Meds" forum  Is a Gay Man With Crohn's Disease at Greater Risk for HIV? Does having Crohn's disease make it easier for a person to acquire HIV through unprotected receptive anal sex? If so, how does that increased risk work? Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C., responds in the "Understanding Your Labs" forum Worried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings? The Body's e-mail updates are especially prone to being caught up in spam filters, since our newsletters tend to refer frequently to sex, drugs, the human anatomy and so forth. To make sure you never miss one of our mailings because anti-spam software labeled it as junk mail, add update@news.thebody.com to your address book, talk to the person who manages your e-mail security or check your anti-spam program's instructions for more information. About This E-mail This e-mail update has been sent to nelsonvergel@yahoo.com. Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@thebody.com. Missed an update? Our archive of past updates will keep you in the loop. Have any other questions or comments, and don't want to send an e-mail? Feel free to snail-mail us at: The Body's E-Mail Updates Remedy Health Media, LLC 250 West 57th Street New York, NY 10107	Election 2012: Getting the HIV/AIDS Community to Vote  C2EA Youth and WhatstheT Launch Correspondent Contest  Stop Arizona Bill 2625  Under Attack: Your Health Care Rights  Activists Launch New Survey to Help Speed HIV Cure Research  Demand Hershey Reverse Decision on HIV+ Student and Dismiss School Officials  Count HIV+ Women In! PWN Launches National Campaign on World AIDS Day

Fw: TheBodyPRO.com Newsletter: HIV/AIDS Headlines for Frontline Professionals

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From: "The Body PRO" <news@thebodypro.com>

Date: 15 May 2012 16:02:34 -0400

To: <nelsonvergel@yahoo.com>

ReplyTo: "The Body PRO" <news@thebodypro.com>

Subject: TheBodyPRO.com Newsletter: HIV/AIDS Headlines for Frontline Professionals

If you have trouble reading this e-mail, you can read the online version at: www.thebodypro.com/newsletter.html

May 15, 2012 HIV Care Today HIV News & Views HIV/STD Transmission & Education The Patient Perspective: Featured on TheBody.com •  HIV CARE TODAY U.S. FDA Panel Recommends HIV "Quad" Drug for Approval A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel last week recommended approval of the four-drug "Quad" pill for first-line HIV treatment. However, the panel warned about the potential for renal complications and expressed concern about the lack of female representation in the drug's clinical trials. Human Stem Cells Can Be Programmed to Find, Kill HIV, Researchers Say "[A] team of UCLA researchers has now demonstrated that [genetically engineered human stem] cells can actually attack HIV-infected cells in a living organism," the UCLA AIDS Institute announces. African Americans Less Likely to Adhere to HAART; Untreated Depression May Be a Factor Fewer than 30% of African Americans living with HIV had "optimal" adherence in a recent study, compared to 40% of HIV-infected people of other races and ethnicities. Meanwhile, depression was found to be much more common among African Americans. Insomnia, Daytime Sleepiness Not More Likely Among HIV-Infected People, Study Suggests Insomnia rates among those living with HIV and on HAART in the U.S. are no higher than the general population, despite sleep disturbances being a common complaint among HIV-infected people taking treatment, according to a study from the U.S. military. More Headlines on HIV Care and Antiretroviral Therapy: HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients, Clinicians Warned Against Coadministration of Boceprevir With Some Ritonavir-Boosted Protease Inhibitors (From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Stable Housing, Basic Necessities More Critical to Health Than Antiretroviral, Study Finds (From TheBody.com) Newborns Appear Unharmed by Mother's Use of Tenofovir During Pregnancy, Study Finds; Longer-Term Effects Still Unclear (From the U.S. National Institutes of Health) Only 20% of U.S. HIV-Infected People Have High Levels of Engagement With Specialist HIV Care (From aidsmap) In South Los Angeles, "Food Deserts" Impact Health of People With HIV/AIDS (From the Los Angeles Wave)   Back to Top •  HIV NEWS & VIEWS Did Burger King Fire One of Its Managers Because He Is HIV Infected? Christopher Peña, a Burger King employee for seven years, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a lawsuit against the fast food chain claiming that Peña was illegally fired because he is HIV positive. Ending the Epidemic: A Call for Leadership "The President and Secretary Clinton gave us the vision" for an AIDS-free generation, writes Paul Kawata of the National Minority AIDS Council. "Now it's time for various federal departments to provide the substance to realize that vision and for Congress to appropriate the necessary resources to make it a reality." Dear HIV Organizations: You Really Want to Help Us? Pay Us. Barb Cardell dreads it when people ask her what she does for a living. "'I am a professional volunteer,' I usually respond. ... What am I supposed to say? 'I can't work because 20 years ago I tested HIV positive, and just surviving was my full-time job?'" A Fire in the House: HIV/AIDS in the Deep South "Having been active in the fight against HIV/AIDS for the past 25-plus years, I've seen plenty of life that is unfair, unjust and painful," Maura Riordan of AIDS United writes. A recent trip to Alabama brought it all back: "What I have seen and heard is far too reminiscent of my early days in this fight," she declares. More News & Views Headlines: Getting the HIV/AIDS Community to Vote: Upcoming Education and Mobilization Webinars (From AIDS United) "Tools for Survival: Staying Relevant and Viable" -- Sharing Resources Among Black HIV Organizations (From TheBody.com) HIV/AIDS Activists Hoping Anxiously That Health Care Law Survives Supreme Court Review (From The Associated Press) Exit Strategy: Ending the AIDS Epidemic in Black America (PDF) (From Black AIDS Institute) 50-Year Sentence in Iowa HIV Criminalization Case Upheld by Federal Judge (From TheBody.com) Is "Soft" HIV Activism Enough? (From AIDS United)   Back to Top •  HIV/STD TRANSMISSION & EDUCATION FDA Panel Recommends Approval of Tenofovir/Emtricitabine as Preventive Treatment for HIV Late last week, an expert advisory panel recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) for pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP -- but its recommendation was neither unanimous nor all-encompassing in terms of impacted populations. How to Get Heterosexual Black Men Involved in HIV Prevention, Part 2 We continue our in-depth roundtable discussion with a panel of experts about how U.S. society (and the HIV/AIDS community) can help heterosexual African-American men use condoms more, more openly discuss HIV, and value themselves and their health more highly. To End HIV and Hepatitis C, We Have to Change the Conversation It's a common refrain: "Condoms make sex less enjoyable." But is that really as true as many of us claim? "What about the idea of reframing sexual pleasure as including the absence of worry?" asks Dana Van Gorder, the head of Project Inform. More Headlines on HIV/STD Transmission: Risk of HIV Reinfection May Be Similar to Risk of Initial HIV Infection (From HIV i-Base) Flash-Heating Breast Milk to Cut Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (From ScienceBlog) Massachusetts: Governor Signs Law to Allow HIV Test With Verbal Consent (From the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) HIV "Prevention With Positives": Often Ignored, Yet Often Effective (From The Center for AIDS) Goosby Calls for "Extraordinary Resources" to Be Put Into Male Circumcision to Prevent HIV Infection (From the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)   Back to Top •  THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE: FEATURED ON THEBODY.COM Six Reasons Why People Skip Their HIV Meds Taking antiretrovirals every day as prescribed isn't the easiest thing to do, even in the once-daily treatment era. The reality is that everyday life brings with it obstacles that can stand between a patient and his or her treatment. This patient-focused slideshow discusses some of the common reasons why people skip doses and offers advice on how to resolve the issue. Jamar Rogers Talks About Life After His Elimination (Audio) May 1 marked the end of the road on The Voice for Jamar Rogers, an HIV-positive New Yorker who captured viewers' hearts with emotional performances and his stirring story of redemption. He talked with POZ I AM Radio a few days after leaving the reality talent show. Under the Medicaid Microscope: Fighting for Assistance Without Medicaid, Kat Griffith would never be able to afford her HIV treatment. But even though it keeps her alive, renewing her Medicaid authorization each year is a stunningly miserable experience. Dave R: "Dear Dave ...": The Virus Writes Back "You knew all about me before we met ... How many friends had I killed, with you watching me do it and yet still determined to get into bed with me eventually? Oh please, don't tell me you never meant for this to happen!" As a Young Woman With HIV, Can I Still Reach for the American Dream? "Is the American Dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness really achievable for HIV-positive women?" Sonia Rastogi asks. "[HIV] does not have to be a disease of crisis, despair and shame. Yet, it is. It is because HIV runs the well-worn path of gender inequality."   Back to Top Advertisement 2011: The Year in Review •  Top HIV/AIDS-Related Clinical Developments of 2011 David Wohl, M.D., takes an in-depth look at the past year's most critical HIV-related studies, and explains how each may change the manner in which we practice HIV prevention or treatment in 2012 and beyond. About This E-Mail This e-mail newsletter was sent to nelsonvergel@yahoo.com. It is provided free of charge to our registered members of The Body PRO. Want to change your subscription? Click here to modify your subscription information online. Missed a newsletter? Our archive of past newsletters will keep you up-to-date. Have any other questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail us at news@thebodypro.com or snail-mail us at: The Body PRO Newsletter Remedy Health Media, LLC 250 West 57 Street New York, NY 10107