• Coinfections Complications of
  HIV/HIV Medications
• HIV Treatment
• Living With HIV

• HIV Medications Recreational
  Drug Interactions
• HIV Testing Transmission
• Strange but True

COINFECTIONS COMPLICATIONS OF HIV/HIV MEDICATIONS

 Recently Diagnosed With Osteopenia: When Should I Start Bone Meds?
I have been on Reyataz (atazanavir), Norvir (ritonavir) and Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) for a little more than two years. I had a DEXA scan and my doctor said I have osteopenia and I should probably start Fosamax (alendronate) or Boniva (ibandronate) in about two years. I have a family history of osteoporosis. I've also had some fractures and dislocations over the years that have been causing some pain in the last few months. When I look at my DEXA scan report, what levels and terms should I look out for that would indicate a need to start Boniva or Fosamax sooner than two years from now?

	People still die from AIDS-related causes in the U.S. -- and some of them die without even knowing they're HIV positive. This almost happened to TheBody.com's blogger Thomas DeLorenzo. When he found out he had HIV in 2001, he also discovered that he had two opportunistic infections. His doctor told him he missed dying by just a few days. In his latest blog entry, Thomas recounts why he buried his head in the sand.

HIV TREATMENT

 What Should I Choose for My First HIV Regimen?
I saw my physician assistant and was informed that my CD4 count was 288 and my viral load was 104 million or thereabouts. Both of us decided that it would be wise for me to start treatment immediately. I brought up the idea of being on the combination Truvada (tenofovir/FTC) and Isentress (raltegravir), while he thought I should be on Truvada and Viramune (nevirapine), the most effective combo. What do you think?

	The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP)'s series of HIV/AIDS community discussions is sweeping the U.S. The deadline for submitting online testimony has been extended to Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time! There have also been some changes to the list of upcoming meetings -- please take a look, and follow the directions to prepare for the meeting of your choice. The next discussions will take place in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 16 (that's tonight!), and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 20.

 Could I Be a Long-Term Nonprogressor?
If I contracted HIV about six years ago and have not had an AIDS-related sickness, could I be a "long-term nonprogressor" -- someone whose body controls HIV without the benefit of HIV meds?

HIV MEDICATIONS RECREATIONAL DRUG INTERACTIONS

 Marijuana and Antiretroviral Medications
Does marijuana interact with HIV medications?


 What's the Effect of Taking Ecstasy With HIV Meds?
What happens if you take Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) and Combivir (AZT/3TC), and three hours later you pop an ecstasy pill?

HIV TESTING TRANSMISSION

 Is It Better to Get Tested for HIV or to Not Know My HIV Status?
I am afraid of being HIV positive. I am 26 years old and was in a relationship for two years in which we left condoms out of the equation (I was the "top," or insertive partner). I haven't had an HIV test for three years. Should I start using condoms now and not bother getting tested since I'm terrified of testing positive?


 Positive, Undetectable "Bottom" in a Magnetic Couple: Is My Partner at Lower Risk?
I'm a 54-year-old gay man from Vermont and I've been HIV positive for 22 years. My viral load finally dropped to undetectable in the past year. I also have a new man in my life for the first time in a while. He's HIV negative and after some negotiation, we decided to forego condoms (he's the "top," or insertive partner). Does the fact that I am undetectable and extremely careful mean that I'm not putting him at risk? Having him become infected would be too much to bear.

	How Do You Overcome Rejection? (A recent post from the "Living With HIV" board) This might sound lame because I am a mature woman and not a teenager, so please don't judge. I have been positive for 10 years and trying my best to live like a normal human being. So I decided to start Internet dating on the positive dating sites. I communicated with several guys and decided to go out on a date with this one guy that I liked. The date went really well and we talked for hours and at the end he promised to call the next day. One week later, nothing. I tried calling him on the third day and left a message, but no reply came. I am not going to try him again because I have some self-respect, but the rejection is stressing me out. What I can't understand is how people can be so cruel. To make matters worse, I really, really liked him and wanted to be friends even if the dating didn't work. My question is: How do I get him out of my mind and move on? I have a life and I am a busy person so I am not sitting at home sulking, but this experience is really hard. -- AsiaHope Click here to join this discussion thread, 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 -- click here to get started!

STRANGE BUT TRUE

 Could My New Sex Toy Have HIV on It?
I just received a new sex toy in the mail and I used it immediately without washing it. Now I'm freaking out. What if someone used the new toy before and returned it? I'm still a virgin and I'm so scared. Should I get tested for HIV?


 A Stranger Used My Bathroom: What if He Contaminated It With AIDS?
I let a man who was hooking up my cable use my restroom. After he was done, I heard him saying that he might have AIDS. So when he left, I cleaned my bathroom thoroughly. I have been so worried ever since. Could he have contaminated something in my bathroom? I have three kids and I'm very concerned. I've been having headaches, back pain, nausea and fatigue.

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• HIV Treatment Health Issues
• Living With HIV

• HIV in the News
• Testing/Transmission of HIV
  Other STDs

HIV TREATMENT HEALTH ISSUES

 Immune Boosters in Development: An Overview
The idea seems like a no-brainer: Develop drugs that can boost the immune system, making it able to better confront HIV on its own. However, the idea hasn't quite panned out. To this day, not a single immune booster has been approved for use against HIV. But hope is still alive: There are still many immune boosters in development, as this fact sheet explains. (Article from AIDS InfoNet)

Want to learn more about the theory of immune restoration as a form of HIV treatment? Check out this fact sheet for the basics, or learn a little more about Interleukin-2, which once held great hope as an enhancement for antiretroviral therapy but hasn't lived up to the early hype.


 In Men, Topical Treatment May Reduce Risk That Anal Lesions Will Develop Into Cancer
A common treatment for genital warts may also help treat abnormal anal cell growths before they turn into cancer, according to a new U.S. study. Fifty-four gay men, the majority of whom had HIV, received a topical treatment called trichloroacetic acid. More often than not, the treatment reduced or eliminated their pre-cancerous anal lesions. (Article from aidsmap.com)


 The Nitty-Gritty of First-Line HIV Treatment: A New Expert Discussion on TheBodyPRO.com
Ever wish you could be a fly on the wall as top HIV doctors discuss some of the most important issues in HIV treatment? Here's your chance: You've got a front-row seat as two of the most experienced HIV specialists in the world discuss the ever-changing recommendations for initiating and choosing HIV treatment. It's the first installment of HIV Management Today, a brand-new series on TheBodyPRO.com, our sister site for HIV professionals. (Article and podcast from TheBodyPRO.com)

	The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP)'s series of HIV/AIDS community discussions is sweeping the U.S. You have only until Friday, Nov. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time to submit your testimony online! You can also check the list of cities to see if a discussion is coming to your area, and follow the directions to prepare for the meeting of your choice. The next discussions will take place in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 16, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 20.

 Just Diagnosed: Taking the First Steps in the Rest of Your Life
You've just been given the news: You're HIV positive. So ... now what? There's a lot to take in, but it's important to just take things one step at a time. Sue Saltmarsh of the HIV/AIDS publication Positively Aware walks you through some of the major things to keep in mind as you adjust to your HIV diagnosis. (Article from Test Positive Aware Network)

Be sure to visit TheBody.com's Just Diagnosed Resource Center for a wealth of additional advice, personal stories and information for people whose HIV test just came back positive.


 Why Do -- or Don't -- People Disclose Their HIV Status?
What makes some people more comfortable disclosing their HIV status than others? It's a complicated question, but one key answer may be finding a supportive group of people who are in the same situation as you. A recent study of gay, HIV-positive men in Chicago explored what factors made a man more likely to disclose his status. (Article from Test Positive Aware Network)

Looking for your own source of support? If it's an online community you seek, be sure to browse TheBody.com's bulletin boards or read our huge collection of first-person stories from people living with HIV. Also check out an HIV hotline or service organization near you, where you can find out about local support groups and get the face-to-face help you need!

	In a Mixed-Status Couple and Looking to Meet Others on My World Tour (A recent post from the "My Partner Has HIV" board) "I'm a 27-year-old female and I'm the negative pole of a 'magnetic' couple (i.e., my husband is poz) living in South Africa. Between January and July 2010 I am traveling around the world and I am very keen to meet up with other couples in the same situation as me. Ironically, although I'm living in the country with one of the highest incidences of HIV, I have to date not met up with a single couple going through the same thing. The countries I'll be visiting are Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Dominican Republic and Mexico; then I'll be spending six weeks in the U.S. and Canada. All I really want to do is chat, exchange experiences and hopefully make some friends. If there are any other people out there who are keen to link up, even if you're not en route, please contact me." --magneticmama 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!

	Your extra medications are needed by many people with HIV. Organizations such as Aid for AIDS will pay for you to send them your extra meds for HIV and related illnesses, and then ship them to people in South America and Africa who would die without them. If you have extra meds you don't need, please take a moment to learn more about Aid for AIDS. Click here for additional news and information about medication recycling programs.

 Kentucky's ADAP Waiting List Nears 100; Other States' Lists Growing
On the heels of a recession, the dark days of waiting lists for U.S. AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) have returned. HIV-positive people are currently "on hold" for HIV meds in eight U.S. states, and the waiting list in Kentucky is the longest in the nation. (Article from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

As the ADAP Watch report from Oct. 8 shows, the ADAP "safety net" has only grown weaker since TheBody.com's managing editor provided an assessment of the worsening ADAP situation in several states.


 American Express: Do More ... Unless You Have HIV?
Even 30 years into the HIV/AIDS pandemic, stigma and discrimination are still realities for many people living with HIV. In the U.S., for example, a former American Express employee is suing the company after allegedly being fired for having HIV. The ex-employee says his supervisor refused to enter his cubicle, and wouldn't even speak to him unless it was from a "safe" distance. (Article from the New York Post)

TESTING/TRANSMISSION OF HIV OTHER STDS

 Which Condoms Are Least Likely to Burst Your Bubble?
Sometimes the quality of a condom makes the critical difference, particularly if you're in a mixed-status relationship and want it to remain that way. So which condoms are least likely to pop under pressure? Consumer Reports recently put 20 popular condoms to the test; all met regulators' minimum standards, but seven in particular earned a perfect score. (Article from TheBody.com)


 Circumcision May Have Large HIV Protection Benefit for Gay "Tops"
We've heard all about how circumcision can reduce the risk of heterosexual men getting HIV from their female partners. But how about gay men? A new study suggests that being circumcised may greatly reduce the risk of getting HIV among Australian gay men who prefer being the "insertive" partner. (Study abstract from the medical journal AIDS)

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TheBody.com'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@... 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 hivtesting@yahoogroups.com.

Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....

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:

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250 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10107

 Back From the Brink of Death
People are still dying from AIDS-related causes in the U.S. -- and some of them die without even knowing they're HIV positive. This almost happened to Hollywood publicist and TheBody.com blogger Thomas DeLorenzo. When he found out he had HIV in 2001, he also discovered that he had Pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma. His doctor told him he missed dying by just a few days. Here's the story of why he buried his head in the sand. (Blog from TheBody.com)


 In U.S., Special Programs May Help Offset Some HIV Medication Costs
The U.S. economy may be on the verge of a recovery, but that doesn't mean your wallet is. HIV meds can get very expensive, even if you have health insurance. Thankfully, many HIV drug companies offer programs that can help HIVers in the U.S. reduce the amount they have to dish out in co-pays and out-of-pocket costs. (Article from Test Positive Aware Network)


 A Quick Look at HIV-Related Opportunistic Infections and STDs
Even in wealthy countries, HIVers still are at some risk for "opportunistic infections," which are illnesses that try to take advantage of weakened immune systems. A number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can also be a particular problem for HIVers. This rundown provides more info, as well as a list of tips for how you can protect yourself. (Article from Test Positive Aware Network)

If you'd like to learn more about HIV-related opportunistic infections and other illnesses to be aware of if you're living with HIV, look no further than our huge collection of overviews, articles and research.


 To Prevent HIV, Test and Treat Everybody, IAS Urges
Effective HIV treatment doesn't just help HIV-positive people, says the International AIDS Society (IAS). The IAS says that universal HIV testing followed by early treatment for all who test positive could be a powerful (and cost-effective) HIV prevention tool, with the potential to significantly curb the worldwide pandemic. (Press release from the International AIDS Society)


 Don't Blame Your Lack of HIV/AIDS Funding on the Global Recession, Group Tells Rich Countries
Wealthy nations have recently reneged on commitments to fund lifesaving HIV/AIDS services in resource-limited countries. The global financial meltdown has been named as a chief culprit, but officials at Doctors Without Borders aren't settling for that excuse. (Article from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Doctors Without Borders issued a full report on the global HIV/AIDS funding crisis, which is available as a PDF online.

Worried Your Spam Filter Might Trash Our Mailings?

TheBody.com'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@... 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 hivtesting@yahoogroups.com.

Want to change your subscription? Click here or send us a message at updates@....

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:

TheBody.com's E-Mail Updates
The HealthCentral Network, Inc.
250 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10107