Health | POZitive Attitudes

Posts Tagged ‘Health’

Hep-C and Barebacking link

Posted in Hep C, tagged anal sex, bareback, coinfection, fisting, hcv, Health, Hep C, sex toys on February 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

HIV-Positive Men Who Bareback Should Have More Frequent Hep C Testing

Some key points from article:

A new study has found that 75 percent of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in HIV-positive men occurred in those with no history of injection drug use (IDU)

Because of shared transmission routes, up to 30 percent of people with HIV in the United States also have chronic HCV infection. Chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death in people with HIV, and people coinfected with both HIV and HCV are also at a higher risk of death from a number of non-liver-related diseases, including kidney disease.

The majority of HCV cases in the United States are attributable to injection drug use, but there have been reports of HCV transmission in MSM who have no IDU history. Studies of these cases have suggested that HCV risk in these individuals is associated with various sexual practices, including unprotected anal intercourse, the use of sex toys, multiple partners and fisting.

In those studies, barebacking, coinfection with syphilis, and sex that is traumatic to the anus were highly associated with HCV infection in those with no IDU history.

Regular screening for HCV is crucial for two reasons.
1. Many who develop chronic HCV infections do not exhibit symptoms until they are quite ill years later.
2. When people are able to catch their HCV infection early—within a few weeks or months after exposure—HCV treatment is far more likely to work.

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FDA approves Egrifta

Posted in HIV/AIDS, Medications, tagged abdomnal fat, Egrifta, Health, HIV medications, HIV Positive, HIV support group, HIV+, HIV/AIDS, lipodystrophy, TH9507, Thera, Vern Applebee on November 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

On Wednesday, November 11, 2010, the FDA regulators announced approval of Egrifta, a first-of-its-kind treatment for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Egrifta is a growth hormone releasing factor, given as a once a day injection, that works to reduce abominal fat in HIV patients. Drugs such as Crixivan, Viracept, Norvir and Invirase commonly experience an increase in fat depostis that can accumulate around the liver, the stomach and abdominal organs. Fat deposits can also form on the back of the neck commonly called Buffalo Hump.

In clinical trials involving more than 800 HIV-positive patients who took Egrifta daily for 26 weeks, patients reported improvements in self-image, as well as a reduction in abdominal fat deposits as shown by a CT scan.

In 2008, Vern Applebee from Dr Gary Richmond’s office came to our group and recruited some of our members for the clinical trials here in Ft Lauderdale. I was one of the recruits. The drug was then called TH9507 or Thera from the company that developed it.

I lost 7″ around my stomach during those 26 weeks and looked Fabulous. After the trials stopped and lost access to the drug, I regained most of the fat, as did other people from our group. The Egrifta people still need to do a maintenance study and there is talk that some of that study might be done in Ft Lauderdale. I will keep you updated on the study.

-Steve

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Is 8 glasses of water a day a myth?

Posted in Health, tagged Broward HIV/AIDS, Health, water, Water and HIV on October 13, 2010| 1 Comment »

From National Geographic Magazine

Eight Glasses a Day? Shattering the Water Myth
Posted Sep 21,2010

Hydration experts are ready to rewrite the popular dictum that people should drink eight glasses of water a day.

Magazines, websites, even some medical texts recommend guzzling eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. The bottled-water business loves it. Hydration experts, however, aren’t sure where the “8 x 8” rule came from—or whether it holds water.

Mike Sawka, a U.S. Army research scientist, thinks the origins lie in a 1933 study on rodent hydration. The research led to a recommendation of 2.5 liters a day, or 84.5 ounces of liquid, for a moderately active human to make up for water lost to sweat and excretions. Twenty percent typically comes from foods high in water—soup, ice cream, celery—leaving 67.6 ounces, or roughly “8 x 8.” (Exercise or heat adds to a body’s needs.)

Only you don’t need eight daily glasses of water. Other beverages count, even if caffeinated. “The body’s need to keep fluid trumps the small influence caffeine might have on losing fluid,” says University of Connecticut exercise physiologist Douglas Casa. Plus the body isn’t shy about liquid desires. Drink if you feel thirsty. If not, don’t. One exception: Hydrate before an intense workout.

When in doubt, check your urine. Dark yellow, says University of Pennsylvania nutritionist Stella Volpe, is the hue of dehydration. —Marc Silver

What do you think? Does being HIV positive affect this?

-Steve

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Exercise, Nutrition and HIV

Posted in Fitness, Nutrition, PUSH FITNESS, tagged Broward HIV/AIDS, exercise, fitness, Health, HIV Positive, HIV+, Nutrition, Tuesday in Ft Lauderdale on October 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Speakers Rigoberto Ng of Care Resources, an expert in nutrition for HIV+ individuals and Peter Jackson of Push Fitness, a fitness expert with experience training HIV+ men, will discuss the critical roles proper nutrition and exercise play in establishing and maintaing good health in people with compromised immune systems.

When: Tuesday October 12, 2010 at 7:00 PM sharp

Where: Push Fitness,
1098 Floranada RD (NE 45th St),
Oakland Park(One light south of COmmercial BLVD, off Dixie Hwy)
Additional parking in rear of building
No charge, but space is limited

RSVP: Peter@PushFitnessFTL.com

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Hepatitis Minutes from Class 09-27-2010

Posted in Hep C, tagged Broward HIV/AIDS, coinfection, Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, Health, Hep C, Hepatitis, HIV Hep-C co-infection, HIV Positive, HIV+, POSITIVE, POZ on September 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

After attending the Hepatitis class on Monday 09-27-2010, I learned some valuable information, I’d like to share with you.

People with HIV are at HIGH-RISK for Hepatitis, A, B and C. 30% of people with HIV are coinfected with Hep-C.

There are vaccinations available for Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-B, but there is NO vaccination for Hepatitis-C.

Both Hep-A and Hep-B vaccinations have proven safe and effective and you can get them at the same time – it’s easy. Hepatitis-A requires 2 shots and Hepatitis-B requires 3 shots. You need to complete all the shots to become vaccinated, but it’s never too late too finish the series if you miss a shot.

Most health plans will pay for Hepatitis A and B vaccines for adults at high-risk. Both Gay men and HIV Positive people are high-risk. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance will not cover these vaccines, The Broward County Health Department will provide them for free. Just call the Hepatitis Hotline, tell them you are at high-risk and make an appointment, 954-759-5456.

I created a Tab for Hepatitis because I think this is something we need to address more in the HIV Positive Community and make ourselves aware of the risks.

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Hepatitis 101 Class

Posted in Education, Health, Hep C, tagged Broward HIV/AIDS, Health, Hep C, HIV Positive, HIV SUPPORT, HIV support group, HIV+, POSITIVE, POZ on September 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Mauricio Ferrer

Introductory Hepatitis 101 Class where participants will learn about Hepatitis A,B,C, methods of transmission, risk factors, vaccinations, Hepatitis C and HIV co-infection and much more.

Monday, September 27, 2010 from 3:00-5:00 PM at the Pride Center Main Hall, 2040 N.Dixie Hwy in Wilton Manors Fl 33305

LatinPride Gallery will be parterning with Broward County Health Department, The Pride Center and The Latinos en Accion Committee will be sponsoring the National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with a Hepatitis 101 training and a Beautiful Art Exhibition by Mauricio Ferrer.

To register for this event, send your complete name, address, phone number, organization you represent and email to latinpride@gmail.com.

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Wednesday Group Meeting Minutes 09-15-2010

Posted in Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group, tagged Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, GAY, Health, HIV medications, HIV Positive, HIV SUPPORT, HIV support group, HIV+, newly diagnosed, POSITIVE, POZ, Wednesday Night HIV Support Group on September 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Wednesday Group Minutes 09-15-2010

We had a very engaging group meeting last night, Wednesday 09-15-2010. 16 guys showed up to discuss the topic ‘Making a Plan for the Newly Diagnosed HIV’. We came up with these 8 steps; 1. Don’t panic. 2. Evaluate your Health Insurance. 3. Find an HIV expert (doctor). 4. Get a Case Manager. 5. Get a Therapist or a Support Group. 6. Build a Support Team. 7. Educate yourself about HIV. 8. Don’t infect anyone else. I’m going to incorporate these ideas into the Newly Diagnosed section on Making a Plan. Thanks guys.

We also talked about some other important issues in the first Half: I’ll cut and paste this comment I received from one of our attendees last night:

“Steve, the way you handled that meeting tonight is exactly why I appreciate more newly diagnosed men getting to attend PozAttitudes group. That was amazing how you managed to make a very complicated set of issues, ideas and facts appear to be very interesting and thought provoking. You took opposing views and merged them to compliment each other, like the topic of who and when to disclose. That’s so vital to discuss, and where else than with a large group of men on the same boat?

BTY, the whole discussion tonight about who needs to wear condoms the most – concluding that it would be the negatives couple – was so right on target. Gay men have such high libidos and testosterone levels, (I speak from personal experience). Any gay man after testing negative with his partner who thinks that there is always going to be monogamy is living on another planet. The three week window of high viral loads for newly diagnosed makes the point even stronger for safer sex practices for such couples. That why I prefer other positive men, less complicated.

Also, Thanks for pointing the big difference between getting a different “strain of HIV” and of “getting resistance to certain meds.” But, my biggest enlightenment of the discussion turned to the subject of disclosure. How interesting to me that some people would actually invest so much time, energy and effort by dating someone several times before letting them know their HIV status. How many hearts have been broken when becoming emotionally attached (which many gays do very quickly, guilty here) to someone who is just not available for dating a positive man.

Great meeting…let’s do this subject again within a year. The newly diagnosed may then have different outlooks. Thanks.”

After the break we discussed: Hepatitis 101 class on Sept 27, 2010 sponsored by LatinPride , In The Know HIV Expo on September 25, 2010, Israeli researchers developing a new treatment for HIV that actually kills the cells rather than just interrupting replication, ADAP waiting list, and a proposed Mad Men Mondays at Java Boys where we meet weekly to view the TV series Mad Men (need more work to get this going).

After the meeting, 10 of us went to Peter Pan Diner. If you’re there and get the waitress with the key around her neck, ask her what the key is for .

Next week, we’re getting a guest speaker from SunServe, Jim Lopresti to talk to us about what services Sunserve offers. I’d like to get a good turn out for him. SunServe is a great organization for the LGBT community.

Come join us
-Steve

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Topic Reminder for Wednesday 09-15-2010

Posted in Activites, Wednesday Night HIV+ Support Group, tagged Fort Lauderdale, ft lauderdale, GAY, Health, HIV Positive, HIV SUPPORT, HIV support group, HIV+, newly diagnosed, POSITIVE, POZ, Support, Support Group, Wednesday in Ft Lauderdale, Wednesday Night HIV Support Group on September 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The topic tonight is “Making a Plan”. If you were working in an HIV Testing and Counseling clinic and had 20 minutes to tell someone they had just tested HIV-Positive, what would you tell them to do? What are the things you wish someone had told you? Let’s create a list of things a newly diagnosed person needs to do.

I’m creating a New Page for the Web Site called NEWLY DIAGNOSED. Have a look, click Here. Tonight is your opportunity to comment on this page and help work up Part 5, Making a Plan.

-Steve

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