Question
Worried about weight loss
19 November 2012. Related: All topics.
My wife and I are both HIV positive. After initially gaining weight from 42kg to 52kg in the first year on treatment my wife has dropped back down to around 46kg in the last year. I am worried, as I have read that weight loss is linked to a worse prognosis even in people stable on treatment.
She started treatment with a low CD4 (50) and active toxoplasmosis infection. However, since starting treatment 2 years ago her viral load has remained undetectable (other than 1 or two blips) and her CD4 count has risen to over 400 where it appears to have stabilized.
The doctors have not mentioned anything about her weight loss on our usual visits although the HIV nurse seemed quite surprised when she last saw us.
Our next appointment with the doctor is not until February. Should we arrange an appointment before then to discuss this weight loss or can it wait until then?
What are the best foods that are cheaply available in the UK that can encourage weight gain? Do you have any other advice for us with regard to this situation?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Answer
Hello,
Thanks for getting in touch. An unexplained weight loss of 10% is something which you do need to talk to your doctor about. This is because this may be a sign of an undiagnosed infection.
It’s worth rearranging your appointment, or going to see your GP about this. They will be able to look for reasons behind the weight loss and may also be able to suggest dietary supplements to encourage weight gain.
Best of luck, please let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions!
I’ve been losing weight
Hi Noxolo,
If your husband is ill he’ll need to see a doctor.
Hy my husband stopped taking ARV’s because he was afraid to tell me about his status,so last year I went to See a doctor and I was told that Am positive,I encouraged him to retake his medication,after two weeks he had a confusion and was admitted to hospital for 3 weeks,he was back into his senses,now what worries me is that he is vomiting and lost a lot of weight. what must we do?
Hi Misokuhle,
Weight loss with modern day ARVs isn’t something that really happens. So this isn’t really something to worry about. Its great that you’ve accepted your status.
i just found out last month that am HIV positive nd i started took pills…i have not yet lost weight nd i have accepted ma status…what worries me is that..will i loss weight at some point even if i took ma pills everyday?
I would like to tell you that” sit down and talk to your doctor about your weight ” the thing you should know us stop stressing yourself too much and accept your status” take your treatment ad much as you can then you will see”” bcs smtyms you stress urslf too much saying why me?? I know its not easy but try to do smthng”” tnx
Hi Mncedi,
Have you lost a lot of weight? If you’re worried about this you can talk to the doctor about it. Modern ARVs are not so much linked to weight loss as older HIV meds. It’s a good idea to ask the doctor what are the reasons behind this weight loss.
Hi doc you know since I started treatment of ARV in 4months I lost a weight?
Hi Anne,
This is something that you’ll need to talk to a doctor about, as efavirenz don’t make a person lose a lot of weight.
Hi please help me am on a one drug HIV treatment but am losing so much weight compared to when i was taking combivir.i have been to see my doctor but i was told it was due to the TB i currently suffered.i finished my TB Treatment in january and my cd4 count is 1104 with thé viral load undetectable but ever since i started taking this other drug Which comprises Esfacaranz my weiggt has continued dropping.please help me have my weight back as this is worrisome.
Anne