no more teachers' dirty looks
can ruin the chances of long term adherence. Six months on, Brian's CD4 count is 320. We still see each other monthly as relationships still cause no
end of sleepless nights, and planning for the future is still a fragile
business.
does my bum look big enough in this?
Amanda is a volunteer here. She has never hidden her HIV status but few
guess it. When her body first started to change shape she quite liked
it. Her breasts got bigger and her face a little slimmer. People complimented
her. But when her bottom started to disappear, people asked questions.
She tried wearing four pairs of pants and an extra pair of trousers but
she knew it still didn't look right.
I asked Amanda over lunch one day how the gym sessions were going. She
burst into tears. She had tried everything to change her shape back but
felt she was getting nowhere. She said her next step was to stop treatment,
as this might work.
Her next clinic appointment was nine weeks away. I discussed the issues
behind stopping; was it really the only option? I rang her doctor, and
booked an urgent consultation within the week. I wrote a letter with Amanda's
permission telling the doctor that Amanda might be virologically stable,
but being this unhappy did not bode well for future adherence. Amanda
switched treatment and now attends the hospital lipodystrophy support
group. Her bum may not be bigger but her confidence definitely is.
page 3 of 6
contents
of issue 73/74
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
the happy stopper
As service providers we have become expert at supporting people starting
