Olga Irwin to Kara Mayer Robinson
I don’t remember the exact date I found out I was HIV positive, but I distinctly remember my first conversation with my doctor. He diagnosed me with AIDS and said I only had 3 months to live because my T cell count was below 10. That was in 1999.
When I finally found an infectious disease specialist at a new clinic in my area, I was told that with medication, I could live a long, fulfilling life. I am 54 years old now.
In 2000, I started therapy. I’ve been on several different regimens since then, but now my viral load is undetectable.
My normal weight used to be around 190 or 200 pounds, but when I was diagnosed I was around 160 pounds. About 6 months after starting treatment, I gained 40 pounds and my weight was back to normal. I maintained this weight until I started a different medication program.
After starting treatment, I gained a lot of weight to 230 lbs, which is what I am now. When I switched to my current regimen, I didn’t gain any weight, but I didn’t lose it either.
Most of the extra weight is in my stomach. I have to wear a shirt two sizes larger than my trousers. I have to do a lot of mixing and matching when I buy clothes. If I have a dress, I modify it or have someone make it for me. It’s hard to find clothes that fit me, and it always costs more to make them look right.
I talked to my doctor a lot about my weight gain. He always tells me to change the way I eat and exercise more. I have other health conditions that make being overweight even more dangerous.
My doctor recommended that I see a counselor to help manage my diabetes and change my eating and exercise habits. But change is not easy for me.
Diet, Exercise and Lifestyle
A few years ago, I went on a very strict no-carb diet and lost 50 pounds. But my belly protruded more and I looked like I was pregnant. I was told that if I could lose another 10 pounds, I would be a candidate for liposuction. But I just can’t lose those 10 pounds. After that, I stopped dieting and regained all the weight.
I don’t think fad diets work at all. When you start eating, it seems like once you don’t eat as planned, all the weight comes back – and more.
But over the past year, I’ve gotten better with small changes in my workouts and diet.
I have arthritis in my lower back. With all the extra weight on, my back hurts more and the workouts are harder. However, despite my limited mobility, I am an active person.
Last year I did a spa to help with my arthritis. After that, I started swimming. Now I go to the YMCA twice a week for a spa workout and a few laps. When I started, I barely did five laps. Now I’m up to 20.
Even though it doesn’t look like I can lose the pounds I’ve gained, I do feel like swimming in the pool and exercising is doing me good. This is the first time I’ve actually done any type of exercise since gaining weight. I didn’t lose any weight but found my legs and arms more toned. I was asked if I was thin because I looked thinner, but the scale said I hadn’t.
emotional ups and downs
My weight gain was emotionally difficult. It affects my self esteem. I have a lot of negative thoughts about my appearance. When I look at pictures of myself and see how far my belly sticks out, I don’t feel so good.
But I’m optimistic about the new research that’s looking at using HIV drugs to treat weight gain. Knowing that the weight gain wasn’t all my fault made me feel better too. My meds make it harder for me to lose it.
My advice to anyone gaining weight from HIV treatment is to talk to your doctor, friends, and other support systems. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Ask others for help, and read up on all the latest medical advances.
Hopefully, these new studies on HIV treatment-induced weight gain will lead to the development of new drugs that don’t cause weight gain and help us maintain or lose weight more easily.
