Someone Very Close to Me Tested HIV+ today

[La Lioness Priyanka]

if anyone has any advice please let me know

sorry for the cross posting

[MSgt213]

1. I am so sorry to hear that. I don't have any advice but I do wish him or

her the best of luck.

[Imagine My Surprise]

2. I am sorry to hear this..

If he can get access to the various medications out there now, HIV is not the automatic death sentence that it once was. I don't know where you live, but many cities have support groups for both the infected and the affected. He/She may even know of a group you might want to check out.

It would seem that you are a very good friend already, otherwise you probably would not be privy to such personal information. Therefore, I would suggest that you continue being the kind of friend that you probably already are. As trite as it may sound, just be there for them. And always available.

Your friend will probably have some serious mood swings with this, but this varies person to person.

He/She will definitely need some counseling both in emotionally/mentally and certainly medically. I hope they have health coverage, and can get a good jump on things.

I hope this is somewhat helpful.

[davidinalameda]

3. check your inbox

:hi:

[elfin]

4. If you are really "close"

Get tested pronto. Otherwise help your friend get the correct protocol and do your best to ease the process in paperwork, finding the best doc, giving encouragement, taking to appointments etc.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. no not that kinda close

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. I don't know if this is for real.... I have not read all the research....

but you definitely should pass it on.... 4.

http://www.health-station.com/hc/HIV2-e.htm
DISCUSSION

In this study we demonstrated that MGN-3 possesses an inhibitory effect on HIV replication in vitro without cytotoxicity. MGN-3 is composed of denatured hemicellulose that is obtained by reacting rice bran hemicellulose with multiple carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes from Hyphomycetes, mycelia. The main chemical structure of MGN-3 is an arabinoxylan with a xylose in its main chain and an arabinose polymer in its side chain (Fig. 1). MGN-3 has proven to be a potent biological response modifier (BRM) that activates human natural killer (NK) cell activity in vivo and in vitro (1, 2). The results of this study also show that MGN-3 acts as an anti-viral agent; it inhibited HIV-1 production in peripheral blood mononuclear (MNC) in vitro as manifested by: 1) inhibition of HIV-1 24 antigen production, and 2) inhibition of syncytia formation.

Side effects are one of the problems of using anti-HIV agents for treatment. The prolonged use of several drugs such as PI, azidothymidine, dideoxycytidine, dideoxyinosine and D4T are associated with severe toxicitity and development of drug resistance (4-6). Therefore, many attempts have been made recently to develop new products that possess anti-HIV activity without the side effects. A number of plants belonging to the mint family (Labiatae) have been reported to have anti-viral activity against different viruses, including HIV (7-10). Hyssop officialis contains several active ingredients that exhibit anti-HIV activity, for example, tannins (11), and polysaccharide (MAR-10) that inhibits production of HIV-1 antigen in HIV-1 infected MNC and in HUT78 T cell line (12). Another polysaccharide from pine cones (Pinus parvifloria Sieb Zucc) has also been reported to inhibit HIV activity (13). With respect to polysaccharide from rice bran. Earlier studies demonstrated that extracted hemicellulose from rice bran fiber (RBF) has known unique biological effects; for example, a-glucan from rice bran show potent antitumor activity in mice (14), arabinose and xylose from RBF show defensive effects against bis(n-tributyltin) oxide (TBTO) induced thymic atrophy in rats (15). Unprocessed RBF and cholestyramine have been observed to increase peripheral blood leukocyte in humans (16). the polysaccharide used in this study acts as an interferon inducer (17) and has been tested as an anti-cancer agent in patients with different types of malignancy (2).

MGN-3 was examined for toxicity using blood chemistry analysis for SMAC and liver enzymes (SGOT and SGPT). Five healthy subjects were given MGN-3 orally at concentration of 45 mg/kg/d. After one month, no significant changes were detected in all parameters investigated. In vivo studies showed MGN-3 has highly significant augmentory effects on lymphocyte proliferation as shown by mitogen response with PHA (p<0.001), Con A (p<0.001) and PWM (p<0.05). Moreover, cell viability was not affected in MNC up to 11 days post-treatment. Clearly MGN-3 inhibits HIV-replication in a dose dependent manner and maximum effect was observed at a concentration of 100? g/ml. The results also showed differential response among participants toward the inhibitory effect against HIV replication by MGN-3. The mechanism by which MGN-3 inhibits HIV replication is not fully understood. HIV infects CD4+ cells, primary T lymphocytes and macrophages by binding the CD4 receptors of the host cells. The inhibitory effect on HIV replication by MGN-3 may be through the drug's interference with HIV replication post-entrance, alteration of chemokine receptors or chemokine production.

[wiley]

12. Very, very old, in-vitro (test tube) research

Not very helpful, but very thoughtful of you to bring this up.

None of the major treatments for HIV are even mentioned in the intro. A study of 5 uninfected individuals with polysaccharides that show no significant effect on any parameters besides PHA? Passing on a scientific abstract like this immediately following a positive HIV test has been shown to be very unhelpful in many regards.

It usually takes 6 months before the results sink in and someone is willing to respond. If he was infected very recently however, treatment might prevent the establishment of a permanent infections that knocks out whole families of T cell clones.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. On your sig line.... what's your take on the Berkson protocol?? And

have you seen any REAL research on glyconutrients vs virus up to and including HIV???

[wiley]

15. Now who would pay for that?

If companies that sell billions of dollars worth of supplements, vitamins, etc. would put up the nearly one billion dollars to research one of these things properly in clinical trials, we would probably have lots of pretty non-toxic treatments for a lot of things. Then again, if people stopped eating foods (processed, preserved, chemical laden) that cause oxidation, we would have a greatly healthier populace.

I have seen some research on glyconutrients with regards to viruses, but none with large enough numbers or appropriate protocols to be able to actually measure their efficacy and safety. Anecdotally, anti-oxidants, in amounts that the body is actually capable of metabolizing and using (and which don't interfere with normal metabolic pathways) represent a very promising avenue of ancillary care. Virucidal? Nothing at this point. The interferon induction line is always a sure indicator that no drug specific effects could be measured. N-acetylcarnosine is actually a very interesting and promising therapy.

But this is work chat, no? This guy needs to know he is loved and supported, and that he has many options should he decide to start treatment now or at a later date.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. Well.... let me make this statement.... I have "heard/seen" persons

who had gotten off of the drug cocktails (they were just about killing them) and went simply on glycos.... and went from a t-cell count of almost nothing to in the hundreds in a matter of months. Gained weight, went back to working out. I cannot "prove this" but Google may be quite a convincer... I know there are tougher strains of HIV, but supporting one's immune system cannot be a bad thing in this situation.

1: Nutr Clin Care. 2005 Jan-Mar;8(1):16-23. Related Articles, Links


Micronutrients and HIV disease: a review pre- and post-HAART.

Lanzillotti JS, Tang AM.

Nutrition/infection Unit, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. [e-mail]

Low serum micronutrient levels are common in HIV-positive individuals and have been associated with immune impairment, HIV disease progression, and increased mortality. Studies of micronutrient supplementation have yielded conflicting results, although several large trials suggest that multivitamin supplements, but not vitamin A, may decrease morbidity and mortality in some HIV-positive populations. Studies also suggest that antioxidant supplementation may decrease markers of oxidative stress in individuals with HIV, while selenium may enhance immune function by modulating cytokine production. Clearly, more research is needed, but current knowledge supports the use of a multivitamin supplement as a low-cost adjunct to antiretroviral treatment.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15850230


1: Curr Med Chem. 2005;12(15):1811-8. Related Articles, Links


Anti-HIV activities of natural antioxidant caffeic acid derivatives: toward an antiviral supplementation diet.

Bailly F, Cotelle P.

Laboratoire de Chimie Organique et Macromoleculaire, UMR CNRS 8009, Universite de Lille 1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.

Since 1996, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was designed to rapidly control HIV replication. It has had a significant impact on patient health and progression of AIDS in developed countries, but its success has not been complete. HAART strategy still suffers from issues of patient compliance, cost, deleterious side effects and emerging drug resistance. Therefore, expansion of novel anti-HIV drugs and targets will be critical in the coming years. In this context, discovering anti-HIV agents from natural sources and particularly from plants, may highlight the principle of a nutritional antioxidant antiretroviral diet. In this paper, we review the putative anti-HIV activity of simple caffeic acid derivatives, together with their antioxidant properties. Toxicity, metabolism and bioavailability, when known, will also be detailed. Well-known caffeic acid derivatives, such as chicoric, rosmarinic and lithospermic acids, may be designed as future leads multi-target anti-HIV compounds and the plants and vegetables containing them as potent nutritional therapeutic supplementation source. They are not expected to replace the actual antiretroviral therapy, but more likely, to complete and perhaps lighten it by adapted diet.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16029149

[Warpy]

18. Telling people to stop the drug cocktail is premature

but going on glycos during drug holidays might be a very effective strategy, or using them as adjunctives during allopathic medicine's drug treatment.

Just be careful, follow those labs, get that information, know what's working and what isn't.

[William769]

26. Lets just say as a person that has first hand knowledge

of this disease, you need to understand how the virus works.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

29. You need to know what glycoproteins signal in the body... up to

and including cell death. If a T-Cell dies off sooner when it is infected.... there will be less HIV floating around to do further damage.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. Have you read this... I noted that you stated that there were no

antiviral effects with the antioxidant route.... this is a horse of a different color, no?

http://www.glycoscience.com/glycoscience/start_frames.wm?FILENAME=G007&MAIN=glyconutritionals&SUB=disease

[wiley]

22. Says it all

"Please remember that this information is not intended to substitute for a doctor's care or for proven therapy."

Mixing claims of efficacy using in vitro studies on one hand, mice on the other hand, then applying mouse studies (unknown if mice have been specially bred to represent a specific disease system) just clouds the waters. It is well accepted that anti-oxidants are a good thing. Large doses of flax seed, for example, can actually decrease platelets to the point of thrombocytopenia. As I said previously, unless a metabolic dysfunction is present, eating the right food can provide probably all the anti-oxidants required. A deficiency of some needed vitamin or factor which leads to disease can certainly be treated with the missing element, provided that the dysfunction has not become pathological.

http://tinyurl.com/benkf
"Pharmacokinetic and safety data are reviewed and analyzed for glyconutritional sugars, including mannose, galactose, xylose, fucose, glucose, N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine. Based on these analyses, and considering their use as dietary supplements, dosing parameters, such as maximum safe dose, dosing interval, and minimum effective dose, are delineated for each substance when appropriate data are available. When human data are not available, maximum dietary doses are considered based on the use of a margin-of-safety, human health, risk assessment model. The model applies a 10-fold margin-of-safety to a dose level in which no significant adverse effects are seen in animals to account for extrapolation of non-human species data to humans. When an adverse effect is observed in animals, a 100-fold margin-of-safety is applied to the dose level at which significant adverse effects are seen. In addition, beneficial biological effect data are also occasionally included to provide balance and perspective to adverse effect data."

Whatever. Does it work and is it safe in human beings for the condition for which it is being studied? The above is neither an answer, nor reassuring.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

24. Most diabetics do not develop the nasty side effects of their

condition until their antioxidant stores have been used up.

If you ever get a chance to see the Cancer Video, or the We Listened Video, or the Adult Stem Cell Video.... your take on these sugars will change DRAMATICALLY.

The cancer video has many examples of traditional therapies that miraculously became "effective" but only after the addition of glycos, flash freeze dried cruciferous vegetable extracts and sometimes phytogenins as well.

In other cases, as in hospice.... people have been able to put the urn for their ashes in the closet.

[applegrove]

6. I'm so sorry. A friend of mine came up false positive. It was devastating

and terrifying. Horrible. Pray for your friend or call up the ancestors. That it was a false positive. And then remind them that people have lived for twenty years with aids. It is only in places like Africa where there is no treatment that people die.

I am so sorry.

[Ilsa]

7. I have no experience in this except to work with several AIDS patients

shortly before they passed on back in the 1990's when I was a working nurse. Everything has changed now. Hugs and blessings to you and your friend.

[Skittles]

9. I have a cousin and a friend who have been HIV+ for over 20 years

it is not a death sentence; get educated, it is all about taking care of oneself.

[Warpy]

10. Take a deep breath

If you've had unsafe sex with this person, you'll need to be tested now and again in three months. Until you get a clean bill of health, assume the worst and act accordingly (but hope for the best).

HIV isn't the death sentence it was only 20 years ago. I have friends who have been living with the disease for over 20 years now and mostly functioning well, enjoying life, and having occasional annoying illnesses. It's gone from a quick killer to a chronic illness very quickly. Chronic illnesses are something you need to take care of, but with the symptoms controlled, they are just one of life's nuisances.

Your friend likely has a lot of enjoyable years ahead of him.

[wiley]

11. If OraSure Rapid Oral test

get confirmation. False positives have been occurring. If not, try http://www.atdn.org , http://www.projectinform.org , http://www.hivandhepatitis.com, or http://www.aidsmeds.com You may also PM me.

Make sure he knows he has support, and he is not alone. It is extremely unlikely that he needs emergency care or will for a long time.

There are a lot of people who are willing to help. Any issues about insurance coverage, public assistance, etc., http://www.atdn.org/access

If it's a new infection there are many very good options for treatment. the fact that the CORRUPT REPUBLICANS have been hacking away at Mediciad, funding for RW programs, etc. has not been helpful for anyone infected with anything.

[thespiritualzebra]

13. A good friend was diagnosed+ 11 years ago and is fine.

He went off his medication for a while but decided to go back on it after feeling sick (he has diabetes as well though and quit that med at the same time).

He is well and rarely gets colds or feels sick even though his diet is crap and he never exercises.

I'd suggest to anyone diagnosed + to get tests from different docs without telling them about the first diagnosis.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

19. Please read.... I knew this but forgot to link it in.....

http://www.thenutritionreporter.com/selenium.html

Selenium and HIV


The second piece of the Ebola-selenium puzzle comes from Taylor at the University of Georgia, Athens. Last year, he theorized that several little-known genes in HIV control the formation of selenocysteines, proteins with a voracious appetite for selenium.


When the virus depletes all of the selenium in an HIV-infected cell, it reproduces and begins attacking other cells in search of more selenium. The more selenium the virus uses, the less that's available for the body's immune system. Eventually, immunity becomes so weak that AIDS patients become vulnerable to life-threatening "opportunistic" infections. (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Aug. 19, 1994;37:2637-54.)


If the theory is correct, supplemental selenium would do two things, Taylor said in an interview. First, it would provide what the HIV virus needs so it wouldn't spread throughout, creating a biochemical stalemate of sorts. Second, it would help keep the person's overall immune system functioning, so it could resist the secondary infections that usually kill HIV patients.


Genetic evidence and clinical studies using selenium in the treatment of AIDS suggest that the theory is true. In one ongoing study, Juliane Sacher, M.D., of Frankfurt, Germany, reported that selenium-supplemented AIDS patients gain weight, have a general feeling of well-being, and sometimes benefit from increases in protective CD4 T-cells. (Chemico-Biological Interactions, 1994; 91:199-205.) Another study has found that selenium inhibits the growth of HIV-1 in the test tube. (Taylor EW, Antiviral Research, 1995;26:A271-86.)

[MannyGoldstein]

20. Chronic Disease, Not Usually Deadly (Anymore)

A friend of mine is an MD/PhD in infectious diseases, on the faculty of two Ivy-League medical schools - scary-smart guy, don't know why he still talks to the likes of me...

He tells me that AIDS is now more like diabetes than it's like terminal cancer - take your meds and you'll live a good, long life.

Good luck to all!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. thanks for the hope

[Liberal Veteran]

21. I guess I'm something of an expert since I have AIDS.

First and foremost, be there as a friend. Not everyone will be and it hurts. Let them know you are there and shoulder to cry on and that you aren't going anywhere. Don't press the person to talk, just let them know that they CAN talk to you and they can trust you to be understanding, non-judgemental, and discreet.

I'm not going to paint a rosy picture of what it's like. I was unfortunate enough to have to deal with a positive test and AIDS diagnosis at the same time. It's terrifying and it changes your life just like any potentially deadly illness can. And people do still die. If the person was recently infected, he probably will go on with a normal life for a decade or more before it becomes an issue. Given the advances made in just the last ten years, there is no reason to think that things won't even be better a decade from now.

If he's got to start meds immediately because it's not a recent infection, adherence is the most important thing. That means taking all of your pills all of the time and on time. You don't get days off. I'm on a once daily regimen and it's two pills with no side effects for me. His/Her mileage may vary, everyone is different. When I was on a twice daily regimen, I literally did not get to sleep in for 5 years because even on my days off, I had to set the alarm for my morning pills.

The upshot is that if you adhere to the drugs and take care of yourself, you can live a very long time with this. I was infected in 1986 (I only know because I was able to track it back to someone who died who I had unsafe sex with while thinking he was being faithful to me...stupid move that and I recall the odd viral illness that is the hallmark of seroconversion illness for many people not long after).

It's not a death sentence, but it's not fun and it's ALWAYS with you. Just be there and ask him or her whether they want any help like even someone just for moral support at the doctor's office. Also, if you can get him or her in touch with a local ASO (AIDS Service Organization) they will likely be able to help with finding a good experienced doctor (which is a must) and navigate any public assistance if needed as well support groups and nutritionists in most cases. A lot of the time, they can also assist in pointing you to free counseling and even lawyer services to help with things like durable medical powers of attorney.

I could go on for days, but I'll just end by saying, if you have any specific questions just PM me. I'm not a doctor and won't offer medical advice (except maybe how to cope with the first few weeks of side effects with the meds...they usually subside), but I am very knowledgeable about HIV (which I think is key to surviving).

And to you....take care of yourself. HIV doesn't just affect the infected and it's only natural for you to be stressed and worried, but don't let it overwhelm you. You have to deal with it as well and that's not an easy thing.

[wiley]

23. Excellent Advice

I would only add that a thorough exam is required to determine if any other things might be causing immune system stress (i.e. syphillis, hepatitis, chlamydia, etc.) Get your Hep vaccinations and pneumonia vaccination, and take it easy. Also, remember that you don't have to inform anyone until you feel comfortable - assuming you are not going to have unprotected sex, share needles, or share blood somehow. If you are careful, it's a hard virus to transmit - unless you have another infection going on like syphillis or chlamydia or herpes.

[William769]

25. Just be the loving caring friend I know you to be to his person.

I think thats the only advice you need.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

28. thank you everyone

for your time and good thoughts