My doctor advised that quitting would certainly make me put on a lot of weight but which is the better of two evils?
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Answers (3)
masso41691 Aug 2010
Hi,
I would follow your doctor´s advice on giving up.
He/she can derive you to a nutritionist/nutriologist and get you on a heart healthy diet. Also if you are able to excersice , this is very good way for weigth loss, decreases strokes, heart failure, heart attacks. And with the proper diet, you also get rid of LDL cholesterol..so it would be a lot more benficial to you and your health to quit now.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.
Anonymous 1 Aug 2010
Every doctor i meet recommends losing weight its a matter of doing it and if you are ready and want to we can never be forced into doing anything. We are only promised a longer life if we quit and only we are keeping ourselves unhealthy. The only evil is that we give into our wants other than needs and that goes for a lot of people in this world not just us two. So good luck i hope you make the right choice.
christine...1 Aug 2010
"Severe and sometimes fatal lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood) and liver problems have occurred with this type of medicine. The risk may be greater in women, patients who are very overweight, or patients who have been taking nucleoside medicines (eg, emtricitabine, tenofovir) for a long time".
I copied this info for you about Atripla. Since your doctor said you will gain a lot weight if you quit smoking, I thought this information would be even more relevant. I would ask your doctor what the INCREASED chances are of developing lactic acidosis if you put on a lot of weight. I can't tell you which of the "2 evils" are worse. But personally, I would do what makes you happy.
My best wishes,
Chris
christineATU
1 Aug 2010
We all know smoking is not healthy. But I checked every place (including drug and smoking interactions, lifestyle interactions) no where did it say to avoid smoking while taking this medication.
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Hi there Maso. His doctor advised he would put on a lot of weight if he quit smoking. He did not advise him to quit smoking. He also didn't mention he was over weight. We all know the dangers of smoking and being over weight. Please don't be offended my friend about the correction. I think you may have just assumed a few things. I too have assumed a lot of things in my answers. No offense ok?
No offense taken,
Sometimes one has to go that little further..as you say the extra mile for people and try to give them a solution to might what happen to them.
Doctors as we know can say many things and I respect that, but It would not hurt for the doctor to tell him ... "look if you keep on a pack a day you will get cancer, you must quit, and you will gain weight, but we can deal with the weight gain, by taking these measures"... That is a real Doctor´s answer who cares not only about getting paid... but also cares and worries about humanity, their patients.-
Expand this post...
As you are aware I am not a doctor nor pretend to be one at all, but have seen many over the past 21 years of my life, and I do not have all the answers, no one does, and I have been with doctors that do not give solutions... take this pill, etc..I have been 3 times in mental institutions, where some doctors look at you like you are scum and do not even say hello , or how are you feeling today, they just pass you by, ignoring you.
My point Chris is that I have picked up a few things in my life(experience), one of them is empathy, is caring enough to answer and say, wait a minute there is something wrong here and we must solve it, this has happened only with two doctors in my life, they do not care about money. See if I go to my Psychiatrist or Neurologist and ask the same question I would get the reply I gave, because they truly care about what happens to me and all of their patients.-
My grandfather was this kind of Doctor.-
Your Friend,
Andres
I am not comparing myself to anyone, we all have different condtions, past, experiences.
I am only sharing some of my experiences with you and my personal point of view..I do not think of myself of being more or less than others... with all due respect.
I know we all have seen many doctors and we all have our own personal opinion, I just gave mine... that is all.
Thank you.-
Atripla
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
Thanks guys!!! I am a heavy smoker and my health psychologist said it would be difficult to quit smoking right away as I only recently tested HIV+. She figured that I have to deal with this blow first and maybe try quitting a little later in the year.
My major reason for asking the question is whether the cigarette smoking would stop my immune system from regaining its normal capacity i.e CD4 counts 500+. I started Atripla in April 2010 and my VL is now at 69 after taking it for 2 months, however my CD4 count was only 276. My doctor said it should go up to 500 but it may not go much further than that. I have read on some of the other threads that once the virus is undectetable the immune system becomes stronger and your T-cells beign to increase thereby increaing your CD4 count.
Hi, Well a Box a day... that's too much, even for a healthy living person. I stoped smoking when I found out my status. I do get a cigarret once in a while if i'm having a drink, but I would go no more than 2 in a day once in great while. I don't like smoking but sometimes its a relaxing feeling while your are having a beer or drink. I wouldn't over do it. Try doing less a day. Slowly stop. There is lots of help out there to help people stop smoking. You don't want to add up problems to your condition if your lungs mess up, etc.etc. Is better to be safe. On Atripla, I still do drink Ocasionally, and smoke rarely. I ask my physician, and with moderation, there shouldn't be a problem. Just think that you want to be as healthy as possible and a Box a day is not going the get you far. Like a said, not even on a healthy person.
Take care, and good luck..You can do it!!!
Good advice alx i would have gave you a thumbs up but you commented instead of answered anyway juss wanna say good job;)
Maso you go the extra mile for anyone and that is a good quality in a man you really dont meet such a gentleman of this kind. You are rare and unique dont change for the world and always go that extra mile it gets you somewhere alot of us have taken the shortcuts and that leads us no where but if you go that extra mile instead you have so much more in store for you. One of my favorite movies is shortcut to happiness there really isnt one and we need to deal with life as it comes and dont take no shortcuts or we dont learn nothing.
Many thanks for your kind words my friend.