tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67772640578233540862024-03-14T00:37:04.665+02:00HIV Support South AfricaHIV Support in South Africa - bringing information, Dr Gail Ashford's thoughts and opinions to people affected by or living with HIV.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-55975466414969511672017-08-30T15:18:00.001+02:002017-08-30T15:18:20.940+02:00Travelling from outside of Gauteng for your health care? We'd like to help<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Please let us know a bit more by <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HX6SYK5" target="_blank">completing this survey</a> so we can offer a concierge service to our valued patients coming for care at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.<br />
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We're looking at offering travel, accommodation, restaurant bookings and even facilitation grocery shopping, dietary requirements and leisure activities if you are visiting Johannesburg for health care. Why not take the hassle out of healthcare and have some healthy fun too? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-88750470593377770212016-05-14T10:21:00.001+02:002016-05-14T10:21:10.256+02:00Heart Disease root causes - and the tests that can save your life ! #LCHF — The Fat Emperor<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.thefatemperor.com/blog/2016/5/13/heart-disease-root-causes-and-the-tests-that-can-save-your-life-lchf">http://www.thefatemperor.com/blog/2016/5/13/heart-disease-root-causes-and-the-tests-that-can-save-your-life-lchf</a><br></p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Gail Ashford<br> Specialist Family Physician<br> Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre<br> tel: 011 482 8297/8<br> fax: 011 482 5064<br> twitter: @drgail3<br> facebook: HIV Support South Africa <br> facebook: Nutrition E-Volution<br> <a href="http://www.hivsupport.co.za">www.hivsupport.co.za</a><br> fax2email: 0866235807</p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-46424624711313240082015-11-30T20:52:00.000+02:002015-12-02T15:16:09.101+02:00Fear of Breastfeeding when living with HIV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Breastfeeding is an <a href="http://www.modernalternativemama.com/2012/03/10/im-tired-of-lactivists/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">emotive issue</a> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone has an opinion on whether breastfeeding is best and whether formula feeding is ever as good. Mothers who breastfeed are judged , mothers who formula feed are vilified. There are social, behavioural, cultural, religious and medical factors that weigh in on how <i>you perceive</i> what is best for your baby. For any new parent, navigating the sea of opinion and unsolicited advice can be very difficult, without having to consider HIV. When we add HIV to the mix, the judgments amplify and fear dictates decisions.<br />
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In my practice, I work with a number of couples from pre-conception all the way to infant HIV care. It's one of my favourite things to talk about because I am passionate about it. I have two children, one who was breastfed and one who was formula fed. I know first hand how difficult it can be to establish breastfeeding and how little support there is out there for breastfeeding mothers. It means a lot to me that my patients are offered support in this decision, and that they have no regrets 2 years down the line.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Jegcsf7b8/VlyJfKL7TTI/AAAAAAAAfUU/m7KW1-kIYuo/s1600/05-DSC_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Jegcsf7b8/VlyJfKL7TTI/AAAAAAAAfUU/m7KW1-kIYuo/s200/05-DSC_2702.JPG" width="133" /></a>Couples faced with the decision whether to breastfeed or not, arrive at my offices with a ready made decision to Formula feed. Most of the time<b> the decision has been made based on FEAR</b>. No mother wishes to pass HIV on to her baby. And the 'professional opinion' and fear based advice out there abounds.<br />
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Many Obstetricians, GPs, Paediatricians and midwives advise against breastfeeding because the <b>"risk is too high"</b>. But are all these specialists able to quantify or qualify what the <b>actual</b> risk of HIV transmission is? It is unacceptable to me that this coercive approach is taken instead of offering full information, including the pros and cons. We call this<b> informed decision</b> making.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why are people <b>afraid</b> to Breastfeed if </span><span style="font-size: large;">HIV positive?</span></div>
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In short: because they wish to <i>eliminate</i> risk.<br />
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>the HYPE</b></span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o-q0KILzmrk/VlyPo80YueI/AAAAAAAAfVs/kl7rXom__3M/s1600/images%2B%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o-q0KILzmrk/VlyPo80YueI/AAAAAAAAfVs/kl7rXom__3M/s200/images%2B%25284%2529.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">HIV stigma has resulted in increased ignorance, fear mongering and decreased tolerance. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">There is a general belief out there that <i>if a mother is HIV positive, then the baby will be born with HIV. </i>This is <b>false.</b></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">There is a belief that the <i>risk from Breastfeeding is "HIGH" and therefore unacceptable</i>. Medical professionals, including HIV specialists, amplify the risk <i>without</i> quantifying it. Most countries <a href="http://1.usa.gov/1SBfYe0" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">guidelines</a> state that <b>formula feeding should be offered to higher socio-economic groups and breastfeeding used in low income settings.</b> These guidelines not only ignore <a href="http://1.usa.gov/1NXLwZS" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the biological drive of a mother to breastfeed, but also enforce the stigmatisation of it.</a> It smacks of the old paternalistic medical practice we have moved away from and undermines a natural process.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">In the <i style="color: black;">absence </i>of any interventions, the risk of MTCT is approximately 30%–40%. (But with interventions, <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>the risk is <1 b=""><!--1--><!--1--></1></b></span>)</li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>the HISTORY</b></span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNXIXx1GUs/VlyPn6KA2fI/AAAAAAAAfVU/-C9OafIQO4s/s1600/images%2B%252818%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHNXIXx1GUs/VlyPn6KA2fI/AAAAAAAAfVU/-C9OafIQO4s/s200/images%2B%252818%2529.jpeg" width="200" /></a>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">The South African government <i style="color: black;">provided free formula </i>for 6 months to all HIV positive mothers from 2004 to 2010. Women were advised against breastfeeding but it was thinly disguised as <span style="color: #38761d;">"counselling" </span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">(Women were told "<b style="color: black;">Mummy, if you breastfeed then the baby can get HIV. So, what will you choose?</b> " )</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Then pivotal studies like the<a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203174" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"> Mashi study</a>, <a href="http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/rtis/keshobora/en/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Kesho Bor</a>a , <a href="http://www.aidsmap.com/BAN-study-Giving-ART-to-mothers-or-ARV-prophylaxis-to-infants-during-breastfeeding-equally-effective-at-reducing-HIV-transmission/page/1435367/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">BAN</a> and others showed that <b>HIV exposed babies were still as likely to die by the age of 2 <i>regardless </i>of whether they breastfed or formula fed.</b> The difference was that the Breastfed babies were dying from HIV while the formula fed babies were dying from infectious diseases (like gastroenteritis, pneumonia and malnutrition). They also showed that providing ARV treatment to the mothers and Post Exposure Prophylaxis to the infants, proffered significant protection against HIV transmission. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">As a Result of this,<b> <a href="http://www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/feeding.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">WHO revised its recommendations in 2010</a> to advocate for breastfeeding in HIV positive mothers.</b></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">the wish to do no HARM</span></b></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Health professionals honestly have the intent to help and <a href="http://1.usa.gov/1KWQEsu" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">to do No HARM</a>. However, sometimes, in their eagerness to <i style="color: black;">prevent</i> harm (by recommending against breastfeeding) they inadvertently<span style="color: #38761d;"><b> <i>do Not DO good</i> (</b></span>by stripping the mother of her right to choose, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by not providing her with an informed decision making process</span>, and by ignoring the potential disadvantages of formula milk)</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: black;">Mothers are desperate to protect their child and are also ill informed. There is emotional blackmail and recommendation to </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><u>avoid </u></b></span>breastfeeding with an implication that she is doing something negligent by offering her baby breast milk.</li>
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To understand the risk better it is necessary to look at a study. The study below really highlights the pertinent issues. Skip the images if you can't bear the detail, but read the text.</h4>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/19352%20%7C%20http:/" target="_blank">Mary Ngoma et al (study published July 2015</a>)</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: small;">In this study 279 Women were also given ARVs while pregnant. All were encouraged to Exclusively Breastfeed for 6 months. From 6 m to 12 months age, they breastfed and gave complementary foods. They stopped breastfeeding 13 months. The table below shows that</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">after 6 weeks NO infant had acquired HIV through breastfeeding! </span></b></div>
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And interestingly, after 12 months there were 3 infected babies. But, each case was linked to a high viral load in the mother. This means that after a year, if the mother demonstrated successful ARV treatment with a <span style="font-size: large;">low viral load, there were no children infected with HIV</span>. ( see image below)<br />
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It is a gold standard to promote exclusive feeding, but did this really happen in these mother infant pairs? <b><span style="font-size: large;">At no single point in time were all the mothers exclusively breastfeeding. (see graph below)</span></b></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>98%</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> of mothers were Exclusively Breastfeeding while 2% of mothers were mixed feeding </span><span style="color: #38761d;">from birth</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #222222;">by </span><span style="color: #38761d;">1.5 months</span><span style="color: #222222;"> this had dropped to 95% breastfeeding exclusively and </span><span style="color: blue;">5% </span><span style="color: #222222;">of infants were </span><span style="color: #38761d;">mixed fed</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">and</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #222222;"> by </span><span style="color: #38761d;">3 months</span><span style="color: #222222;"> a further drop to 92% exclusive while 8% of infants were mixed fed or had started formula. </span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Between 3 and 6 months the exclusive breastfeeding dropped from 92% to 15%</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> ! At 6 months only </span><span style="color: blue;">15 % </span><span style="color: #222222;">of infants were being exclusively fed. That is a very low percentage. This tells us that most infants have </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: blue;">other food introduced before 6 months despite WHO recommendations</span>.</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> Which tells us that the WHO recommendations are <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/67219/1/WHO_NHD_01.09.pdf?ua=1" target="_blank">not pragmatic and not practicable</a>.</span></li>
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Definitions</h2>
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<u><b><span style="background-color: lime;">Exclusive Breast Feeding</span></b></u><br />
<b>Only Breast milk </b>(either expressed or directly from the breast <u>but</u> definitely breast milk) is given. No water, No formula top ups, no porridge and no solids given. This is recommended by the World Health Organisation for the first 6 months of life. (However, it is also important to note that there is <a href="http://scienceofmom.com/2015/05/28/4-signs-your-baby-is-ready-for-solid-foods/" target="_blank">flexibility between 4 and 6 months</a> of age to assess whether the infant is now ready to add additional foods other than breast milk)</div>
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<span style="background-color: lime;"><u><b>Complementary Feeding</b></u></span></div>
When breast/formula milk is still given but it is now <b style="color: black;">age appropriate</b> to add in additional foods, like vegetables, solids, tea, water. Age appropriate refers to the<span style="color: blue;"> <b><span style="color: #38761d;">infants gut maturity</span></b></span> and its ability to now safely digest different foods of different textures and other contents. It also means that the <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>infants brain has developed sufficiently</b></span> to coordinate chewing and swallowing. It is a <b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">natural progression</span></b> because milk <i style="color: black;">alone</i> is no longer sufficient to provide all the infants nutritional needs.</div>
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<span style="background-color: lime;"><b><u>Mixed Feeding</u></b></span></div>
Mixed Feeding is <i style="color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Inappropriately</b></span></i> including foods other than Breast Milk (or Formula Milk ) at a time when the <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>infant's gut is not mature</b></span> enough to be able to digest these foods. Commonly, in South Africa, cereals get introduced within the first few weeks of life. These foods have a much coarser texture and can cause microscopic tears in the gut. These food may also <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://1.usa.gov/1QBGINb" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">trigger an immune response</a> i</span></b></span>n the infants gut that makes the infant more susceptible to illness, allergy and later metabolic conditions. It is important to understand the difference between Mixed and Complementary feeding. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">When mothers were treated with ARVs effectively to a viral load less than 1000 copies/ml then there were NO HIV infections. AND, most mothers introduced other foods before 6 months but no infections occurred. Pretty cool neh?<!--1000--></span></b><!--1000--><!--1000--></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No one can ever give you a guarantee that your baby will be HIV negative. But taking ARVs gets you as close as is humanly possible to eliminating risk to the baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Breastfeeding can offer a phenomenal amount of benefit to baby, and to mum. My agenda is to ensure that the word gets out, and to ensure that mothers get a Choice. A choice to take ARVs, a choice in how they deliver the baby, and to choose how they feed their precious child.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-87085604144668683532015-08-06T07:45:00.001+02:002015-08-08T19:08:26.401+02:00The Road to Diabetes and Heart Disease The Ticking Clock & Hypothesis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is an excellent blog written by Dr Axel Sigurdsson, a Cardiologist. Well worth the read and relevant to those with lipodystrophy from ARVs and abdominal obesity (caused by Efavirenz and Aluvia in particular) </div>
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<a href="http://www.docsopinion.com/2015/08/04/the-road-to-diabetes-and-heart-disease-the-ticking-clock-hypothesis/">http://www.docsopinion.com/2015/08/04/the-road-to-diabetes-and-heart-disease-the-ticking-clock-hypothesis/</a></div>
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<br /> twitter: @drgail3<br /> facebook: HIV Support South Africa <br /> facebook: Nutrition E-Volution<br /> <a href="http://www.hivsupport.co.za/">www.hivsupport.co.za</a><br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-43483171326729946462015-06-30T15:31:00.001+02:002015-07-05T20:49:18.904+02:00Flu vaccine efficacy 2015. My (controversial) take. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Personally I think the benefits of the flu vaccine are being overstated. A maximum 60% protection is reported (ie 60% of vaccinated people who presented with influenza symptoms test negative for influenza) but in this season's analysis it was 19% .</div>
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I feel we should put more emphasis on <br />
1) staying home if you are ill<br />
2) keep kids home from school when I'll<br />
3) hand washing and soap everywhere<br />
4) tissues and coughing into the elbow <br />
5) avoiding sick <u>people</u></div>
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These offer better protection than the vaccine. And that is before we talk about herd immunity. More than 80% of a population must be vaccinated to gain the proposed benefits of herd immunity. <a href="http://1.usa.gov/1euUQHF">1.usa.gov/1euUQHF</a>. . In south Africa I believe our uptake is <1%. </div>
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<a href="http://1.usa.gov/1euV2q8">http://1.usa.gov/1euV2q8</a><br />
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At my hospital there had been a drive for health care workers to be vaccinated, especially with two cases of influenza A pneumonia in the ICU. However, the evidence for HCW to vaccinate is low quality <a href="http://bit.ly/1euVe8T">bit.ly/1euVe8T</a></div>
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Indeed,not all flu vaccine skeptics are anti-vaxxers. I am a believer in childhood immunisation. But the flu vaccine doesn't have good quality evidence to back it. As in a recent BMJ article there is certainly enough doubt to raise healthy debate. <a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6182/rapid-responses">http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6182/rapid-responses</a></div>
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And the Cochrane Collaboration also released summaries of the vaccine use in children and healthy adults as well as those over 65. </div>
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<a href="http://www.cochrane.org/CD001269/ARI_vaccines-to-prevent-influenza-in-healthy-adults">http://www.cochrane.org/CD001269/ARI_vaccines-to-prevent-influenza-in-healthy-adults</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.cochrane.org/CD004879/ARI_vaccines-for-preventing-influenza-in-healthy-children">http://www.cochrane.org/CD004879/ARI_vaccines-for-preventing-influenza-in-healthy-children</a><br />
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There are even a few studies (observational, in Canada) linking the flu vaccine to worse protection from the flu <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000258">http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000258</a> which was then replicated in a ferret study <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086555">http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0086555</a></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScKosofCrfVz9vhXVDfALTsiwNHA-1D-T0mhAie1ApWzbDpf-N" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScKosofCrfVz9vhXVDfALTsiwNHA-1D-T0mhAie1ApWzbDpf-N" /></a>As with most things in medicine I think there is more than one way to view the evidence.And increasingly people are becoming aware of the cognitive dissonance that is pervasive in modern medicine. This is where we have a belief that something is true and so will look for evidence to substantiate the belief and discard evidence that negates the belief. <a href="http://bit.ly/1Uo25lC">bit.ly/1Uo25lC</a><br />
<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124">http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124</a></div>
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Its a very personal decision but I don't think people should be reprimanded for not getting a flu vaccine.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-33666282572946730232015-01-22T06:12:00.001+02:002015-07-08T19:34:21.396+02:00Sunscreen VITAMIN D3 and skin cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://theunboundedspirit.com/scientists-blow-the-lid-on-cancer-sunscreen-myth/#sthash.IUkcsAXR">http://theunboundedspirit.com/scientists-blow-the-lid-on-cancer-sunscreen-myth/#sthash.IUkcsAXR</a></div>
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Sent using ShareThis</div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaIg3Ll8mPNl-b4gVbY6CObJEMLDaCrCslUvzC_fU6HlcmJTG_-g" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaIg3Ll8mPNl-b4gVbY6CObJEMLDaCrCslUvzC_fU6HlcmJTG_-g" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/getting-enough-vitamin-d/">http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/getting-enough-vitamin-d/</a></div>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZe2rRZfYkn8xQxoBUTVxMfQ93Wh32kOunR9ZfHXmFsC3_6t_L" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZe2rRZfYkn8xQxoBUTVxMfQ93Wh32kOunR9ZfHXmFsC3_6t_L" width="320" /></a></div>
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What About All Cancers and Vitamin D?</div>
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<a href="http://freetheanimal.com/images/old/6a00d8341d0fcc53ef010536a6749f970c-800wi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://freetheanimal.com/images/old/6a00d8341d0fcc53ef010536a6749f970c-800wi.png" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please Read Richard Nikoleys interesting blog on this:</div>
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<a href="http://freetheanimal.com/2008/12/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-all-cancer.html" target="_blank">Richard Nikoley: All Cancers and Vitamin D</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-86681785885347589402014-05-15T03:30:00.001+02:002015-07-08T19:24:13.877+02:00Are we complacent about AIDS treatment in South Africa?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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@AIDSHealthcare: #SouthAfrica: #AIDS treatment is complacent >> <a href="http://t.co/TLlhKmoyYU">http://t.co/TLlhKmoyYU</a> via @IOL<br /> Shared via TweetCaster</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-65667922501808415602014-05-11T08:42:00.001+02:002014-05-11T08:42:24.109+02:00little drops — Why Dove's "Real Beauty Sketches" Video Makes Me Uncomfortable... and Kind of Makes Me Angry<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://jazzylittledrops.tumblr.com/post/48118645174/why-doves-real-beauty-sketches-video-makes-me">http://jazzylittledrops.tumblr.com/post/48118645174/why-doves-real-beauty-sketches-video-makes-me</a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-13957510137851298912014-04-06T16:17:00.000+02:002015-07-05T20:24:54.538+02:00AIDS Denialism and where it got us. ARVs and where they got us today. And Twars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week I engaged an AIDS denialist in debate on Twitter<br />
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It all started out ok, but then her anger appeared to take over, and she lost all sense of temper and humour and became attacking. The Doctors were all to blame for the deaths, and ex-President Thabo Mbeki and Minister Msimang were absolved of all wrongdoing (even though it was they who elected to bring in the cheaper and more toxic drug D4T as the first line treatment) and were heralded as the heroes. The fact that the WHO and UNAIDS report has estimated over 375000 people's direct deaths were related to the delays in accessing ARV treatment owing to these two people, seems to have escaped this lady.</div>
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This lady states that she believes nutrition is the answer, and yet if you read her Time line on Twitter, there is almost no content about nutrition. She spends her time convincing people that HIV and AIDS do not exist. Her time goes toward telling people how toxic the medications are and how people die from ARVs. My question is, how constructive is this? She is so busy being AGAINST something, that she is not actually standing FOR anything? </div>
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To paraphrase a good saying: "Fools are always 100% certain, and wise people are always filled with doubt". When you see someone standing with such vehemence and venom to denounce something, yet they stand FOR nothing, it should make you question them. </div>
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I am honest about ARVs. They DO have side effects, and in the past, the side effects were worse. But, I believe in being pro-active. My patients will tell you that we spend a great deal of time discussing metabolic health, and optimising their nutrition, encouraging exercise and other factors in overall health. All these are very important in helping to maintain good health, and prevent the long term side effects that ANY, chronic medicine (including asthma, diabetes, blood pressure medicines) will carry with it.</div>
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But, I do believe that there is a virus called the HIV, and that it does weaken the immune system over time. And at some stage, if we are not vigilant, the immune system may become so weak that it is vulnerable to infections like TB, thrush, certain cancers. These may appear, and classify as AIDS. But this is preventable. By monitoring the immune system and the Viral load in the blood, by optimising health, and by starting ARV treatment early enough.</div>
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ARVs have got us to a point today, where an HIV positive person</div>
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1) looks the same as an HIV negative person (you cannot tell the difference by looking at someone)</div>
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2) has a good life expectancy, and can achieve normal life expectancy if starting treatment early enough</div>
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3) can have a normal family life (i.e. can marry, have children, raise children, be there for the birth of grandchildren)</div>
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4) can have a normal pregnancy, a normal delivery and can breastfeed. YES, can breastfeed. And have HIV negative children</div>
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5) can fall in love with and have a full intimate sex life with an HIV negative person without ever infecting the partner.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-85055687893896568212013-10-21T07:54:00.003+02:002013-12-15T19:53:13.169+02:00Stigma related to HIV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Zelda Gauld</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working at the practice of Dr Gail Ashford has changed me in many ways. I must confess that I knew in my head that everyone could contract the disease whether you were rich or poor, African, Indian, European, Coloured, English, Afrikaans, Zulu or Sotho, yet in my heart the connection was not yet made. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My eyes have been opened on so many levels and I am grateful for that. Most of all I have been shown what the true meaning of grace is. Dr Ashford really does not judge or discriminate - maybe because of her position as a Specialist Physician, but my gut tells me she is more than just the normal doctor. She cares for her patients, go the extra mile and build relationships with them without any judgment - never discussing patients behind their backs or commenting about them. Now THAT is something rarely found in the medical field according to my opinion and past experiences. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Heading up a HIV Support Group I have been taken out of my comfort zone, challenged not to judge and accept people for who they are - We all make mistakes in different many ways - We are human - There is grace. To me in a society - that seems like it is so non-discriminatory - we still have a very long way to go, judging on the hurt, pain and loneliness my Support Group members go through. The inner struggles about disclosing and hurt of rejection when disclosing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We have a Facebook Page that I have been trying for over a year to get 1000 "likes" on. It has been such a struggle. There must be some idea out there that if you "like" a HIV page you somehow disclose that you are positive. Stigma is the only reason I can attribute this to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I spoke to a journalist of an Afrikaans magazine whose name I will not mention and I asked if she would be interested in doing an article on HIV and Stigma for World Aids Day on 1 December 2013. In this day and age the response I got was, that that was not a topic that was relevant to their readers or who would be interested in that. Shock and horror! At first I was standing in judgement of her, thinking to myself: Wake up and smell the roses! Then I stepped back for a moment and realised that not so long ago I was there, I knew in my head, but not my heart, that everyone could get the disease. Being Afrikaans myself, knowing how entrenched certain beliefs in our culture are, it saddens me that despite the amount of information readily available the culture still seems to live in a little cocoon of ignorance, because it is easier that way - Let's just sweep it under the carpet. Yet as a culture we do a lot of charitable work, caring for others, being loving, caring. The same can be said for other cultures - Indian, Coloured, European. Please understand I am not knocking my own culture down, I am simply advocating for openness, for facing this disease head-on. Ignorance is the cause of spreading this disease. I can only imagine that this ignorance stems from pure fear that this would be possible. Why can we do so much charitable, loving work in certain cases and in others simply reject. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are all <strong><em>human</em></strong>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We all want <strong><em>acceptance</em></strong>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We all want others to be able to <em><strong>hear</strong></em> us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The concept of grace has been shown to me in such a beautiful way with so many women phoning in, telling us their gynaecologist just told them they were positive, possibly contracted through their partners or previous sexual partners, with the possibility of have given it to their current partners already. They come in together, they walk the road together, they do what they have to do to ensure that the disease does not transfer to their babies - For me that is tangible love and grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The reason I am writing this is because I so strongly feel that we can throw around as many red ribbons as we want, if we don't make a heart connection with this disease it will continue spreading while people are desperately holding their breaths for a cure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let <strong>US</strong> be the cure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let <strong>US</strong> speak out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let <strong>US</strong> stand together as HUMANS and address this, without discrimination. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let <strong>US</strong> create a HIV-free generation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It starts with <strong>YOU!</strong></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-67270809421341815652012-11-28T09:13:00.001+02:002015-07-05T20:13:39.141+02:00Hormonal Contraception and HIV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>NOTES FROM PLENARY SESSION:</b><br />
A recently controversial topic. Prof Helen Rees presented at the plenary at the South African HIV CLinician Society Conference in Cape Town November 2012 .<br />
Hormonal methods have an impact on the immune system, in particular injectable contraceptives have raised doubts about their safety and possible increase in risk of transmission of HIV.<br />
<br />
Depo has a different impact to nur- isterate (i.e. worse) . Depo provera behaves like a Sledge hammer <br />
- thins the vaginal epithelial and impacts on vaginal immunity. It may impact on viral load. May be safer for patients to choose Nur-isterate over Depo if they choose Injectable.<br />
<br />
<br />
There are also drug interactions with ARV s.<br />
Injectable give 2x increase in risk for both partners of acquiring and transmission of infection.<br />
<u>Partners in prevention study</u>. The 3 breds studies all indicate harm.<br />
But it's not simple. Because not using a contraception is also harmful.<br />
Combined oral contraception appear s to be safe.<br />
The problem is with progesterone injections.<br />
WHO assesses the overall quality of the evidence to be low but the better studies tend toward harm (observational data )<br />
It came out with a statement in Feb 2012 highlighting concerning use of Injectables, pills and IUD<br />
<br />
So. the Pendulum swings back to where we came from before we had hormonal contraceptives:Intrauterine Devices.<br />
Suggesting use of IUD. Nur isterate , coc , to decrease dependency on Depo. Now trials will commence. Essential is to combine contraception with hiv prevention and family planning . </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-66001236080749210112012-11-26T11:42:00.001+02:002012-11-27T07:39:35.512+02:00STOP TB -How do we do it ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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At the plenary session of the 1st South African HIV Clinician Society Conference in Cape Town cure was not high on this Prof's list of hopes "We are going to be saddled with treatment for the next forty years " says Prof Brian Gazzard of UK . We need to focus on good regimens that are tolerable. I must say this has been something I have said to a number of my patients too. Absolutely, the search must continue and the research will go on, but in the meantime, we have got excellent tools at our disposal - Antiretroviral drugs. And they WORK. So, we need to focus on getting the best out of the treatments and using them to our best advantage and making them work for our Southern African population. While the search for a cure goes on.<br />
<br />
<b>A Fascinating session on Tuberculosis looking at the three I's - Infection control (i.e. how to prevent the spread of the bug in hospitals and public institutions, and between people ), Intensive Case Finding (i.e. figuring out who actually has got TB disease - which really is the hardest part) , and Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (using a course of a single TB drug to prevent a person from getting diseased with TB)</b><br />
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<br />
TB ( presented by Prashini Moodley , Prof Gary Maartens , Dr Tom Boyles) <br />
The three I 's<br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"> INFECTION CONTROL</span><br />
There is still lots of work to be done in this area, and even our newest TB hospitals are not necessarily getting it right :<br /> TB hospitals do not meet the environmental standards required to prevent spread of TB and to allow for good ventilation. Certainly KZN Is leading the way in monitoring and setting standards .<br />
What is apparent is that the :Ventilation , uv radiation , air filters , negative pressure air flow all are vital components in killing and eliminating TB bacilli.<br />
Personal protective gear : the N95 mask (a thick mask with an orange colour that makes one look like Donald Duck) is uncomfortable and unpleasant to wear and there is confusion about how long it can be worn. It is also costly, and there certainly is not consistent use in hospitals by staff.<br />
<br />Interestingly, Good nutrition can help children to<i> withstand</i> TB disease (they might still get infection , but not necessarily disease ) <br />
<br />
Major forms of contact with TB are in <i>school s </i>and<i> public transport</i> and not just the people you live with.We used to the think that a TB contact was someone in the household, but now understand that even a half hour journey sitting next to someone on a taxi may be enough to transmit TB infection. Thanks to HIV.<br />
<br />
Early ARV treatment will help decrease susceptibility to TB disease. Our TB epidemic and the fact that South AFrica has the 5th highest burden of TB disease IN THE WORLD, is exclusively thanks to the HIV epidemic and South Africas delayed response to it (in the 90's and early 2000's.) Yes, we are still paying the price for earlier government's denialism.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">INTENSIVE CASE FINDING </span><br />
Undiagnosed TB is common in hiv . Always consider TB as possibility in an hiv +person<br /> As many as 31% of people with hiv have TB. !!!<br />
It is essential to rule out active TB before giving INH preventive therapy.<br />
It is extremely difficult rule out TB. Because essentially there always remains an element of doubt. Our WHO symtom screening tool is just not good enough according to Gary Maartens and wecwill still be missing more than. 80% of cases.<br />
Adding a CXR. Delayed thIngs . IncludIng a low BMI or CD4 <200 helps a little but not much .<br />
The pcr gene expert definitely improves case finding but will still miss 25% of cases <br />
The CRP is a good rule out test I.e. if it's low it's a good way to rule out TB.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">INH PREVENTIVE THERAPY</span><br />
The BOTUSA study compared different lengths of ipt and different test results. Alarming result was a 3fold increase mortality in pts taking ipt who were tst - <br />
Short course ipt works. Longer is better but the tst becomes essential if going longer.<br />
Vit D supplementation , increasing ARV access and stopping smoking and improving TB adherence are all other components to help STOP TB .</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-72107973301151971432012-11-25T13:25:00.001+02:002012-11-25T13:25:10.385+02:00HIV Conference in Cape TownI'm about to climb on a flight to Cape Town for the very first South African HIV Clinician Society HIV Conference. I am delighted to have been sponsored by Pharmafrica and am able to make the trip to go down. I plan to bring you news from the conference and updates so please check in so I can let you know what is local and happening in our very own quarter of the continent.<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-65795714958532169742012-10-11T08:17:00.005+02:002012-10-21T08:40:01.381+02:00ARVs make you fat, dealing with insulin resistance and carbohydrate intolerance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Credit where credit is due. I have unashamedly taken this letter from the "Twin Noakes" blog, a fascinating journey happening right now. For the blog see <a href="http://www.jaquelineduncan.co.za/" target="_blank">here</a>. It is a blog by Jax Duncan who has teamed up with her twin sister Jeanne, and Prof Tim Noakes, to subject themselves to the low carb high fat diet vs the high carb low fat diet. It really is worth a look, and if you have followed my previous blog about nutrition and the changes/challenges to our conventional understanding of nutrition - then this blog will interest you. This letter was posted on the blog below and it was really well written and expressed many of the issues I think people deal with. How does this relate to PLWHA? Well, if you are on ARVs, you may well find that you are gaining weight, and it may be increasing on 'undesirable' parts of the body (like the tummy, breasts, chin). This is very possibly linked to developing insulin resistance (as a result of the metabolic effects of some of the ARV drugs, and the high carbohydrate diets we eat here in SA - you know, cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, pap/rice/potatoes/pasta for supper and fruit juice in between).</span></h2>
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Please go and have a look at the <a href="http://www.jaquelineduncan.co.za/" target="_blank">blog</a> for further info and details. </div>
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<a href="http://www.jaquelineduncan.co.za/2012/10/letter-to-prof-noakes/" rel="bookmark" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #95b3ab; font-size: 26px; font: normal normal normal 26px/1.2em Arvo, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Letter to Prof Noakes">Letter to Prof Noakes</a></h2>
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<abbr class="date time published" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: help; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2012-10-03T17:45:12+0200">October 3, 2012</abbr></div>
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Prof Noakes forwarded me this letter sent to him by Amanda. The original recipients were her dietician and her partner. Amanda wrote to them after experiencing dramatically different results on a paleo-styled diet as opposed to the low fat diet they prescribed for her. It makes for an interesting read…</div>
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“Dear X,</div>
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Re : The Low Fat Diet Prescribed in 2006</div>
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In 2006 I came to you for dietary advice as I had raised LDL cholesterol. I was referred by doctor X. At the time I weighed about 58kg and was skinny. My triglycerides were excellent and HDL alright at 1.3. I was advised to avoid foods containing saturated fats and cholesterol and put on a low fat diet. This is the standard and accepted treatment given to people with raised LDL cholesterol.</div>
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What is not obvious is that the diet is also a high carbohydrate diet. When you remove one food group you have to make it up with another and carbohydrates such as whole grains, oats, etc were recommended as healthy options. I believe that I am one of those people of whom Prof. Tim Noakes talks about when he describes people as being carbohydrate intolerant. In decreasing my fat intake I increased my intake of carbohydrates as one can expect on this diet.</div>
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The weight gain following my adopting the low fat diet was devastating to me but my doctor assumed, as so many people do, that it could not be the heart healthy diet but must be due to menopause or HRT. In five years I put on 17kg going from skinny to fat, and my blood markers deteriorated. My triglycerides went from a very healthy 0.70 to an unhealthy 1.6, there was no change in my HDL, and my LDL got worse going from 4.2 to 4.44. My normal waist line grew to the ‘at risk’ circumference of 89cm as my belly expanded. I suffered from planter fasciitis, reflux, snoring, constant hunger and the misery of rapid and seemingly uncontrollable weight gain. I had been skinny for the prior 50 years and had always battled to put on weight seemingly being able to eat anything without weight gain. My diet had always included animal fats.</div>
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As my doctor did not consider that the low fat diet was responsible for my deterioration, she responded to my worsening blood markers with my being advised to take statins. Immediately I started taking what was a low dose of statins I suffered from muscle pain in my arms and aches generally. After a few months I changed to another statin drug and the pains were only marginally improved. I continued with the low fat diet. Eventually I had to visit the physiotherapist regularly as I suffered so severely from shoulder pain, and my hands and wrists were so sore that I could no longer paint. I started feeling vibrations in my body and arms, especially on waking, and developed a ticking sensation on the left side of the base of the back of my head. In November 2011 my doctor tested my creatine kinase levels and they were way over the normal range at 420 (the top of the normal range being 150). I was advised to go off statins and that they were not a good idea for me. The protein in my blood suggested muscle and nerve damage, or kidney damage.</div>
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I decided to try the high fat low carb diet advocated by Tim Noakes. I visited him after the first three months and then again three months later. The change in my body was extraordinary as the weight disappeared from around my chin and my belly. My HDL had not changed on the low fat diet or statins and stayed at 1.3 but is now an excellent 2.41. My triglycerides were excellent before I started any treatment at 0.70 but deteriorated markedly on the low fat diet when they became raised to 1.6, but they are correcting on the high fat low carb diet and are now 0.81. The creatine kinase level is coming down slowly.</div>
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After my first visit (after 3 months on the high fat low carb diet) Prof. Tim Noakes could see the improvement in my blood markers but was interested in my fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and CRP ultrasensitive. His thesis was that my negative response to the ‘heart healthy low fat diet’ would suggest that I was carbohydrate intolerant and had become insulin resistant. The results did indeed reveal that. I believe that in taking out fat and adding more carbohydrates in following the ‘heart healthy low fat diet’ I was following the path to metabolic syndrome. By the time I stopped the low fat diet I was overweight, my girth was in the danger zone, my triglycerides were raised, and I had elevated blood sugar and raised insulin. Ironically, the ‘cure’ increased my risk of cardio vascular disease and diabetes. Statins are being prescribed to every other person with raised LDL cholesterol and are sold as having little if indeed no risk. In fact on the <a href="http://fda.gov/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">fda.gov</a> website under “FDA expands advice on statin risks” they advise that “People being treated with statins may have an increased risk of raised blood sugar levels and the development of Type 2 diabetes”.<a href="http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm293330.htm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm293330.htm</a></div>
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My raised blood sugar and insulin levels may be a result of statins as they warn, or they may have been caused by the low fat diet, or both. In my case I suggest that an excess of carbohydrates and decrease of fats would have played havoc with my blood sugar. In a statin trial I read people were on a low fat diet. They may have been blind to the fact that the low fat high carb diet would have contributed to diabetes, but perhaps not as risk of diabetes increased with statins no matter the dose or duration of statin medication.</div>
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This video on the findings on statins with Harvard’s Prof. J. Manson (Women’s Health initiative) with commentary by Dr Mike Eades is worth listening to.</div>
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<a href="http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/statins-and-diabetes/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/statins/statins-and-diabetes/</a></div>
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Statin drugs provide no health benefits to women or improvement in all cause mortality, but all types are associated with an increased risk of diabetes – a 48% increased risk of diabetes. The dose and duration make no difference. There is no benefit to taking stain drugs for women. Statins are being prescribed to women when they increase their risk of diabetes, and ironically, diabetes puts you at high risk of cardio-vascular disease.</div>
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I am extremely grateful to Professor Tim Noakes for revealing that I am insulin resistant and for pointing me in a dietary direction that will prevent my condition from deteriorating. He advises that I need to increase my fat intake and decrease carbohydrates further. There was so much focus on LDL cholesterol that the dangerous problem of becoming pre-diabetic was overlooked. He believes that if I had continued on the ‘heart healthy low fat diet’ I would have become diabetic and obese.</div>
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In Sweden Dr Annika Dahlqvist was sued in 2008 because she advocated what they call in Sweden the LCHF (low carb high fat) diet and she won her case. The Swedes are educated and followed the debate closely. As many as a quarter of Swedes follow the LCHF way of eating and the most popular website is that of a Swedish doctor and it is called <a href="http://www.dietdoctor.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.dietdoctor.com</a>.</div>
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There are videos of interviews with experts such as Dr Mary Vernon, and Dr Westman of Duke University on the site. Another site is that of Jimmy Moore which is <a href="http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.livinlavidalowcarb.com</a> with over 500 interviews with experts. One can listen to the podcasts. Gary Taubes in an investigative journalist and spent years researching whether there was any science behind the idea that saturated fats caused heart disease. He found none. His book is Good Calories, Bad Calories and Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It. When you look at the experts who live the low carb high fat life style what stands out is how thin and well they look.</div>
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The strict low carb diet is necessary for me now that I am pre-diabetic. However, I found that the most balanced view of nutrition is that of the Weston A. Price foundation. It is based on the findings of a dentist called Weston A. Price who studied dozens of primitive peoples in the 1930s and examined their good health and subsequent deterioration when they replaced their natural and varied diets with modern industrial foods. They all ate nutrient dense foods many full of the cholesterol and animal fats we are advised to cut out. He found that with the replacement of traditional foods with modern industrial foods, the skeleton is not properly laid down and the middle third of the face too narrow with crowded teeth as is apparent in most modern faces. The images of happy, robust, good-looking healthy ‘primitive’ peoples in the text speak a thousand words. The book is called “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” and the link is below. Tim Noakes believes it is one of the most important books ever written.</div>
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<a href="http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #428070; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html</a></div>
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My experience around diet has taken me on a fascinating journey of great interest! I believe that we are doing great damage to our children by the nearly uniform removal of animal fats from so many products, and the free pass given to sugar, refined carbohydrates and industrial oils. Please let our society embrace eggs, full cream milk, organ meats, fat on meats, cheese, full cream yoghurts and turn our backs on sugars and refined carbohydrates and industrial oils, and unhealthy grains like soya that have been sold as healthy. When you give parents low fat diets the children eat as the parents do. For our families we need to eat whole, nutrient dense, unprocessed foods with their fat content intact. Our children depend on it.</div>
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I attach a spread sheet of my blood markers across the different diets and on statins. Tim Noakes comments are in the last column. I have copied Dr X and Prof. Tim Noakes.</div>
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Regards</div>
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Amanda</div>
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<img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-791" height="905" src="http://www.jaquelineduncan.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Amanda-Youngleson-blood-history-pdf-640x905.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230) !important; border-left-style: solid !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230) !important; border-right-style: solid !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230) !important; border-top-style: solid !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; font-size: 13px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: bottom;" title="Amanda Youngleson blood history pdf" width="640" /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-85226657271838786002012-09-27T21:17:00.002+02:002012-09-27T21:17:39.694+02:00Bad Things Happen to Good People<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am delighted to introduce you to a guest blogger who can tell her story from her heart. her story goes like this:</div>
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The year was 2001, I was a 20 year old ambitious Zimbabwean young lady. So full of life and looking forward to university and becoming the answer to my family's financial cries. My life was well planned, finish high school, work whilst waiting for college, attend college, get a very good job, get married and have kids. Getting an <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span> test was never part of the equation. After all, I had never indulged in sex and from what I was hearing on the news and on TV and posters that were plasted all over town, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span> was for sexually active and promiscuous people and I was not one of them.</div>
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Then something happened. I developed swollen glands all over my body. My Aunt was a nurse so I got to know these where swollen glands from the booklets that she used to bring at home from workshops that she attended. I also got to know that swollen glands were one of the signs of being infected with <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span>. I was worried sick and to put my mind at rest, I decided to go for an <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span> test. I know this story sounds unreal but that is what happened to me.</div>
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One Friday afternoon I went to the nearest VCT centre but unfortunately found it closed and was told to come back very early the following day. A part of me almost thought this was a sign that I should not do the test. But I just wanted to do it to prove that I was okay. They kept talking about <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span>/AIDS everywhere I went and people were dying daily. And they also always advised people to go for tests so I decided that I was doing the right thing though I must admit, I was really scared but my bravery came from within me because I was not sexually active.</div>
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Saturday morning, just after they opened, I was the frst person to go into the VCT centre. I planned not to tell anybody whatever the outcome of the result. The lady did everything as standard procedure. Asked for my sexual history and I was pleased to tell her I was a virgin but only came because I had developed some weird stuff on my body and I just wanted to put my mind at rest. She counselled me and then took my blood. She took close to an hour in the other room where she had taken my blood for testing and at that moment I just knew that something was wrong. When she returned, the look on her face said it all.</div>
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I remember everything like it was yesterday. I remember the shock, the anger, despair,sadness and so many horrible feelings all at once. I cried buckets and my Counsellor even cried with me. Her advice to me was that I should eat healthy foods, exercise and avoid stress and I will be fine. There was no talk of medication back then. I was so young and so small in stature and I felt cheated and robbed of a future that I had planned to have. I grew up going to church and at that moment I blamed God for not protecting me when I was saving myself for marriage and doing all the right things that a Christian should do. How could this happen to me of all people. I had a boyfriend then but we were not having sex. I thought my life was over and I just did not see the reason why I should go through with college. My plan was to go home and not tell my family. And college was something I was not going to go through since I was dying anyway, so I thought.</div>
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Sunday morning I just couldn't help it. I was alone in the bedroom and all I could think of was death and how short my life had just become. How hopeless and helpeless my situation was and how unfair life was. Saying I cried rivers would be an understatement, I weeped ad mourned and yelled till I could not hear my own voice. It was terrible. My sister heard my cries from outside and came to ask me what was wrong. When I couldn't answer but continued crying, she called my Aunt. After a while, with my aunt by my side, I asked her myriads of qestions which she had no answers to. I told her the whole story and in the end, we just concluded that maybe the test result was a mistake ( wishful thinking) or that I had probably got the virus from sharp objects which belonged to a close relative who had passed on after a long illness.</div>
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My Aunt was of great help to me. She counselled me and advised that I go to college and lead a normal life and I did just that. Only my aunt and sister know my status and the rest of the family are better off not knowing. I am just not ready to tell them yet though I know I may have tell them later on. Years later I met and fell in love with someone very special to me who was also positive. Unfortunately he passed on and I have not met another man yet.</div>
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I relocated to South Africa years later and started medication in Decemeber last year and I am glad I did. With Xenophobia issues going on in South Africa, I feared the worst at the clinics but to my surprise, the Medical Staff are so nice to me and to everyone, both to South Africans and to foreigners. For that I am truly grateful. Before the medication my CD4 count was 91 but doubled in six months. I had to disclose my status to my boss who was very understanding and my collegues were and still are great too. I am sorrounded by a strong support system and I am strong as ever.</div>
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I have grown to know that bad things happen to good people and I choose to be strong and healthy and just live as normal a life as possible. I love God and no longer blame him but am grateful for each day that comes knowing that my life can only get better and not worse.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Now I only want to meet Mr Right, marry and have a family of my own. I have dated some guys and have disclosed my status but it never worked. The first guy just could not see a future with me which I think is sad because I do have a brilliant future ahead of me, with or without him. I have heard people saying that they dont disclose their status to their lovers fearing rejection. This is one of the reasons why the virus keeps spreading. I look forward to a future where <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">HIV</span> is just another condition and not somethng to shun people for. Most importantly, I have learnt to accept myself the way I am if I am to expect others to accept me too.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I look forward to more <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffcc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">blogging</span>.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Regards</div>
<div>
Graced Rachael</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-40321907970417871682012-09-06T08:39:00.002+02:002012-09-06T08:41:14.390+02:00tell your story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a while since I blogged, not because I have nothing to say (no such luck there I'm afraid), but I have been swamped with duties.<br />
<br />
I have so many topics I'd still like to air, but I thought that perhaps in the meantime it might be a good opportunity to open the floor to you.<br />
<br />
I am looking for some "guest bloggers" to submit a personal experience, viewpoint, philosophy or story. If it's in line with the blog ethos and well written, then I'll post it. If you would like credit, then your name will be listed. If you prefer to be anonymous, that's fine. Or use a pseudonym. Whatever you are comfortable.<br />
<br />
What I am particularly interested in, are personal experiences related to Africa - the care you have received (good or bad), side effects with drugs, conditions you have been diagnosed with, stigma or discrimination experiences, breastfeeding and childbirth experiences.<br />
<br />
You can email your blog entry to drgail.ashford@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
And a big thank you for reading.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-67694996477042004752012-03-24T22:52:00.001+02:002012-03-24T22:52:56.575+02:00Good Nutrition: Fat is Good, Sugar is Bad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a little while since my last post and I must admit I have been swamped in reading and keep thinking of points to raise on the blog, but then reimmerse myself in a book long before I get near my computer. Poor excuse I know, but true nonetheless.<br />
<br />
I know on the home page of the<a href="http://www.hivsupport.co.za/" target="_blank"> website</a> I said I would discuss more about Lesego Motsepe's decision to stop treatment and announce it on television, but, I changed my mind (it will have to come later). Simply put, the reading has so intrigued and fascinated and confused me that I thought I would share some of it with you. And that probably includes the confusion.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, what do I recommend you eat? </span><br />
<br />
Well, if you had asked me six months ago I would have passed you my carefully crafted (after 16 years of learning and lectures and working with patients) recommendations that would go something like this:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> <b>1) Eat Low Fat </b></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">2) Eat Low Glycaemic Index </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">3) Reduce Red Meat intake</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">4) Eat whole grains and high fibre </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">5)Eat lots of Fruit and Vegetables</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thegreencuttingboard.blogspot.com/basic-pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://thegreencuttingboard.blogspot.com/basic-pyramid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
something like this picture on the left. Looks familiar right?<br />
<br />
And now?<br />
<br />
Well, I don't know anymore. Not for sure. Because, it all started with a book my sister gave me called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_We_Get_Fat:_And_What_to_Do_About_It" target="_blank">"Why we get Fat and what to do about it?"</a>. This, I must admit, has turned my nutritional world upside down. Because, in my daily work, I routinely talk about diet and healthy eating and weight loss and weight maintenance, oh say, 7 to 10 times a day. And this book suggested to me that perhaps all my biology teachers, university professors, and teachers were wrong. That it is all a big fat lie. In fact, <a href="http://garytaubes.com/" target="_blank">Gary Taubes</a> doesn't "suggest that perhaps", he downright insists that we have all been misguided and misled about what is a healthy diet. And, so it got me thinking and seriously questioning. And reading further. Because, if we are wrong about healthy diet, and carbohydrates and meat, then what else are we wrong about? It led me to looking at the <a href="http://www.atkins.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Atkin's eating plan</a>, the <a href="http://www.robbwolf.com/" target="_blank">Paleo diet,</a> the <a href="http://www.southbeachdiet.com/sbd/publicsite/index.aspx" target="_blank">South Beach Diet,</a> <a href="http://www.everydiet.org/diet/ornish-diet" target="_blank">Vegetarian diets </a>and really revising all the viewpoints I previously held.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In a nutshell:</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1) Eat High Fat, and saturated fat is good. The only bad fat is trans fat.</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">2) The <a href="http://www.gifoundation.co.za/" target="_blank">Glycaemic Index </a>Schmindex. Cut out your carbohydrates, or at least make a serious reduction in your carbohydrates and banish sugar forever (I hear the sighs and shocked silence: "but what will we eat if there is no pasta/ pap/ rice/ bread on the plate?)</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">3)Eat Meat, Red meat, and lots of it. It is good. We are genetically engineered to eat meat. (Ah ha, I see a small smile, and a light in your eyes. Yes, you can eat chops, boerewors, steak, roasts with all the fat and the gravy, and bacon. Yum)</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">4)Don't eat grains (another carbohydrate). No more cereal, no more seed loaf. give them to the birds</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">5) Eat Vegetables, that is your main source of carbohydrates, and will still provide your vitamins and minerals. Stick to the fibrous and green leafy veggies. Only those grown above ground. Dont go overboard on fruit.</span></b><br />
<br />
So, the food pyramid kind of looks like this:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stephenson.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f92eca888340162fbf72e6b970d-pi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://stephenson.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f92eca888340162fbf72e6b970d-pi" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paleo Diet pyramid courtesy of Arthur Devany </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or, something a little like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://akiavintage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Lo-carb-diets-food-pyramid-pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://akiavintage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Lo-carb-diets-food-pyramid-pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's complex, confusing and I will not even begin to profess that I have the answer to it all. But, like <a href="http://www.health24.com/fitness/Diet_Supplements/16-481-512,73175.asp" target="_blank">Professor Tim Noakes,</a> the sport scientist and Discovery Health advisor who is our local medical expert who is standing up to say that he got it wrong, I think it means that all healthcare professionals need to be questioning their learning/teachings. Maya Angelou said something to the effect of "I did the best with what I knew; and when I knew better, I did better. That's all we can ask. And I am still reading. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">And for now, I can only say that the most consistently sound piece of advice I can give you is to reduce your carbohydrate intake, especially sweet and sugary foods.</span> The fatty issue is still a bit of a question mark, but it is clear that diabetes, obesity and lifestyle diseases are linked to refined and processed foods in particular, but all carbohydrates in general.<br />
<br />
If you are confused and looking for some reading here are some good websites to try out, as well as the links above:<br />
<a href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/" target="_blank">diets in review</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/297/9/969.abstract" target="_blank">The A TO Z Weight Loss Study: A Randomized Trial</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.primalbody-primalmind.com/" target="_blank">primal body primal mind: paleo diet</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/banting.html" target="_blank">banting diet</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.paleodiet.com/" target="_blank">paleo diet</a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.gfcfdiet.com/" target="_blank">gluten free diet</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://nutritionaltherapy.com/" target="_blank">nutritionist website</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/8269/" target="_blank">fascinating newspaper article about medical research and lies</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.spacedoc.com/statin_scam" target="_blank">cholesterol drugs: a scam?</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2010/10/28/video-of-the-big-fat-fiasco-speech/" target="_blank">blog about high fat diet</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-32312685393667087832011-12-02T17:19:00.001+02:002011-12-03T22:17:15.670+02:00World Disclosure Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lesego Motsepe disclosed her HIV status on 1 december. She has been living with the virus for 13 years.<br />
What a wonderful and courageous statement to make.<br />
<br />
what a difference could be made to the world, if every 1 December, the world could shed a further layer of stigma by disclosing hiv negative and positive status. I would like to see us move to a society where the shame is in not knowing one's status, the plus or minus sign after HIV could become irrelevant as they both indicate self-awareness, a willingness to take responsibility for health, and a respect for other human beings that the shield of ignorance cannot convey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Bear with me as I walk you through an image.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iwCmBNyIVA/TtnaWZCpVdI/AAAAAAAADpE/LZCKmULCroo/s1600/virus_crowd_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iwCmBNyIVA/TtnaWZCpVdI/AAAAAAAADpE/LZCKmULCroo/s320/virus_crowd_1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Imagine a photo of 20 people . There is probably one person in that crowd that looks ill. This is probably the 'typical AIDS appearance' that we associate with as the face of AIDS. What most people do, when looking at the other 19 healthy and 'normal' people, is assume that they are HIV negative.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What we need to move to is a scenario where one views the other 19 people and simply thinks "hmmm... healthy people, could be negative, could be positive, who knows." But, for that perception shift to happen we need some of those healthy, vital and well people to step up and say "hey, guess what? I'm positive, living well, looking forward to my future, and completely normal." Only then, will we see the focus move away from the poster stereotype of "AIDS" and all the connotations the word has, to a sense of normality and 'indifference'. It's funny, but that is exactly the word I would like to see us use to describe people who are negative or positive: indifferent.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulSGPptEycU/TtnaVmVSGMI/AAAAAAAADo4/zdCIvKy-rLs/s1600/crowd-of-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulSGPptEycU/TtnaVmVSGMI/AAAAAAAADo4/zdCIvKy-rLs/s320/crowd-of-people.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-9141889030060379662011-10-09T22:38:00.002+02:002011-10-09T22:38:33.027+02:00Prepare for death but Plan to Live<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last few weeks have brought some interesting insights into the working psyche of some of my patients. Two particular women specifically. I want to tell you about Betty.<br />
<br />
Betty was diagnosed HIV positive in 2001, in what is fair to call, a different era of HIV. In South Africa, this was a time well before Antiretroviral treatment became available, in a time when Minister Tshabalala Msimang and President Mbeki were openly dismissive of AIDS. At this time, Betty found out that her future plans, dreams and goals would all become impossible. She was only 21, had only ever had one sexual partner and would now probably not ever be able to marry, have children or raise a family. Betty had to grieve for the loss of all her dreams. She did so silently, and did not disclose her status to anyone, not even a parent. She isolated herself from social interaction, broke up with her boyfriend immediately, and stopped dating. I can only imagine the loneliness and hopelessness she would have felt after discovering her status at such a young age.<br />
<br />
She continued to work, but spent every salary payment on disposable, immediate items. She did not take out any insurance policies, no retirement annuity. But, she did buy a funeral policy.She sought no medical help or counselling. She believed she had enough information to know that she would die young and would never live a normal life. She planned to die, saw no alternative and began to live the life of a ghost in waiting.<br />
<br />
She came in to my rooms a few weeks ago because she had developed a rash. What ensued was an intense exploration of her beliefs, fears and thoughts about her status. At some point I summarised and told her that she had stopped living on that day in 2001, and started planning to die. She paused and a flicker of recognition in her eyes suggested that I had hit the nail on the head. <br />
<br />
We continued our discussion, with a lot of information provided from my side. But, I had a desperate sense that this 31 year old needed to hear a message of hope. For goodness sake, here she was 10 years later and not even on ARVs yet. Which I pointed out to her. I gave her three messages to take home and digest: 1) HIV is a chronic illness, not a death sentence 2) HIV positive people can live a normal lifespan 3) HIV positive people can fulfill all the dreams of intimacy, relationships, family and having children. No question.<br />
<br />
It pained me to see that she had given up a decade of her health, her youth, and her dreams out of 1)fear, 2) ignorance and 3) secrecy. <br />
<br />
I have seen her again, and there is some change - she has opened up to the possibility of a future, but is still petrified of a relationship and cannot comprehend the possibility. 10 years of programmed thinking will not change overnight. I hope to be there to walk the new path of her future.<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-29451961346840341182011-07-14T22:32:00.000+02:002015-07-05T20:11:54.629+02:00HIV- the disease of the promiscuous, the poor, the malnourished and the wicked<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
HIV is a disease. Mostly, it's a disease of sex. And that means heterosexual sex in South Africa.<br />
<br />
It is not a disease of promiscuity, as recklessly labelled by people who take comfort in creating a line in the sand to make an 'US' and a 'THEM'. As long as we continue to distinguish ourselves from people with HIV by using criteria like promiscuity, then we will miss the point.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDxlzak0SWWm4JDIzJ3W5PW8XGPkm3t--zlirpUDNFo2eUMpgy" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDxlzak0SWWm4JDIzJ3W5PW8XGPkm3t--zlirpUDNFo2eUMpgy" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In fact, HIV is a disease of the innocent: the faithful wife , the widow, the little baby and the children. And very often it is a disease of the serial monogamist - the adult who moves from partner to partner, but only one at a time. This is the most dangerous carrier of HIV - who spreads the virus through unprotected sex, because he believes he has only one partner at a time and is monogamous, and associates this with being 'safe'.<br />
<br />
Our Public health campaigners, politicians and scientists like to provide the slogans and the advice, but often fail the social litmus test: like the "ABC" campaign. It is noble in its intentions to promote "Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise" as the ways to protect from HIV. But, most of those are options not afforded to the women of Africa. Very few wives are in a position to demand that their husband use a condom, or to control is faithfulness, let alone to deny her husband sex if she cannot ensure the former two. The ABC is a campaign that targets men, and excludes women.<br />
<br />
Similarly, our public health stance on Exclusive Feeding of infants puts women between a rock and a hard place. Throughout the world, mixed feeding of infants is considered the norm (this is a combination of breastmilk and other foods or formula milk). In fact, less than 26% of the world's mothers exclusively breastfeed their children.<br />
<br />
Now, our scientific studies have shown that an HIV positive mother who breastfeeds her child exclusively will reduce the transmission of HIV to her baby. And the mother who exclusively feeds her child with Formula Milk will prevent HIV transmission completely, but expose the baby to greater risk of death from diarrhoea and pneumonia. Both of these options that have been proposed to women for the last ten years, have put her in a position of "stigmatised if I do, and stigmatised if I dont". If mum does not breast feed and walks home with the formula milk tins, then she is automatically labelled as HIV positive. If she exclusively breastfeeds and refuses the advice and suggestions of the aunties and grannies who want to provide the baby with tea and porridge and sugar and formula milk, they similarly ask the question ' why wont you accept our cultural tradition to mixed feed. Is there something wrong, like HIV?' these poor mums are set up for failure; whichever choice they make, sets them up to be on the wrong side of the cultural norm. <br />
<br />
We do the same with our messages about promiscuity and laying blame at the doors of those who are infected, instead of recognising that 'there but for the grace of god go I'. It is our very human nature that makes us take chances, engage in unprotected sex without knowing our partner's status, trust our husbands and wives to be faithful and to assume that it won't happen to us. It makes us more comfortable to think that this is a disease that belongs to the poor, the promiscuous, the undernourished and the wicked.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-18743625388244898362011-04-27T19:27:00.000+02:002011-10-16T21:19:52.017+02:00Arsenic is also "Natural" - would you take that?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ok, so the title is a little harsh, but really, sometimes I think people need a good shake.<br />
<br />
HIV positive people seem to be <em>'soft targets'</em> for so-called natural products. I say so-called, because it is a self-proclamation. If you want a product to sell, add words like<strong> 'natural', 'organic', 'herbal'</strong> and people believe a whole lot of things about a product automatically. We believe that it must be 1) <strong>safe </strong>(i.e. natural implies that there is no risk involved. We believe it must be 2) <strong>harmonious</strong> with the body because it is from mother earth and we are earthly creatures, thus our body and the product will be 'as one', it's all very zen. We believe that the product must be 3) <strong>effective</strong> because we <em>want </em>to believe it and we are desperate for the 'one pill cure'. Besides, the label <em>said</em> it does wonderful things.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a few of the "Natural" treatments that are often used in South Africa:</span></strong><br />
<br />
Over christmas time a patient of mine overdosed on <strong>Epsom Salts</strong>, because as part of her 'natural treatment regimen' she was told to drink 3 cups a day. She ended up in the emergency room with chest pain and vomiting. See here for a 'recipe' for this so-called liver cleanse. It sounds too extreme for words: <a href="http://curezone.com/cleanse/liver/huldas_recipe.asp">http://curezone.com/cleanse/liver/huldas_recipe.asp</a><br />
<br />
Gripe water is in virtually every mother's medicine cabinet. It has been around for over a century and is largely thought to be safe and effective for colic. However, there is no compelling evidence for it and in fact hospital doctors will occasionally see children who have been overdosed on <strong>Gripe Water</strong> who come in with unconsciousness and brain swelling. <a href="http://mygripewater.com/">http://mygripewater.com/</a><br />
<br />
Many believe that <strong>garlic</strong>, taken as raw cloves, is good for HIV. However, it also interferes with some of the ARV drugs and can cause bleeding problems See this site for the typical glowing reports of the natural remedy. Note how the site includes no warnings and no suggestions on when one should be cautious about the use of garlic: <a href="http://www.miracleofgarlic.com/hiv-and-garlic/">http://www.miracleofgarlic.com/hiv-and-garlic/</a>. Then go and have a look here : <a href="http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec2001/niaid-05.htm">http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/dec2001/niaid-05.htm</a> to learn about how high doses of garlic can cause side effects and decreased effect of ARVs; or here: <a href="http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm">http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm</a>.<br />
<br />
<strong>African Potato or hypoxis</strong>, has been shown to have potential to increase the HIV load in the blood.<br />
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1156943/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1156943/</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/hiv-warning-on-african-potato-1.109328">http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/hiv-warning-on-african-potato-1.109328</a>.<br />
Promoting and selling African Potato supplements: <a href="http://www.ageless.co.za/200608%20-%20hypoxis%20and%20rose%20gernaium%20oil.htm">http://www.ageless.co.za/200608%20-%20hypoxis%20and%20rose%20gernaium%20oil.htm</a><br />
<br />
Another patient of mine, spent over R100 000 on visits and treatment to receive a 'so-called' natural therapy for his HIV. He had to travel to the clinic every day to receive a<strong> 'drip'</strong> which apparently contained vitamins and saline. Nothing earth shaking there. But, the promise was that his CD4 count would rise and the virus would be controlled. He was required to have his blood tests done weekly (at R1000 a pop). He came to me in desperation after taking this treatment for about 4 months, after he saw a leap in his viral load and a decline in his CD4 despite his expensive, natural treatment. It is hard to explain to this desperate man that he has been taken for a ride. He bought into a false promise, simply because it had been described as natural and miraculous.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, did you know that around 25% of our modern day drugs are actually developed and derived from plants? And yet so many people are reluctant to use drugs prescribed by their doctor because they perceive them to be 'chemical' or 'toxin'. Ironic isnt it?</span><br />
<br />
<strong>Some examples</strong>:<br />
Aspirin (for pain and fever) : from willowbark<br />
Quinine (to treat malaria) from the quinine tree<br />
Hyoscamine ( to treat abdominal cramps) from the black henbane<br />
Digoxin (used in heart conditions) from the foxglove<br />
Penicillin (an antibiotic) from mould<br />
Sennosides A,B (a laxative) : from cinammon<br />
<br />
<br />
The lesson here is to understand the marketing value of the term 'natural' and to apply some critical questions before choosing a 'natural product' 1) Does it do what it claims to do? 2) Does it have evidence? 3) Is it safe? 4)Who should use it and who should not? 5) Will it interfere with my other treatments?<br />
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<strong>A great site</strong> to check out is <a href="http://www.drugdigest.org/">http://www.drugdigest.org/</a> : if you are standing in a chemist with a product you can check out the ingredients at this site and it will give you an idea of whether there is anything to the claim.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-89027235712295491402010-09-08T11:19:00.000+02:002015-06-26T15:09:10.668+02:00Unprotected Sex, Conception and HIV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whether you agree that HIV positive people have the right to have children or not is a very personal and emotive issue. However, to be frank, it is irrelevant what you think. Because, human beings are exactly that, human. And so, knowing that you are HIV does not suddenly switch off your natural biological desires to have a family, bring children into the world and surround yourself with the warmth and love that can only be felt by a family.</div>
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First thing to understand is that this has been an extremely controversial area of HIV medicine for a long time and there are many differing opinions on what is safest and best. At the end of the day, the decision to conceive is intensely personal and should not be dictated by a health care provider.<br />
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Many health care providers and people will unhesitatingly tell you that you should not fall pregnant. Fertility experts will encourage you to invest thousands and thousands of rands in methods of Guaranteed Risk-Free, but Not Guaranteed Result methods of conception (like IVF or AI). There is nothing wrong with these methods. But with improved HIV drugs out there, HIV is becoming less of a 'fertility issue' (as in : how do we help this couple to fall pregnant when they have HIV and cannot have unprotected sex, thus an inability to fall pregnant) and is becoming a pure 'infection' issue (as in: here is a couple who are both fertile and can certainly fall pregnant through unprotected sex. How do we allow this natural event to happen without infecting one/both partners and baby?)<br />
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Second to understand is that there is a big difference between unprotected sex with ARVs and unprotected sex without ARVs. I will go into this more.<br />
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But first, what do you understand by the word 'safe'? If I say that it is safe for you to cross the road do you assume that I am providing a guarantee that you will not come to harm? In actual fact I am telling you that your risk is minimised and that you are <i>most likely</i> to cross the road without coming to harm. However, I cannot guarantee you that a speeding car will not fly through a red traffic light and hit you as you cross the road. Looking at the safety in terms of HIV transmission is similar.<br />
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We now know that a couple can conceive through the old-fashioned method of unprotected sex <i>safely</i> (i.e. with minimised risk, but not absent risk) if certain conditions are met.<br />
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Yes, let me say that again. A couple where one or both partners is infected CAN conceive through unprotected sex without harming eachother or the baby.<br />
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IF the following conditions are met;<br />
<ul>
<li>Both/the HIV positive partner's viral load must be undetectable. This means that our laboratory test cannot reliably count any copies of the virus in the blood.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Neither partner is ill or suffering from a sexually transmitted infection at the time.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ovulation timing has determined that the woman is fertile around the planned time of unprotected sex. <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/ovulationfaq.htm">click here for more about timing of ovulation</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If one partner is HIV-, then he/she must have made an informed decision about taking Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). <a href="http://www.thebody.com/content/art52098.html#who">click here for info on PrEP</a> and <a href="http://sahivsoc.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=18&dir=DESC&order=date&Itemid=67&limit=5&limitstart=0">here for more on PEP</a></li>
</ul>
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So, if this is something you are considering or want to know more about: ask your health provider questions, make sure that you are getting current, up to date answers and not being dismissed based on outdated knowledge. Be safe, be responsible and enjoy a normal life with the same expectations of having a family and raising children.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-78725640730170479122010-04-19T09:55:00.000+02:002010-04-19T09:55:45.259+02:00Love , Hope and HIVIn the early days of counselling HIV+ people ( up till about 2005) it was strongly discouraged for HIV positive people to engage in new relationships, especially if the partner was HIV-. And the topic of pregnancy and families was completely taboo - you were simply told not to fall pregnant. Ever.<br />
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What a long way we have come in a few short years. I cringe to think of the strong arm tactics that were used in the name of 'counselling'. In fact, if any of you watch the local soapie Isidingo, you will recall that this was about the time that Nandipha was found to be HIV+. And five years later, she is still sticking to the belief that she must never fall pregnant. I think Isidingo needs to get some up to date medical advice on this topic. I think Generations does a much better job of dealing with the issue.<br />
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Is there a place for Love in your life when you are HIV positive? <br />
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It is heartbreaking for me to come across young adults and teenagers who have had the devastating diagnosis made, and who feel their entire future is erased, scratched out. I cannot fall in love and marry ( in case I infect him/her), I cannot have children (in case I infect him/her and the child), I will have no family of my own and will grow old alone and lonely... These are some of the thought processes that flow naturally after the diagnosis. I am sad to say this is still a common misconception even among health care workers, the very people tasked with educating and counselling.<br />
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I counselled a young man recently, who is only a teenager. He was despondent about the loss of his future and had had thoughts of suicide. He was not so concerned about the virus he was infected with, as with the effect that this virus would have on his hopes, dreams and life. Now, in these sort of situations I tend to give three short messages of hope:<br />
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1) An HIV positive person can fall in love and marry whomever they choose (HIV positive or negative) and live a long life together without infecting/reinfecting the loved one.<br />
2) An HIV positive person can have a family with healthy HIV negative children who have a bright future ahead of them and two healthy parents to watch them matriculate, get married and bear their grandchildren<br />
3) An HIV positive person can live a completely normal life and can die of old age.<br />
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Now, these are all possible. Sure, they require some planning and effort and alot of honesty and team work. But, with good health care, commitment to your medications, healthy lifestyle choices and careful planning it is all possible.<br />
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Each day is a day to reclaim your health and to rebuild your future. Sure, it will be different to the pre-HIV vision, but you can still have it all. Be responsible and proactive and it all becomes possible.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-83133389494321340272010-03-04T11:22:00.002+02:002011-10-16T21:22:30.701+02:00'Tis the (flu) season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In South Africa as autumn has hit our country it is time to gear up for the flu season. Now this year we can expect a bumper crop of flu viruses to hit us since we are hosting the FIFA Soccer World Cup in June. This means an influx of foreigners from all over the world bringing their dollars, pounds and their bugs on the plane with them.<br />
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So, if you are HIV positive how are you going to prepare for this season? i advise a 3 step approach:<br />
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1) Maximise your health to protect against the flu<br />
2) Get your flu vaccination in the next 8 weeks<br />
3) Be armed and ready to treat the flu if it hits you.<br />
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1) So, this is the proverbial healthy lifestyle that all experts advise but so few of us really embrace. It's all about stocking your body with vitamins and antioxidants (the good guys that soak up and neutralise toxins in the body). Get lots of veggies and fruits - variety will give you a range of vitamins. <br />
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Excellent vitamins to boost are Vitamin C 1000mg, D 400 IU and E . These are important in the immune system to fight infection. Echinacea and garlic are also useful to add but doses are variable and not standardised.<br />
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It is also a good idea to take a probiotic ( a tablet containing beneficial gut bacteria that will help to protect the gut from invading organisms) although there is no evidence that it will prevent the flu but it seems to shorten the severity and duration of it.<br />
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Anyone who does Yoga or is familiar with Ayurvedic medicine may be aware of the Neti pot which looks a little bit like Aladdin's lamp. It is used to pour water through the one nostril while tilting the head and the water then flows out the other nostril. Interestingly, this is effective to cleanse the nasal passages and assist in preventing colds, flu and sinus problems. For those of you not so adventurous, a simple saline nasal spray is also good. A couple of bursts of this a day will help to cleanse the nasal passages which are the main port of entry of viruses.<br />
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Finally, good hygiene and handwashing practices will also help to spread viruses (especially important if you have kids).<br />
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2) Flu Vaccination. For some reason the topic of vaccination always seems to get people hot under the collar. If you are nervous about vaccinations or have heard stories about vaccines causing other illnesses then your first stop should be here <a href="http://www.nicd.ac.za/pubs/other/autism.htm">MMR-autism link myth</a>.<br />
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Each year a flu vaccine is produced and offered to the public. If you are HIV+ this is an extremely good idea to be vaccinated yearly. However, the lower your CD4 count, the less effective the vaccine may be but still worth doing.<br />
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What does the flu vaccine do? Well, it vaccinates you against the 3 strains of flu that have caused the most severe illness around the world. The vaccine will stimulate your immune system to develop protection against these 3 strains specifically. So, in answer to your next question (How come I get the flu even though I had the vaccination?) - the flu vaccine does not stop you from getting the flu at all, but will protect you from the most serious forms of flu. This is why it is still possible to get the flu even though you have had the vaccine.<br />
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You need to get your flu vaccine every year because it is a newly developed vaccine that has the most recent viral strains included. Now is the right time to get vaccinated so that you have a few weeks to build up your immune response before the season hits in full strength. Check out the NICD page for <a href="http://www.nicd.ac.za/">swine flu and flu updates South Africa</a><br />
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3) If you are unfortunate to get the cold or flu this season, then don't panic. Remember the old wisdom: 'treat the flu with drugs and it will be gone in a week, treat it at home and it will be gone in seven days'. Most people will develop a fairly mild illness that affects the upper airways (the nose/sinuses/throat/voicebox) which may be uncomfortable but not a serious illness. Some will however, develop the 'real' flu which will consist of all the former symptoms as well as general body aches, fever, fatigue and possible nausea and vomiting. The flu really packs a mean punch and can result in a week off work - so, best to have a plan of attack if you are struck by it.<br />
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I recommend that you keep some useful over the counter medications at home for these occasions (because the flu always seems to strike after the shops have closed). Personally, I advocate symptomatic relief for pain and fever with anti inflammatories like : MedLemon, Nurofen, Compral. <br />
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A good old fashioned hot toddy works wonders and even has an evidence basis to it: take a cup of boiled water, add 2 tsps lemon juice and 2 tsps honey and a tot of whiskey ( if you are so inclined). Honey has antimicrobial properties, the lemon is an antioxidant and the whisky , well, that helps you to sleep ( and hopefully nukes any bugs too).<br />
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For the irritating nasal congestion sprays like Iliadin and Drixine are useful- although I suggest that you try to reserve them for night-time (when you really need to be able to breathe) and rather let the mucus drain freely during the day. It's also important that you limit their use to 3 days otherwise the congestion may worsen.<br />
During the day, use a tea tree oil nasal spray or salt water nose spray (like Salex) to help.<br />
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Headache and body aches generally respond well to the anti inflammatories, but if you need a bit more kick, then codeine based pain killers are the next step (can be taken with the anti inflammatories) such as Sinutab, Lenadol, Syndol, AdcoDol.<br />
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The specific antivirals (a medication that specifically targets the flu <em>virus</em>) that are useful for the flu include Amantadine,Rimantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. However, they should really be started within 48 hours of the flu starting and should be reserved for severe flu cases. In the case of HIV, the lower your CD4 count or the worse your overall health, the more important it is for you to start the antiviral agent as early as possible. In general, if 10 people get ill, 7 will have a mild illness ( a 'cold'), 3 will have the 'flu' and 2 will require antivirals.<br />
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There is no value to be had from antibiotics (medication that targets <em>bacterial</em> infections) as the flu is a viral illness and will not respond to antibiotics. <br />
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Other approaches that may help are to take mega doses of Vitamin C (1000mg three times daily ), increased echinacea dosing, steam inhalation, Karvol capsule inhalation, ACC-200 effervescent tablets (to decrease mucus production).<br />
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You will notice that I have not mentioned cough mixtures. This is deliberate, because they simply do not work. You will probably get more benefit from a hot toddy or plain honey than the many cough mixtures on the market. The only exception I make is if you have a painful, hacking cough that is keeping you awake (or your child). In that case I would recommend a codeine based medication such as Pholtex syrup (or Pholtex Junior).<br />
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Finally, most people will not need to see their doctor with the following exceptions: if you have a CD4 less than 200 or any other serious illness (like TB), or are pregnant then you are at higher risk for complicationsand I would recommend that you see your doctor as early as possible. <br />
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For more information on the South African seasonal flu statistics see <a href="http://www.nicd.ac.za/viralwatch/viral.htm">here</a><br />
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Cheers, Gail</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6777264057823354086.post-76843905883472119852010-02-09T11:50:00.000+02:002010-02-09T11:50:09.572+02:00The Information Age revolutionises HIVWhen my parents grew up, it was in the era that people believed education was key. It would get you a good job so that you have a salary, a pension and a good stable life.<br />
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When I was growing up, Education became about options. It gave me the option to chart my own course, start a business, choose a vocation or take on a salaried position. <br />
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Nowadays, Education is about so much more than job security and pension plans. We are in the information age where knowledge is power. The world of HIV is a great example of this. Think back to the eighties when this scary 'gay disease' was discovered and we all ran away from gay men believing it was a plague. Here we are today, armed with a lot more knowledge and with tools that have developed as a result.<br />
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If you are HIV+ in 2010, your life is different to how you always envisaged it to be sure. But, thanks to information and education, your life can still be normal (different can still be normal, it's just different). You are armed with thousands of websites, articles and specialists around the world who are living with HIV or working with HIV. You can empower yourself and make informed decisions about your future and about your health. You can take back control over this cunning virus that was previously so mysterious.<br />
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The more you know about living with HIV, about living healthily and exercising, the more choice you have to assume control of your life. There are thousands of supplements out there, and it can be confusing with conflicting opinions - but you have a great opportunity to choose. Even the ARV drugs are varied and there is some leeway to choose which regimen you take. You have a choice of doctors and healthcare providers to team up with on your journey to optimum health. In the bad old days, there were few doctors who knew about HIV, and fewer doctors prepared to treat patients with it.<br />
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The revolution in the information age with the explosion of the internet is a great tool. The mere fact that you are reading this is a testament to this. You can find words of encouragement, tales of personal stories, outrageous myths and reliable research results and drug information all from the comfort of your home. This also allows you to remain anonymous which is another important factor in maintaining your quality of life. The privacy to manage and travel this road with the supporters you choose without wearing a giant label on your head, this is thanks to the information available that allows you to make your own decisions and lead a normal life.<br />
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The benefit of HIV research has shown us that it is possible to live for <em>another</em> 43 years after starting ARVs, a piece of information that may just bring hope back to someone coming to terms with his diagnosis. The wealth of education we have gained from treating pregnant women with HIV has helped us to confidently support women in conceiving and having children, allowing HIV couples to reclaim their right to a family and a future.<br />
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Thank goodness for the education we have, we need to spread it and get the information out. It is the information that will help to rid us of stigma. Ignorance and stigma are so closely tied that I believe it will be impossible to discriminate against people with HIV once the ignorance is removed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08937523622801465383noreply@blogger.com