Qoohme

Dr. what can you suggest for someone with hiv and demage brain to fix it. What do you mean by brain damage? Is it confusion? Forgetfulness? Did the person have a stroke? DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

hi doc. I stay am working in another African country, bt here they are not giving the medication whn CD4 is bellow 350. I think the last time mine was two hundred and something, but upto now they haven't given me. Should i ask for medication myself or wht? Unfortunately you have to follow the national guidelines of your country. If you have access to private health care then you might be able to get ART antiretroviral treatment at your current CD4 count. Otherwise if your country gives ART at CD4 less than 200, then you will have to wait. DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

hi. My 3 yrs old son, doen't like eating, he only eats pap and potato chips sometimes. And in the morning he doesn't want anything, i tried porridge bt nothing. Now am giving him cerelac(regular) is his favourite. What do u advice me to do? Cut out junk food and then start giving tough love. When your son gets hungry enough he will eat. It demands some tough love but it can be done. Do not negotiate. Cerelac can be given in the mornings, pap for lunch and supper. Try spaghetti because you can have lots of fun with it. Whatever you do do not give in to his demands DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

hi doc. I have been ve for 18 years now.My CD4 is about 800. However for the last year I have had a thrush like ifection in my mouth which is not responding to treatment. What can I do? What treatment did you get? DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

sorry,
When i wrote about natural remedies, i meant, like whn u want to clean ur blood system naturally.
Like drinking lemon and other herbs, garlic.
Cause i have a sister who does natural stuff and it has been proven to be good by many pple who use them. Herbal remedies are not empiricially sound. There have been no clinical trials done to prove or disprove their efficacy. We have ARVs that have been tried and tested and proven to be effective against the virus. Eating healthy is for everyone - regardless of status. Sadly many people don't want to take ARVS. So they "hide" behind immune boosters...healthy eating...etc and even more sad...many of them die. I can write stories about patients that have left ARVs and opted for natural remedies. But ultimately the decision rests with the individual. DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

Hi Dr, I'm trying to conceive and taking ferimed capsules, should I stop or continue using them,
I have low blood pressure? That's fine. Ferrimed capsules contain iron and folic acid. Continue taking them DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

Which is a company that you are working for? I am working for Anova Health Institute. We are an Non-Profit Organization. www.anovahealth.co.za DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

Yes doctor my nerve was damage after the car accident.no i haven't gone for surgery my doctor said that would be the only way to cure my nerve if i go to the surgery Send me an email sindivanzyl@gmail.com so that I can get the full story. Thanks DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

Dr Sindi,please advice me. When is the right to disclose to a potential partner,BEFORE we have se*ual intercourse with protection or AFTER that??? I believe in laying one's cards on the table. Give the potential partner the opportunity to make a decision with all the relevant information. I have many patients that have disclosed after the act and they were dumped. That's the truth. So rather deal with all HIV-related matters BEFORE the relationship gets serious or se*ual DoctorSindi replied 4 days ago

My ten weeks baby war given ilvitrim sryrup it not 4 hiv+people and barrs cough syrup at clinic but tested hiv- at 6weeks he is on formula frm birth. All HIV-exposed babies take Nevirapine syrup for 6 weeks. When baby goes for the HIV PCR test at the 6 weeks' visit, the NVP is stopped and the baby starts taking Ilvitrim (co-trimoxazole) syrup. If the test comes back negative and baby is NOT breastfeeding then the Ilvitrim is stopped. DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

If my baby is -ve at 6weeks while formula feeding why are all health professionals strict abt the 6 months no solids rule? or is it a general rule for all babies. Pl explain more abt baby's stomach lining & hiv transmission. It is a general rule for all babies. Remember that a baby has very immature organs and systems which mature as baby grows. If you introduce solids too early you expose the baby to allergens and you could end up with a sickling. Obesity could also be a problem. So the best thing is exclusive breast milk or formula for 6 months. Solids are introduced gradually thereafter.

A baby's gut lining only allows breast milk or formula to pas* across it. HIV does not pas* across this lining unless it has been excoriated 'scraped away'. What scrapes the gut lining away? Everything else that is NOT breast milk or formula. Medicines are given in small quantities so this is not a problem. But other substances - porridge, water, rooibos tea, over-the-counter remedies, the list is endless - have the potential to scrape away the gut lining and result in HIV transmission if baby is being breastfed. That is why we strongly discourage mixed feeding. DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

Hi Doctor

What supplements can you recommend when trying to conceive? Folic acid is the most important vitamin that you need pre-conception and in early pregnancy. It is taken to prevent baby from developing brain or spinal abnormalities DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

doctor i feel so blessed to have u in my life now. God bless u with many more years. That's heartwarming. I am glad to be of service to you :-) DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

Hey doctor am hiv postive and was involved in a car accident .and my my arm has been painful the dr told me dat I have a nerve problem.how true is it dat they is no treatment for it.jst medican to slow the pain.wat wud u recommend.thank you It is difficult for me to give an opinion based on the facts presented to me. Was the nerve damaged? Did you have surgery? DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

When i was 28 weeks pregnant i find out im Hiv positive, cd 4 was 254, i started taking lamzid aspen and neverapill, it was 2mnt before i delivery. After birth cd 4 was 8O7 Vload undetected shoud i continue with ARv's Yes. You need to continue with ART antiretroviral therapy. Your CD4 count was 254 in pregnancy. All pregnant women with CD4 counts of less than 350 are started on lifelong treatment and that is why you were started on Lamzid (2-in-1 combination of Lamivudine and Zidovudine) and Nevirapine.

You are doing VERY well on treatment. Please continue taking it! DoctorSindi replied 5 days ago

I am an HIV Doctor and answer all questions HIV related on my Hope is Victory column on www.ilikewhatiwrite.co.za/hope-is-victory

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