Gugu,

First of all, the dress sizes differ all over the world. What you call a size 42 maybe a size 14 in the UK and Size 12 in the USA. In that case I am bigger because I wear size 44 which is a size 14 here and 16 in the UK. When I left Kenya I was size 14 UK and now I am 16UK. Not a big difference. I love who I am.

I am not sure how much weight I add on the ARV's but I am sure I add weight with the mental health medication. Right now I am a little over a hundred and sixty pounds.

You are another fighter counting Homerx and you give me courage to carry on. 3 fighter cells? Good Lord.

I don't know what I can tell you but I am happy in my body and that is all that matters. If ARV's helped people gain weight, don't you think more and more of us would be looking healthier?

You don't want to be overweight that is for sure but it is ok to carry some weight. Remember we may have to get to a wasting stage and we will need all the body mass we can get.

If you are very concerned talk to a institutionalist and if that is not possible, talk to your doctor.

Thanks for coming back from PCP pneumonia and TB. I had the same and that is how I became a person living with AIDS instead of being only HIV . Labels, labels and more labels.

Love
Mson.

You are blessed, the weight gain could be the meds or the fat deposits that some people get...like me, I have skinny legs and a fat tummy....
But like Mson says, it isn't a big worry, if you kept losing then that would be bad but having some extra weight is OK. You also have to keep in mind that as HIV/AIDS folks, we are living longer and getting older and fatter like everyone else!!!! Dont worry about it, that is my suggestion..