Lipoatrophy

[LilHypochondriac]

for about 4 months now I've had a big dimple on my hip (picture of it: http://i19.tinypic.com/4kne5co.jpg ).  i have been trying to figure out what it is the whole time and i'm just now finding what seems to be it...."lipoatrophy or lipodystrophy"  well from what i read that is a symptom of HIV or from repeated injections to that area, which i've never injected anything there.  i am very high risk for HIV.  does anybody know if my dimple looks like it's lipoatrophy?

[Teak]

Not everyone that has HIV suffers from lipodystrophy. It is usually caused in people with HIV that are on certain medications, such as Zerit.

[LilHypochondriac]

is that the only way, or can it happen just from the HIV itself?  if so, does that sort of thing show up early on or later in the infection?

[Teak]

It usually only happen with meds and it's with people that have been on certain meds for years. It never shows up early.

[big lesson learned]

What do you mean by early?...is a year post exposure too early?  Thanks

[Teak]

Most people are on certain drugs for years before noticing lipodystrophy. Not all HAART meds cause it. Zerit is one of the main ones that I can think of that causes wasting.

[Teak]

It has nothing to do with HIV, but has to do with the medication that one takes for HIV.

[big lesson learned]

Lipodystrophy is also called "wasting"?  I think i heard of that term before but it think it was a symptom of advanced HIV, is that right?