My best friend’s brother died of it in his early 50’s.
I know several older HIV-positive people and they all look rail-thin and no matter how much they eat, they never lose that gaunt appearance after a decade of HIV, even with the treatments.
We’re not allowed to know the truth in most instances. Thanks for shedding light on this from personal observation. HOnestly, I don’t know anyone who has HIV (that I know of,) and the ones that do seem to be more than willing to announce it.
I’ve started a research project on homosexual longevity, though I can’t reveal the subject of my investigation because the source would then clam up. Suffice it to say, the stats on homosexual lifespans remain MUCH worse than even the most dire estimates. Like, greater than 20 years shorter.
Before much was known about aids...the disease was called “slim”...by many people who experienced living in Africa...treatments help but the virus ggenome can be incorporated into the genomes of the cells....no one fully knows what that will do long term. The people you report with the “gaunt” look...may be experiencing lipodystrophy associated with anti HIV meds like the proteases inhibitors or the nausea caused by PI’s..so they don’t eat as much..