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As a kid, I was diagnosed with food allergies. They seemed to go away, but I think I now have allergies again although I’m not exactly sure what the symptoms would be. Is it possible that food allergies can disappear and then come back? And what are some common foods that people might be allergic to?
Reggie Anderson Culver City, CA
It is possible that you still have some food allergies since allergies to certain foods can change over time especially if you were not properly tested and treated to begin with. A food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system responds to otherwise benign proteins, known as allergens. The body releases histamine, a chemical in all cells of the body that is released in response to an allergen. This results in an immediate allergic reaction that includes such symptoms as itching, a rash, swelling and sometimes difficulty breathing. Other reactions to food allergies can be abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, mood changes and fatigue.
There are sometimes delayed responses, which are less obvious, and may include gastrointestinal distress.The most common food alllergies are dairy, wheat, gluten, corn, peanuts, eggs, soy and tomatoes. —PF
PROTECTIVE PARTNER
My boyfriend of just a few months recently told me he tested positive for HIV. Of course, I was devastated. I am falling in love with this guy despite his HIV status, and I don’t want to end it just because he is HIV positive. I guess my question is: Am I safe if I stay in this relationship if my partner and I continue to practice safe sex? And does safe sex always mean condoms—even during oral sex?
Dean Owen Washington, D.C.
HIV has certainly left an indelible mark on the gay community and recently the CDC published statistics that showed an increase in the number of cases among gay men from 2002 to 2006. More alarming is the fact that assuming the current prevalence of HIV in MSM aged 20 years, 50% will be HIV positive by age 60. With these statistics, dating someone who is HIV positive seems inevitable. Back in the 1980s, a diagnosis of HIV was considered a death sentence. Fortunately, that is not the case anymore. It is estimated that if someone is diagnosed with HIV, they can live out their full life as long as they maintain their health. Currently, mixed couples (one partner is HIV+) run the same risk of seroconverting as compared to other men who have sex with men who don’t know their partner’s status. In fact, some clinicians have made the argument that HIV negative members of a mixed couples tend to seroconvert less because they are aware of the facts and take better precautions. Using condoms to ensure safety especially with receptive anal sex is of greatest importance. Contracting HIV through oral sex is less likely, however, it is still considered risky behavior. My best warning here is that you should never swallow his ejaculation. —FS
NO STRAIN, ALL GAIN
Since I’ve gained weight many of the exercise and activities I used to do have put strain on my knees. What can I do to get back into shape without completely destroying my ability to walk?
Austin Young Buck, PA
There are many ways for you to get healthy and take off the weight you gained without hurting the joints on your body. You should look into low impact activities and exercises that will help you burn excess calories. Start doing something low impact every day for at least 30 minutes. You can begin by walking outdoors at a moderate to brisk pace (if it’s weather prohibited you can do this on a treadmill). You can also work on an eliptical exerciser that reduces stress and impact on your knees. Have you tried swimming? Or in-water workouts? It’s a great way to get considerable exercise without much impact. There’s even an upper body exercise machine sometimes called the UBE that looks like bicycle pedals that you use your hands to pedal with.
By engaging in low impact activity you will be able to start a routine that will help you burn the extra calories you need to in order to lose weight. Try working with a trainer to start a lean muscle conditioning routine. By creating lean muscle in your body you will burn more calories and be able to build lasting strength that will in turn help your joints. You will be treating your body as a whole and you will potentially see better results. Do some muscle conditioning at least three times a week and add that to your 3-5 low impact cardio sessions a week and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Overall you must embark on a healthy lifestyle the includes proper nutrition and exercise for your health. Eating right will be a major factor in your success. —PK
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Instinct Online 
written by Ben Connor Long Beach, CA on June 04, 2007
I support Dean for not wanting to throw away the relationship. I wish him and his partner all the best. Regardless of how difficult things like that can be "love" is always the best medicine and these days it's in short supply. I admit though Dean is a more courageous man than I am.
Regarding the protective partner response: wow...that was pretty depressing. so how does that bode for all the negative clean single guys out there? Are we becoming extinct? From the statistics that were stated in the response it looks like we may end up on the extinction list in a few years. I for one have been single for a long time and don't do hook ups because stuff like that is so common these days! It's scary and sad to think that at some point in time finding and dating a guy without an STD will be next to impossible! Frankly I'd rather keep my health and be single for the rest of my life if that's what I have to look forward to. I wonder why our community is so apathetic about these things? What's worse is that a lot of people actually don't care about it! The other thing that disturbs me are the ads for HIV treatments showing it to be something "glamorous" when the reality of the matter is it isn't!! I think people need to wake up to the facts before it's too late!
written by michelle on July 23, 2007
hmmm, ok im not gay but i am a female living with hiv and i just wanted to say thanks for not trying to scare him away from his boyfriend. one of the things that upsets me the most is when people tell me i'm wrong for dating and yes having sex with people that are negative. it can be a lonely world out there because people are (understandably) scared of this, but those that have it are human like the rest of us and we need our love too... anyways, i just wanted to leave a comment to say thanks... nothing hurts more to have someone who you love leave because they think you're going to kill them