Healing Conversations for Men Who Have Sex with Men The Role of Testosterone Treatment in HIV
Nelson Vergel is an author, speaker, men’s health coach, and former chemical engineer. He also has done and continues to do amazing work in the field of HIV and advocacy. As a Long-Term Survivor, Nelson stepped up out of the dark and shared his findings on how testosterone treatment helped prevent Wasting Syndrome, reversed fragility and got the body healthier overall. Nelson discusses how he got into advocacy work, the stigma around body image and confidence that he has shifted to be a source of motivation, and resources where people can go to learn everything from affordable labs to a guide for proper testosterone treatment.
TAKEAWAYS:
[1:30] Nelson is a Long-Term HIV Survivor, and found in 1985 that he had the virus. He became very focused on how to not die from Wasting Syndrome, a leading cause of HIV related death that he saw many of his friends and loved ones pass away from. He left his career as an engineer to devote himself to the cause.
[3:33] Nelson’s techniques helped him gain 35 lbs of muscle, which changed his outlook and gave him hope for both himself and others. This bought him time and prevented Wasting until they came out with drugs in 1996.
[5:22] Those with HIV typically have low testosterone, and Nelson noticed that treatment with testosterone helped prevent and reverse fragility when combined with exercise and proper nutrition. It also helped support lean body mass, which is a key to survival and overall health and energy. Since women also have testosterone, it is a treatment that can help all genders, even those that identify as trans or another identity.
[7:57] Wasting is defined as 10% more weight loss from your base weight.
[9:39] Once treatment for HIV was more underway, Nelson then saw a need to cross over and help people all around the world who had low testosterone, but not HIV. He continues to work with men and women to teach them how to understand symptoms of low testosterone, possible treatments, how to talk to their doctor, and some of the benefits they can expect once they are more in hormonal balance.
[24:11] Body image and confidence is already a complicated issue, and there is more pressure than ever before to look great and fit into our cultural definition of strong and sexy. Nelson was able to turn his body image issues into fuel that made him healthy, but often is the cause of much anxiety and stress to look a certain way. People must remember there is no quick fix, but instead health and wellness is a lifetime commitment.
RESOURCES:
Program for Wellness Restoration
QUOTES:
● “I think I survived because of all the knowledge I was able to gather.”
● “I got this message out at the right time. Doctors were desperate.”
● “It is time for some of us to cross over and help the entire population.”
● “I have been able to shift my body image anxiety into something that makes me healthier and hopefully live a little longer.”
● “I’m a product of my own advocacy.”