Email 242: Back-to-Back Emails from Cebu
Posted by Pozziepinoy on 4:33 PM
Good Day!
Reading your blog is really empowering especially to newly infected individuals like me. To make the story short, I was sick last October and diagnosed with Proctocolitis - an inflammation in the intestines. I had fever for five days and I need to rush myself to the hospital.
I never thought of HIV on the first few days of my stay there and on the third day, the doctor told me that I had signs of the infection and that I should take the test. I mentioned my gender on the night I admitted myself to the ER and I think that was one of the reason why I was advised about the test.
Hi Pozzie,
EMAIL 2
Good Day!
I've sent you emails already about my experience as a newly infected person with HIV, right now I have no idea as to what happens next though, there are support groups here in Cebu who put my mind at where it should be, in other words, they gave me peace in a way that I can handle.
They always tell me about thinking the good things in life and having this disease is nothing to be worried about. I want to take part of the battle, I want to help people but right now, I extremely need help. I am a teacher by profession but currently working in a BPO here in Cebu. I was diagnosed reactive last February 4 awaiting for the Confirmatory Result by February 28. I think I am not the only person from Cebu who read your blog, I may just be a few out of thousands or hundreds to say the least. The mysterious part of HIV is that, most infected individuals are educated like us, that we think its not gonna affect us in ways we think are correct but here I am, infected, waiting for the final results.
I have a friend whose brother died of AIDS a year ago, and that friend even told me and warned me about the disease, it wasn't too long when he warned me, it was just September of last year and then I got tested positive just early this year. What really embarrasses me is that I never failed to warn my gay friends about playing safely and all the precautionary measures.
I understand the complexity of HIV and right now, I want to make a difference, that in my own little way, I will be able to impart my little knowledge about the disease, how I went through with the early diagnosis and how Cebu Plus encouraged me to tell others about this.
Right now, I can see my horizon as dim as any rain clouds can be imagined, I have no idea whether or not I need to tell my mom about this, I am the breadwinner in the family and my younger brother is planning to go to Dubai. I am afraid I will not be able to help him because I will surely need more help then him. Right now, my condition is normal, I feel not sick, I don't have cough or whatever but I felt a bit sick in my mind.
I am getting paranoid with HIV, to the point of cleaning everything. I hope this email will be read by fellow pozzies here in Cebu too, so that they will be aware that we are all in this together. I know there is more to life than just HIV, we will survive, YES we can!
POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE
Hi.
Thank you for your two emails. Thank you for reading my blog. I really wish that you can find answers to your question here. I hope that the stories of other PLHIV can encourage you and give you strength to you new life journey.
It is true that it is hard to accept our disease in the beginning. A lot of things come to our minds. Questions will flood in, like "what will happen to me? who should I tell? Will I die? Will the treatment be expensive? what will happen to my dreams? what will be my next steps."
Keep on reading the blog. I know that it is not only a resource of information but it will provide you with all the optimism that you need. Like what I always say to the new PLHIV's: the road has been paved for you and all you have to do is to follow the footsteps of those who have trod on the same road.
You are not alone in your fight. A lot of people are willing to help. All you need to do is to reach out to them and tell them that you are ready to fight!
Stay healthy,
Pozziepinoy
"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"
-Pozziepinoy-
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Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines