My HIV Test Experience ~ Living with HIV in the Philippines

My HIV Test Experience

Posted by Pozziepinoy on 8:59 AM

Hello Pozzie!

Gusto ko sanang i-share yung experience ko sa RITM Malate.

Honestly, ayoko talaga magpa test. Di ko ata kakayanin pag nag positive ako. I'm too young para mamatay. Nahihiya din ako sa parents ko pag nalaman nila na HIV positive ako. Basta ang daming tumatakbo sa isip ko. Ang dami kong nai-imagine. Buti na lang nakita ko yung blog mo. Sobrang na-educate ako, na-inspire sa mga story, at syempre na-encourage para magpa test. All thanks sa blog mo! :)

Lately kasi, nakaka experience ako ng HIV-related symptoms, base na rin sa pagsesearch ko sa google at sa blog mo. Last saturday, I went there to get tested. Dumating ako don mga 10am pero sarado pa. Napaaga yata ako. Tumambay muna ako sa ministop na malapit sa clinic. It's almost 11am pero di pa rin nagbubukas. Nag panic ako kaya tinext kita pozzie (hahah, feeling close). You told me to just wait. My tita texted me and asked me to do some errands for her. I told myself, bukas na lang ako pupunta since open naman ang clinic ng sunday.

The next day (sunday), I went back to the clinic. Nagpa-late ako ng konti para di na mag antay. Nung malapit na ko sa clinic, di ko ma-explain, kinakabahan ako ng very light. Pagpasok ko, winelcome agad ako nung med tech (or nurse, di ko sure). She's a girl. I forgot to ask her name. Andon din si Ran, yung nag counsel sakin. They're all kind and approachable. Parang matagal na kaming magkaibigan kung makipag usap sila sakin. I told myself, tama nga yung mga testimonial sa blog mo. All the staff are professional and non-judgmental. I filled up some questionnaires. After that, pumanik na kami ni ate medtech/nurse sa 2nd floor para kunan ako ng dugo. I told her kung pwedeng bukas ko na lang kunin yung result since I have to do some errands pa. After blood extraction, nag counsel na kami ni Ran. Ang dami kong natutunan about HIV (AIDS) and other STI's. Ang dami ko din tinanong kay Ran. After that, I went home na.

Today (monday), bumalik ako sa clinic para kunin yung result. Di ko ma-explain yung kaba ko. I swear. Muka akong praning habang lumalakad papuntang clinic. Winelcome agad ako ni Ran. After few minutes, pumasok na kami sa room para sa result. Gosh yung heartbeat ko sobrang bilis. Napansin ata ni Ran so he told me to just calm down. He opened the envelope. Nilabas nya yung dalwang pirasong papel tapos finold nya. Nagbilang pa sya ng 1, 2, 3 bago nya buksan sa harap ko. Para syang nagbubukas ng briefcase sa Deal or No Deal. Hahaha! Ang funny nya. He was like "one...two...three....(unfolded the paper)...NEGATIVE! Congratulations!". I smiled at him and thanked him a lot. Sabi pa nya I can consider my result as conclusive since almost 7months na yung huli kong sexual intercourse. He just reminded me to get protected all the time. He told me to share what i've learned from the clinic about HIV/AIDS. After nun, puro thank you na lang ata ang lumabas sa bibig ko, and then we said good bye. Sobrang memorable lang ng experience ko sa RITM clinic.

So guys, eto lang yun eh: Kung sa tingin mo, na-expose ka sa HIV through unprotected sex, take the test NOW or anytime soon. Like what pozzie has been telling all the time, it's a win-win situation. In the end, you'll never regret it, whether mag positive ka man or negative.

XXX

TRANSLATION

Hello Pozzie!

I would like to share my experience in RITm Satellite Clinic in Malate.

Honestly, I really don’t like to be tested. I thought I won’t be able to handle it if I become positive. I am too young to die. I am also embarrassed if my parents will know that I am HIV positive. A lot of things were coming to my mind. I was imagining a lot of things. Good thing I found your blog. I became educated, got inspired by the stories and of course, was encouraged to get tested. All thanks to your blog! :)

Lately I have been experiencing HIV-related symptoms, based on my researches from Google and in your blog. Last Saturday, I went there (RITM Satellite Clinic) to get tested. I arrived around 10am but it was still closed. I thought I came there early. I hanged out in Ministop near the clinic. It was almost 11am and it was still not open. I panicked so I called you Pozziepinoy (hahaha, feeling close). You told me just to wait. My Tita (aunt) texted me and asked to do some errands for her. I told myself that I will just come back to the clinic the following day since it is open on Sundays.

The next day (Sunday), I went back to the clinic. I came there a bit late so I won’t have to wait. When I was near the clinic, I couldn’t explain but I was a bit nervous. When I entered, the med tech welcomed me (or nurse, I was not sure). She was a girl. I forgot to ask her name. Ran was also there, the one who counseled me. They were all kind and approachable. I felt like we were long time friends the way they talked to me. I told myself, the testimonials in Pozziepinoy’s blog were correct. All the staff are professional and non-judgmental. I filled up some questionnaires. After that I went up with Ms. Med Tech to the 2nd floor for blood drawing.I told her if it is possible to get the result the following day as i had to do some errands. After blood extraction, I had a counseling with Ran. I learned a lot about HIV/AIDS and other STI’s. I asked a lot of questions to Ran. After that, I went home.

Today (Monday), I came back to the clinic to get the result. I couldn’t explain my nervousness. I swear. I looked crazy as I was walking to the clinic. Ran welcomed me again. After a few minutes, we entered the room for the result. Gosh my heartbeat was so fast. Ran felt it so he told me to calm down. He opened the envelope. He took out two pieces of paper and folded them. He then counted, 1, 2, 3 before he opened it in front of me. It looked like he opened a briefcase in Deal or No Deal. Hahaha. It was so funny! He was like, one, two, three... (unfolded the paper).... NEGATIVE! Congratulations! I smiled at him and thanked him a lot. He told me to consider the result as conclusive since it was almost 7 months since my last sexual intercourse. He just reminded me to get protected all the time. He told me to share what I’ve learned from the clinic about HIV/AIDS. After that, all thank you’s came from my mouth and then we bid goodbye. My experience in RITM Satellite Clinic was so memorable.

So guys, this is only it: if you think you have been exposed through unprotected sex, take the test NOW or anytime soon. Like what Pozziepinoy has been telling all the time, it’s a win-win situation. In the end you will never regret it, whether the result will turn out positive or negative

Again, thank you RITM Satellite Clinic in Malate (for the free testing, hehe). Thank you Ate Med Tech/Nurse. Thank you Ran. Kudos to all the staff there.