Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 387: Worried Wife

Hello po.

Magandang araw po sa iyo.

Nabasa ko po sa 1 website about sa iyong article patungkol sa HIV.

Ako po ay may 1 asawa na american nationality. Nagkaroon kami ng phobia dahil sa 1 result ng kanyang medical last February 2013. Ang naging result ay repeteadly reactive pero sa western blot test niya ay no traces found kaya siya sinabihan ng indian doctor na positive siya. Nagpa 2nd opinion siya sa ibang doctor, at binasa iung naging result niya.. then sa 2nd opinion niya, sinabi ng doctor na negative dahil no traces found sa western blot test which is more accurate daw po.

Ngaun po ay gusto ko rin po sanang magpa test para malaman ko ang result kung infected ba ako or hindi dahil hindi po maalis sa isip ko ang mag alala. Kahit kagat nga po ng lamok sa balat ko ay lagi kung inoobserbahan kung tatagal ba ng weeks ang pantal or hindi. Pero hindi ko naman na eencounter na lagnatin ng mga ilang araw, ubuhin ng matagal, or mapagod agad agad.

Hihingi po ako ng payo kung anong maganda kung gawin.

Maraming salamat po.

XXX

TRANSLATION

Hello.

Good day to you.

I read in one website about your article with reghards to HIV.

I have a husband who is an American. We had a phobia because of the result from his medical last February 2013. The result was repeatedly reactive but in the Western Blot there were no traces found but his Indian doctor said that he was positive. He had a second opinion from another doctor and the result was once again read. The other doctor said that he was negative because there were no traces found in the Western Blot which according to him is more accurate.

Now, I want to get tested too to know if I am infected or not and because I don’t want to worry anymore. Even a single mosquito bite I always watch for rashes if they will last for weeks or not. But I don't encounter long bouts of fever, coughing for a long period of time or easy fatigue ability.

I would like to seek for advice on what I need to do.

Thank you very much.

XXX

POZZIEPINOY'S RESPONSE

Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for sharing your story.

It is really scary especially when a confusion on the HIV test result has been encountered by one of the partners in a relationship. In the case of your husband's case, of course, you would be scared too and it is a natural reaction. Of course, even though he is negative, you yourself begin to doubt about the result and think that you might be infected too.

It is a normal reaction, I tell you. There is a simple solution to this. Get your self tested. Take the HIV test. Trust me there is nothing to worry about by taking it. It is a win-win situation. By taking it you are being responsible to yourself by taking charge of your health. Not only that this is good for you but also for the health of your partner.

The trigger for taking the test for almost all people is the fact that they had protected sex. In your case, let me assert that even though you don't have any symptoms and just have this tiny thought of the possibility of having contracted the disease, then it is enough reason for you to take it. It is for your peace of mind to. Like what I always tell all my friends, HIV test is something not to be feared of. I tell them to have it as part of their annual medical examination.

There it is then. My best advice is to go ahead and take the test. It is just a test and there is nothing to worry about.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other concerns.

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