Dumating ako sa point na gusto ko n magpatest agad2 but as days pass by, iba n naman. For now, want ko n lang antayinh friend ko next month para mas makausap xa and possibly masamahan ako for the test.
TRANSLATION
I am getting TB treatment for almost 3 weeks already after being diagnosed. I know how associated it is with HIV. Knowing my experiences and doing my research on the net, I came to a point that even if am not get tested, am already claiming that I’m positive. I accepted though it though I don’t know how I would feel if the result is right in front of me. I only talk about this to one friend. I haven’t even opened up this possibility to my doctor though he has not discussed it with me.
POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE
HI TB-HIV.
Thank you for your email. Thank you for all the kind words about the blog. It is my intention to reach out to a lot of people and give insight and wisdom about HIv and AIDS in the Philippines.
I would like to share with you some FACTS when it comes to HIV and about your situation.
1. Having TB doesn't necessarily mean that you have HIV.
2. There is NO cure for HIV. There is treatment only which can "tame" the virus so it won't hurt your health anymore.
3. Treating TB and not treating HIV won't make you really well. Your TB can be cured but if you have untreated HIV, your TB might come back and will make matters worst. Usually when an infection recurs, it is more worse than before if HIV is not treated.
4. If you have TB now and you have untreated HIV, your CD4 count or your immune system may already be depressed that other infections may set in and may complicate and prolong your treatment progress. Having infections trigger the replication of HIV and will hurt your health more.
5. If you have TB and have untreated HIV, your immune system will continue falling down to dangerous levels.
6. If you won't take the HIV test ASAP then you will be considered one of those who got late diagnosed and may suffer the consequences. For one, late diagnosed HIV is harder to treat as the immune system won't recover as fast, and second, if the immune is depressed, other infections may set in and treatment would be very expensive. Treatment of other infections is not covered in all the HIV treatment hubs in the country. Some people, aside from one infection has already multiple infections prior to the HIV which complicate the scenario.
7. People still die of HIV because they don't take the HIV test even when they already have infections. When it goes down to AIDS level, if one has AIDS defining illnesses, then it is harder and longer to treat.
I am not here to scare you but that is the reality. Learn the FACTS. If you keep on delaying your HIV test, you will never know what you have now and treatment may be more difficult. If I were you, please take the HIV test now because it is too late. If you delay your HIV test, it would be harder for you to control your life and your health.
It is better to know your HIV status now, so you can have all your baseline lab tests taken, know your level of immune system and what other kinds of infections you have right now.
Trust me it is better to be proactive now than be reactive later on because of what you think you know.
I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.I am not here to scare you but that is the reality. Learn the FACTS. If you keep on delaying your HIV test, you will never know what you have now and treatment may be more difficult. If I were you, please take the HIV test now because it is too late. If you delay your HIV test, it would be harder for you to control your life and your health.
It is better to know your HIV status now, so you can have all your baseline lab tests taken, know your level of immune system and what other kinds of infections you have right now.
Trust me it is better to be proactive now than be reactive later on because of what you think you know.
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