Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 624: What to Do?

Hi po.

itago mo na lang po ako sa pangalang akZ. Nag karuon po ako ng 2 times unproticted anal sex s isang boy parihas po kaming boy. At siya po ang first time experience ko. Maari po ba akong mg ka HIV. Hindi ko alam kong positive po siya sa HIV. piro Natatakot po ako ng baka mag kasakit ako ng HIV nakakaram dam kasi ako ng mga sintumas ng HIV tulad ng sore throat pagkatapos po ng siguro 3 weeks. Ngunit natural lng po ito sa akin ang magkaroon ng sore throat dahil mahilig ako sa matatamis mga dalawang araw lang po ay guaming na ang sore throat ko. Tapos po ngayon paran na hihilo po ako. hindi ko din alam kong dahil b ito sa panahon malamig kasi ang panahon ngayon kaya madali ako mag kasipon at ubo. Nasa islang probinsiya po ako ngayon at hindi ko alam kong ano ang gagawin ko.

Ang sabi ko sa sarili ko pag may trabaho na ako ng papatest for HIV ayaw ko kasing malaman ng magulang ko ang kalukuhan ko... ano po b ang dapat kong gawin...

akZ

TRANSLATION

Hi.

Hide me under the name of akZ. I had 2 times unprotected sex with the same sex (we are both males). He was my first experience. Will I get HIV? I don’t know if he was HIV positive. I am scared that I’ll have HIV as I am experiencing symptoms like sore throat for 3 weeks now. But I sense that it is but natural for me to have sore throat as I like eating sweets and usually, after 2 days, they disappear. Also I am getting dizzy. I don’t know if this is because of the weather, since it is cold and raining that’s why I catch a cold and cough. I am in an island province and I don’t know what I need to do. I told myself that once I get a job that I will take the HIv test because I don’t want my parents to know what I had been doing.

What should I do?

akZ

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi akZ.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us.

Please don't wait anymore. Take the test ASAP. There are FREE HIV testing sites in the country and your parents won't even know that you are taking it. They won't find out unless you will tell them.

Although, you only had unprotected sex twice, that still qualifies you to take the HIV test. HIV has non specific symptoms so whatever you are experiencing right now can be anything. However, the only way to know if one has HIV is by the HIV test so don't think anymore and just take the test. That is the best advice that I can give you so you can have control over your health while it is early.

Please click the link below for the list of HIV testing sites in the country:

HIV TESTING CENTERS

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

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy