Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 738: Wants to Verify Test

Hi Pozzie,

Good day. Malaki ang awareness na binibigay mo sa mga tao regarding HIV/AIDS dito sa site mo. Maraming salamat.

May mga ilan lang akong concerns na gusto kong ma-clarify. I had a sexual contact from male masseur last October 8 at ako yung top. It was unprotected. About last week ng October, may swollen lymph node ako sa may jaw area, pero wala akong flu/cold/cough-like illness na naranasan. I just experienced a slight fever pero mga half day lang yun, and that was Oct 27. I was taking Co-amoxiclav for my acne that time. Iniisip ko na baka ang cause ng swelling ay dahil sa acne ko.

I was already alarmed nung nawala na yung acne ko pero yung swelling ng lymph node ko ay hindi pa. Kaya I decided to have an HIV test sa RITM Malate last November 3. I was partially relieved with the results kasi negative/non-reactive lahat ng parameters other than HIV. But the counselor still advised to have another test on January (3rd month).

Ngayon I am still worrying kasi yung swollen lymph node ko ay hindi pa nawawala at medyo lumaki pa siya. Nagpa-check up na ako sa internal medicine at pina-CBC and X-ray ako. The result of my CBC was:

Hemoglobin:
159 (140-180)
Hematocrit: 0.457 (0.40-0.54)
RBC: 5.25 (4.60-6.00)
WBC: 5.40 (4.5-10.5)

Segmenters: 41.30 (50-70)
Lymphocytes: 43.30 (18-42)
Eosinophils: 4.10 (1-3)

Monocytes: 10.90 (2-11)
Basophils: 0.40 (0-2)
Platelet Count: 276 (15-450)

Based sa result, ang sabi daw ng doctor ay baka viral infection kasi mataas ang lymphocyte at mababa ang segmenters ko. He advised me to take up Prednisone for 3 days to suppress the swelling. Last take ko na nung Sunday at ngayon ay medyo lumiit naman na yung lymph node ko.

I was just wondering, kung pwede na ba ulit akong magpa-HIV test kahit na wala pang 3rd month or kailangan talagang hintayin yung 3rd month para magpa-HIV test ulit? Hindi ba kalat na ang virus kapag 3rd month na?

I just want to verify na yung swollen lymph node ko ay hindi cause ng HIV.

Looking forward to your favorable reply.

Thank you very much. :)

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for the kind words that you wrote about the blog.

You really have to wait for the next HIV test to verify if you really have HIV or not. Best is to focus on the treatment of your viral infection since you already are under the care of an infectious disease doctor.

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

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy