Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 452: My Story and HIV Test

hi Sir Pozzie

im Em nga pala, share ko lang yung experience ko,,, kasi ako ngayon ay nangangambang baka infected na din ng virus. 2mons ago in relationship ako at ang sexual contact namin ay nangyayare weekly kapag pumupunta akong manila para lang makasama sya we do anal and oral sex.. nung una safe sex kami pero nung kalaunan di na kami gumamit ng condom kasi madalas wala kaming dala.. malaki naman tiwala namin sa isat isa na safe kami.. pero 1month before bago maging kami kumuha ako ng HIV test para makasigurado na safe ako sa virus bago ma involve sa relationship kasi nag aalala ako sa nagiging partner ko. (tulad kasi ng iba nakaranas din ako ng mga symtoms ng hiv tulad ng rashes at fatigue na gawa lang siguro ng stress ko at stigma ko sa virus.. naparanoid kasi ako nun gawa ng mga sunod sunod na balita tungkol sa HIV/AIDS) . and the result is NEGATIVE... kaht na negative ang result nangangamba pa rin ako kasi under ako ng window period nun... 4mons before kasi ang last sexual contact ko bago ang test.

nung una nagamit kami ng condom kasi gusto ko para na din makasigurado kami sa isat isa.... kaso kinalaunan di na kami nag peperform ng safe sex. ngayon nag break up na kami mag 2mons na din ng last contact namin pero may communication naman kaming dalawa. gusto kung kumuha ng test para ma sure ko na safe kaming dalawa sa virus kaso natatakot daw sya kumuha..... kasi ng sinabi ko sa kanya kung aware sa sya HIV/AIDS parang natuliro sya at di alam ang gagawin. tinanong ko sya kung may idea sya sabi nya wala. ngayon ramdam ko na nag aalala sya kaso takot syang kumuha ng test. kahit ako sa
sarili ko takot din ako kasi gawa ng ex bf ko bago maging kami kung san wala na akong contact kung nasan man sya. at maging sya sa ex bf nya kung san nagpractice din sila ng unprotected sex...

ngayon gusto kong kumuha ng test kasama sya.

sir pozzie tanong ko lang po... meron po bang clinic or hospital na maagang magbukas at madaling puntahan? balak ko po kasi pumunta ng maaga para less sa hustle at wala masyadong kasabay. tsaka kung magkano na din po? at ilang minuto o oras bago makuha ung result. kasi po ung last na take ko almost 15mins lang ng nakuha ko ung result.
salamat po

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi Em.

Thank you for your email.

There have been a lot of stories like yours. At first taking the HIV test, then having protected sex with the partner then a few days or weeks later will have unprotected sex even without knowing the HIV status of the partner. So what's the real score here? What is the point of being responsible and in the end will end up being irresponsible again. I don't want to judge as everybody can make a mistake especially when in love, however, everybody should learn. HIV is still increasing in the country and having unprotected sex with somebody who you don't know the HIV status of increases the probability of spreading and or acquiring the virus.

Now with regards to your question, I know most HIV testing centers open from 8am onwards. I guess, you have to contact each testing facility to know their schedules and when there are a few lines. In private clinics, since there is a fee for the test, there is usually no line at all, so best is you go there. You can also try your previous HIV testing site since you get your result fast there.

Check out the links below:

HIV Testing Philippines

HIV Testing Manila

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

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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