Living with HIV in the Philippines

The official blog of The Project Red Ribbon Care Management Foundation, Inc. (TRR).

  • TRR LOVE FUND

    TRR Love Fund is the arm of the foundation which provides medical assistance to the financially challenged PLHIV.

  • Care assistance for HIV Test

    The Care Assistant Program involves assistance to HIV testing and HIV and AIDS Treatment hubs in the Philippines. Our volunteers schedule the client to the clinic or hub, assist with the procedure in the clinic or hub and conduct peer counseling

  • HOTLINE ASSISTANCE

    With the TRR Hotline Numbers, our volunteers answer concerns and inquiries about HIV and AIDS, do counselling, refers clients to nearest HIV Testing facility, HIV and AIDS Treatment Hub and government and NGO organizations for support

  • PEER COUNSELING

    The foundation volunteers conduct one-on-one counseling either on the phone or in person. They also conduct group counseling

  • SUPPORT GROUP TALK

    The support group talk (SGT) is a program that involves giving HIV lectures by guest speakers, discuss topics about HIV, care, treatment and support, discussion issues related to HIV

  • OUTREACH PROGRAM

    The foundation's outreach program is geared towards providing support to our fellow PLHIV's in the HIV and AIDS Treatment Hubs. Volunteers hand out of donations of medicines and special gifts to PLHIV, give inspirational talks by invited guests to a group of PLHIV, bonding over snacks or meal, visit the sick who are confined in the hospital

  • Referral System

    As part of treatment, the foundation's referral program involves our volunteers referring clients to specialized doctors who are HIV friendly. The foundation has it's own list of specialty doctors of low cost for the indigent PLHIV.

  • Online Support Group

    The foundation has a private Online Support Group in facebook. This group of advocates, supporters, counselors, health Workers and PLHIV

  • Home Health

    Aside from client counselling, the foundation volunteers also do family counselling and home visitation for awareness and continuance of care.

  • Health Fitness

    The foundation believes in holistic approach to treatment and care, thus inclusion of these programs: yoga, dance, swimming, jogging and running, boot camp workouts

  • EVENTS

    As part of awareness and education program, the foundation organizes its own national events to coincide with the international AIDS events: World AIDS Day and International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Thursday, January 26, 2012

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Pozziepinoy,

Never Been Sick Again!

I am so conscious about my health now. At the early sign of an illness, I treat it accordingly. I take a lot of rest. My priority is now my health and if ever I would feel that I would come up with something, I will opt to be absent from work. That is my commitment to my body and my responsibility to Tag.

Today is my 114th day and I've never been sick. No fever, no cough or flu (knock on wood). I had bouts of beginning illness but I fortify myself fast with vitamins and lots of fluids to flush everything out. I am very particular with hygiene and cleanliness. I CAN'T be sick. I won't allow it like before. I also cant be so tired from work. Tag even told me that I can't have long hours at work and so far I am doing what he tells me to do. I work for self preservation and fulfillment. I work also for money but getting sick is a financial burden so whats the point. So I just don't allow it.

Up to now I am still tracking all my ARV's, my daily signs and symptoms and my daily intake. So far so good. 100% adherence, no signs and symptoms nor side effects and I still know the actual days that I am on ARV's. This is an easy way to report to my doctor during my consultation with her next March.

Cleanliness is a priority. tag and I deal with a lot of people and to protect ourselves from the "carriers" of infections, we still do our routinary alcohol air spraying. It is really better than lysol sprays and it smells so good.

The key to overall health is paying attention to detail. First fortify yourself with the right food and exercise, then clean your environment. Avoidance to illness is a must so be vigilant. Take the necessary protection and trust me everything will be ok!




FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund
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Pozziepinoy,

Losing My Belly

I was so fit before I got sick. When I was hospitalized I started to lose 15 pounds. When my pneumonia cleared after a 2 weeks, I started eating again, up to 7x a week. At that time I told myself that I have to look good and feel good again. After a month, I gained all the 15 pounds back. Then I started with the ARV's. I figured that with the side effects (maybe I might lose weight), I started my voracious eating again. I needed to fight the side effects. I gained another 15 pounds. The fat gathered around my belly, my legs, butt, arms and legs.

When I started working, I started to focus on weight loss again. But with the foundation that I have before, I guess it wasn't as hard as I thought. At first, I dieted but I started to get weak. I opted then to be more physically active. So far, my belly fat has been reduced and my body weight is slowly going down the scale. I feel good. The plumpness of my face is still the same but most of the people that I know said that I look better.

I am slowly going back to eating again, healthier this time with lots of protein and veggies and fruits. I am also starting to run again and doing programs in the gym. My job is tedious so that is part of my daily "burning" activity.

Summer is coming and the beach is just around the corner so I might as well tone up. My upper abs is showing already and I still have 2 more months to shed off that excess fat!



FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund


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Pozziepinoy

"HD" Dreams


I wasn't noticing it until lately when I realized that I really am having vivid dreams. I tell Tag about it and courtesy of the efavirenz, my vivid dreams are so fantastic.

Really, I am enthusiastic about it. Recently, I realized that my dreams are pretty crisp, like watching HD movies on TV. Now I call my dreams as my HD dreams because I really feel that I am part of the dream which is so great. Am I crazy to love these dreams? Maybe, but my dreams recently are great. This morning, my dream was star studded... and the theme was Mama Mia. It was a musical. I even woke Tag up to tell him that I was dreaming. This morning I had a good smile on my face when I woke up. There were times that the theme was so funny that I laughed even in my sleep. It is interesting though because there were times when I can remember my dream and there were times when I can't.

I noticed that my "HD" dreams happen when I eat past 6pm or when I feel bloated after my last meal. I take all my ARV's at 10pm and I eat my last meal on or before 6pm. This is so because, to minimize the side effects of efavirenz (one of my ARV's), my empty should be empty prior to taking it. Researches show that it takes four hours to digest the food entirely, so my 6pm schedule for my last meal is perfect for my 10pm ARV schedule. Dr. D even said that being meticulous with the time is a good thing.

There were times that I take my meals past 6pm and those were the times that I experienced having my "HD" dreams. Last night Tag and I left the restaurant at 7:30 where we had dinner so I knew that I was was past my 6pm. That in turn resorted to me having my "HD" dream this morning.

Before I was scared to have vivid dreams. I thought that the dreams that I will have are nightmares and scary stuff. I guess having a happy disposition in life, having a positive outlook, having a happy and peaceful work environment and a loving family help in creating a good dream. Now I am not scared anymore. I anticipate the next "HD" dream.




FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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Pozziepinoy

Don't Be Scared!


So you got your result and it says your positive. You get confused. You blame yourself. You cry and hibernate. You feel like your life has come to an end.

Don't be scared! Like me, I've experienced the worst. I was sick before I got my result. I may think that I was already on my death bed. But I struggled to get out of the rut. I fought back. I was scared at first but I opted to think positive. I chose to survive and now, I am back to my previous life. I still have the virus but I am not allowing it to get me sick again.

Don't be scared. Treatment is around. There are HIV hubs which will help you out. The HIV meds are free. Doctors don't ask for professional fees. For the lab tests, PhilHealth will take care of it.

Don't be scared. Your loved ones will still be there for you. You don't have to disclose your status to everybody because that is your right. You just be responsible to your sex partners and that's about it. Your secret is safe.

Don't be scared. There are people around who can help you deal with the pain and the suffering. Your questions can be answered by fellow "pozzies" or positives who too are living with the virus. You are never alone.

Don't be scared. As long as you follow your doctor.. as long as you do your job in protecting yourself from infections... your life will go back to normal again.




FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund
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Pozziepinoy,

Alarming Rate

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Pozziepinoy,

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in The Philippines


In December 2011, there were 268 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative  Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 54% higher compared to the same period last year. This increased the total number of cases to 2,349 for 2011.Most of the cases (94%) were males. The median age was 27 years (age range:16-59 years). The 20-29 year (62%) age-group had the most number of cases. Forty-eight percent (128) of the reported cases were from the National Capital Region (NCR).

Reported mode of transmission were sexual contact (238) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (30). Males having sex with other Males (86%) were the  predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (97%) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting. 

Of the 268 HIV positive cases, nine were reported as AIDS cases, two were female and seven were males. The median age is 32 years (age range: 19-58 years). All acquired the infection through sexual contact [heterosexual (2), homosexual (4), bisexual (3)]. Of the AIDS cases, there was one reported death for this month; a 19-year old male

For more details check out: Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry




FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund
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Pozziepinoy

My 113th Day


Today is my 113th day of taking ARV's. Everything's fine now. No more side effects, no dizziness, no itching, no vivid dreams. So far so good. In just 7 days, it will be my 4th month of taking my cocktail, namely tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz. I am proud to say that I have never been late or have missed my scheduled intake of my meds. Really, all my set up timers worked wonders for me. Now, it is like a habit which I can't dismiss.

Up to now, I am still taking my daily cotrimoxazole and my weekly azithromycin. I am back to work and I am pretty conscious about my health and my dealings with people. My priority is my health. If I sense that I am getting something. I stop, take a rest or take  some preventive cures fast. I am more mindful now. I should know better... that while I am still taking my meds, I should be conscious that I still have a virus inside me.

Everything really went back to normal. My life is coming back to it's previous state, except that sex life is a different scenario now. But it is fine, really. Love envelops everything and love is always there as I have Tag by my side and my family who are always there to support me.



FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

Friday, January 20, 2012

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Pozziepinoy, ,

Sore Throat

I woke up today with a mild sore throat. Oh no. Back to 2000 mg of vitamin C fast as  used to do before to prevent the virus from spreading. I can't allow this to happen and I will do everything to prevent it.

Last night's dinner in a crowded place was the culprit. Smoke was everywhere and I wasn't able to pay attention to it. My fault. I left my guard down. this can't happen ever again. After all the accomplishments of my immune system, I can't regress back. I just can't.

So today before I regret it, I have to do the following again:

1. Take vitamin C later again.
2. Eat citrus fruits.
3. Drown the virus with lots of water, a gallon perhaps
4. Rest when necessary. have a good night's sleep.

The sore throat is usually the first sign of a coming cold. I should know.. and I should learn better now. There is still time. And that I should be my priority today.




FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund


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