My PLHIV Story: Late Diagnosis, I Survived! Part 2

Around 9PM when we arrived sa isang malaking public hospital sa Davao.  

Almost 6 hours kaming nag stay sa ER, pahirapan talaga doon and admission process at buti nalang my mga kakilala kami. Due to my condition, sa IM - ICU sana ako ilalagay, but hindi pumayag brother ko baka mahawaan lang kami don. So they decided to have an ICU setting in a private room.

Pagdating sa room, agad-agad kinonekta ang tubo ko sa mechanical ventilator, oxygen port, at tatlong klase ng dextrose. "Sir, suction po tayo ha" ang sabi ng PDN. Nag thumbs up lang ako kasi I cannot speak. Pag suction eh ang sakiiiiit pala. Tila sinuyop ang puso at baga ko. Pinaayos ko rin ang tubo ko kasi mejo makati sa lalamunan at mejo masakit kapag umuubo.

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My PLHIV Story: Late Diagnosis, I Survived! Part 1

Maayong Adlaw! (Good day!)  I’m from the southern part of the Philippines,  

23 and here’s my story…

PRE-DIAGNOSIS STAGE

March 2014, I decided to be admitted in nearest hospital due to my on-and-off fever, cough and difficulty in breathing lalo na during night time. Si mama and papa ang watchers ko, tila nag check-in lang kami sa isang hotel. Habang nasa hospital ako, series of diagnostic tests have been conducted. On my 2nd day being admitted, sabi ng attending physician ko my  
spot daw sa upper left lung ko at may pneumonia below. The rest of the tests were OK lang daw. Agad-agad nag pa sputum test ako and it was found out negative. But based on her clinical assessment,  PTB+ daw ako. So isolated kaagad si ako (huhu) and pina inom na niya ako ng 4-n-1 anti-TB med and referred to Pulmonologist. Early morning on the ff day, nagpakilala si Doc Pulmo at ‘di na siya nagpa ligoy-ligoy pa na tinanong ako if I have  
experienced SEX before. And I told him nothing but the truth. Pag alis niya, tumaas na  ang anxiety level ko, emo na ako, hindi na makatulog kasi iniisip ko na baka ito na yon the reaping season of what I’d done way back college days. My idea na kasi ako on what is really HIV because of the symposia I have been attended before.

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My PLHIV Story: Hoping to Uplift Others

I have been a possie since september last yr...the first time i known it i dont know what  to do since im working abroad, actually started my new contract then after only a day my boss told me i need to go back to my agency... Then all of a sudden my boss terminated me... 

I dont know what to do then... I was thinking of suicide, pero inisip q i have to go  home for my kids sake... After being tested again in a gov.clinic which all the volunteers are supportive nmn .. I dont loose hope being one of the plhiv....i searched for any info and group that can give me some advice or whatever... I found this site... Reading blogs if i got net...

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PLHIV Story: Not Losing Hope

Hi. Sa mga makakabasa ng aking kwento, sana po ay maging inspirasyon eto para sa inyo.

I came from the Southern part of the Philippines and has been living here in Manila for almost 5 years.

My story has started when I got exposed to the real world of being part of the 3rd sex. I never had a sexual encounters back in province and not even a kiss. I have had several sexual partners nung nandito na ako and mostly one-night-stand sa dami nila di ko na maala lahat ng names nung naging ka affair ko, hanggang sa medyo nagsawa na ako sa paulit-ulit na gawain. I used to serve the Lord back in College but I decided to stop muna  
kasi parang di pako handa na mag serve dahil sa mga nagawa ko. I asked the Lord na sana mahanap ko na ang para sa akin habang ako ay nag balik loob sa kanya, nag serve ako sa isa mga sa simbahan dito sa Manila bilang isang Choir Member at nag decide na rin ako na lumipat ng trabaho hanggat nakilala ko ang isang tao na nagpapatibok sa aking puso. Ka officemate ko sya at hindi nagkakayo ang edad namin. Naging close kami sa isat-isa at  
hanggat sa pinakilala nya ako sa mga childhood friends nya at hanggat sa ini-invite nya na ako sa bahay nila but as coworker kasi he just had this courage to disclose to his parents of his real sexual orientation mid of 2013. We have had several sexual intercourses protected/unprotected. Before kami gumawa ng unprotected sex ay usap usap muna kami of our medical condition and I guranteed him na I'm negative kasi hindi naman ako  
masyadong  involved sa sex na may penetration. Oo marami ako ka one night stand pero those were mostly oral at hindi naman ako nag papa-bott. We both agreed na mag pa test last Nov 2014 sa isa sa mga clinic sa QC na gov't owned. It never came into my mind na maging possie ako, while we were on our way to the testing center I was so confident and never did my heart beat fast of the outcome kasi none of the symptoms ng sakit na'to ay never ko naman naramdaman in fact tumataba nga ako from being skinny.

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Life is Beautiful!

I had been meaning to articulate in writing how did my "hiv test experience" go but the emotional surge had been overwhelming such that almost always, I can't seem to find the right words to depict the "highest-rating-primetime-drama" of my life.

To begin with, I have always been informed about anything the tabloids and blogs have to offer. I make sure to read all sorts of social and socio-political issues hovering this planet almost everyday. Hence, I am not totally unaware of HIV. In fact, I had been updated with the soaring statistics the DOH has been publishing every month.

Through the years, I had been hearing and seeing campaigns on HIV testing, which, among others, encourage people to know their "status". Sadly, I didn't have the audacity to do it. More often, I found myself making justifications just not to succumb to what the advocacies were asking us to do. I told myself that I didn't need that for I always practice safe sex; or that condom has always been my best friend, thus I have nothing to be worried about; or my sexual partners were not that numerous for me to get paranoid about my "status".

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My PLHIV Story: HIV Stops With Me!

This is the first time im sharing my story to anyone, there are only two members of my family who knew about my case and sufferings, my aunts from my father side, even my parents are not aware of my case, i had plans to go abroad to seek a better future, i dont know but at the back of my mind there is this thinking that i might be positive of HIV then, until the time of my medical i was still very nervous, the more i became nervous when it took me a day to receive a call from my agency to confirm my tests, it took actually almost two days for them to call me, just to inform me that i have to go back to the diagnostic center for rechecking of HIV test, there i almost lost everything in my mind, i didnt tell anyone whats happening to me, i was just quiet, then i went to clinic for verification i  
was so ashamed to enter the clinic for the second time, because i know there will be speculations about me the moment i sit on that chair, it was still good that the tech who took my sample was very optimistic in saying, "i should not worry because most of their clients turns negative", that helped me a lot, i  still have hope that it will then turn negative,  
he even told me the result will be confidential i will be the one to open the envelope and read it myself, (3 weeks later, year 2012). I got the result i was looking at his desk he has around 3-4 envelops in his shelf, he took the first envelop its already opened I was dismayed, but the most heart breaking news is that i am HIV positive, i went out the clinic  
hearing nothing , i dont even know if i checked the road before passing the next thing i know i was walking like DEAD. until i get the guts to tell to my aunt through messages i  didn't answer her calls. i dont know if can tell it personally to her, honestly i asked jesus why me? many times that night, i was feeling OK i didnt knew this is happening to me, ive been to a lot of churches praying for a miracle that i hope on my next test it will  
turn negative, just for me not to lose hope. I got tested the second time, but the second test still took 3 weeks to release the result, i didnt go to the clinic to get my results i knew then that it is again positive. Since the day I've found out im positive, i promised to myself not to have sex to anyone anymore not until GOD will permit to do so, until when? I don't know only God knows.

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Thank You!

Hi Pozzie, (sorry i don't know what to call you :( )

I got my first test today. I'm reactive and will have to wait two weeks to get a confirmatory result. Thank you. You and your blog is the only thing that persuaded me and given me courage to confirm my status.

I'm not hoping for a miracle anymore. I know my chances of being negative on the confirmatory is pretty slim. Right now i just need someone who understands what i'm going through. I'm a 27 years old discreet male with no family to lean on or any shoulder to cry on. I feel alone. 

The doctor was supportive. She allowed me time to sink it all in. I cried myself to tears after a while. I couldn't hide how devastating it felt for me. I'm usually good at hiding what i feel. This news defeated my emotional defenses in minutes. 

Again, thank you. I still don't know how to live my life from this day on. I hope i can talk to you in person, i really need someone to tell me everything is going to be okay because no matter how hard i try to say it to myself, it doesn't sink in.

I live in Marikina, my Name is XXX. 

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Be Inspired!

Note: The patient's consent was obtained prior to this posting.

This is a case of a 24/Filipino male who was diagnosed with HIV-associated polyneuropathy (weakness and numbness of his legs) causing difficulty in standing and walking. He could barely do what he used to love doing: extreme sports. His baseline CD4+ was 2. He was started on the first line antiretroviral regimen and after 6 months, his cd4+ went up to around 100-110 (exact value is not disclosed). Thereafter, he was able to go back to work, to do his sports, and travel. 

This week he celebrated his anniversary - 1 year since he started taking his ARVs. His CD4+ now is around 300-320 (exact value is not disclosed). That's a big jump from his baseline of 2. He took his meds religiously, and with lots of hard work and prayers, he is back in his game. 

This post, again, is with the permission of the patient involved. This is to serve as an inspiration to other PLHIV. Having an HIV infection is not a death sentence, it's a wake up call. How you will answer the call and stand up is up to you.

Credits: Dr. Mark Pasayan. RITM-ARG

HIV can be defeated! Early detection and early treatment are the keys. Take the HIV test early. Once you are HIV positive, don't delay treatment. 

HIV Testing Centers:

HIV Testing Centers in the Philippines

HIV Testing Metro Manila

RITM Satellite Clinic

Icon Clinic Quezon City

Marikina Social Hygiene Clinic

Klinika Bernardo Quezon City

HIV/AIDS Treatment Hubs:

HIV/AIDS Treatment Hubs in the Philippines

If you are scared, we can assist you:

HIV CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

Want to be ASSISTED for the HIV TEST?? 

Check this link:

CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you have comments or questions, please click this link:

Contact Pozziepinoy

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved by Pozziepinoy 2012

Credits: 

Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines

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My Experience with Yoga For Life

May Inner Peace be with you!

   "WHY  ME? I didn't do anything wrong, I never hurt anyone and in fact I was faithful. Why me?

                  I know people who are more promiscuous and they seem to be getting out without a scar

                   Why me? - ANGER

             

     "I feel GYPPED in my life" - DEPRESSION 

"I'm gonna DIE soon...."- FEAR

"FUCK! I got flu and rashes. How's my CD4?" - UNCERTAINTY

My life before I got HIV was good. The world was normal. I was so lucky with everything. I was dating, having fun, being in-love and being just myself.  I was living the life I wanted to be. Work hard Party harder.

I was already planning  to go abroad for a change when I got a reactive result to HIV! I did not tell anyone about it. I kept it a secret for several months. I blame my past and my previous relationship.  I had so much resentment in my heart that I kept asking why I have to suffer on this. I felt gypped that I no longer have the motivation to work. My fear every minute, every hour and everyday affected my performance at work. I felt like my life would end anytime soon either in San Lazaro Hospital or P.G.H or I might end up in a Mental Hospital. 

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My PLHIV Story: There is Life After AIDS!

Hi Pozzie Pinoy,

This e-mail is an account of my three months of experience being a person living with HIV.

EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS

I went through the signs of having HIV without me having an idea that I already had the disease.  In 2012, I had mouth sores that were bigger, more painful and taking a lot more time to heal than the usual, about a week.  In summer a year ago, I had episodes of having boils at both armpits.  They were huge and painful, about the size of a big marble and each lasted more than a week (I counted them seven in succession!).  I didn't feel any swollen lymph nodes though so I still didn't have any idea that I have an immunocompromised system.

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Wanda's Angel

This is reality. We are faced with deaths because of HIV & AIDS. We can't turn a blind eye. We need to accept that it is happening in our country and we as a PLHIV community should one, cherish our lives more, two appreciate the services being delivered to us, three, love more and be decent members of society, four, continue inviting people to take the HIV test and five, educate others on early detection and early treatment.

Below is the story of Wanda's love to her brother who recently passed away because of HIV & AIDS. May this story serve an inspiration for others to keep on pursuing our advocacy. 

To Wanda and your family, your brother is now our angel. His story here will keep on inspiring me to work more and to do more for our fellow PLHIV's and educate our countrymen about HIV and AIDS.

Your brother's story will be in our hearts forever.


Dear Pozzie,

I just lost my brother last January 16, because of serious complications and HIV stage IV.
He just confessed this to me October last year while he's drastically losing weight.
He was confirmed positive since 2007, shocked at first but it's too late to nag on him and asked why was that and what if's.  Immediately I brought him to San Lazaro to get his documents and transferred him to RITM w/c we believe that this Hospital is more relaxing than the view of the patients queuing in OPD.

Since he did not take his ARV's when he found out his problem, we started from the base one. Requested Cd4 count, blood test, xray, sputum, the Doctor then gave us first line of medication w/c included the anti-TB antibacterial medications etc. After he started taking the anti-TB, he began coughing so hard and with phlegm, we waited for 2 weeks to get the results of the sputum test and voila, he already acquired Pulmonary TB. DOTS gave us medication that is a combination of 4 names ( isoniazid, etc.) after 2 weeks again he's HbsAG positive (hepa).

I am so heartbroken seeing my brother chilled every hour, with poor appetite and almost 1 1/2month of fever. We decided to rushed him to the hospital. He stayed for 3 weeks almost, and released Dec 16. He just spent his birthday, Christmas, NewYear and now he's gone. Too young to die, he's just 28 and we are only 2 siblings of our parents.  A very sad story. Hope that this stops (virus) immediately. I can't just move on...

Wanda

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

Want to be ASSISTED for the HIV TEST?? 

Check this link:

CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you have comments or questions, please click this link:

Contact Pozziepinoy

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved by Pozziepinoy 2012

Credits: 

Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines

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PLHIV Story: Staying Positive!

Hi Pozzie,

I Just want to share my HIV experience.

I met my partner through online site in May 2011.  Something happened during our first meet up, pero syempre that time may condom. After a week may nangyari uli saamin, that time without condom.

For one year na naging kami naging okay naman ang relationship namin, no big issue.  He stayed in north and I live in south, about 4 hours travel time.  Every week kami nagkikita, pumupunta ako ng north at minsan sya naman ang pumupunta sa south, walang weekend na hindi kami nagkita, except nung Christmas which I believe we have to celebrate it with our families.

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My PLHIV Story

Hi Pozzie,

I just want to share my story about my experience during and after the HIV screening. First week of December nilagnat ako for 5 days, I decided to go to a hospital for check up, after the test they found out na  normal naman ang platelet count so they right away discharge me, pero the following day everything gets worst,hindi pa din bumaba ang lagnat ko at ang sikmura ko ayaw ng tumanggap ng pagkain kahit tubig, lahat sinusuka ko na, so I decided again to go back doon sa parehong ospital, they redo the test and the doctor was surprised kasi bumagasak ang platelet count ko to 120 eh ang normal ay 150, so they decided to admit me, nag stay ako doon ng 7 days. The doctors final diagnosis is Dengue Fever. 

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My PLHIV Story

Hi Pozzie!

Just want to share my story here and also to inspire others. 

Last year July 2013 when I started reading your blog, I don't know if it's just a coincidence or whatever..... The reason why I was searching about HIV & AIDS is, I felt that something's weird happening to me. Isa akong health conscious person so medyo may kaartehan ako sa sarili ko. That year I was also involved into some unsafe sexual activity ;( .....so nag-worry ako. What I did was I searched the net about HIV & AIDS and nakita ko ang blog mo, everyday ko binabasa ang blog mo and ang dami ko natutunan. After ko ma-discover ang blog mo naging sunod-sunod na ang mga pangitain ko (premonition kuno :) ) kahit Saan ako mag punta mag naririnig, nababasa o napapanuod ako about HIV! That time natatakot ako magpa test.....takot ako malaman ang status ko.....takot ako kasi paano na ang future ko ang mga pangarap ko! Kagaya din ng Iba, ganun din nasa isip ko. Pero with the help of your blog, ako na Mismo ang nag-convince sa sarili ko to get tested........ang laking tulong talaga ng blog mo Pozzie...... 

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My HIV Test Experience

Hello!

I had a very low risk of sexual encounter June of this year. After two weeks of my encounter I had canker sore on my mouth, then last October I experienced  rashes, light night sweats and headache. Then November came and I still experience rashes and headache. I was really worrying that this might be HIV and what really increased my anxiety was the oral thrush that I saw from my tongue. I was searching the net about HIV symptoms and I saw your site, your site gave me the strength to do an HIV testing. I just had an Immuno-chromatography test or ICT that and Rapid plasma reagin test yesterday December 10 and got my result today and they are both negative or non reactive. Thank you for giving me strength to have my self tested, now I don't have to worry about having HIV. Moral lesson to everyone, instead of worrying about having HIV, you should get tested to ease your mind and by the why stop looking and searching for symptoms on the internet it will just increase your anxiety and go for a test.                                                                                    

Thank you again pozzie for giving me the courage to get tested. God bless and more power to you.  
                                                                                                                                                        Love, 
XXX   

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My PLHIV Story

Hi, Pozzie Pinoy!

I just want to share my joy & somehow bring hope to other PLHIV's. 

i was diagnosed in March 2013. I had my baseline in May with a CD4 count of 308. Thus, my ID doctor at Makati Med advised me to already start treament, which I did in June. Unfortunately, I developed an allegic reaction from one of the drugs (Nevirapine) and had to stop taking them altogether. In July, she replaced it with Efavirenz. My body responded well to it (save for some bloating and belching). After 3 1/2 months of taking my ARV's, my CD4 shoot up to 496! Short of 4 counts to a normal level. Darn! Hehe. 

I have never been happier since I became HIV+. And I promised to myself that this is just the beginning of my winning battle against the virus. I will not let HIV ruin me. I will have a long and adventurous life ahead! Buckle up! :)

Positively Positive,

Squidmarked

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Have a Screening!

Hi pozzie, I just want to tell you my appreciation for your effort in disseminating information through his blog of yours. It gives hope & awareness & empowering fellas to take control of their lives. Here is my story, I am married & have son. Not long ago I had a one night stand with a lady working in a BPO company (I'm not promiscuous, just so happen my wife is in abroad back then & I allowed myself to be drawn by the carnal yearning of my body) I have no potection & we did it thrice. After a few weeks I had the worst tonsillitis I ever had in my life. It lasted for two weeks along with that is LBM, myalga, head & joint aches. That was 2011 & to make it worse my wife found out & every night she was crying on top of my chest while I am soundly asleep (2012). Because of this blog I became aware & thought that I might have HIV because of the 2011 incident & said to myself better have screening just to be sure since HIV has a latency period (2013). Fortunately I am negative & I consider this my 2nd life. I can't sleep for a month because of this. 

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PLHIV Story: Next Steps?

hi sir pozzie. i hope you're doing good and fine. God bless you always.

sorry if my letter would be too long and i hope you could forgive my drama-- i just can't let it go that easily. i had unprotected sex last August 2013. a month after, i got sick (fever,  
mild tonsil with rashes). my boss (which happens to be a GP since i work in a hospital) decided me to get admitted. i was confined for 3 days and the final diagnosis was systemic viral infection.

i did not waste any moment.

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My HIV Test Experience: "Negative!"

It was a wonderful experience. Being tested if you are positive or not. I mean the fact that you don't have any idea of what will be the result of your yesterday's actions. I was 18 years old when I started to mingle with a relationship full of hidden agendas. Since then I was exposed with different SEXual activities. Late that I'd realized that I might already been infected by this exponential growth of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Currently I'm 21 and wholeheartedly decided to make necessary actions. Through searching I found out that one of the most reliable and accurate source would be from RIMT Satellite Clinic (Located somewhere in Quirino). The accommodation was quite impressive that you will not feel any awkward thoughts. They are so transparent regarding the TEST. You will feel  
on their naked eyes how they are so passionate in voluntarily doing such matter.  After 3o-45 minutes of orientation, a couple of minutes for blood extraction and 2 hours of waiting for the result. Thank GOD I'm NEGATIVE. How I wish that lesson learned will run through out my veins after this. THANK YOU so much "pozziepinoy".

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PLHIV Story: Pandora's Box

Dear Pozziepinoy,

First of all I would like to thank you in putting up this blog to shed light and to give hope to people who have HIV living in the Philippines, or even outside the country for that matter. It is such a noble and caring act to initiate a cause and actually have a phenomenal follow through and consistency in educating and assisting those in dire need of guidance, answer, fellowship and even medical and financial assistance. To be of service voluntarily is in itself a great legacy to humanity. May people like you continue to grow and be blessed constantly. Kudos to you and to your team!

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