Never Give Up!

I know it's hard. You just found out that you are HIV positive or your doctor just told you that you have AIDS. I feel your sadness and shock. I've been there before. I was bedridden. I also had feelings of regret, of anger. I was mad at myself. But look at me now. After 4 months of rest, I am back to work. I am functioning as a normal individual again. The reason for this is simple. I fought. I fought hard to regain my life back. I fought hard to be strong to face the reality and to heal myself. I fought hard, even though there were uncertainties, I believed in my doctors and the treatment.

I know it is a big challenge, but you can get through with it. The situation is just overwhelming but you can do it. I've talked to a lot of pozzies who had a hard time too at first but they are all functioning well now. You too can. The hardest is just the start... the acceptance. Once you are done dealing with it, you can move ahead and start to plan your medical treatment with your doctor. It is also becomes easy when you are on the ARV's already after a couple of months that you will feel that the medicines are just your regular vitamins. Then life goes on.

You can do it. We have done it. Just don't give up. Fight for health. Talking to someone eases up the burden. There are counsellors everywhere (I know someone who can talk to you anonymously). I know pozzies who can answer your questions. You can read the blogs about HIV/AIDS.

I know that you feel you are at the bottom of the well or at the end of the dark tunnel. All you have to do is to look up and look at the light. There is hope at the end of it. Just don't give up!

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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Lose 16 Pounds

I gained 20 pounds of body fat when I started to take ARV's. I devoured food basically, like 7 meals a day because I was thinking that I need to look healthy and that the HIV will make me thin. The ARV's that I am taking are such a help as they stimulated my appetite even more and for 3 months, I kept on eating and gaining weight.

Since the 1st of January of this year, I started my workout and diet program again. I guess it is an intense program because I was able to lose 4 pounds already because when I weighed in this morning, I was down by 4 pounds. Yehey, 16 pounds to go then.

So target date is the 31st of March and by then I should be back to my 150 lb weight again. Here is my program:

1. Cardio: 2X a day: treadmill, stationary bike, cross trainer, swimming or outdoor walk/jog.
2. Strength training for an hour: 2 body parts pus abdominals
3. Low carb, high protein diet
4. Drink a gallon of water, no sodas, no salt.

Extreme? Yes but I am used to that. Anyway, it is good for me. It's for my health. The body will just take it's shape!

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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Ocular Manifestations of HIV

This morning I woke up with mild pink eyes (i.e. sore eyes here in the Philippines). My previous doctor in PGH -SAGIP said that the eyes can also by the  weakened immune system. So I did my research and I got this article from the web:

Ocular manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are common. Approximately 70-80% of HIV-infected patients will be treated for an HIV-associated eye disorder during the course of their illness.

In general, the CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte count has been used to predict the onset of certain ocular infections in patients who are HIV positive. A CD4⁺ T-cell count below 500/mL is associated with Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, and tuberculosis. A CD4⁺ T-cell count below 250/mL is associated with pneumocystosis and toxoplasmosis. A CD4⁺ T-cell count less than 100/mL is associated with the following:

• Retinal or conjunctival microvasculopathy
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
• Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) retinitis

• Mycobacterium avium complex infection

• Cryptococcosis
• Microsporidiosis
• HIV encephalopathy
• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

The predictive value of the CD4⁺ T-cell count for ocular complications in HIV infection has been called into question by reports of CMV retinitis in patients with CD4⁺ cell counts higher than 200 cells/mL. These patients reportedly were taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). While such findings may argue against the protective effect of an increased CD4⁺ cell count, the possibility that the CMV retinitis preceded the recovery of CD4⁺ cell count was not ruled out. Thus, whether a reconstituted T-cell count will serve as a better predictor of specific ocular infection is under active evaluation.

Despite these uncertainties, the CD4⁺ cell count has remained the predicting parameter for the occurrence of specific ocular infection in patients who are HIV positive, at least until antigen-specific tests of T-lymphocyte function become widely available.

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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Third Monthly Report

Today is my 90th day of taking ARV's. It is my 3rd month of getting treatment for my HIV.

If people will ask me how I am, as promised that I will tell the honest truth, this is my current status. Up to now, I still wake up at 2am (4 hours after taking my pills) and I feel hot especially on my back. I am already in front of the airconditioner but still the body heat wakes me up. Occasionally I feel itchy in the areas on my back, my upper arms and upper chest especially when I feel hot. Applying a moisturizer helps and frequent showering with a moisturizing soap. I believe that alcoholic beverage makes me itchy too, as I experienced it with just drinking wine during my new year's eve dinner. I usually feel that my body is heating up when my ears start to itch. Well, it's an alarm for me to stop whatever I am doing, take a shower or apply a moisturizer to cool it off.

Aside from those, I don't get sick at all. Unlike before, I don't have frequent diarrhea or colds and flu anymore. My only concern now is I am getting fat and starting this year, I promised myself to lose 20 pounds. Currently I am eating less carbs and focused more on meat. I do cardio twice a day and lift weights in between. I eat more fruits and vegetables too.

I am still on cotrimoxazole once a day, 800mg and azithromycin once a week, 1,250 mg. My cocktail is tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz. I haven't missed any dose and still has not been late for my scheduled intake.

When it comes to vaccinations, I will be having my 2nd shot for Hepa B this month together with the HPV and meningococcemia vaccine. I want to finish it all because it is cheaper to be vaccinated that be hospitalized. I finished my pneumonia vaccine and flu shot last month.

My next consultation will be on March where I will undergo all the lab tests again including my CD4 test. I'll do all the tests before I go back to my doctor for my next refill of my ARV's.

I'll give another report on my 40th day so people will know in detail what has been ging with me as I live my life with AIDS.

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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Living Positively With HIV

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Alarming Rate

According to the Department of Health National Epidemiology Center, there were 212 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 89% higher compared to the same period last year.

Most of the cases (94%) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range:17-73 years). The 20-29 year (58%) age-group had the most number of cases.  Fifty-eight percent (124) of the reported cases were from the National Capital Region (NCR).


Of the 212 HIV positive cases, three were reported as AIDS cases, one was female and two were males.
The median age is 27 years (age range: 26-31 years). All acquired the infection through sexual contact [heterosexual (1) and homosexual (2)]. Of the AIDS cases, there was one reported death for this month; a 26-year old female.

For the full report check the link below:


DOH-NEC Report November 2011

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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Just Waiting

When I got sick, I promised myself to help one person every month to support him or her with the financial burden of getting the initial lab tests and or CD4 test. They are really costly especially if one is self-supporting. I know the problems facing those people who haven't told their families yet about their disease and the problem of financing their health is one of them. I've been there before but was lucky enough because Tag and I saved a lot on an emergency fund that covered all my hospital bills and medical expenses. We came to realize that my virus is costly at the start and have been bothered by the fact that some people can't really afford them.

I am blessed that I am alive and it's payback time. I am here and still waiting for the first person who would seek my help. It would really be an honor. Just email me and we can talk. I know it's hard but consider me as an option. I am more than willing to help.

Life is precious. Don't waste it. Live your life to the fullest. Enjoy the things that would make you happy. Build your future. Having the virus is not the end of the world. Fight until you overcome it, fight until you can come back and start living your life again!

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

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New Year, Second Life

Yesterday was my 89th day of taking my ARV's and was the day that I went back to work. I was so excited, that I was trembling and sweaty when I entered the office. I couldn't believe that I was back.. I can't believe that I was there. I rubbed my eyes, almost pinched myself. I was back to circulation.

Days ago, I decided to live my life again. My support system was great but I have to stand up on my own now. I need to feel that I am no longer sick and that I have overpowered the virus within me. My long rest have empowered me with much knowledge and love that I know basically the things that I need to do and the things that I have to be careful about. With mental and physical preparedness, I am back to being a productive human being, a more loving partner and a more responsible individual. I am back.

Everybody who has my virus can revert back to his or her own life, like me. Just follow the simple rule: follow what your doctor says.

I learned a lot from my 4 months of rest. If you want to get well, don't be hardheaded. Don't get sick. Stick to adherence and have the habit of not being late. Take all your medicines on time. No excuses. Believe in the ARV's and think all the time that they are our lifeline. Monitor and report your condition no matter how small your symptom may be. Do whatever you can to finish your lab tests and get the results fast. Read and be informed about the do's and the don'ts. Help your body by sticking to the goal of being healthy by eating right and exercising.

I strengthened myself by preparing emotionally. Talk to people who have the virus too. Chat with them. There is a group of Filipino pozzies who can talk you out of self pity and remorse. Love more. Give love back especially to those people who loved you more while you were sick. Be generous to those who are needing. Appreciate life and enjoy the beauty of it.

I am living again. I started standing up on my own. I removed all my "crutches". I treat my AIDS as an ordinary disease now, like diabetes or hypertension. I am still on my journey and I am expecting more struggles later on, but life is not life without them. I want to face them all head on, without fear. This is my second life and I am ready!

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

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