Options

When I was confined in the hospital, almost 3 months ago, Tag and I got my own infectious disease (ID) doctor. She was the one who guided me on what to do, what lab tests to take and which hub to go to. When I was ready for my ARV's, she just gave me a prescription addressed to another ID in a hub to give me the ARV's that I need. Once I was taking my ARV's I still had frequent consultations with my ID doctor.

The question boils down to this. If you can afford to have your own doctors, is it possible to have them? The answer is yes! I have my own pulmo, GI (gastro intestinal), nephrologist and a private ID. They still monitor me. My ID is in charge of my medicines now and monitoring my reaction to them. She just gives me the prescription to get the medicines from the hub. She also tells me which labs tests to take prior to my consultation with her. She is in charge of the whole team. If in case she suspects a possible OI, she will address them by referring me to my doctors who specialize in that specific area. For instance, my ID suspects a liver problem, my GI doctor would come into the picture. My GI would then communicate with my ID for his findings. But it is my option.

In case you decide to be in a hub without having your own personal doctors, they are all fully manned with competent doctors. You will be seen by an ID in the hub and he or she will be the head of the team. If there are possible OI's, he or she can refer you to other doctors in the hub who specialize in that specific field.

Do you have to be confined in your hub if there are problems? No, unless you are in financial distress. The hub hospital usually has free or discounted hospitalization as covered by PhilHealth, but if you opt to be confined in another hospital of your choice, it's still possible. Of course it is easier for a hub doctor to see you regularly because you are in the hub hospital, but in case you are more comfortable in another hospital, it is still your choice. What's important is for your hub doctor to be informed by your attending physician in the hospital you are confined in. Communication is a bit harder but treatment is a partnership among you and your doctors. You still have a choice.

You have lots of options. You have to choose which is the best that will suit you. If you are still scared and confused when you go to a hub, make sure that you have somebody who will accompany you, who will make an educated decision for you. Your doctors are there to direct and guide you, not force you. You choose your best option!

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

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Things To Do While Waiting

So ok, you are screened and the doctor said that the result has been sent somewhere for confirmation. What is your next step?

You went to an HIV hub and they said that you need to undergo the required tests. While waiting for the result of these tests, what will you do?

You are still treating an existing OI and still not on ARV's because the doctor said you have to wait for your OI to be resolved. So What will you do?

These waiting periods are mind boggling..  they keep you mind from resting... it keeps your body from healing. So what do you need to do. What can you do to help yourself while waiting?

Here are some things that you can do while waiting:

1. Research on HIV/AIDS
2. Know the classifications of HIV/AIDS
3. Know and understand these terms: ELISA, Western Blot, PCR Viral load, CD4 test
4. Read on the opportunistic infections (OI)
5. Read on the prevention and treatment of OI's
6. Know the treatment HIV hubs in the country. Research then compare and contrast each one. Get directions on how to get there. Know the facilities and the competencies of doctors
7. Know and understand the antiretroviral therapy -- ARV's, ART's or HAART
8. Know the side effects of the ARV's and how to deal with them
9. Read on how to deal with the disease emotionally.
10. Read on the best way to tell your loved ones and friends about the disease
11. Read about the rights of a person with HIV/AIDS in the country
12. Learn about being positive. Read books and articles about it.
13. Know about PhilHealth and its benefits to people with HIV/AIDS. Apply if you don't have any or make sure to update all your payments.
14. Look for counsellors who are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS.Talk to them if you want
15. Read about the experience of other people living with HIV/AIDS through blogs. Join clubs.
16. Join an anonymous tweeter or facebook group if you want. Learn from other people.
17. Know and study all the initial tests required by each hub. Know the fees for each test.
18. Read on how to strengthen your immune system. Know the proper diet, exercises both mentally and physically.

I can list down a lot more because there are a lot of things to do. Instead of fretting and blaming yourself and thinking of all the negative things that you can think of, why not start being productive. Being informed is the best way to brush away all fears. Start educating yourself. By being so, you help your mind rest and your body to heal fast.

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

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Health Journal

The best way to track your progress is by writing on a health journal on a daily basis. After I got discharged from the hospital, I made it a point to recall all the things that happened to me and summarized them and wrote down in my journal --- from the meds, the symptoms I felt, the lab tests given and the consultation. It made it easy to recall everything especially during my doctor's appointments.

As soon as I started with my ARV's, I also wrote down the my body weight, my ARV's and the days I've been in it. I put a check if I was able to take my ARV's on time. This will ensure that I won't miss my daily doses. I also put there the symptoms that I felt or seen, even the slightest and minor ones because in doing so, I can monitor if they worsen or not so I can report to my doctor.

If there are problems with consultations or changes in my treatment, I write them down in my journal entries for the day. I also mention if I meet a another doctor during the day. Lately I've been logging my daily workout routine too.

Really it helps to be organized by keeping a health journal. Monitoring of one's health becomes easy. Just be patient and make it a point to do it every day until it becomes a habit. Trust me, you'll reap the benefits of it.

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

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Not A Death Sentence!

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How To Stay Positive!

Two days ago, Miguel (not his real name) who just found out that he is positive messaged me. He told me that he felt hopeless, that he wanted to end it all. He hasn't told anybody yet including his family. He was really down. I started communicating with him through text, giving him positive ideas, giving him hope. He was responsive. I answered all his questions about medicines, about the treatment, about the use of PhilHealth. I gave directions to the hubs. I answered all his queries. I listened to him. I told him that everything will be alright and he needs to focus on his health from now on. I told him that I already asked prayers from all the other pozzies that I know and he was grateful.


Our predicament is so great as soon as we find out that we are positive with the virus. Then what? Things flood our brains, mostly negative things. Will they do us good? Hell no. We first all all eradicate them and start to look ahead. Let's all be realistic. There is hope. There is treatment. Medicines are free. There are people who can help.


I found this article from WikiHow. Miguel, this is for you and for those people who are lost and down because of our disease:


1. Know Yourself. The most common reason why people think their lives suck is that they aren't living their own lives. Look deeply into whether you are acting to please others - to please family, friends and society. Realize that you need to get to know who you are and what your needs are, and make the choices to follow your own path. To know these things, a path of meditation and inner exploration is invaluable. This also comes to aid if you lose interest in things.


When you find out that you have HIV/AIDS, you have to accept it by accepting yourself first and fast. You need to get well and to do that you need to tell your loved ones for support and understanding.


2. Look Within. Ask yourself. What are the qualities you have that you like about yourself? Are you funny? Are you intelligent? Are you sincere? Are you generous? What do you have pride in? Try focusing on the positive things in your life. You maybe having a positive influence on others even when you think you're useless.


Most people living with our disease got depressed the first time they got their result. Some thought that it was the end of their lives, some even though of ending it. Always remember that you are important. All you have to do is to look inside and see your true value.


3. Prove those negative thoughts wrong. When you find yourself in a bad mood, you could think of the negative things such as, "I'm dumb and annoying", "I'm better off dead", "I'm stupid", etc. Even though it's not true. Change your mind. Look for your good features, think about the ones that you know love you, look on your greater side. Realize that nobody's life is easy and that there will always be ups and downs, and moments of low self esteem. Don't automatically assume that nobody cares. Every person matters to someone. You're alive for a reason.


It's easier to think of all the bad things that we have done when we are down. Control your thoughts. Instead of pulling yourself downwards , try to slowly spiral up and think of good things. Your mind can produce all bad things but it is also capable of greater and positive thoughts.


4. Appreciate What You See. Look in the mirror. Find some beautiful things about yourself. Do you have nice features that are adorable? Do you have nice skin? nice nails? beautiful eyes? full lips? Find stuff that appeals to you. When you can't change something, change your attitude towards it!


"You are beautiful, in every single way" as the song goes. You are perfect!


5. It's All How You Look At It. Are you jealous of the people with 'amazing" lives? They chose to be that way! Remember, there are people living in mansions who are miserable and people living on the street who are perfectly happy. It's all on how you look at it.


With our disease, we can still enjoy life. All we have to do is to understand and focus on our great abilities.


6. Determine How Your Life Could Be Better. What can you do to make your life better? What do you desire to do? How do you want to feel? Make a few reachable goals and your own strategies. The first step usually is the hardest - getting help or admitting that you need it.


7. Sometimes It's Just Luck. A lot of things in life are just luck. A lot of things in life are just luck. When you were born, whether you had a kind loving family or an abusive one where your mind or even your life is in danger, whether you belong in your community or were born into an out-group by religion, race, etc., whether your family was rich or poor are all random things. It's what you do with it that matters. Remember that there is something epic and heroic in rising from harsh circumstances to do something well. Just surviving a rough situation and coming out of it with a heart is a triumph, a story that could move people long after you lived. That matters.


8. Get Motivated. What motivates you? What gives you energy to go on everyday? Music? Love? family? a 1k run? God/Allah? Your attitude? Your pet? Friends? School? Give yourself a boost by focusing on what is important to you personally.


9. Remember that Some Things Pass With Time. There will be a tomorrow. There will be a next week. There will be a next month and perhaps by then, things will have changed for the better. If you are underage in a bad situation you have a definite release date after which your life is your own, all the things you could do to better it come into reach even if they're difficult.


10. Reminisce. Whenever you feel like you future is "hopeless", think about happy memories. It will help make you feel better and remind you that in the future, there will be good things too. Think about all the good things you've experienced, felt and achieved , and consider how many more good things could be waiting ahed. There will be many great moments in your life - don't let a few obstacles get in the way. If you don't have any happy memories, this is relative - don't judge them by things other people think as "happy memories". Think of the moments it wasn't as bad, even if those were only in solitude.


11. Don't Stop Yourself From Feeling the Joy. It's ok to step back once in a while and just enjoy the moment. Even in though situations - it's important to smile and laugh here and there. Don't restrict yourself
from doing things you love because they're "not important" or because you think you'll be criticized for doing them. Let yourself enjoy life even if you're not at the best place you could be. You only live once - make the best of it. 


12. Develop a Gratitude Journal. It's pretty simple. At the end of the day, write down five things that have made you happy or appreciate that day -- not necessarily big things, even small ones count. For instance: nice weather, being praised by your boss for getting an urgent errand done, your playful dog, kids and partner hugging you goodbye before they went to school or work, a hilarious joke a partner shared, etc.


13. If you feel persistently sad, unmotivated, anxious, hopeless or fearful, seek professional help. You may be suffering from a mood disorder or nutritional deficit which could be contributing to your situation. Chronic physical pain can cause these symptoms too, if an aspirin lifts your mood then go to a pain clinic. Remember there is always somebody there who wants to help you. You are Valuable!


TIPS:


1. To "go for it" simply get up and do it. There is a small voice inside saying "Get up!", and you need to do what it says; just dive it! Turn off the computer, turn off the TV and get going!


2. When you think positively, your whole views change about the world and you tend to look on the better, clearer side. It may sound stupid but being resentful is what really renders positive thinking useless. When you let down your walls (or hold out until they collapse.. ) really trying to "focus on the positives."


3. Thinking positively means hanging on to hope and looking for new possibilities at the time when life's gotten too hard. It means striving against its challenges, however extreme. It means hanging on to what is good in yourself if everything else gets swept away and valuing your compassion, your warmth, your capacity to find beauty. There is always the sky, there is always a dewdrop on a weed.


4. If the above fails for you, take the Buddhist view: Life is difficult. The fallacious thought is that we can change that. In accepting that life indeed is difficult, we begin to make it less painful .. not less difficult. Accept that life is full of difficulty and choose the religion, belief system, or substance to ingest to decrease the pain; that is after all what the rest of us do. Life CAN suck, deal with it!

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

DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

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The Power of Helping Others

Today was a busy day for me. I was assisting a newly diagnosed person to find his hub. Let's call him Jose.  This guy has been battling with his OI's when he first emailed me a week ago. I was already answering all his queries about treatment, hubs and lab exams. I was already assuring him that everything will be alright while he was waiting for his chest x ray result. I told him that he needs to just focus on his health and not worry about anything.

I told Jose 2 days ago to go to RITM in Alabang because I already know people there and I know they will take care of him. Yesterday, his chest x ray was cleared of his OI and was advised by his pulmo doctor to go to San Lazaro Hospital instead. He asked me about it so I asked my fellow pozzies whom I got to meet from tweeter about the requirements there. I don't know them personally and they don't know Jose but they were more than willing to help me out. I relayed everything to Jose that night. So that was it. They chose SLH and planned to get treatment there.

Early morning we were already corresponding. jose and his companion got lost around the area but eventually found the SACCL in SLH. He texted me that they were already waiting on the couch for their turn to be consulted. A minute later, his companion asked me to call him and asked for directions going to RITM. I guess they were not comfortable in SLH so I texted them the directions to RITM thinking that have their own car. Later on I found out that they will be commuting and they just took the bus. Hours later they were already in Alabang and they were asking how to get to RITM, so I instructed them to take an FX  going to festival mall and ask the driver to drop them off at RITM. A few minutes later they were in the ARG clinic waiting for their turn for consultation. I felt good then. Four hours later, Jose texted back thanking me and that they will be coming back for some lab tests. I told them that I asked for prayers in my blog and people have been texting telling me to relay to him that they are indeed wishing him the best.

I am glad to have helped Jose get through this stage. I experienced this struggle too when I was going back and forth to my previous hub. It was exhausting. Tag and I were alone. We did everything on our own. Nobody assisted us.... well we never really looked for anybody to help us for that matter. It was really hard at first, getting all the requirements for you to be enrolled in the hub. It was taxing. It was draining. It was frustrating.

It really feels good to help. It feels great to help carry the burden of other people. I feel fantastic knowing that Jose will soon not worry anymore, that he will get his treatment and will get better.

To you Jose, life will be good again. Don't worry you are in our prayers!

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

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Help By Praying

A new poz is struggling today. He is battling with OI's and it's his first time to go to a hub tomorrow. Can I ask for a prayer for him, even just for tonight?? Thank you.

P.S. For the 3 people who I consulted with earlier today, thank you. We surpassed our initial struggle .. in getting to the hub, in getting our medicines. Now it's our turn to help those who are confused and who are right now scared ...

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

DONATE to The Love Fund : The Love Fund

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HIV Stops With Me!

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