We are all living with HIV!

are we really???

I NEED HELP!

Hi Bong,

I read your blog today (all of your entries) and made me think of my own status.

Ive been very promiscuous and deep inside me alam ko 99.9% na meron na ako HIV.

First time kong sumulat sa isang blogger and lakas loob lang talaga. I am sure youre wondering nag pa test na ba ako? - hindi pa. Wala akong lakas ng loob para mag pa test. Natatakot ako, nakakahiya...

Kung ngayon pa lang na hindi pa confirmed status ko na discriminate na ako outside. Nasa mall ako with friends, may group of gay guys na naka tambay sa isang coffee shop kung san din kami ng friends ko pumunta. Pag dating naman dun ang rami kaagad parinig.
"gosh, he really looks sick"
"naku sana mawala na sya dito... " Etc...

Nung nakaupo na kami, mas maraming parinig, patama na alam naming lahat para sa akin. Minadali ko coffee ko at umalis kunyari tumawag ang bahay at importante.

Ngayon, sobrang takot ako lumabas, dinner with family and friends dahil sa nangyari na pwede ulet mangyari sa akin.

Nakita ko yung post mo sa hiv travel restrictions... Biglang pumasok sa isip ko eh kung lumabas ako g bansa at mag trabaho sa walang restrictions... Kaya lang, paano yung maiiwan ko dito? Paano yung pamilya ko?

Naisip ko din... Na para matahimik ako, sige mag papatest na ako. Pero saan? Saan walang tao mastado? Saan yung di ka mapapansin? Siguro by now, masasabi mong i really care what other people would think about me - at affected ako, may it be good or bad.

I read several blogs today and chose to write  you a letter, i dont know why. But i hope you can help.

Thanks.

PEDRO

______________________________

hello pedro,

ang pagsulat mo sa akin ay isang malaking step, salamat at naglakas loob ka.

unang una nais kong malaman mo na diskriminasyon ay talamak sa ating kultura.

madalas:
ang mga babae ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga payat ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga matataba ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga mabababa ang height ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga pangit ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga bakla at lesbiyana ay nadidiscriminate.
at oo ang mga PLHIV ay nadidiscriminate din.
basta kakaiba, may potensyal na madiscriminate.

dapat nating tanggapin na andyan yan, kaya nga may mga adbokasiya
na lumalaban para ito ay wakasan, dahil hindi ito makatarungan.

ngunit sa ganang aki'y matagal pa o baka imposible pa sa ngayon na ito'y
mabura sa lipunang ating ginagalawan.

at dahil dito, dapat ay hindi dito magtatapos ang ating mundo, ang iyong mundo.
kung may nagdidiscriminate sa yo, tumayo ka at ipaglaban ang iyong sarili.
o maging matatag ka at wag mo silang pansinin.

ANG POINT KO IS - we cant please everyone, halos lahat ng tao may opinyon sa iba.

QUEBER NA! DONT CARE! TATANDA KA AGAD! PROMISE!
DONT RESTRICT YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD START ENJOYING IT.
LIVE IT.

pagmamahal sa sarili, unang una sa lahat.  ito ang pinaka importante. tanggapin ang sarili ng
walang pag  aalinlangan --- kapag tiwala at mahal mo ang iyong sarili,
walang sinumang tao ang makakasira sa iyo.

totoo ngang maraming taong negatibo,
sila ay dapat iwasan.

ngunit totoo ring mas maraming taong sadyang mababait at positibo ang pananaw sa buhay,
siguro sila ang kelangan mong hanapin at samahan.

unang una na rito ang iyong pamilya lalong lao na ang iyong mga magulang,
naniniwala akong sila ang magiging karamay mo sa hirap at ginhawa.
humugot ka sa kanila ng pagmamahal at lakas ng loob.

gayundin ang iyong tunay na mga kaibigan, magtiwala ka sa kanila.
sila ang unang unang makakaunawa sa iyo at nakikilala kang lubusan.

sa isyu naman ng HIV...
dapat tandaan na ang sobrang "promiscuity" per se ay hindi sapat para sabihin
na ikaw ay siguradong may HIV na.

maaaring promiscuous ang isang tao pero siya naman ay may sapat na kaalaman
at naprapraktis ng safe sex.

maaari ring minsan lang lumandi ang isang tao ngunit dahil naging pabayasiya,
ay buminggo na sya ng bonggang bonnga at confeeeermed na sya.

ang katotohanan - ang risk for HIV ay nakasalalay sa maraming bagay, isa na rito ang
"high-risk" sexual behavior tulad ng unprotected penetrative sex. at marami pang iba.

ang lahat ng ito ay matututunan mo kapag nagpa HIV testing ka.
sapagkat ayon sa panuntunan, kaalinsabay dapat ng HIV Testing ang
1. HIV 101, 2. Pre-Test Counseling, at 3. Post-Test Counseling.
ang prosesong ito ang nagsusulong na maipalaganap ang tama at bagong
impormasyon ukol sa HIV/AIDS at iba pang Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs).
layunin ng prosesong ito na magkaroon ng 'behavioural change'  ang mga
taong daraan dito para makasiguradong maiwasan na ang paglaganap ng
HIV AIDS sa pilipinas (at least for those people who took the test).

kung lahat ng tao lang sana magpapatest. hayyyyy :(

datapwat subalit, hindi lahat ng HIV testing sites and private clinics ay
sumusunod sa ganitong proseso, lalong lalo na ang mga private testing
and diagnostic clinics (base sa aking mga panayam) - ito ang mga clinics
na hindi naman prayoridad at espesyalisasyon ang STI HIV AIDS.
kalimitan rin sa kanila ay may bayad.

para makasiguradong tama ang proseso at maasikaso ng mabuti ang iyong
pangangailangan hinggil sa HIV AIDS at STI, ang rekomendasyon ko ay pumunta
sa pinakamalapit na  SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICs (libre dito) narito ang listahan
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/hiv-test-sites.html

gayundin sa mga NGO and advocacy groups na nagbibigay ng mga special testing dates.
halimbawa :

1. ASP (Aids Society of the Philippines) --- FREE HIV Confidential (with Pre and Post) Counseling and Testing every 1st Friday (5pm - 9pm) and 3rd Saturday (10am - 3pm) of the month - 2/F OTM Bldg. No. 71 Scout Tuason Street - Bgy South Triangle, Quezon City - For more info please call 3762541

2. The Love Yourself Project  - nagsasagawa ng FREE testing every quarter (next one is on MARCH 4). http://loveyourself.ph/

narito ang aking blog entry about these groups:
http://parteeandplay.blogspot.com/2012/01/stakehoders-ngos-advocacy-groups.html

sa aking experience, mas kumportable ang pumunta sa mga social hygiene clinics at advocacy groups dahil ito ang kanilang forte (HIV AIDS STI)  gayundin ay sila rin amg mga aktibo sa pagsusulong mga mga anti-disrimination and stigma campaigns kaya sapat lamang na isa alang alang nila ang mga espesyal na pangangailangan at atensyon nga mga tulad natin na sensitibo rito.

kung gusto mo talaga konti lang tao i highly recommend,

Makati Social Hygiene Clinic (discreet tinted & unmarked room at 7th floor of Makati City Hall),
JP Rizal St. Brgy. :Poblacion, Makati City / 8701615
look for Yoyie or Ms. Tess (Nurse)

or

Mandaluyong Social Hygiene Clinic
Dr. Yolanda Tuaño - Social Hygiene Clinic Physician
Lerma corner Vicencio Sts., Old Zaniga, Mandaluyong City / 5467799; 2115336
Mobile #: 09178424298

or

RITM Satellite Clinic
#1850 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
Phone: (+63-927) 704-8646
Contact person: Lean
Clinic hours: Mondays thru Saturdays, 9 AM to 6 PM

kung kailangan mo ng further refferal or gusto mong may makasama
pwede pa rin kitang matulungan, just ask.

bothered lang ako sa claims mo na 99.9% alam mong positive ka.
at nadiscriminate ka ---
do you look sickly?
did you lose a lot of weight?
are there any visible signs & symptoms?

and even if you answered YES on all my questions above, hindi pa rin ibig sabihin na may HIV ka na, dahil marami pang ibang sakit na maaaring iyon din ang sintomas.

HIV test lang ang tanging paraan para malaman mo kaya go ka na bilis.

ukol din sa option mo nag mangibang bansa sa mga bansang walang restrictions, malaking konsiderasyon din na dapat mong isipin na kung HIV Positive ka, libre ang gamot sa pilipinas para sa mga pilipino - pag  nangibang bansa ka, maaring hindi libre ang gamot para sa mga dayuhan at ngayon pa lang ay sinasabi ko ng may kamahalan ang mga ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) kaya dapat mo itong pag isipan.

unang step. magpatest ka. kung kailangan mo nga makakasama, magregister ka dito:
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/i-want-to-get-tested.html

salamat at ako napili mong sulatan. touched ako promise ;)

okay sya keep me posted kung anu ng nangyari sa yo.

hiling ko na maging maligaya ka.


BONG


(PS:  hiv is a matter of life and death, the key is early detection, for once you should stop thinking about other people and put yourself on top priority, isa lang ang buhay natin - huwag sayangin dahil lamang sa hiya or sa takot sa sasabihin ng iba)

YEAR OF THE WATER DRAGON: 2012

happy new year!

happy ba talaga ang pasok ng taon natin???

sa aking palagay araw araw dapat maging happy tayo.  sabi ko nga sa mga previous blogs ko, nobody can say exactly how long i will be healthy, because of that i will not waste my time worrying about it and instead start enjoying and living it.

2 days ago, i went to RITM for my 6th month check up. i had my routinary CBC and cd4 Count.

CBC was spotless, cd4 Count has improved from 379 last July 2011 to 401 this January 2012.  kaya nga todo ngiti ako for the past few days.  honestly i was expecting my cd4 to drop.  the last 6 months was really toxic.  madalas puyat ako sa dami ng trabaho and events na kailangan puntahan.

all my laborartory tests were perfect and i couldnt ask for anything more.  because of that i am opting NOT to start my ARV treatment yet.  Dra. Cunanan of RITM said that starting ARVs is still an option, but there seems to be NO urgent need to start it yet, given that my stats are getting better.  pero nagrerequest sya ng Viral Load Count most especially pag dumating yung time na magsisimula na ako ng ARVs, that would cost about P 7500 so i have to put that on my checklist.

i am thankful that everything is turning out well for me, so far.  i wish the same for everyone.

but it's not all good news for 2012.

2 boys from the our adapted MSW group has recently died due to opportunistic infection.  based on my queries, our efforts has not been able to reach them in time and they have not attended any of our testing nor counseling session.  too bad  :(  but this makes our resolve to intensify our efforts more solid.

last week of december one of our HIV testing clients abruptly died about 18 days after getting tested positive. about the same time his confirmatory results was being released, he has to be confined to San Lazaro but he died the next day.  unfortunately, the opportunistic infection has worsen that the doctors can no longer help him.  he was 19y.o.  this incident was the first direct casualty related to our work as advocates and it was so difficult for us to process.  while at the same time, it has reminded us that we are doing the right thing.  so long as people are dying of HIV/AIDS unnecessarily, our work will never stop.  

sana ay maiwasan na ang mga ganitong eksena.  we need everyone's help. we cannot do it alone.

kung gusto nyong maging aktibo sa laban na ito.  magregister lamang dito:
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/set-registration.html

we need volunteers!


salamat

ito ang aking diary

BONG

HIV Travel Restrictions

(i got this link from @casuallypositiv)

Which Countries Will Want to Know About Your HIV.

From Mark Cichocki, R.N., former About.com Guide
Updated August 11, 2010  (may be outdated)

The HIV epidemic has been with us for what seems a lifetime. For some, there has not been a time in their life without HIV being in the news. While there has been great progress toward understanding the virus, there are still parts of the world that don't know the true nature of HIV transmission and risk. And because they lack an understanding of HIV, they still have rules and regulations in place that discriminate against those living with HIV. Countries like China and the United States have finally lifted their bans regarding HIV and immigration. But unfortunately there are dozens of countries around the world that continue to limit travel, immigration, and residency based soley on HIV status. This feature provides you a list of the countries with the strictest policies regarding HIV.

Declaration of HIV is REQUIRED

The following countries require HIV status declaration for entry and in order to stay in the country.

Brunei

Oman

Sudan

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

VISAS DENIED

These countries deny visas to anyone living with HIV.

Egypt

Iraq

Qatar

Singapore

Turks and Caicos Islands

HIV-Positive People DEPORTED

The following country deports people from their country if they are HIV positive.

Armenia

Bahrain

Brunei

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Malaysia

Moldova

Mongolia

North Korea

Oman

Qatar

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Sudan

Syria

Taiwan

United Arab Emirates

Uzbekastan

Yemen

SOURCE: http://aids.about.com/od/healthytraveling/a/HIVtravel.htm

Stakeholders: NGOs & ADVOCACY GROUPs

http://www.yogaforlife.ph/

- love to be part of this 

- hanap pa ako ng time 

- very very friendly bunch

- dami rin cute sa kanila (hehe) 

- actually nasa new years resolution ko to

http://www.nodaybuttodayproject.com/

- jake is a good friend, very nice guy

- maganda rin ang ginagawa nila

- gusto ko sana to know more about them and join them

kaso andami ko na ginagawa kaya support support na 

lang ako sa kanila  

http://www.facebook.com/takethetest

http://www.theredwhistle.org/

- naniniwala rin ako sa ginagawa ng grupo

-  magagaling ang mga members nila kasi

natatap nila ang mga malalaking company and 

high-end na mga endorsers and sponsors

- i sooo love niccolo cosme

http://www.loveyourself.ph/

- medyo active ako sa group na ito

- i actually found out i was positive a bit after i joined the group

- they have been my source of pride, purpose and support

- at syempre super naniniwala ako sa lahat ng ginagawa  nila

- i believe we are the youngest group, and the most active especially online

- we focus on education, counseling, quarterly testing & outreach

Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE)

162-A Scout Fuentebella Extension, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City 1103 Philippines

(+632) 426-6147 / 414-6130

http://www.achieve.org.ph/

- i heard they do legal assistance from those who have been discriminated

AIDS Society of the Philippines, Inc. (ASP)

2F OTM Building, No. 71 Scout Tuazon Street, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, 1103 Philippines

(+632) 376-2541 / 410-0204

http://www.aidsphil.org/

- they have a very discreet office in timog areag (QC) and they so special

free testing  bi-monthly (1st Friday and 3rd Saturday of each month)

-  nameet ko na ang mga key-people sa ASP --- i love them!

Health Action Information Network (HAIN)

26 Sampaguita Ave. Mapayapa Village II, Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City 1127 Philippines

(+632) 952-6312, 952-6409

http://www.hain.org/

- love ko rin sila, they provide training for groups who needs it

- ambabait grabe

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS – Philippines (UNAIDS-Philippines)

29F Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue corner. Sen Gil Puyat Avenue, 

Makati City 1226 Philippines

(+632) 901-0412, 901-0414, 901-0415

http://www.unaids.org.ph/

- i met the country director Maria Teresa "Bai" Bagasao a couple of times recently

- super like ko sya, parang nanay, super down to earth

Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC)

3F, Bldg 15, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines

(+632) 338-6440, 743-0512

http://www.pnac.org.ph/

- i met the executive director na rin, mabait din sya

Pinoy Plus Association, Inc. (PINOYPLUS)

1805 P. Guevarra Street, Sta. Cruz Manila

telefax: (+632) 743-7293

Mr. Jericho Paterno -President

email: pinoy_plus@yahoo.com

- im not a member of this group yet, not yet

- nabisita ko na ang office nila near San Lazaro

- membership is only for sero-positive people (PLHIV)

- they are the expert in  helping out newly diagnosed PLHIV

who is going around their business in San Lazaro

- i heard Jericho talk one time and i was touched by his story

Positive Action Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (PAFPI)

2613 Dian Street, Malate, Manila 1004 Philippines

(+632) 528-4531, 404-2911

http://www.pafpi.org/

- very limited information about this group

- i think they were an offshoot of PLHIV group from RITM originally

- membership is both sero-positive and sero-negative

Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF)

2F APMC Building, 136 Amorsolo corner P. Gamboa Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 Philippines

(+632) 8170489; +632-8400714; +632-8129183

http://www.tdf.org.ph/

http://www.facebook.com/tdfphilippines

- di ko sila kilala (pa)

Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance (YAFA)

c/o Adolescent RH Center, Social Hygiene Clinic, Manila Health Department, 208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

(+632) 711-6942

http://www.youthaidsfilipinasalliance.org/

- narinig ko na sila pero yun lang, hehe

TLF SHARE Collective (TLF)

2580 A. Bonifacio St., Brgy. Bangkal, Makati City

Telefax: +632 751 7047 | +632 728 8487

Email: tlfmanila@gmail.com

http://tlfshare.webs.com/

- i so love TLF, they provide training and technical for different groups

- i wish they can be more active pa

- mga kuya at ate ng adbokasiya

- sinimulan ni MAMU

Philippine NGO Support Program, Inc. (PHANSuP)

4/F VD&S Building, 59-B Panay Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines.  

Tel/Fax: (+63)-332-1914 (tel/fax);  

Email: raonebrida@yahoo.com ; raonebrida@gmail.com

http://www.aidsalliance.org/linkingorganisationdetails.aspx?id=15

http://www.facebook.com/PHANSUP

- i met some key people from the group, mabait din, 
- they have a lot of ideas and projects in mind

- i hope they can be more active and visible in the future

SERO-POSITIVE COUPLE (HIV Seroconcordant Couple)

Hi Bong,

I'm one of those avid readers of your blog site, I find it very informative. I'm Nel, 27 and recently confirmed to have the "gift" last month, (12/2011), I also have a partner for 2 years and he has "it" as well, confirmed (06/2011). We found out last year lang din, when my partner was hospitalised and diagnosed to have a tuberculosis of the lymph nodes (not contagious naman, Thank God). may symptoms na lumabas kasi sa kanya that triggers the doctors to conclude that he has HIV, with our consent, he took the test and yun nga, hindi sila nagkamali. It's hard at first, pero I know my partner and myself really well, bago naging kami we have multiple sexual partners,so hindi na din ako nagulat. That moment was, I considered the lowest point of our relationship so far, we were financially, emotionally and mentally hurt but we managed to pull through with the help of selected friends and family members. We were endorsed by his doctor to RITM to get free meds for his TB and his daily dosage of his ARV. Matatapos na din yung sa TB nya  this end of January, and that would be one of the things that I should be thankful for pa din kay God.

It's a blessing in disguise na din siguro na nagkasakit cya somehow for us to know our health status, I'll be taking up some tests na din this month for my ARV  regardless kung mababa o mataas ang CD4 ko, I'll take ARV na din. We would like to be involved in programs for positive people like us and would want to meet them and hear their stories. Do you have any ideas kung sino yung pwede namin lapitan?  I also wanna hear it from you. so pano hanggang dito n lang siguro, I hope you hindi ka na bore sa pagbasa ng story namin magpartner. Let's keep in touch, thanks!

Continue to inspire us with your blogs.

Nel

Hello Nel,

kainis ka, naiiyak ako sa story nyo --- i like that you guys are taking the diagnosis positively, totoong blessing ang malaman 'kaagad' ang status natin, ng sa ganun ay magawan kaagad ng paraan.

sana ay ipagpatuloy nyo pa ang inyong pagmamahalan, despite of all the challenges. humahanga ako sa inyo.

my next CD4 (6th month) count will be next week so i'l be visiting the beautiful people of RITM again.  last July i got 379 (not as high as hoped) ---  i suspect my cd4 will be lower ngayon kasi toxic ang work ko this past 6 months and i am highly considering taking ARVs na.

will keep you guys posted.

marami pa ako gusto ikuwento. hanap lang ako ng oras.

salamat,

ito ang aking diary

BONG


__________________________________________________________

a great article about HIV COUPLES here

Couples
By Raymond A. Smith 1998

A couple is composed of two persons in a committed sexual or romantic relationship, usually over a significant period of time. Couples may be opposite-sex or same-sex, married or unmarried, monogamous or nonmonogamous, and cohabitating or living apart and may or may not have children.
In terms of HIV/AIDS, couples may be either HIV seroconcordant, with both members being either sero-positive or seronegative, or HIV serodiscordant, with the partners having different serostatuses. For most couples, HIV/AIDS raises two paramount concerns: the risk of HIV transmission and the likelihood of illness of one or both partners.

Couples in which both partners believe themselves to be HIV-negative have it as their challenge to remain that way. Statistically, most couples worldwide are seroconcordant-seronegative, especially in populations and regions that do not have a high level of HIV seroprevalence. These couples may be the least likely to practice safer sex consistently with each other, particularly if they have agreed to be sexually monogamous or if they want children. Such couples may feel little incentive to put up with the more unpleasant demands of safer sex and, indeed, may find that issues involved with avoiding the exchange of bodily fluids damages the quality of their sexual and personal lives. Shared HIV-negative status may also encourage a couple to remain together rather than face the risk of infection from partners of unknown status.

If both partners who believe themselves to be in a seroconcordant-seronegative relationship are indeed HIV-negative and remain so over time, then HIV/AIDS poses little direct risk to them. However, some people do not know their actual serostatus but simply presume themselves to be uninfected based on their personal histories or prior HIV test results. A lack of knowledge about HIV transmission and psychological denial may lead some people to underestimate their likelihood of infection.

One member of the couple may become infected by sexual activity outside the relationship or by other routes, such as injecting drug use, blood transfusions, or occupational exposure. A member of a couple who becomes infected during the course of a relationship may unknowingly pass HIV along to his or her partner. Even if one-half of the couple knows him- or herself to be infected, he or she may find it difficult to suggest condom use, because this would be tantamount to admitting to sexual infidelity or unsafe drug use. Even couples with explicit agreements to discuss any risky behavior outside their relationship may find it difficult to do so in practice.

Couples in which both partners are seropositive face a different set of concerns. Such couples occur most frequently in certain risk groups, such as gay men and injecting drug users, or in geographic regions with high HIV seroprevalence. For these couples, transmission may seem to be a less pressing concern. However, such couples run the risk of reinfection, in which one partner infects the other with a different and potentially more virulent strain of HIV, some currently unknown cofactor that might worsen their condition, or a sexually transmitted disease.

Nonetheless, couples in which both partners are HIV-positive may be tempted to ignore safer-sex practices and/or to share needles freely out of a sense that such activity poses little additional risk. Indeed, shared seropositivity may be a source of comfort and solidarity for some couples, although this may be less the case if one partner was the agent of infection for the other.

Pregnancy, either accidental or intentional, is of particular concern for seroconcordant-seropositive heterosexual couples, given the risks of maternal transmission and premature death of the parents. Couples who already have children must take care to make provisions for these children, who may themselves be infected and who run a high risk of being orphaned.

Seroconcordant-seropositive couples face a high degree of uncertainty about the future, because both members must contend with the likelihood of future illness. Yet, the two partners may be at very different stages of disease progression; rather than growing sick and dying together, one partner may still be asymptomatic while the other has already progressed to AIDS. In these cases, the partner who is well may be faced with caregiving, either while healthy or while in declining health. The couple may need to deal with changes in mutual dependence, debilitating opportunistic infections, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, anticipatory grief over the death of the sicker partner, and concern about the future health of the healthier partner.

Meanwhile, psychological and practical support is often less available for well caregivers than for their sick partners. In relationships that are not sanctioned by law, the well partner may also have to contend with difficulties regarding spousal insurance coverage, medical decision making, legal guardianship, inheritance, and unwelcome involvement by parents and other biological relatives.

Serodiscordant couples raise the thorniest set of issues, because they must face major concerns about both transmission and caregiving. Although many HIV-negative individuals might not choose to become involved with someone who is HIV-positive, the seroprevalence rates in some communities are so high that such couplings are almost unavoidable. In other cases, partners may already be committed to one another before their serodiscordant status is discovered or discussed.

Out of concern about transmission, some serodiscordant couples become overly cautious and all but cease sexual relations. Others may become fatalistic about the inevitability of transmission and take unwise risks. Even if the partners find a level of sexual interaction with which they are both comfortable, accidental slipups and condom breaks do occur. Thus, the prospect of infection is always present, causing the infected partner to worry about transmitting the virus, and the uninfected partner may experience "survivor guilt" to the point of wishing to become infected.

Serodiscordant heterosexual couples who wish to have children must be concerned about sexual transmission between partners and about maternal transmission in the womb if the woman is the infected partner. Although a number of technologies have been explored to remove HIV from semen, attempting a pregnancy remains risky for serodiscordant couples.

As a seropositive partner becomes ill, another set of issues arise around caregiving. Although the basic concerns are the same for serodiscordant couples as for seroconcordant-seropositive couples, the divide between the two serodiscordant partners can be greater, as the two do not share the same HIV status. "Survivor guilt" may become even more acute at this stage, impairing the ability of the seronegative partner to protect him- or herself as well as the seropositive partner. Alternatively, some seronegative partners may decide that they are unable or unwilling to help their partner deal with severe illness and abandon the partner to care for him- or herself. In a few cases, the well partner may even be called upon to assist with the suicide of the sick partner.

end.

http://www.thebody.com

MAGNETIC COUPLE (HIV Serodiscordant Couple)

i got this from www.thebody.com ------------


How to keep safer sex with partner having HIV..?
Jan 3, 2012
QUESTION: 
Is it possible to have happy sexual life even if having HIV..How to keep safer sex with partner having HIV..?

RESPONSE FROM SHANNON:  
YES it is truly possible to have a happy and healthy sex life with either or both partners being positive. Using protection is a must. Good communication is a must! Knowing your body is a must! My husband is negative and I'm positive and we have a great sex life and I know of many sero different couples or magnetic couples ( one positive and the other not) who have great sex lives as well as partners who are both positive. Making sure the person living with HIV is active with their treatment, seeing a doctor and if on medication is adherent (not missing any doses). Learning how to use a condom correctly and again communication with one another is huge. There is life after diagnosis and that does include a healthy and happy sex life.

i got this on my facebook today ------------

January 5, 2012
QUESTION FROM MICHAEL 
- are you having any luck with the person you have feelings for? you posted something about finding the person you are meant to be with the other day... I thought that was great.

RESPONSE FROM BONG 
- Still on the lookout --- it is not easy  but am very happy nonetheless. I have learned that my happiness should not be dependent on other people. I love myself and I am happy. Finding a partner is a bonus


____________________________

UPDATE:

i ended my short dating stint with someone - we went out twice - mabait sya super, pero when we started to get intimate napagusapan ang tungkol sa sex and he said - wala pa syang nagiging bf (at sex) dahil ayaw nya talaga at natatakot syang magka HIV -  just as i was at the brink of disclosing that day -  at the end, i decided he's not ready for me - iv chosen not to disclose - and the next day we called it quits - we're still good friends - i hope - but i miss that kiss  ;)

first try - failed

will try again

ito ang aking diary

BONG

CHLAMYDIA!

hi po ! I'm M 18 yrs . old from pasig..
may tanung po aq sau ..huhuhuhu :(
nkipag sex po kc aq sa foreigner last dec.3 this yr.
at nd po kme gumamit ng condom..
tas after that ... nagkaroon po aq ng rushes at lagnat.. dahil dun
nag pa check up aq sa derma. tas kweninto q ung ngyare sakin
tas sbi nya babalik daw aq after 3months sa march po un . pero pinakuha nya muna ung dugo ko at
ihi pra daw malaman nya kung saan nang gagaling ung lagnat ko ,. then after that
binigay q na ung result sa kanya then he said.. may CHLAMYDIA daw ako..
tas binigyan nya aq ng gamot na INOFLOX 2times a day for 5days..
pero ngaun po ubos na ung gamot.. but still I have fever and rushes.. huhuhuhu
anu po gagawin ko ?plss advice me .huhuhuhu
at takot po aqng mahawaan ang aking family,.
nakakahawa po ba un ? if possible na I have HIV?
is't possible na ..kahit may chlamydia aq ay mag HIV din? huhuhu

thanx po .. god bless

hello M,

maligayang bagong taon, natutuwa ako at may lakas ka ng loob na sumulat at magtanong...

--- Ang klamidia (Ingles: chlamydia) ay isang uri ng sakit na nakukuha sa pakikipagtalik na sanhi ng isang impeksyong bakterya. Lumalabas ang sakit na ito mula pito hanggang dalawampu’t isang araw pagkatapos na mahawa. Tinatawag din itong sakit na tulo. ----

mas makabubuting komunsulta ka kaagad sa isang Infectious Disease Doctor, at hindi sa dermatologist. mas specialization kasi nila ang STI at HIV. Dahil ang chlamydia ay isang STI (sexually transmitted infection) mas makakatulong ang isang infectious disease doctor sa iyo.

Gayundin ang pagkakaroon ng STI ay isa sa malaking risk factor for HIV kaya mas makakabuting magpa HIV testing ka na rin para malaman mo ang resulta kaagad, para maagapan.

ang pinakaaccessible na maaring puntahan ay ang mga Social Hygiene Clinics sa iyong siyudad o sa mga kalapit na siyudad na rin (kung saan ka mas malapit), karamihan sa kanila ay nagbibigay din ng libreng gamot para sa mga STI.

ito ang mga options mo:

Pasig City --- Social Hygiene Clinic
Dr. Rocylene Roque - Social Hygiene Clinic Physician
Address: Caruncho Ave., Brgy. San Nicolas, Pasig City / 6400111

Mandaluyong City --- Social Hygiene Clinic
Dr. Yolanda Tuaño - Social Hygiene Clinic Physician
Lerma corner Vicencio Sts., Old Zaniga, Mandaluyong City / 5467799; 2115336
Mobile #: 09178424298

makabubuting tumawag ka muna sa kanila para humingi ng direksyon at siguraduhing bukas sila.

para sa iba pa pumunta rito:  http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/hiv-test-sites.html

at palaging tatandaan na magsuot ng proteksyon ALL THE TIME.

salamat,

Bong