AUGUST 2014 REPORT CARD

everything is stable...

but need to watch my sugar and carbs...

otherwise...

i feel good...

i feel great...

 

kayo?

kamusta kayo?

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

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HI PRECISION ANYONE???

para sa mga may kakayahan sa buhay

para sa mga gusto ng magandang serbisyo

para sa mga ayaw pumila

 

naniniwala ako na ang pagiging positive ay hindi disability

kung maaari at tayo naman ay may kakayahan, wag na po nating iasa lahat ng ating pangangailangan sa gobyerno

hindi po tayo diabled

pwede pa rin po tayong maging successful

 

ang sa akin lang

 

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

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MY NEW REPORT CARD!

April 03, i got an email from my doctor:

Lab results:

1. CBC normal

2. FBS normal, Hgb A1C is controlled (6%)

3. Lipid profile shows bad cholesterol normal, good cholesterol is now at adequate levels, but triglycerides increased compared to previous. need to cut down on carbs. we will repeat in 3 months.

4. Liver and kidney tests normal.

4. cd4 is 429 (14.28%) compared to previous of 329 (13.7%) last august 8.

 

Schedules to keep:

a. flu and pneumo shots soonest

b. next cd4 sep 23, 2014

c. next appt for refill, routine, lipid profile determination on may 26

pls coordinate with nurse carl for schedule confirmation. thanks.

 

Best, Dra. Kate

and so after 7months of ARV. my labs are almost perfect. cd4 are improving. no missed dose of meds except for some some late intake.

time to celebrate.

i am happy!

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

 

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NEWBIE SI JOE!

On Mar 17, 2014, at 5:13 PM, Joe wrote:

Hi sir bong,

My name is joe. Bagong enroll po ako sa sagip. Natatakot po ako kasi nitong january ko lng po nalaman na positive din ako. Nung nabasa ko yung blog mo natakot ako sa shingles, kasi may shingles like din ako sa left arm... Diko pa po sure kung shingles ngato kasi di pako nakikita ng doctors. Still waiting padin po ako sa cd4baseline result ko. Pag lmabas nadaw po cd4 ko thats the tym lng na i eeskdyul nila ko sa doctor. Natatakot po ako. Sa blog m po nagkaron ka ng shingles, kumusta napo kayo? Delikado po ba un? Tip naman po on how to deal with it. Wala pa po kasi akong arv e.

Salamat

-joe

----------

On Mar 18, 2014, at 1:53 AM, Bong Lopez wrote:

Shingles ay parang medyo katulad ng chicken pox, kapag nagkachicken pox ka na nasa katawan na natin ito. Sabi ni doc common daw ito sa mga immunocompromised kahit anu pa ang cd4 level. Madalas daw lumalabas ito kapag sobrang stress, naaactivate daw ito na nagiging shingles.

Kung shingles talaga yan dapat masakit at makati at nakikita sa isang side lang ng katawan natin. At dadami ng dadami kung di agad gagamutin.

Dapat pinakita mo kaagad kung sino man ang nurse or duktor sa SAGIP para naagapan.

Medyo mahal ang gamot, almost 8thousand yung nagastos ko. Pero dahil day1 pa lang napacheck ul ki na agad. Di na sya dumami sa akin at di naging masakit. Me maliit na lang na mark sa may tuhod ko ngayon.

Pacheck up mo agad sa duktor.

Bong

----------

On Mar 18, 2014, at 9:46 AM, Joe wrote:

Nawala din po ba sya? I mean after ng gamutan di na sya bumalik. D naman po masakit at makati yung sakin. Ngayon po nag black na sya. Parang sugat na gumagaling na.

----------

On Mar 18, 2014, at 12:06 PM, Bong Lopez wrote:

Mawawala daw yung mark pero medyo matagal yata. In the future pwede pa rin daw bumalik.

Bong

On Mar 18, 2014, at 1:41 PM, Joe wrote:

Nakita nyo napo ba yung bagong news.... 448 new cases daw po of hiv in january 2014. Average age 28 yo. 85% male. Natatakot po ako. Isa ako sa 448. Ang dami masyado.... Kayo po ba malakas pa? I mean na confine napo ba kayo before. May mga naging infections napo ba kayo? Pasensya napo madamim akong question gusto ko po kasing maging aware sa mga common infections and gustong gusto ko po kasi nakakarinig ng mga success stories pampalakas ng loob ko. Ryt now po kasi di pa alam ng family ko even bf ko. :( Salamat

Joe

----------

On Mar 19, 2014, at 2:54 PM, Joe wrote:

Hi ser bong...galing po akong sagip just now. Hindi binigay ni nurse anne yung exact number ng cd4 count ko. Sabin kasi nya doctor ko ang magrereveal sakin. Sabe nya below 350 nako. Per di namn daw sobrang baba :( natakot nnman po ako. Nagwoworry po ako. Sabe nya i-sskedyul padaw nya ko. Regarding namn po sa shingles like na nasa arm ko..... Sabe nila di namn daw po to shingles. So negative po ako sa shingles. Insect bite lng daw to na di gumaling. Haist..... Nkakapag worry tlga tong araw nato.

After nun di po ako napakali so nagpatingin po ako sa derma sa metropolitan medical ctr.. Pinakita ko yung shingles-like sa arm ko gaya ng advise nyo. Ayun bingo.... Ang sabe ng derma is herpes zoster daw so niresetahan nya ko ng gamot. Sabe nman po nya pagaling nayung nasa arm ko pero inadvise padin po ako na inumin yung antibiotic.

Thannk you po sa mga responses nyo.. It helps a lot. Salamat din po sa blog nyo kasi nagiging aware ako sa condition ko.. Plus pag may naririnig po akong mga success stories sa gaya natin lumalakas ang loob ko. Tumatapang ako. At nagkakaron ng will to survive. Salamat po.

-Joe

----------

On 3/19/14, Bong Lopez wrote:

Good news yan. Mabuti at nagpatingin ka sa duktor agad. Just drink the

antibiotic in complete dose. Kung talagang below 350 na ang cd4 mo, most

probably eh irerecommend na ng duktor na mag ARV (gamot) ka na sa susunod na

appointment mo. Mabuti na rin yun para maagapan ang gamutan. Goodluck sa

iyo. Balitaan mo ako ha.

wag masyado magworry. Kasi lalo makakasama ang pagwoworry.

Bong

----------

On Mar 19, 2014, at 4:45 PM, Joe wrote:

ikaw po ba? Kmusta napo pakiramdam nyo? Nakakaramdam din po ba kayo ng

panghihina simula nung nag arv kayo? - salamat

Joe

----------

On Mar 19, 2014, at 7:13 PM, Bong Lopez wrote:

I feel perfectly fine. Wala akong nararamdaman masama sa katawan ko.

Paminsan minsan may fungal and viral infection, which is minor lang naman at common sa mga immunocompromised. Ang kelangan lang masipag magpatingin sa duktor at sundin lagi ang gamot.

Dipende sa ARV na ibibigay sa yo, me kanya kanyang side effects naman, eventually magiging manageable na rin. Ieexplain naman sa iyo ng mabuti yan ng duktor bago ka magsimula.

Makabubuting magresearch ka sa www.thebody.com kasi kumpleto iyan sa lahat ng mga sagot sa mga katanungan ng mga bagong diagnosed.

Yes sagip ako pero semi private clinic ako ni dra kate sa shaw blvd. Di pa ako nakakarating sagip unit ng pgh eh.

San eh eventually magkalakas loob ka ng sabihin kahit sa ilan sa kaibigan, pamilya or BF mo. At wag kakalimutan lagi ang magproteksyon.

Goodluck sa atin.

;)

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

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INSTANT ARVs!

this breakng news just came in! 8000bottles of the 3in1 ARV combi tablet TENOFOVIR-LAMIVUDINE-EFAVIRENZ has just been released by Philippine Customs. it will be available in our respective hubs in a few days/hours.

alam kong aligaga na ang mga pusits this past few days. so this is great news especially to those teno-lami-efav users like me.

just in time for my 3-month refill next week.

with other combi drugs please talk to your hub doctor.

3-in-1 INSTANT ARV, parang kape lang.

this is great para sa halip na 4 na caps ang iniinom ko, isa na lang sa gabi

am sooooo excited!

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

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WORKING OUT - SOY MILK vs ARVs!

my friend who i brought to testing who turned out positive recently started his ARVs and wrote a letter to www.thebody.com regarding his concerns with whey supplements and working out. i thought this is a good letter to share since marami akong kilala na nagwowork out.

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

SOY MILK vs ARVs

Jan 30, 2014

Hi, I have just started taking ARVs, less than 2 weeks and have somewhat adjusted. I do workout and started crossing out protein/gainer supplement intake for muscle building and take Soy Milk instead. Is that okay and if ever, can I just add a small scoop protein/gainer on my soy milk to help with muscle recovery? I have read with my meds to stay clear of creatinine and watch my triglyceride. My supplement does not contain creatine but has medium chain triglyceride. ARVs I'm taking Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Tenofovir. Please help.

Response from Mr. Vergel

I am not sure if you are a man or a woman.

If you are a man, I would say that I have strong biases against soy milk or any soy products. There are published references on how soy can increase estradiol. Estradiol is a female hormone that men need in small quantities for bone health, cognitive function and sex drive. It actually is made from the aromatization of testosterone in liver and fat cells. But too much estradiol can cause sexual dysfunction, decreased testosterone and possibly increased fat and cardiovascular risks. If you are lactose intolerant and need to drink something that tastes like milk, almond milk is best. But be careful not to drink the high sugar kind since high sugar consumption can increase triglycerides.

The effect of soy on estradiol concerns me even more in patients taking Efavirenz. There are at least 2 reports of HIV+ men who developed gynecomastia due to increased estradiol caused by Efavirenz. Luckily, this is rare in most men taking Efavirenz (Atripla or Sustiva).Efavirenz may cause gynecomastia

More on soy and muscle building/exercise here:Soy blunts the effects of testosterone after exercise

Whey protein supplements are OK and have been found not to interfere with HIV drug absorption or our hormones.

I am glad that you are being cautious about creatine supplements. Creatine is probably the only supplement that has been proven in several studies to increase body cell mass and strength, but it can load up the kidneys and may add to the kidney dysfunction that tenofovir can cause in a small subset of patients. Low doses under 10 grams per day (avd. 5 grams) have been safe on the kidneys, however.

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any related questions soon.

In health,

Nelson

 

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BUNTIS KA RIN???

at ito ang simula ng mahigit 3 oras na kwentuhan...

habang pareho namin iniintay ang epekto ng EFAV!

ang masasabi ko lang....

PUTANGINA!

Buntis rin sya!!!

Omg! abangan ang twist and turns sa buhay ko...

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

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PLAYING SUNGKA ON WAD 2013!

december 1, 2013

today is WORLD AIDS DAY

today is also sunday

and what do i do first thing in the morning on a sunday?

I PLAY SUNGKA!

hanggang kelan kaya ito?

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

 

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STAYIN' ALIVE!

 

Well now, I get low and I get high,

And if I can't get either, I really try.

Got the wings of heaven on my shoes.

I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose.

You know it's all right. It's OK.

I'll live to see another day.

We can try to understand

The New York Times' effect on man.

 

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother,

You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin',

And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive.

 

~ bee gees

this is how much i have to deal with to stay alive.

difficult you say? nah!!!

it takes a little time to get used to

definitely confusing at times

pero its actually easy

these meds keeps me healthy

parang multivitamins lang

today my routine labs went well, spotless

and so i can breathe easy

coudn't ask for more

sabi nga ni Janina San Miguel,

"i dont peel eyni preysyur rayt now"

today we celebrate WORLD AIDS DAY!

25 days til christmas!

HAPPY!

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

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1st SHOT!

 

Waiting for my 2nd doctor's appointment, i already had my 1st shot of HPV Vaccine a while back. 2 more shots in the next 6months. hepa B and pneumonia vaccines are next!

Mahal magkasakit, mahal din ang mga vaccine para maiwasan magkasakit. thanks to my younger brother for sponsoring some of my upcoming meds and vaccines.

Yes nagdisclose na ako sa younger brother ko who is a nurse. Siya kauna unahang nakakaalam sa family ko. I was desperate, and got no one else to turn to. He was shocked and asked me how i can keep this to myself and not tell them for more than 2 years. I said i dont want anyone to worry about me and since i got my close friends to support me naman, so there wasn't any real threat to my life. He said for me to get the best treatment and not to hesitate to ask for funds. Im touched. Makes my life much easier and i just have to really take care of myself and not worry about looking for funds if needed be.

Today is my 3rd month on ARVs without any issues. After todays routine check-up i will have my 3months supply of ARVs.

Salamat naman, the scary stage is over and am doing really well so far.

Kayo? Kamusta naman kayo?

 

ako si BONG

ito and aking diary

 

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SURVIVED DAY 1!

OA naman, parang big big deal. parang nagkasakit... hindi naman. i just survived Day 1 of m ARV medications. am now on day 2. So far so good, its not as bad as i expected.

(SHIP - my new clinic in shaw blvd)

TRANSFERED HUBS

i am now with SAGIP Unit (STI/AIDS Guidance Intervention & Prevention Unit) under UP-PGH. lumipat ako from RITM-ARG at mabilis lang naman ang proseso, napaka accommodating pa rin ng mga taga RITM Alabang and i soooo love them still. pero there are some important considerations why i have to transfer. kaya ayun, wednesday morning i was at RITM Alabang then kinahapunan, dala ko na ang endorsement at medical abstract ko sa clinic sa shaw.

bakit kamo? kasi nga am about to start ARV na. eversince naman eh naisip ko na that when the time comes na kelangan ko ng mag gamot and my CD4 count gets to lower than 350, i would like to have a private doctor, someone who can give my case more attention. syempre lahat naman tayo gusto yung naaalagaan tayo. hassle din kasi minsan ung dami nakapila for consulatation then all you get is a few minutes with the attending doctor. minsan lang feeling ko baka may di mapansin sa case ko at baka may mamiss-out.

and so i found a great doctor, (si Dra. Kate) dahil super duper highly recommended sya ng ilang friends ko. at dahil under sya sa UP-PGH kaya i needed to transfer hubs. ang good news pa eh she holds clinic sa shaw blvd lang, lapit lang sa akin, all labs and dispensing of medications can be done there so super convenient para rin sa akin. syempre dahil sa philhealth libre pa rin lahat ng gamot and labs, mabuti na lang at continuous ang contributions ko. having a private doctor means me consultation fee (not free) and for me its totally fine, so long as ensured ako na naaalagaan ang case ko. Php 550 per consultation, i'd say not bad kasi halos ganun din naman nagagastos ko everytime bumibiyahe ako sa Alabang.

i am going to miss alabang.

DAY 1

after waiting for a few weeks para sa results ng sputum at xray ko, i was finally cleared and ready to start ARVs. all my labs wer great except that medyo mataas daw cholesterol ko - DIET DIET DIET sabi ni dra.!!! kaloka i soooo love her, sya yung duktor na super kwela at masaya kausap, walang ni isa mang hint ng judgement sa pagkatao mo kaya nga because of that i feel soooooo safe to tell her everything even my occassional recreational drug use. tapos super sipag pang sumagot sa mga emal at text, feel ko na she really wants to help out and take care of you.

so i brought my BF during my ARV counseling para maging treatment partner ko. naexplain naman ni doc ang mga gamot ko and possible side effects. sabi nya of all yung EFAV lang talaga ang medyo nakakagroggy kaya sa gabi sya tinatake before sleeping.

(efavirenz -adverse effects)

 

and so yesterday was day 1, TENOFOVIR - LAMIVUDINE - EFAVIRENZ, considered 2nd-line ARV na yata yun because dra thinks its best for my case. i stayed at home the whole day to see what happens.

morning medications did not have any noticeable effect whatsoever. yung efav sa gabi ang medyo nahilo at nagroggy nga ako. parang slight naka ecstasy ka lang pero since nakahiga na rin ako agad 30mins after taking it di ko na siguro naramdaman yung ibang effects. i just noticed mga 3x ako nagising middle of the night at parang medyo restless, pagkagising ko kaninang umaga hilo pa rin ako for about 1hr tapos unti unti rin nawala. itinodo ko na rin yung aircon kagabi kasi sabi nila it can feel hot sometimes. dahil dun di ko naman nafeel kung uminit nga ako.

so ayun success ang day 1 ko ko, i hope tuloy tuloy lang and that after 1 month my labs will show good numbers pa rin. wish me luck.

 

VACCINES

have to save money pala for more vaccines to protect myself from other possible diseases. magastos din but have to do it. IPON IPON IPON!

 

so ayan, alam nyo na na buhay pa rin ako, alive and kicking all over. happy lang. tamad lang talaga ako magblog lately. sensya naman.

o kamusta naman kayo?

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

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IT's CHATIME!

Today is the start of the rest of my life!

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

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NEWLY DIAGNOSED!

Hi Bong,

Good day.

I saw your email add thru your blog & I'm really just finding the courage and strength to write you. I'm sorry if this email might be confusing... this is my state of mind right now. I'm just going thru my emotions and write... Here it goes.

I'm a 34 yr-old professional. I had my test, my first & only test last Thursday, July 19th, and I came out positive.
I feel I had it for a long time now and I feel I'm already getting sick. I always get headaches, lagi ako nanghihina. I always get LBM...

I'm still in the process of accepting it. I'm only worried & confused now as to what I should do.
Sorry Bong. Nalilito ako... What should be my next step.


I feel I'm getting sick by the minute.
I really need your advise. I know you've heard this a million times but I feel so alone right now.
I feel I'm not ready yet to tell my family.
I just don't know what to do...

I really want to get healthy & I want to survive this... It's just hard that I don't know who to talk to.
I'm scared & confused that it might be too late for me to get healthy.

Thank you in advance and hoping to hear from you.

I'm leaving here my contact no. just in case... XXXXXXXXX

Thank you again & more power to you. :)

RAVE

hey RAVE,


tough week for you i can imagine. and i feel your confusion.


id like to know where you got your test? and i suppose you got to talk to a counselor?
meron pa bang hindi nacover ang counselor mo?


the usual process is, you should be waiting for your CONFIRMATORY RESULTS in about 2 to 3 weeks.
after the results are confirmed and it is indeed "POSITIVE". you are supposed to be endorsed to a treatment hub
of your choice.


you have to report and register to the HUB and start baseline laboratory tests to asses all your 
health status.


depending on the results of all your laboratory tests, your hiv doctor will recommend that you either start 
ARV treatment or not. 


disclosure to anybody of your friends and family will depend entirely on you as it is a very sensitive matter.
(i only disclosed to the people who i can trust my life with)


i can understand your confusion, its a common stage especially if you still dont know your exact health
status so i suggest you get your baseline laboratory tests asap.  you have to remember that 
help is always available and all you have to do is ask.  there are a lot of positive support group
especially on twitter where you can seek help and still be anonymous.  i am also always here 
to help out if you have any questions.


whatever happened in the past and how long have you had it is already irrelevant.  the important thing
right now is that ALAM MO NA and there is still time to do something about it.  its not the end of the world
all you have to do is compose yourself and face it head on and stay upbeat... kasi pag mas lalo kang 
nalulungkot or nadedepress, mas lalong masama para sa health natin.


i know its easier said than done but there is no other way.  stay "positive" and seek help. you are not alone.


if you have unli calls, you can reach me 09174711979 or tweet me --- ako_si_BONG


welcome to the club - stay strong ;) 


salamat,


BONG

WORRIED ABOUT MY FUTURE Ms.UNIVERSE STINT!

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