Showing posts with label blood tests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood tests. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

GREAT LABS!

I got my routine labs last week... 10cc... It was almost painless...

 

Plus i got my refills...

 

Yesterday i got my results on my email:

 

· Hi we have your labs.

· Your CD4 is 438 (16.35%) from previous of 424 (14.96%). Your percent went up by 2 points, that's great. Your CD4 is stable.

· Your HbA1C is 5.9%, maganda sugar control mo.

· Liver & kidney tests normal

· Your next appointment is on June for checkup, routine, refill, flu vaccine.

· We will be closed this Holy Week (Thu-Fri-Sat). We resume operations on Sunday, 2pm.

Please inform clinic (see numbers and email below) if you want to change your schedule. Thank you.

-------------------------------------------------

SHIP Clinic

 

MY TREATMENT HUB IS SOOOOO EFFICIENT...

AM STILL SPOTLESS...

LOVELIFE NA LANG ANG KULANG!!!

 

#hopia

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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

 

Friday, April 4, 2014

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

 

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

 

 

Friday, March 21, 2014

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

 

Monday, September 23, 2013

ANONYMOUS TESTING IN DUBAI?

 

Good Day po,

Salamat ng marami sa blogs nyo.I just stumbled in your website seeking for advice. Bago lang po ako dito sa Dubai on a visit visa at naghahanap ng trabaho to stay and make a living. Pero natatakot po ako na ma blood test prior to issuance of residence visa. Mandatory po kasi ang HIV test dito na conducted ng government ng Dubai. Ayoko pong mapahiya, madetained, madeport at mabanned for life kung may nakita silang problema sa dugo o baga ko. I considered myself as high risk dahil ako po ay natreat na ng STI before but never been tested for HIV. Ang favor ko lang po baka merong alam po kayo na pwedeng magdeliver ng rapid HIV testing kit sa bansa na ito. At kung wala, baka po may magtip na available yung kit dito at mabigyan ako ng pangalan ng pharmacy so i can buy this product. Sa gayon, pwede po ako magtesting sa bahay. At kung sakali na ako ay magpositive, I will voluntarily leave the country without a bad record. Kahit malaman ko yung bad news, my next step is to seek treatment in our country.

Help me kung pano po ako maka acquire nung testing kit. That maybe will have a peace of mind. Meron akong naresearched malapit dito na discreet HIV testing. (Zach's) pero bukod sa mahal ang fee, marami ang nagsasabi na irereport din sa pulis ang malalamang positibo sa test as required by UAE law.

Sana matulungan nyo po aq sa queries ko,

Salamat po in advance,

Tony

Hello Tony,

sorry for the late reply and i hope this blog through one of its readers will be able to help you find the answers that you seek.

unfortunately i dont have a clue if a home test kit is available anywhere in the UAE or if they will allow delivery in their country, if there is, it must be illegal and hard to find knowing how strict UAE is in monitoring and deporting HIV cases.

from past inquiries, a few of my dubai readers decided to take their HIV test when hey were vacationing/travelling in HK, Europe, US or somewhere else where anonymous testing is available.

goodluck and heres hoping some of the other readers can answer your question helpfully.

salamat.

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

NEEDLE PRICK & UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION

Bong,

Hi this is kat.. i am a nurse. i got pricked with Hepa B reactive patient through a needle prick injury.. I got tested with baseline diagnostics like HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HCV and HIV Screening tests.. Good thing that I have active titers from Hepatitis B when I was vaccinated in college.. I had negative results from all the labs stated above and had immunity against hepa B.. In this regard, I am being tested again for confirmation, does RITM offer all the above mentioned labs? and wat are the other services they offer? VDRL, etc.. thanks! hope to hear from you.. I hope ur doing fine..

Kat

 

hello kat,

maraming salamat sa iyong pagsulat, we only offer the following 3 tests at the malate hub FOR FREE: 1. HBsAg (HepaB) 2. SY (Syphillis) 3. HIV Antibody Screening. they have other laboratory tests for other STIs but it's not free, please call them on the numbers noted below for more details:

 

LOVEYOURSELF HUB (RITM Satellite Clinic Manila)

1850 Leon Guinto St. Malate, Manila.

Tel. 5479334 or 09178351038

Mondays, Thursdays Fridays & Saturdays 11 AM to 7 PM.

(Cut-off at 5:30 PM)

Sunday 9 AM to 4 PM.

(Cut-off at 2 PM)

Tuesdays & Wednesdays Clinic is CLOSED

indeed these needle prick injuries can happen to health workers and we always encourage the practice of universal precaution at all times, at this time and age, safety is always an utmost priority.

i sincerely wish that your retest results would be non-reactive.

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

Friday, September 6, 2013

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

 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

ITS TIME!

kasalukuyang nasa canteen ng RITM alabang, naghihintay ng 1 oras bago lamnan ang pangalawang sputum vial.

dahil sa resulta ng huling CD4 count ko kanina, nag request ang aking duktor ng karagdagang chest xray at sputum test.

mukhang kailangan na talagang magsimula at hindi na pwedeng ipagpaliban, dalawang taon din akong naghintay.

meron pa akong mga 2 linggo para gawin ang mga nararapat na lab tests at mga konsultasyon.

maliban duon eh wala naman ibang dapat ikabahala, wala naman akong nararammdaman.

pero bagong adustment na naman.

but i feel great.

i am ready.

329 = arv

;)

ito ang aking diary,

ako si BONG

 

(PS: sira ang aking mobile number, you can reach me sa email)

 

 

 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

THE ELUSIVE 500!

Stats update, i'm back at 498 from a low of 382 two months ago. so am back to "not wanting to get meds" ulit.

it was actually a steady improvement for 1 1/2 years until i got some bacterial infection last february that led to some neuropathic problems (unrelated to my serostatus). i was under medications which is expected to bring my immune system down. fortunately i recovered fast in just a matter of 3 weeks and my doctor said that it's a sign that despite my HIV status my immune system seems strong.

true enough my cd4 went down 382 last february and the doctor recommended that i start ARVs na. i hesitated and decided to wait another 3 months and see if my cd4 count would improve. nevertheless they started me on 6mo of daily doze isoniazid which is a phropylactic medications for TB.

and now the great news --- as of May my cd4 is up at 498 and i should say back on track.

improving without ARV medications.

something that i am very thankful of.

hindi nagpapatalo ang immune system ko, palaban pa rin.

i dont know how long they can hold this fight and i sincerely hope that they would not need medicinal reinforcements soon.

but then again there are a lot of study pointing to early medications as very beneficial to PLHIVs and that it will promise better protection for my sexual partner (bf). kaya mahirap pa rin magdecide i am torn between keeping a status quo and try to live a healthy life free of medications. or starting a new life on medications which can potentially impact my lifestyle.

for now am choosing the easier route of the status quo. i think my immune system deserves a chance to prove itself and fight this virus without reinforcements.

the elusive 500 cd4 count, i hope in another 3 months time i get to that mark or higher. it will surely make my resolve stronger that despite my serostatus, my body is winning the battle, for now.

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Life Expectancy for PLHIV

Many patients taking HIV drugs can now expect to live into their 70s

Michael Carter

Published: 25 July 2008

A large international study has provided evidence that people taking HIV treatment can now expect to live into their 60s and beyond. The study is published in the July 26th edition of The Lancet, and showed that an individual starting successful HIV treatment aged 20 would be expected to live to be 63, and that a patient initiating an anti-HIV drugs regimen aged 35 could live to the age of 67. It also provided evidence of the dramatic and continued decline in the risk of death amongst people with HIV since effective HIV treatment became available.

What is more, the researchers found that starting treatment with a CD4 cell count above 200 cells/mm3 would mean that a person aged 20 could expect to live to be 70, and that a 35 year-old could survive into their 72nd year.

Nevertheless, they still found that even in their most optimistic estimates, the life-expectancy of HIV-positive individuals was approximately ten years shorter than that of an HIV-negative individual. Furthermore injecting drug users and patients who started HIV treatment with lower CD4 cell counts had lower life-expectancies.

The author of an accompanying editorial calls these findings “exciting” and believes that they underline the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of HIV. He also suggests that the risk of death would be diminished and overall prognosis further improved by starting anti-HIV drugs with a CD4 cell count of 500 cells/mm3.

Almost immediately after multi-drug antiretroviral therapy became available in 1996, doctors observed dramatic reductions in rates of illness and death in HIV-positive patients treated with such drugs. A number of studies have shown that antiretroviral therapy has the potential to dramatically improve the prognosis of HIV-positive patients, but they have only considered patients in single cohorts or countries.

Therefore researchers from the Antiretroviral Cohort Collaboration which involves 14 large HIV cohort studies in Canada, Europe and the USA, looked at rates of mortality and the life-expectancy of over 43,000 patients who started HIV treatment for the first time between 1996 – 99, 2000 – 02 and 2002 – 05. They also looked at whether there were any patient characteristics which affected the risk of death or prognosis.

A total of 2056 (5%) patients died. The mortality rate fell from 16 deaths per 1000 person years between 1996- 99 to 10 per 1000 person years between 2002 – 05.

They also noted significant improvements in the prognosis for HIV-positive patients in the ten years of the study. Overall, a 20 year-old starting HIV treatment between 1996 and 2005 would be expected to live another 43 years. Between 1996 and 1999, they calculated that such a patient would live to be 56 years old, but in the period 2002 to 2005 this had improved to a little under 70 years.

There were also impressive improvements in the prognosis of 35 year-olds starting treatment, with an expectation of a further 32 years in life after HIV therapy was initiated. But, once more, prognosis improved over time from an expectation of a further 25 years of life in 1996 – 99, to 32 years by 2002- 05.

Patients who started HIV treatment with a low CD4 cell count (below 100 cells/mm3) had much higher mortality rates than patients initiating antiretroviral therapy with a CD4 cell count above 200 cells/mm3 (aged 20 – 44, 20 per 1000 person years vs. five per 1000 person years).

Furthermore a 20 year-old starting treatment with a CD4 cell count below 100 cells/mm3 would have a life-expectancy of 54 years compared to a life-expectancy of 70 years for a 20 year-old starting treatment with a CD4 cell count above 200 cells/mm3. The importance of CD4 cell count at the time of therapy initiation to prognosis was also seen in 35 year-olds, with patients with a CD4 cell count below 100 cells/mm3 expected to live until they were 62 compared to a prognosis of 72 years for patients with a CD4 cell count above 200 cells/mm3.

The investigators also found that women had a better prognosis than men, but that injecting drug users had a life-expectancy that was up to 20 years shorter than non-injecting drug users.

“There has been an improvement of outcomes with combination antiretroviral therapy between 1996 and 2005, characterised by a marked decrease in mortality rates” write the investigators. They attribute such reductions in mortality and improvements in life-expectancy to “improvements in therapy during the first decade of combination therapy.”

But they note that their study suggests that the prognosis of people taking antiretroviral therapy is still not normal. Picking up on this point, the author of the accompanying editorial highlights the findings of the SMART study which showed that patients with lower CD4 cell counts had a higher risk of serious non-HIV-related illnesses. The SMART study’s conclusions were one of the factors leading to HIV treatment guidelines recommending that antiretroviral therapy should be started at a CD4 cell count of 350 cells/mm3. The author notes the “clinical mischief of untreated HIV infection” and looks forward to the results of a clinical trial which could show if there is any benefit in starting HIV treatment at a CD4 cell count of 500 cells/mm3.

Reference

The Antiretroviral Cohort Collaboration. Life expectancy of individuals on combination therapy in high-income countries: a collaborative analysis of 14 cohort studies. The Lancet 372: 293 – 299, 2008.

Cooper DA. Life and death in the cART era. The Lancet 372: 266 – 267, 2008.

 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

NEW RITM ALABANG (ARG) CD-4 TESTs SCHEDULE!

PUBLIC SERVICE!!!

MONDAY - TUESDAY - THURSDAY - FRIDAYS ONLY

except WEDNESDAYS

RESULTS ARE RELEASED AT 11 - 12NN DAILY

facilitates earlier release of results

for those who are due for consultation (same day)

ibig sabihin mas maaga na sila nagbubukas (7am)

this is GREAT NEWS!!!

 

its best that you get your schedule

beforehand kasi minsan kasi puno

na ang slots daw.

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

SI AMBER

Hi Bong


Im Amber,Lagi kong binabasa ang story dito.Dito ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob para magpatest,Isang taon nakong gustong gusto magpa-test pero sobrang takot ako at nahihiya at hindi ako handa na tanggapin kung Positive man ako.. 

My 2years live in Partner turns out na marami pala syang kinakasiping nalaman ko lang nung pahuli na namay isa pala syang YAHOO at dun sya nakikipagchat sa mga babaeng nakakasiping nia pinag-uusapan pa nila how they did it, 

Nakapaghiwalay ako agad, 1.5 years na ang nakakalipas since huli kaming nagsiping and he never used condom.Palagi akong nag-aalala na baka may HIV ako..Sobrang paranoid ko na.. Finally yesterday nagkaroon din ako ng lakas ng loob makapag pa test sa MAKATI SOCIAL HYGIENE and it turns out "REACTIVE" Sa mga pagkakataong yun hindi ako makapaniwala na sinasabi ng Nurse sakin na "REACTIVE daw" Hindi ako makatayo nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko..Sabi nia hintayin ko daw yung Confirmatory test after 2-3 weeks.

Kapag "REACTIVE ba means malaki ang chance na Positive ???I dont feel sick wala akong symptoms na nararamdaman walang rash or lymph nodes,,wala ring LBM akong nararanasan hindi ko matanggap na REACTIVE yung results pinapaniwala ko pa rin sarili na magiging Negative yung Confirmatory.Gulong gulo ako hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.Di ko alam kung sino ang kakausapin ko.
Salamat at Pasensya kana ang haba na ng message ko 

Amber



Hello Amber,

Masaya ako at malungkot.

Masaya dahil kahit papaano, ang aking blog ang naging daan para magkaroon ka ng lakas ng loob para tanggapin sa iyong sarili na maaaring nagkaroon ka ng RISK sa HIV, at lakas ng loob to take the first step and had yourself tested.  Sana sa proseso ay mas naliwanagan ka na kung ano ang katotohanan ng HIV at AIDS.  

Malungkot dahil hindi naging maganda ang resulta ng screening test mo sa Makati. Totoo na mahirap ang sitwasyon mo ngayon lalo na at naghihintay ka ng CONFIRMATORY TEST mo, marami sa mga kakilala ko ang ganun din at gulong gulo ang isip during that time.  Para sagutin ang iyong tanung, because our screening tests now have greatly improved through the years there is only a very slim chance that you can turn out NEGATIVE on your confirmatory tests.  There is but its really very very rare - that I would not want you to bank on it and get disappointed again after a few weeks.  (some might not agree with me, let me tell you why this is my view)

Naalala ko pa nung nakuha ko na ang result ng confirmatory test ko  -----

JULY 2, 2011 “ REVELATIONS --- habang pasakay na kami ng kotse wala na kong ibang nasabi kungdi “sinabi ko na sa inyo guys eh” . pagkaupo, hinagilap nila ang aking kamay at mariing pinisil.  nagsimulang tahimik ang aming biyahe pabalik sa coffee shop na pinag almusalan naming.  maya maya ay nagsimula na naman ang diskusyon ukol na potensyal na magnegative pa ang confirmatory test na gagawin.  may suhestiyon si jimboy na kumuha ng panibagong rapid HIV testing sa isang pribadong clinic na malapit sa lugar naming “just to reconfirm the initial findings” sabi nya. hindi na ako  pumayag.  ang sa akin lang, kahapon ko pa natanggap na malaki ang potensyal na maging positive ako, mahirap mang isipin, hindi pa ako umiiyak at wala akong nararamdamang kailangan kong umiyak dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito.  gusto ko lang magsimula na agad na harapin ang kalagayan ko, ayoko ng bigyan pa ng false-hope ang aking sarili sa isang bagay na alam ko naman na maliit na lang ang potensyal na mangyari.  kung kailangan tanggapin na ngayon, tanggapin na lang. oo maghihintay pa ako ng 2 linggo pero ang alam ko sa ngayon POSITIVE ako. yun ang totoo, anu ang gagawin ko mula sa araw na ito. naintindihan nina jamil ay jimboy ang punto ko at tinaggap na rin nila ang aking argumento. ---
------------

Amber, I sincerely hope that your case can be part of that rare cases where the confirmatory tests will reveal negative results.  Pero sa ngayon mas magiging mas advantageous para sa iyo na tanggapin na lang kaagad ang resulta at magsimula sa panibagong buhay na kailangan mong harapin (tulad ng ginawa ko) ng sa gayun ay mabawasan na  ng pag aalala at lalong depresyon sa buhayh mo ngayon.  Kung sakaling maging maswerte ka sa confirmatory result mo, then we can celebrate and treat it as a  bonus. Kung hindi naman at talagang POSITIVE ka na eh maaga pa lang ay nakapag move on ka na and you start taking care of yourself (at hindi na nasayang ang 2 buwan sa pagaalala at mga negative thoughts).  Dapat mong tandaan na sa iyong kalagayan ngayon, the last thing you need to to feel depress and feel bad.  Andyan na yan at di na natin mababago ang nakaraan.  The more you spend time getting depressed and “feel negative” about the situation, it will further take its toll on your immune system and your health.  

Napakadaling sabihin pero sobrang hirap gawin, may ilang tao akong kilala na it took months and sometimes even years before they were able to move on with their life and start feeling good about themselves again.  Ako it took me 1 day of sadness and feeling ”lost” after which nakamove on na ako agad.  Alam mo kung bakit??? Dahil sa simula pa lang ay educated na ako about HIV and AIDS, malawak na ang kaalamam ko sa isyung ito, PLUS sadyang  masayahin at “positive thinker” lang talaga akong tao, I always look at the positive side of things, marami na akong napagdaanang bagay sa buhay ko and nothing can pull me down, not even HIV.  Hiling ko ay sana ay maging madali para sa iyo na maka move on.

Base sa mga bagong diagnosed na nakasalamuha ko, kahit pala dumaan naman sila na proper POST TEST COUNSELNG, pero dahil nga sa biglang masamang balita ay tila wala silang naintindihan at maalala sa mga sinabi ng COUNSELR after nilang malaman ang resulta.  Normal ito na nasa state of shock tayo at kahit nai explain na sa atin ang mga dapat gawin, ay tila confused na confused pa rin tayo.  Dahil siguro hindi natin nasabi or naisip agad ang mga sitwaysyon na kinalalagyan natin at hindi ito direktang nasagot ng counselor. (paano ako? Paano ang anak ko? Paano ang trabaho ko? Paano wala akong pera? At marami pang iba) .  

Kaya inirerekumenda ko na 

1. after a few days at mas malinaw na ang iyong pagiisip, ay makipagusap ulit sa iyong counselor, o kaya sa isang counselor na PLHIV (people living with HIV) din kung saan mas mailalatag mo ang iyong mga katanungan at kalituhan para masagot isa isa.   Hanggat hindi mo ito nagagawa ay hindi mawawala ang iyong pag ka “lost” sa sitwasyon mo. 

2. kung ayaw mong makipag usap, pwede ka ring magresearch – may kumpletong impormasyon tungkol sa NEWLY DIAGNOSED sa www.thebody.com, halos lahat ng tanung natin nasagot na nila you can go directly here --- http://www.thebody.com/content/49985/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids.html?ic=3001 --- maari lang may ibang detalye na hindi angkop sa sitwasyon natin sa pilipinas kaya para sa akin mas mahalaga pa rin na makipag usap o magtanung ng personal na isang tao na nakakaalam tungkol dito, a PLHIV na Counselor or just plain PLHIV.

3. Research and educate yourself completely on HIV & AIDS (same website).

4. Start living a Healthy Life. (which is the way it should be PLHIV or not)

5. Consider having a PLHIV Support Group (BABAE PLUS, PINOY PLUS, CEBU PLUS, PAFPI etc..) kasi sila ang magiging katuwang mo sa lahat ng iyong katanungan. Sobrang dami ring anonymous PLHIV Twitter users, if you want to belong but still keep your identity anonymous and share your story - there is a lot to learn from our PLHIV colleagues and to know that there are hundreds and thousands of us out there is PRICELESS.   I can introduce you to them, tweet me at --- ako_si_BONG

6. Consider disclosure to key people. importante ito pero hindi naman requirement.

7. Have you Philhealth documents ready.  malaki ang maitutulong nito sa ating bagong buhay. kung wala ka pa, make sure you enroll immediately.

8. Seek medical attention and follow the crucial next steps after you receive your Confirmatory Results.  – CHOOSING & REFERRAL TO TREATMENT HUB – BASELINE LABORATORY TESTS – QUARTERLY OR BI-ANNUAL CHECK UP WITH AN HIV DOCTOR.

9. Most importantly Love Yourself above all. 

EMBRACE POSITIVITY:

a. You took the test and now you know your status, you can finally stop wondering and start to move on --- this is good!

b. Mukhang just a few years lang yung risky sex relationship mo, means a few years lang din nung ma acquire mo ito… meaning there is still a plenty of time to move and seek proper  medical attention…. Some people took 5 to 10 years to find out their status, and sometimes its already too late for them.

c. You are perfecty healthy at wala kang anumang sakit.  Meaning wala pang kahit anung opportunistic infections.  This is great, more good news.  --- dipende sa tao at sa kanilang immune system, a person can last 2 to 10 years without any signs and symptoms before they realize that they are infected --- PLUS chances of living a productive life dramatically increases with proper ARV treamments which is now available for you (30 to 40 years is no longer rare for PLHIV).  This is GREAT.

d. Di ito cancer, walang taning ang buhay natin.  Masuwerte pa rin tayo.   

Focus lang ang kailangan, presence of mind at ilang taong iyong masasandalan.  Step by step. You can surpass all these.

AMBER, i give you a “Virtual HUG” – know that  its not the end of the world and we will be here for you, all you have to do is ask.


ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

email: playingpositive@gmail.com

twitter: ako_si_BONG






Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Anniversary!



i only remembered now, July 1 was the exact date i was diagnosed.

how could i?

- i was busy (lotsa work to be done)
- i never felt better, my labs are spotless
- cd4 count is steadily improving (next visit this july)
- lovelife is busy (i found someone *wink wink)
- sexlife is amazing
- career is likewise improving

how could anyone remember the bad memories if everything in their life seemed perfect?

i'v always been a happy boy, not even HIV can change that :)

ito ang aking diary

BONG



 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Si Nol - Spit or Swallow?


Bong,


hi I saw your email on the internet. Ako si NOL ofw sa Saudi arabia. gusto ko lang humingi ng payo regarding sa risk ko. recently may naka oral sex akong syrian dito. nalunok ko yung semen niya. ano ang chance ko na mag karoon ng HIV? Natatakot kasi akong magpatest kasi bawal ang bading dito sa saudi. balak ko sana sa pinas na ako mag pa test pag uwi ko. kaso by december pa uwi ko. I asked the opinion of AIDSMEDS kaso opinion nila wala daw risk ang oral sex. Totoo kaya yon? napaparanaoid na kasi ako. feeling ko mababaliw na ako kaka isp. hirap kasi dito walang anonymous testing center. Ano kayang risk if ever i delay ang testing? or malaki ba talaga ang chance na magkaroon ako ng HIV dahil sa oral sex? Please Ineed some advice thank you.


NOL




_____________________________________________




Hello Nol,


Yes its very low risk, you don't have to worry. Hiv virus will not survive sa stomach because of the gastric acids not unless you have lesions in your mouth or throat during swallowing. I think its okay for you to wait til december and get tested here in manila. 


Next time its always better to spit than to swallow.


Stay safe.


Bong


______________________________________________




Bong,


Thanks po. medyo lumuwag ang loob ko. kaso medyo kabado pa din ako kasi recently may LBM ako then may tumubong mouth sore sa bibig ko. medyo maliit lang pero kinakabahan ako. Hindi kaya symptoms ng HIV yon?


Nol




_______________________________________________




Nol,


Almost anything naman can be a symptom of hiv infection, dipende sa reaction ng katawan ng tao pa rin yan, madalas nga walang kahit anung signs ans symptoms. Taking HIV out of the picture, anybody can have LBM or mouthsore at kahit sabay sabay pa, doesnt necessarily mean meron ka.  There is no way to tell, Hiv test is the only way to know if indeed ur infected. 


Minsan lang medyo napaparanoid tayo. Just take the test the soonest possible time na alam mong safe ka. Don't worry too much. Minsan masama lang talaga ang weather at madalas tayo magkasakit.


Relaks ka lang, kung may makikita kang anonymous testing site dyan, much better para malaman mo na ang katotohanan.


Bong














Saturday, March 3, 2012

My EX is Parteeing N Playing!


Hi Bong,

I love your blog site as it delivers a clear message to Filipino people engaging into activities that put them at risk to acquire HIV. I decided to write an email because recently I learned that my ex boyfriend was engaging into risky sexual practices. We separated last July 2011 and still I know in my heart I still care. When I learned that he is engaging into partee and play without protection I was alarmed. A friend of mine whom I introduced him when we were still together exchanges messages to him in planetromeo. Sharing stories and sex trips. From ecstasy, he is now taking ice/slam. Engaging into pnp 1on1 but most of the times a group of 6 and more. Sadly, none of those events did he use condoms according to my friend.

I do not know PnP then until I researched every detail of partee and play. The rising incidence of HIV according to an article and even a feature news from an international tv was due to PnP. I was very curious that i researched colloquial terms they are using. To understand further pnp, i tried it once (of course observing safe sex from start to the end) to know how it feels. It was indeed ecstatic but a person in pnp was still in his sound mind and there was a period after the pnp that you would feel down even without reason (crashing is the term according to my research).


I wanted to help him, he was still young  (25 years old and I am 30). I took HIV test when I learned he was doing pnp, fortunately it was negative (feb 2012) because I know in myself i am not engaging into unprotected sex except to my bfs. I am convincing him to take the test and he refuse to talk about it. I care and i consulted hiv + in pr how to convince him to take the test...

I wanted to help him because i still care. Please help.

Thank you.

CARING EX


-----------------------------------------------


hello Caring Ex,

i will reply to your letter in my next blog (medyo busy lang) --- i also want to blog in details about the topic of PnP, there's a reason my blog is titled as such... i'v been wanting to talk about it, i always hesitate but because you opened the topic na, maybe this March is the right time to talk about it.

thanks for writing to me Caring Ex...

(anybody who wants to comment and help would be highly appreciated)

ito ang aking diary

BONG

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

MGA TANUNG NI KOJIE

Hello Bong,

My name is KOJIE from pque 23. At my age, I also have the same blessing. Dont want to mention the magic word. I have so many thoughts in my mind. After knowing that I have obtained the blessing, my plans in life suddenly changed. I need some pieces of advice if its okay:

I planned to work abroad some day when I reach the age of at least 27-28 but knowing I have it I guess its no longer possible, can it be detected from my requirement?

I planned to establish my own family when I reach 30 but having it made me changed to stay single forever and not to put someone at risk and also to pass this on my child.

I decided to stay with my current job, just worried if it can be detected with CBC.

Sorry for the confusion, I am indeterminate and I have researched o  it and its going there after a month so I am just preparing myself. Will have to visit mid of Jan 2012.

Regards,
KOJIE





hello kojie,

maligaya ka sana ngayong pasko at bagong taon, alam ko na matapos ang ganitong 'bad news' eh medyo mas mahirap ng magpakasaya --- pero hindi imposible na sumaya pa tayo, if fact maraming dapat ipagpasalamat sa ating buhay at sangkaterba pa ang dahilan para maging masaya tayo.

working abroad ---  oo maaari ka pang makapagtrabaho abroad, pero hindi lahat ng bansa ay pwede, may mga bansang ipinagbabawal ang magtrabaho ang dayuhan na PLHIV (people living with HIV), makabubuting pag aralan mo muna ang batas ng bansang iyong gustong pagtrabahuhan at kung nagrerequire sila ng HIV testing.  sa US pwede pwede, sa Singapore at ibang Arab Countries hindi na pwede.   pero kung tourist visit lang naman, alam ko na pwede ka pa rin makapunta kahit saan mo gusto dahil wala namang bansa na nagrerequire ng HIV testing sa tourist visa applicants.

establishing a family --- oo maari ka pa ring magkaroon ng pamilya, dahil sa galing ng sensya ngayon ay maari ng magkaroon ng maayos na pamilya ang isang PLHIV.  hindi ito madali ngunit may mga pamamaraan kung paano maiiwasan ang mahawaan ang iyong asawa, gayundin ang inyong magiging anak.  maari kang magtanung sa mga duktor na espesyalista sa HIV/AIDS (sa mga treatment hubs) tungkol dito.


keeping current job ---  nakapaloob sa ating batas (Republic Act 8504) na bawal ang diskriminasyon gayundin ang pagtanggal sa trabaho ng dahil lamang na ang isang tao at PLHIV.  gayundin walang karapatan ang sinuman na pilitin ang isang tao para magpatest ng HIV.  dapat ito ay voluntary.  dahil dito walang kahit sinong kumpanya sa pilipinas ang makakapag-require ng HIV testing sa kanyang mga empleyado, ito ay labag sa batas sa ating karapatang pantao.  ang iyong HIV status ay hindi malalaman sa pamamagitan ng ibang mga blood test tulad ng CBC kaya wala kang dapat na ipangamba.  HIV test lang ang makakapagsabi nito.

indeterminate --- nangyayari ang ganitong resulta kung may mga pag-aalinlangan ang resulta ng ating mga test procedures, maaring hindi pa sapat ang mga antibodies sa iyong katawan (window period), at may iba pang kadahilanan.  mas makabubuting magpatest kang muli sa itinakdang panahon para malaman kung anu ang tunay na resulta.

maganda ang naghahanda.  hiling ko ay maging (negative) ang resulta ng iyong mga darating na tests pero nais ko ring ipaabot sa iyo na kahit positive man ang lumabas, hindi ito katapusan ng mundo.  goodluck sa iyo at sana ay matagpuan mo ang kapayapaan at katatagan ng kalooban ngayong bagong taon.

salamat

BONG


TIMELINE (without ARV treatment):