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

 

 

 

 

 

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#WearYourSkin

premium derma services for those of us who care so much for our skin

 

RATES:

MAP:

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

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CHEM SEX & HIV!

"When I did get a chance to connect with others in this madness we sometimes talked about being HIV positive. People would say that they felt the disease was treatable now and that they had a second chance. That seemed to be the general attitude to HIV – that it was no longer a problem for them personally." --- http://www.beigeuk.com/2014/02/chem-sex-revealed-part-one/

nakakalungkot! pero parang nagiging ganito na rin ang sitwasyon dito sa pilipinas... me mga naririnig na akong ganito ang pananaw sa chem sex at pagiging positive kaya wala na silang pakialam. :(

stay safe everyone!

 

ako si BONG

ito ang aking diary

 

 

 

 

 

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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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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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SINGLE + SHINGLES = VALENTINES DAY!

yun na nga, singleblessedness ang peg ng kuya nyo!

eto ang bonus, shingles for valentines day!

kaloka ang timing at rhyming ng status ko ngayon.

buti na lang at first sign of the blister eh takbo na agad ako sa derma ko

so maaagapan ang gamutan - sana di na lumala pa ito

day 1 - three small blisters just above the knee

day 2 - additional bunch of itchy blisters on the inner thigh

at eto ang reseta, 2tabs x 3x daily x 7days = almost php 8000

potah mas lalo bababa cd4 ko sa gamot na ito

kaloka!

di bale i love myself naman!

(hugs self) - ouch sakit ng blisters!

ansayah sayah!

 

kayo? kamusta naman ang valentine nyo?

 

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG

 

 

 

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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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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)

 

 

 

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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

 

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HIV MEDS ADHERENCE???

Exactly what level of adherence to HIV medications is required to maintain virological control?

Dear Dr. Young:

This is a question that has always intrigued me, ever since I started on an effective antiretroviral treatment combination in 1997. Back then we were warned that even missing a single dose of our medications could spell disaster i.e. HIV resistance and subsequent loss of virological control. So I mustered all the self-discipline I could and took my medications as "correctly" as humanly possible and attained virological control (viral load measurements below the limit of quantification using whatever technology at the time) that I have maintained. Recently I undertook a very rigorous audit of my adherence that disclosed that in fact I take about 99 per cent of my doses and completely miss about one per cent in a one-year timeframe. Despite this error and lack of perfection my viral load remains undectable. I was just curious because even with the utmost of care that I bring to the task I still fall short of one hundred per cent perfection. Thank you for any insight you can provide.

Please accept my best regards,

Wayne Toronto, Canada

______________________

Response from Dr. Young

Hi Wayne and thanks for posting from Canada.

Perfection might be a goal, but rarely achieved.

You're adherence is exemplary- 99% is excellent and not associated with any decline in viral suppression. I would not be concerned about a 1% missed dose at all.

While we continue to quote a 95% goal (from a ~1999 study), with current medications, it's quite likely that lower levels of adherence continue to provide very good viral suppression.

In my clinic of less-than-perfect patients, loss of viral control has been exceptionally rare, and often the result of complete discontinuation of medications, rather than the inadvertent missed dose. So, worry not.

Be well, BY

Source: http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Meds/Q229268.html?ic=700101

 

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Use of Poppers

Jan 13, 2013

I have an undetectable viral load and high CD4 count. I now want to try to try to put myself back into the dating scene. I know that if it gets sexual I need to wear condoms. I just need to know is it safe to take poppers to loosen up before sex. I am currently on Isentress and Complera. Would it be a deadly cocktail and what can I do, because I can't normally maintain an erection being penetrated nor do I ejaculate. I heard men with HIV should not to use poppers. Please advise.

 

Response from Dr. David Fawcett

Thanks for writing. Poppers should be used with caution. They don't mix with protease inhibitors (although neither Isentress nor Complera contain PIs) because of interference with liver enzymes, creating the potential for increased blood levels of certain medications. You mention erectile dysfunction. Poppers are a dangerous mix with ED drugs such as Viagra. The combination can cause a drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate, and even more serious problems like heart attack or stroke.

In my practice I see a high number of men who rarely or never have sex without poppers and/or mood altering drugs. Sex without the benefit of something to "loosen up" can be intimidating and intense for some, but a drug-free experience will ultimately be more much more satisfying (and safer).

Enjoy!

David

www.thebody.com

 

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SINO ANG NAKAHAWA SA IYO?

You know Bong, if you have noticed most of the HIV cases in PH, they hardly know where they got it. Very seldom that someone can recall or traced it back from its "ORIGIN".I know for a fact that it will not changed a thing if you have the virus already but then isnt it make you feel better if you know who passed it!

from HIVSLASHAIDS
http://hivslashaids.blogspot.com/

HELLO HIVSLASHAIDS,

totoo, kahit ako, i cannot exactly pinpoint who is the culprit in my case... alam mo kung bakit? kasi mahirap naman talagang malaman kung sino --- unless isa lang ang nakasex (unsafe) mo sa buong buhay mo, or kapag once every 6 months ka lang nakikipagsex at within that period eh magpapaHIV test ka, siguro kapag ganun ang case mo mapipinpoint mo...

it is a FACT na even if you have unsafe sex sa isang PLHIV, may chance pa rin na hindi ka mahahawahan --- hindi automatic na mahahawahan ka agad, may chances pa rin na hindi... maraming factors ang dapat iconsider.   ang sabi pa nga ng ibang studies eh mahirap naman daw talaga na maikalat ang HIV, marami lang talagang mga tao ang nagiging mapangahas pagdating sa sex.

so ano yun iisa isahin mo ang mga nakasex mo? pipilitin mo magpatest kung ayaw umamin or kung hindi nila alam? (thats against the law to make-pilit magpatest anybody) tapos kung nag positive nga sila, pano mo mapapatunayan na sya ang nakahawa sa iyo at hindi ikaw ang nakahawa sa kanya?  so you have to consider time differences, kelan ka nahawahan? kelan ka nagpatest? kelan sila nahawaan? kelan sila nagpatest?  ---  eh kung magnegative yung pinagdududahan mo, e di ikaw naman ang babalikan nya, bakit mo siya inilagay sa risk of infection, ikaw naman hahabulin.  walang katapusan na counterchecking baka makagawa ka na ng family tree ng HIV sa Pilipinas.  gugulo lang ang buhay mo.

sa aking palagay mas makabubuting wag na lang malaman (irrelevant na yung issue), kasi una mahirap maghinala at mahirap magprove ang ebidensya, unless 100 percent sure ka nga, solid facts ang kailangan.  at para anu pa? it wouldnt make any difference at all. isa pang pagsisimulan ito ng galit, kung malalaman ko kung sino, baka hindi natin maiwasan na magtanim ng galit sa taong me kasalanan, most of the cases naman eh hindi rin nila sinasadya ang pangyayari.

negative energies ang mga yun, wala na akong panahon sa ganun, i just wanna live a healthy and positive life, anything i do that does not make me productive and will not lengthen my life is a WASTE of TIME - so why bother? ;)

para sa akin, ang katotohanan, kasalanan ko rin ito, nagpabaya ako, tinatanggap ko ng 100% ang responsibilidad na ito, wala akong sinisisi at itinuturo...

sana lahat tayo ganun.

ito ang aking diary

ako si BONG