Monday, September 17, 2012

Our re-birth names




From the time that we diagnosed as "HIV+," we also considered ourselves as "reborn individuals" that's why we gave ourselves re-birth names called Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux are the Gemini Twins, since we both born in May.

From now on, we will always remember these dates of June 23 and Aug 18 as our re-birthdays, a second life that was granted to us by our Almighty God.





Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Results

My partner (B2) and I (B1)  went to RITM on the following dates below, and had my 3rd CD4 and at the same time my annual exam. Same thing with my partner he had his 2nd CD4 test.

ME (B1): Aug 24, 2012
My partner (B2): Aug 3, 2012

Then, after 2 weeks we came back to RITM to get the results. Unfortunately, we went at first week of the  month. Meaning, they have a new doctor, who is currently under orientation with Dra. D, so obviously there's a high volume of patients waiting on the queue that time.

The good thing is that I asked my partner to get his ARVs first while we're waiting to be called, until we decided to withdraw our requests for follow up check, since we also had an appointment afterwards. We just asked the nurse-in-charge about our CD4 results, and guess what? finally my 3rd CD4 is now at 634 and my partner's 2nd CD4 is now at  467!!!

Thank God for all the blessings that we have!!!

BTW, we will go back next week to continue our follow up check up... we hope to see you all guys there!!!


Monday, September 3, 2012

Welcome to the positive world

Code "B1">>> Me.
Code "B2">>> My bhe.

May 23, 2011:  Nagstart sumakit ang sikmura ko at akala ko simpleng "Hyperacidity" lang pero pinacheck narin namin "B2" ko. Sabi ni doc, may "Gastroenteritis"  daw ako kaya nagundergo ako ng mga tests isa na dun ang Ultrasound and they found na fatty liver ako. Haist, nagstart nakong magtake ng medication at ang mahal ng gamot, huh. Pang-Ulcer na daw un sabi ng pharmacist so natakot narin ako.

1 week ago, taas baba ang fever ko at halos sinusuka ko na ang mga kinakain ko at pabalik-balik kami sa hospital ng 'B2" ko and I took a lot of blood tests to check kung my "dengue" ako. As a result, ok naman ang platelet count ko.

May something sa leeg ko na hindi ko pinansin for almost 1 year akala ko wala lang... ung mga days na nagkakasakit nako at halos hindi nako makapasok sa work, biglang lumaki hanggang sa batok ko... my sister and mom were so very worried about it at halos sumusuka nako sa kakaubo.



June 23, 2011: My "B2" decided na bumalik hospital para pacheck-up ung bukol ko sa leeg. And--ER decided na i-admit ako. Ang daming interviews ng doctor at halos pagalitan nako. Dumating pa yung point na tanungin ako ung "active ba daw ang sexlife" ko hehe. Xempre hindi nako nahiya, as in obvious naman "becky" ang kausap nya. Sobrang gulo ng utak ko that time.

The ER doctor decided na magundergo ako ng HIV test ... sobrang paranoid ako that time. Halos yakapin ko ang "B2" ko ang sabi ko "bhe, kahit anong mangyari" and he hugged me so tight that time.

Sabi nila 24 hours lang ang result pag "negative" ka. Pero lumipas ang 1 week wala pakong narinig from them about my status.

Daming tests na ginawa sakin: Biopsy, CT scan, other blood tests and cultures etc. Halos masunog nako sa mga matitinding "Anti-biotics" na pinapatake sakin...kung baga "Trial and Error" ang eksena nila. Tsk tsk.

Heto pa ang dumagdag sa stress and depressions ko, ung HMO coordinator, nakita nila sa chart na nagpa HIV test ako.Xiempre, hinold nila ang HMO coverage ko until malaman nila ang HIV result ko. As if naman malaman nila un edi tapos ang career nila.

Lumabas ang result ng mga Biopsy test ko, ang suspecha pa nila eh "cancer" daw. Thank God! it was a TB of the Lymph nodes. Nagsearch ang "B2" ko about it, possible symptom pag  may HIV+.

After 2 weeks staying in that hospital, nakalabas parin ako kahit hindi pa kami nakakabayad... gumawa nalang kami ng 'Promisory note' kasi  sobrang laki ng bill namin... as in! hmp.

Binigyan ako ng 1 month na LOA sa work ko, habang inaalagan ako ni nanay at my bhe sa house nmin.

After 1 week, bumalik kami for follow-up check up at the same time para malaman ang result ng HIV test ko. Kinausap ako ng doctor ko privately kasama ang bhe ko, at binigay sakin ang isang makapal na white envelope containing the result of my HIV test. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan habang nagdadasal na sana.... Biglang bumulaga ang sakin ang word na "POSITIVE." Parang gumuho lahat ng nasa paligid ko..halos hindi ako makausap ng doctor namin. Bigla bumuhos ang mga luha mula sa mga mata ko... pati si doctor umiyak din.

Isang buong araw akong balisa at hindi mapakali sa house namin... hindi makatulog, hindi makausap, hindi makakainin. Buti nalang nasa tabi ko ang "B2" ko para alalayan ako.



Kinabukasan, we decided to go to RITM para magpacheck sa kalagayan ko. Bingyan nila ako ng mga series of tests including CD4... as a result, my first CD4 was 84. Kaya bingyan na agad ako ng treatment aside from treating my TB of the lymph nodes. They gave me 3 ARV's Lami, Effav, Tenvir.

Aug 20, 2011: I came back to work as "Fit to work" kaso talaga ang payat ko, sunog ang balat at nalagas ang buhok ko sa dami ng gamot na iniitake ko.

Hindi ko alam kung magreresign ba ako sa work kasi nga hindi ko na kayang magtake ng calls that time. Buti nalang ung manager namin kinonsider ang kalagayan ko kaya nilagayan nila ako sa Email LOB.

 2 weeks taking my ARV, sobrang kati ng balat ko na parang may gumagapang na maraming langgam sa balat ko.

Umatend kami ng "B2" ko sa isang seminar para sa mga HIV positive, sorbrang naenlighten ako at pinangako sa sarili ko na magiging productive and malakas ako within 6 months. As a result, naging part pako ng dance troupe and naging consistent Top agent performer ako sa LOB namin until now.

Ang laki ng Improvement ko from 50 kilos after 6 months naging 65 kilos ako after taking my medication for TB of the Lymph nodes.

Feb. 2012: had my 2nd CD4... guess what? ... my CD4 na daitng sobrang baba (84), it went up to 434. Thank GOD! Sobrang saya ko that time ang laki laki ng improvement ko.

Maraming salamat, Lord! Now I know to love and value my life!!!

Maraming salamat mahal kong "B2" sa mga pagtyatyaga mo sakin... Mahal na mahal kita.

Maraming salamat sa nanay at kapatid ko at tinangap nyo parin ako kaya ano ako. Mahal na mahal ko kayo!