“WHAT WORLD AIDS DAY MEANS TO ME”

     

     Today, December 1, 2013 marks the WORLD AIDS DAY. As I was writing this Speech I was thinking about why am I doing this? Am I doing this for my fellow Persons Living with HIV and AIDS or am I doing this for myself? 

     I was diagnosed HIV+ on June 2010. That year has been a rough year for me, struggling to hang on with work while I am away from my family, constant battle with my sexuality & trying hard to live with the expectations of my relatives. 

     When I was diagnosed, all came to a complete halt. Everything was not as same as it was before. I was overshadowed by complete darkness and I don’t know where to start again with my life or what is left of it. I cried buckets of tears thinking that I was totally useless, I was scared of disclosing my status for the fear of being judged, casted away, or hurt by the people I love and value the most.

The fact is, all my fears did happen. The first person who stigmatized and discriminated me were my own parents along with some of my relatives. It was like every day that I wake up everything just keeps getting worse. 

     What made me survive was HOPE, HOPE that accompanied me to each and every hardship that I endured. HOPE that shed light and directed me to a brighter future. HOPE that until now I am holding on to and made me pursue my new dreams.

     I can say that I am a better, stronger, wiser person now. 

    WORLD AIDS DAY is dedicated to raise awareness of the worldwide spread of the HIV Pandemic. And I have been an ADVOCATE for more than 2 years now and I have been struggling with what is really my purpose for doing this ADVOCACY. Well for me I only want one thing to happen, and that is to eventually reach the goal of “GETTING TO ZERO” and it starts with spreading awareness. We need to educate each and everyone in order for them to know the facts and correct misconceptions about the VIRUS. If we do that then we can eventually put an end to the increasing NEW HIV INFECTIONS, we can prevent cases of AIDS-RELATED DEATHS by making sure that they are enrolled in a Treatment Hub and seek proper Treatment and we can be able to stop the STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION attached with this Virus.

     I finally get it know. I am not only doing this for myself or for my fellow PLHIV’s but I’m doing this for everyone. I am sharing my story in order to inspire them and make them realize that it is really happening and will definitely not stop until each and everyone of us will do our part to put an end to it.

EDUCATION is our best weapon to fight the VIRUS. So let us spread awareness not only today but let’s do it everyday.

JAKE POSITIVE

ADVOCATE / HIV COUNSELOR / PEER EDUCATOR / HIV +

HAPPY 3RD TO ME

YESTERDAY, JUNE 1,2013 MARKS MY 3RD POZZIE ANNIVERSARY.

I am very much happy that I am still alive and kicking. Although these previous months was a very stressful and had to a adjust with a lot of things. I am glad that I did overcome again all the trials that I face everyday and I am glad that my family, friends and people who are important to me were there to give me all the support I need. 

As I'm turning THREE, It is still in my oath as an advocate to provide the best services to my clients and be able to mold new pozzies to be empowered and be able to speak up for themselves and fight for what they think is right. It is my duty to support my fellow advocates who I believe has the capacity to become leaders and eventually be able to produce new advocates which would carry on our work.

I have high hopes for my future and the future of my fellow pozzies and eventually we can eradicate STIGMA and DISCRIMINATION.

I THANK YOU O LORD FOR GIVING ME A VERY MEANINGFUL MISSION IN THIS WORLD AND I KNOW THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WHEN I ENTRUST EVERYTHING TO YOU.

CHEERS!



JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)

2ND WEEK AND 3RD WEEK OF ARV TRIAL

I SURVIVED THE 1ST WEEK . . . 

My second week on Lamivudine/Tenofovir/Efavirenz was pretty much great. Although the only drug that is really dominant I can say is Efavirenz. I take it every 9pm and around 10-10:30pm I already go to sleep and I usually wake up again in the middle of the night (around 12mn or 2am) with the feeling of NUMBING SENSATION & HOT FLUSHES (it's like heat is trying to push its way through my skin) I just usually find a comfortable place to sleep which is in our living room and turn on the Fan in full power and within an hour I fall asleep.

Other than the numbing and hot flushes I don't feel anything unusual not until on the 19th just the morning before the 30th AIDS Candlelight Memorial Celebration. I tried an old pants in my closet which was not cleaned fro more than a month and 30 minutes after.....

Rashes started to appear on both inner thighs... Since I see it as a cause of some allergic reaction I took Antihistamine right away and observed for further changes. 

Celebrated the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in the afternoon. Because I was so busy with the event I was not able to notice any changes not until I went home around 8pm and noticed the rashes still spreading now in both my arms and feet. 

That day Monday (May 20,2013) I immediately called my boss and asked permission that I will be absent and head straight to my treatment hub to seek consultation. Immediately the resident physician assigned to me started and IV Heplock and started on Hydrocortisone 200mg and Chlorphenamine Maleate to prevent further allergic complications.

My laboratories were all normal. In the afternoon my doctor advised that I go home and take some rest and prescribe some medications for my allergy. Our main attending Doctor advised me also to seek a second opinion from a dermatologist to really rule out any possible underlying condition.

Next day Tuesday (May 21,2013) I went to SM City Iloilo to look for a Dermatologist on duty in a Skin Clinic. I sat down and then discussed what happened prior to the occurrence of rashes. She also examined my rashes and concluded that it's similar to insect bites and so probably it was Dust Mites from the old pants that I tried. She prescribed some topical Hydrocortisone and Some Antihistamines and then I head straight home to get some rest and to prepare to go to work again the next day.

May 22,2013 went to work and basically had a great day and didn't feel anything unusual. My rashes are starting to fade away. 

May 23-29,2013 I can say that my body is partially adjusted to Efavirenz, I just feel the usual NUMBING and HOT FLUSHES but other than that I'm feeling perfectly fine.

I'm done with my 3rd week and I can say that I feel better now. 

This ends my ARV diary for my 2nd and 3rd week of trial.



JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)

First week of Anti-RetroViral Medication

 

 

Due to my low CD4 result taken last April 17,2013 which revealed 107 cells/µl, a shocking 75% drop from my last year which was 408 taken July 11, 2012. My doctor advised me to start with Anti-Retro Viral Medication Regimen.

 

My Anti RetroViral (ARV) Drug Combination

I started my ARV Tuesday (May 7,2013).

Lamivudine 150mg (Small White Tablet), Tenofovir 300mg (Big Light Blue Tablet)

I take Lamivudine 150mg + Tenofovir 300mg at 9 in the Morning

 

Lamivudine 150mg (Small White Tablet), Efavirenz 600mg (Big Peach Tablet)

And Lamivudine 150mg + Efavirenz 600mg at 9 in the Evening

HERE's MY ARV DIARY

DAY 1 (Tuesday, May 7,2013)

 Felt nothing unusual. Whole day was Normal.

DAY 2 (Wednesday, May 8,2013)

Woke up feeling drowsy and felt like I had a hangover. I can compare it to taking anti-histamine but this time i don't feel light-headed... my head was heavy.

My appetite was not good. I did eat but was not able to enjoy what I was eating the whole day.

DAY 3 (Thursday, May 9,2013)

Woke up 2 in the morning and I felt the Efavirenz having its peak. I was trying to sleep again but I can't and so I played some soothing music to aid my sleep as what i always do when I have insomnia. I was playing  JASON DERULO's WHAT IF and I was hearing the song differently. The song was playing in a slight fast forward mode. Got irritated so I turned off the music. After a while I fell asleep. 

The whole morning was ok, until afternoon came and i started to feel different again. I felt the "heavy" feeling again and so I was really not able to work well and just waited for my work to end and hurried back home and took some rest.

 

DAY 4 (Friday, May 10,2013)

Woke up feeling great and it continued until lunch and after that I was back to "feeling heavy" again and it stayed all throughout the afternoon until early evening.

 

DAY 5 (Saturday, May 11,2013)

Woke up great and I was feeling good the whole day. Asked mom to buy Nilagang Baka, this was the 1st time after I started my ARV that I was able to enjoy the food that I was eating. Never been happier.

 

DAY 6 (Sunday, May 12,2013)

Woke up great again although quite dizzy but is more tolerable and i was able to do some house chores without any problem. Stayed in the house all through out the day with frequent naps.

 

DAY 7 (Monday, May 13,2013)

Woke up around 12:30am and I was playing an instrumental music (violin). I was quite irritated by the sound because it doesn't sound right anymore. I was like playing a little fast again and it was not in tune (of course it's because of the Efavirenz again). So I stopped playing the music and went out of the room and slept at the folding bed in the Living Room. I did have a difficult time again to sleep but after an hour I fell asleep.

That's what I have been experiencing so far and it was a very stressful and hard week for me but I'm glad I made it. But this is just the first week and there's more to come. Hopefully this shall all pass and I can finally be able to adjust to my ARV.

I would like to thank everyone who sent me messages on my mobile, FB,Twitter... You have been given me great strength to overcome all these trials that I am undertaking. I Hope for a better week ahead.

 

 

Jake Positive. BE SAFE! +)