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! +)

FUNDRAISING PROJECT

In connection with the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial there will be a  Jake Positive Fundraising Project. I'm selling printed T-Shirts and proceeds will go to the Western Visayas Medical Center – HIV & AIDS Core Team (Treatment Facility for People Living with HIV)  to provide Medical Assistance to Indigent and Low Income Individuals Living with HIV & AIDS.

Here are the details . . .

 FRONT PRINT

 

BACK PRINT FOR WHITE SHIRT

 

 BACK PRINT FOR BLACK SHIRT

 KIDS size 8 - 170
KIDS size 10 - 170
KIDS size 12 - 170
KIDS size - 170
TEENS - 175
SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE - 185
XL - 190
XXL - 210
XXXL - 215

 KIDS size 8 - 180
KIDS size 10 - 180
KIDS size 12 - 180
KIDS size 14 - 180
TEENS - 190
SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE - 200
XL - 210
XXL - 230
XXXL - 240

 KIDS size 16 - 200
KIDS size 18 - 200
KIDS size 20 - 200
SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE - 215
XL - 220
XXL - 230

 KIDS size 16 - 200
KIDS size 18 - 200
KIDS size 20 - 200
SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE - 215
XL - 220
XXL - 230

ORDERS ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED 
5/5/2013

The JaKe Positive RN T-SHIRT FUNDRAISING ORDERS/PRE-ORDERS IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION. FOR OTHERS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO PURCHASE PLEASE STAY TUNED TO FUTURE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES BY YOURS TRULY. GOD BLESS US ALL!

 

T-SHIRTS WILL BE RELEASED ON THE 2ND WEEK OF MAY (MAY 13-17, 2013) FOR QUESTIONS, INQUIRIES & RESERVATIONS CONTACT JAKE AT 09993465330 / 09278230300.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE JAKE POSITIVE FUNDRAISING PROJECT. 

JaKe Positive | BE SAFE +) 

 

 

AntiRetroViral Medication Price List

 

I get a lot of questions about the price of  Anti RetroViral medications.

Anti RetroViral Medications here in the Philippines is FREE. Once you get your CONFIRMATORY/WESTERN BLOT Result you are advised to be enrolled in a Treatment Hub for you to avail the FREE TREATMENT which include the intake of ARV medication if your CD4 is below 350 or as advised by your Doctor. You also need to secure and pay your monthly PHILHEALTH Contribution for you to AVAIL other services provided by the PHILHEALTH Outpatient HIV & AIDS Treatment (OHAT) Package.

But for others who with some personal reasons prefer not to be enrolled in a Treatment Hub and wants to know the prices, here's an estimated price of  AntiRetroVirals:

1st Line AntiRetroViral - 700 - 900 Php/month

2nd Line AntiRetroViral - 2,500 - 3,000 Php/month

 JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)

HIV, BODY PIERCING & TATTOOING

I do get questions regarding HIV TRANSMISSION through BODY PIERCING & TATTOOING.

IS THAT REALLY POSSIBLE?

There wasn’t any documented/recorded case in the Philippines of a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) who claims that he/she got it from a BODY PIERCE or TATTOO.

A risk of HIV transmission does exist if instruments contaminated with blood are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used inappropriately between clients. It is ideally recommended that single-use instruments intended to penetrate the skin be used only once, then disposed of.  Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the skin and/or contact a client's blood should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between clients. 

Personal service workers who do tattooing or body piercing should be educated about how HIV is transmitted and take precautions to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections in their settings.

If you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body pierced, ask staff at the establishment what procedures they use to prevent the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, such as the hepatitis B virus.

Contaminated Blood does pose a HIGH RISK for HIV transmission but also consider the PRINCIPLES OF HIV TRANSMISSION:

EXIT – the virus gets out of the body either through an open wound, cuts, or sores.

SUFFICIENT AMOUNT – there should be a sufficient amount of the virus in order to cause an infection.

SURVIVE – the virus should survive. (The HUMAN BODY is a best place for VIRUS to thrive.

* HIV is very fragile once it is exposed to the outside environment it easily dies. Sunlight, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Acidic Environment KILLS THE VIRUS.

ENTRY – there should be an entry point for the VIRUS to go inside the body. It could be an open wound, cut or sores.

ALL 4 PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE PRESENT FOR TRANSMISSION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Source:

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm 
favim.com

 JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)

How each one is a cure | OUTRAGE MAG

CHECK OUT MY 2ND ARTICLE ON OUTRAGE MAG:

http://outragemag.com/online/how-each-one-is-a-cure/


Jake Positive. BE SAFE! +)

FACES of HIV

Young and old.
Women and men.
Rich and poor.
The 34 million people living with HIV are in every region of the world and from all walks of life.
After 30 years, the AIDS epidemic has many faces.
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2

Greg Louganis | Olympic Champion Diver | USA

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2

Svetlana Izambaeva | Miss Positive | Russia

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2

Tokugha Yepthomi | Doctor | India

1
2

Micaela Cyrina | Student | Brazil

1
2

Richard Berkowitz | Writer | USA

1
2

He Tiantian | Teacher | China

1
2

Chris Smith | Former Secretary of State | United Kingdom

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2

Edwin Cameron | Constitutional Court Justice | South Africa

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2

Prudence Mabele | Activist | South Africa

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2

Suzana Murni | Pioneering HIV activist in Indonesia

Together building hopeA poem written by Suzana Murni, 1996

Tonight
A candle is lit
For you,
For friends with shared feelings
And for them who have already preceded us.
They have already passed away in order not to surrender.
And for friends that have taught us that pain and despair
Obviously can resurrect strength
That which during this time we’ve been unaware of.


If, of course, this problem is the virus,
That destroys the human immune system,
Tell me,
Why do I feel pain more mentally than physically?
And why must I be prevented
From giving you a parting kiss
At the final moment of your life?
At this moment I see
How you are inhumanely isolated by people in your community.
I witness in my mind’s eye
As your body is wrapped in plastic
While your soft blanket that I recognize
Is thrown into a hot flame
That glows of strong rejection of yourself
After much suffering
Because of the virus.
And I,
Through all of this, am close with you
Accompanied with sadness and emptiness.
All will soon become like this
Without time to hope that help will arrive,
Without hope for a future.
And I, myself, still don’t know
That which I am hoping for will arrive tomorrow or not?
Tonight
I light this candle for you
For all meaning that I have already gotten
About life and love.
For the soft touch and sincerity
That isn’t limited by nationality and language.
For friends that have already fought
And those that still firmly resist.
This candle radiates, my friend.
Our hope knitted together will illumine tomorrow’s
Morning sun
And send forth melodious song
That still wishes us to hear.
Warmth steadily returns
Because love never ends
Radiating its rays to the Earth.
Embrace love, which makes us feel strong
And willing to face all challenges
Love’s miracle that lives on
Because life is indeed precious.
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2

Taia Suslova | Activist with the organization FrontAIDS



1
2

Godfrey Sealy | Trinidad and Tobago playwright and activist



1
2

Tamara | Mother, cook and co-founder of an HIV support group in Lebanon



1
2

Nkosi Johnson | Child activist and co-founder of Nkosi’s Haven in South Africa



1
2

Ryan White | An early public face of AIDS in the United States



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Source:
UNAIDS
30 years into the AIDS epidemic
30 milestones, thoughts, images, words,
artworks, breakthroughs, inspirations
and ideas in response


JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)