Poz from the Philippines

[burrai]

Hi,

For weeks I've been visiting this forum to compare symptoms that might shine some light that I might not have HIV. And today I just received my confirmatory test result, and it was positive.

as of confirmatory result letter
EIA - Reactive
4th Gen - Reactive (93.xx)
Western Blot - Positive (gp160, gp120, p24)

I am a gay male living in the Philippines, 22, starting to having a sex life and unfortunately chose the wrong guys.

What I want to discuss is could you guys help me analyze whom among the guy I've had sex with could possibly be the one who I got trasmitted with.

Dec 21 - Non-reactive (4th gen duo)
Jan 4 - Non-reactive (4th gen duo)
Jan 31 - Reactive (Faint line - antibody 4th gen duo)
Reactive (EIA)

Dec 7 - Oral sex
The guy throat fucked me and ejaculated on my mouth, afterwards I spat some blood due to the intensity of the intercourse.

Dec 17 - Status unknown, had protected anal sex. Unprotected oral sex

Dec 22 - Current lover, claims to had tested Oct., had worked overseas, insists on having unprotected sex. Still insist in having unprotected sex even I told him I was reactive.

January 5 - Seroconversion

I was thinking the high risk intercourse was the first one, but since Antigen test from the duo should have appeared reactive since 2 weeks is its window period, and at it's peak on the 4th week from infection.

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Look the window could be anything up-to 3 months and include all of the above contacts. As for your current partner he tested in October so negative in August of 2016 it does not mean much to you that he was negative from HIV or STI's back than.

Short of it is you are HIV positive and life goes on, have you spoken about treatment options in your part of the woods and have you also tested for other STI's since you last contact?

Anyhow wishing you all the best

Jim

[Ptrk3]

burrai:  sorry to read that you are HIV positive, but glad you found out early, so that treatment can begin, and that you found these forums for support and enlightenment.

As to determining from whom you contracted the virus, it really does not matter at this point, but all should be contacted in order that they get tested and on treatment
for their own health and the health of their future partners.

In any scenario, one must take the responsibility to protect themselves, too.

However, presuming that the incidents you describe below are your only incidents, one might statistically suspect that the partner of December 22 (presuming the unprotected sex was anal) could be the most likely person who passed on the virus to you.  Following that incident, the December 17 encounter could be considered, if the condom somehow failed.

The other scenarios are unlikely, but not impossible, just highly unlikely statistically.

Rather than focus on the past (other than to seek ways to inform your partners for the reasons mentioned), look to the future.  Most of us HIV positive people on this forum have made a human mistake (the exception being those born with the virus) and it is natural to relay the incident that may have infected us and ruminate over it:  but it is all to no avail, really.  We can't change the past, but we can do everything to make sure our futures are as healthy and successful as possible.

Your goal now should be to get on the proper medication regimen and live a long and healthy life fully.

[burrai]

Accomodations for HIV patients here in the Philippines is pretty good. Since there was a spike on the HIV rates, the government subsidized almost all of the expenses.
Though there is still lack of equipment. It took a month till I had my confirmatory result.

Yes I had been tested for other STIs and all came back negative. I'll be starting treatment on Saturday, I have to travel 4 hours just to get my baseline checked.

And as of tracking down who I got it from, I contacted all of them, and it narrowed down to this three. Including my partner, they are afraid of getting tested. Considering I told them it's for the best.

Since I've waited for a month for the result, I kinda had time to think over life, future, and all the depression and grief. Now that it's confirmed, I'm handling it well.

And especially seeing both of your posts from other threads, I see that it is managable and isn't a burden. It's just an additional routine on our daily lives.

[burrai]

Any advices regarding opportunistic infection?

Like am I now prone of getting sick from someone who has a cold at this early stage of infection?
What do I avoid?

Or basically any specific advice to a newly diagnosed poz.

By the way, thank you for replying that quickly. It really warms me to communicate with fellow poz. Since the virus is just newly being targeted by the media here in the Philippines, being public about it is really a controversy. Considering I live in a provincial part of the country.

[Ptrk3]

You will need to know your CD4 count and viral load.  If your CD4 count is above 200, you are out of the "danger zone" for the vast majority of opportunistic infections.  Your CD4 is likely above 200, since you appear to have been recently infected.

With CD4's above 200 you are no more likely to get a "cold" any more, really, than anyone else, including HIV-negative people.  On the flip side, sure, you will get "colds" sometimes, just like everyone else: no need to walk around with a surgical mask, etc.  The immune system is complicated and intricate, and much of it will function fine, even with an HIV infection.

Once you learn your CD4 count and viral load, the important goal for you is to take your antiretrovirals to achieve and maintain an "undetectable" viral load, which means HIV replication in your body has been suppressed.  That's a good thing, and will, in turn, allow your CD4 count to rise.  If your CD4's are in decent shape, the CD4 count will not matter.  It's the viral load that matters.

Keep a good good attitude, take your medications (one a medication has been prescribed to you), and go about your life:  you will be fine.

Peruse information through this link for those newly diagnosed:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/newly-diagnosed

[burrai]

The next thing corcerned of is how long does an ART complaint poz till the CD4 count reaches 200?

Perhaps like in my situation, 22, recently infected, and pressumably I won't miss any meds. How long will it take for me to reach that level?

Sorry for being straight forward. I'm really grateful for your response.

Also regard to the link you posted, my problem is that there are no nearby support group existing here at my province, there's one in Manila which is 9 hours away from here. That's why I think I'll be spending my time here in the forum as a temporary alternative for a support group.

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Look ART does not increase your CD4, nothing does. It is your body that does that.

What HIV treatment does is suppress the virus so your body can focus on better things, and yes from this your CD4 will go up, however the "how-long" that takes varies from person to person.

The real focus is taking you meds and suppressing the virus so it is no longer doing uncontrolled damage.

Jim

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/starting-hiv-treatment

[Ptrk3]

Your CD4's may now be above 200, since it appears that you have been infected recently.  You need a baseline count of your CD4's, now that you have been diagnosed.

If your CD4's are below 200, the time will vary from individual to individual as to how long it may take before the CD4's rise to 200 and above.  That's why it's crucial to attain and maintain an "undetectable" viral load, in order to stop the replication of the HIV in your body, which, in turn, will allow your CD4 count to repair and recover.

But first things first.  Your healthcare provider needs to test for your baseline CD4 count, your HIV viral load, and your HIV genotype, in order to prescribe you the appropriate medication regimen for you to initiate to start the healing process.

You are free to seek as much advice, information, and support from these forums as you need.  There are many good people here who will be pleased to assist and guide you as you begin your lifelong journey to full and complete health.

[Jim Allen]

Any advices regarding opportunistic infection?

Like am I now prone of getting sick from someone who has a cold at this early stage of infection?
What do I avoid?

Patrick has already answered this but I will chime in on look the long term part.

To avoid toxoplasma - don't lick the cats anus   

Look all joking aside live your life as normal no real special precautions, so once your on treatment and you CD4's are above 200 and rising there is not much you can do, take your meds, keep the HIV suppressed.

One thing you can do is talk to your doc and at some stage get vaccinated for illnesses so preventative, now this does differs per region of the globe but think of hepatitis B; influenza (flu) (Yearly) ; human papillomavirus (HPV) ; pneumococcal (pneumonia) etc

Jim

[burrai]

Just an update.

Haven't started ARVs yet, but I already got my CD4 count and it's 647 (yaaaay), though didn't had a Viral load test. For government cost efficiency, they only use Viral load test to monitor drug resistence.

I have a question, in a scale of 1-10. How difficult is it to undergo ARV's side effects? I know it varies from different drugs and to different people. I just want to have a heads up before I start next week. Thanks!

[Jim Allen]

You should not expect any side effects other than a few adjustment days/weeks.
Few bad dreams, mild adjustment.

So on a scale from 1-10, well I've had worse time in my life from dealing with drinking milkshakes too fast.

Jim

[Wade]

Hi burrai, Jim's right the newer meds are very gentle and I doubt you will notice little if any side affects. You will be just fine 

Wade

[burrai]

Cheers to a positive life then

Thanks guys!

[Greg01]

Dec 22 - Current lover, claims to had tested Oct., had worked overseas, insists on having unprotected sex. Still insist in having unprotected sex even I told him I was reactive.

Hi.  I hope you are continuing to do well.  Your CD4 count is great!  It is important to get your viral load and begin medication, as soon as possible.

I have included a part of what you wrote, above.  No one has mentioned this yet, so I would like to.  This current lover who claims to have tested negative in October but insists on having unprotected sex, and continues to insist on it, despite having learned that you were reactive, is, to say the least, interesting.  I would be very concerned about it.  Think for a moment:  Why would an HIV negative person desire to continue having unprotected anal sex with someone who is positive?  One possible explanation is he is the top and he is on PREP, but I would get the answers to these questions from him.  Another explanation, and this is just speculation, your current lover may very well be positive and know he is positive, it would explain why he is not only comfortable, but is insistent, upon having unprotected anal sex now that he knows you are positive, while claiming to be negative.  Just from my perspective, everything about this situation of what your current lover has and continues to ask you to do sexually raises a red flag, and I would find this behavior concerning and want additional information about it from him.  If he is negative or on PREP he can easily prove that.  If he is not willing to address your questions head on with some proof then it's quite possible he has deceived you, and maybe at the expense of your own heath.  Trust is crucial to all relationships, and at this point, if you are still seeing him, his clearing up this mystery seems not only warranted, but essential, to me, anyhow.

Greg

[Greg01]

I would like to correct myself on something.  You did not say that your current partner, who you had sex with on December 22nd, and insists on having unprotected sex, even after learning you were reactive, had unprotected anal sex with you.  Somehow I thought that to be the case, but you did not say that.  My apologies.  Other than that I stand by all I shared. 

Best,

Greg

[Jim Allen]

Why would an HIV negative person desire to continue having unprotected anal sex with someone who is positive?

There can be plenty of reasons and I know a few people like this, however speculating about the OP's ex reasons is not going to help or change much.

Simple fact is unprotected intercourse is a risk and even if someone tested today it means nothing. So protect yourself and as for the OP, the focus is on moving forward instead of looking at the past.

Jim

[Greg01]

Hi Jim,

What I shared is only relevant if he is still with that person.  He didn't refer to him as his ex in the post but as his current.

Best,

Greg

[Jim Allen]

Hi Greg,

Sure current, but same thing.

There can be plenty of reasons why HIV negative people have unprotected sex only even when they suspect or know the partner is or may be HIV positive and I know a few people like this, however speculating about it is not going to help or change much for the OP.

Simple fact is unprotected intercourse is a risk, we have no idea about the partners status as he tested in October and even if someone tested today it means nothing. People need to protect themselves and as for the OP, the focus is on moving forward instead of looking at the past.

Jim

[burrai]

A lot of people here in this part of the country aren't much educated with regards to safe sex.
I tried Grindr again just to catch and release (I swear ), and they just evaluate what I look, and how many guys I've been with to decide if I'm safe or what. They also said that either I provide the condom or not use one at all.

I think my city is on a tipping point to an epidemic. :/

Update about me

Just took my 3rd pill last night, slept the morning before so I'm up all night. Side effect was hard headache for an hour, and for 5 hours I'm feeling slightly dizzy. Will it be always like this, or side effect will become less in time?

[Jim Allen]

Just give your body a week or so to settle in.
Also what meds are you taking?

Jim

[burrai]

Thanks Jim

Generic ones TFD+Efavirenz+Lamivudine. Haven't requested for branded ones yet, then again I can't afford it anyway