Denial to defiance

Friday, December 2, 2011

CHAD (not his real name) was 18 when he was confined in the hospital for pneumonia. Before that, he had been in and out of the hospital for fever and skin infection, but it took several laboratory tests to find out what his illness was.

After a series of blood tests, doctors learned he was positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

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Because of his sexual activities with another man, he did not count so much on the confirmatory test coming out negative.

Turning point

“All the drama was there—the denial, the anger and the depression that came after, I experienced all of that. But after I saw other people living with HIV, 20 to 30 years after being diagnosed they’re still here and even have children who are negative, that was my turning point,” Chad said.

That was five years ago. Today, Chad, now 23, is with a group that helps people living with HIV with their treatment and provides a support system where their psycho-social needs can be addressed.

“That was our goal when we formed the group, to help those with HIV. They need to know that when you acquire HIV, it’s not yet the end of the world,” he said.

Open up

He also encouraged people living with HIV to open up to their families and inform their parents about their situation, as this would be crucial in their own acceptance of their illness.

After being diagnosed with HIV, Chad made it a point to inform his partners about his condition and always have protected sex.

“I had partners who were negative, and I informed them. The good thing is that up to now, they are still negative because when we have sex, we have protected sex,” said Chad.

Since he was diagnosed at a late stage of the infection, Chad has been in and out of the hospital for complications of HIV, which on hindsight, he said, could have been managed.

Early testing

He urged those who engage in unprotected sex and those who have sex with individuals who engage in risky sexual behavior to submit themselves to HIV testing. Early detection is the key to managing the illness well, he said.

“Mine was a late-stage diagnosis. I was already suffering from the complications of the infection. I had a very low immune system so even before I was diagnosed, I was already in the hospital often. That is why we always promote early testing,” he said.

For those who delay the HIV test for financial reasons, Chad said the test is available for free anytime at the Cebu City Health Department.

Some laboratory tests are also available for free at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, if anyone with HIV cannot afford to go to private hospitals, he said.