"A lot of questions, fears and doubts pop up whenever one has engaged in a high-risk sexual activity. The best way to deal with these questions and doubts is to find out if you had contracted any disease or infection, Through a test, you can find out your sexual health status and take the necessary steps to further take care of yourself.
Understandably, one of the major concerns in taking the test is regarding the confidentiality of the test, procedure and results. Remember that all information is kept strictly confidential and that it is your right to demand for confidentiality regardless of the results. Use your right wisely.
Another right that you have is the right to seek for PROPER AND QUALIFIED COUNSELING before and after the test itself. Through counseling you can receive answers to nagging questions and even allay some fears.
By seeking a counselor, you are better prepared physically and emotionally in taking the test as well as facing the results. They can help you understand HIV and AIDS as well as provide you with the necessary information to help prevent and protect yourself and others from infection.
Such a life-changing test and its results must not be taken lightly, take the time to talk to a counselor and exhaust all your queries, fears and insecurities before agreeing to take the test. This way, you fully understand and are prepared for the test, its results and the changes in your life that it may bring. Remember that while the test provides the answers regarding your health, only a proper counseling session can help you with the other questions about life and HIV.
The following centers and sites provide the necessary testing in strict confidence of any and all information."
Well, I think that is one problem right now... the lack or poor quality pre and post counselling, that those who tested positive either are left in the dark what to do next, suffer from depression, and worst get suicidal tendencies... I think this is also something we should look at with our fight against HIV/AIDS...
Anyway, along with this message is the list of testing center all over the country... you can check the website, again, http://redlightspecial.com.ph, click on hotspot...
Anyhow, still on my trip at RITM... so I was cleared of TB, and therefore no more TB meds, which according to my reading, along with Cotrimoxazole, also have neuropathy as a side effect... I was not suppose to bother ARG anymore, but because of that, I thought I should also eliminate cotri on the meds I take and replace with another prophylaxis... that was what took me so long at RITM... I got out around 5pm already... but it was worth the wait as finally... someone took my neuropathy problem very seriously...
The attending doctor, actually have my shoes and socks off, held my feet, I felt embarrass that she had to do so and examined my feet, performing a series of test...
She said so far no weakness, which is good and therefore we may still do something about it... she said we would be on therapy, prescribing Vit. B complex at 1000mg and gabapentin at 50mg, but
specifying a brand, LYRICA? She said if it does not improve condition after 3 days, we would have to up the dosage of gabapentin... it was encouraging...
And still about the new enrollee at ARG... he was prescribed a couple of drugs... and that I noted 3 of them, there were 4, because his mom showed it to me... he was prescribed Cotrimoxazole... I informed them that it is free at the pharmacy and it was confirmed by Let... but I also noted Fluconazole, which an antifungal med, and cost around 750 pesos a piece... and Azithromax which would cost about 150 pesos...
I know... you are looking at, with just the two drugs, around 1000 pesos a day... not to mention the more than 5000 pesos for your baseline test requirements...
I am unsettled by this... and that I feel I need to do something about it... I don't know what... but I am trying to think...
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