Manila Social Hygiene Clinic

I went back to the Manila Social Hygiene Clinic Wednesday last week to accompany a a friend I met online. Let's call him K. He's from Pasig and he doesn't know where to get tested, so I suggested we go to MSHC.

We met at LRT Roosevelt Station and took the train going to Tayuman. (As a sidenote, there's a social hygiene clinic in Project 7 that's walking distance from LRT Roosevelt. I've had my first ever test there on September 13, 2011. The result was non-reactive. But i prefer MSHC because I had a much more pleasurable experience there.) The ride to Tayuman was quick. I engaged K in a casual conversation to relax the atmosphere. I didn't feel any sign of worry or anxiety from him, but I made sure he's comfortable nonetheless.

We arrived Tayuman and walked southbound. We passed by the Department of Health (DOH) compound, which is where I presume my dad took my blood bags from during my previous transfusions, and after that passed by Jose R. Reyes Memorial Hospital (JRMH), and turned right at Quiricada Street. Just 50meters away from the intersection is San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), which is really just behind JRMH. SLH is one of the three treatment hubs for HIV patients in Metro Manila, but it is more popular as a hospital for treating animal bites and rabies. The other two are the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Padre Faura, Manila, and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Right across SLH is the Manila Social Hygiene Clinic. We arrived there 11:50am, and it was lunchbreak, so I just gave him a tour around. Upon entering the gate, we went straight to a door at the side of the building with stairs going up. The second floor is where Dra. Mendoza holds office. I showed K the doctor's office and showed him the way to the laboratory where his blood will be taken later. The lab is at the first floor.


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After the tour, we walked to SM Tayuman to kill some time before the clinic reopens. I told him about my experiences when I was having my tests and told him not to worry because Dra. Mendoza is a very pleasant lady. I told him her interview is quick and informal, in contrast with the one I had in Project 7 which was very thorough and took me half an hour to finish.

Around 1pm, we decided to go back to the clinic. Reaching the gate, I told him I'd wait for him at Jollibee in LRT Tayuman and wished him goodluck.

I had lunch while waiting for him. I craved for burger so I had a Champ meal, and had an extra Chicken and Mushroom pasta. While I was eating, he texted me the doctor was still not in. I felt sorry for him because although he doesn't admit it, the extra waiting time is a killer. I already finished my meal and he said the doctor is still not in because she went somewhere but will be back at 2pm. He said he'll wait.

I texted him again after several minutes and he said he's just waiting for the result. I thought, the interview was quick! I was composing my next message to him when he tapped me at the back. He showed me the result: Non-Reactive! :)

To K, I'm happy for you. I hope you take the result as a blessing that should not be taken for granted. Health is wealth, and i hope you stay healthy all through your life. :)

Manila Social Hygiene Clinic is open for free screening of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections on Mondays thru Thursdays, 8-11am and 1-3pm, and Fridays 8-11am only.

The big news.

I left the testing center with questions unanswered. If I was negative, what caused my illness a few weeks ago. I was unconvinced about the result, and I was bent on taking another test after the three month window period has lapsed.

So, in the weeks that followed, I tried living a normal life. Only that, life didn't seem normal anymore.

As days passed, more symptoms presented themselves. I had recurring sore throat, I had oral infections,  I had sweaty (as in dripping wet sweaty) nights, and lost a lot of weight (from 74kg before I was infected, I was 67kg in March). I was no stranger to the symptoms of HIV infection: I've read them all. And I am absolutely convinced I have been infected.

Last week of March, the three-month window period has lapsed. It was time for me to get another test. I've been planning about the test when by some eerie coincidence, I got a series of text messages and missed calls from the guy I had sex with in December. He was asking, "Kelan ka nagkasakit? (When did you get sick?)" When I was able to respond, he told me a disturbing news: his former sex partner tested positive and asked him to get tested. He said he's been crying a lot and was afraid. I consoled him and told him that we should get tested immediately the following day.

So we did. I went to Manila Social Hygiene Clinic, and he went to a private clinic in Makati. The doctor recognized me and asked, "Dati ka na di ba?". Haha. Yes, Doc. I reminded here that I got tested in January, I was non-reactive, but would like to undergo another test to confirm.

It was difficult to explain how I was feeling that day. The symptoms I experienced, the bareback sex, and the news about another guy testing positive: the signs were all too compelling for me to be too hopeful.

After the doctor came back with the result, the look on her worried face gave me broke the news to me even before she opened her mouth. And then she said it, "Reactive ka na."

Others would have cried after hearing that. Believe it or not, I felt a sign of relief -- I got confirmation of something that I already knew all along. It doesn't mean I didn't feel sad. I did. A little maybe.

The doctor later on told me that they will send my blood to San Lazaro for a confirmatory test and that it will take three weeks for the result to come in. I asked her what are the chances it will turn out false positive. She said the possibility is slim, because I was high risk.

I told the guy about my result. He said, his was the same. He said sorry. I told him no need to say sorry, we're both victims of this disease. I never felt anger. At the end of the day, it was also my fault for not properly protecting myself. He didn't force me to have bareback sex. I agreed to it.

So I went home, feeling a little lonely, with a lot of questions in my mind. What will happen to me? My career? My family? Will I die soon? Will I need to stop working? Should I tell my family? Who do I tell? Where do I find treatment?

I arrived home still confused, but I pretended to smile. I went to my room and slept.

The following day, I felt better. It's like waking up to a new life.