How comes to your mind when we say Twitter? Honestly speaking, I would say alter. LOL. I mean, why not? I wouldn’t wash my hands clean to say that I am watching some sexy videos of alter accounts on Twitter.
But we can still also get a different kind of story while scrolling way further the carnal side of Twitter. While I was looking for some information that I can use for my blog, I came across the HIV 101 thread made by @akosispertian. This is just so informative that I am obliged to share.
So without further ado, here it is. Thanks, bud!
Super messy nung ginawa kong thread about HIV so I'm redoing it!
HIV 101 MEGATHREAD! <3
(feel free to add stuff or correct me 😀 )
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
To understand it better, let's take it letter by letter.
H is for human. Transmission is only human to human.
You can't get HIV from "HIV-infected food" or through mosquitos. Always from one human to another.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
I is for immunodeficiency is the weakening of the immune system. I'll explain this further later.
V is for virus. A type of organizsm that is smaller than a cell.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Now what does AIDS stand for?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
A is for acquired. This is the result of an exposure to an infected person. Makukuha natin ang HIV, okie? Hindi ka matutulog at pagising mo, meron ka na. Mahahawa ka, makukuha mo ito.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
I is for immune. Our immune system.
D is for deficient. Panghihina.
S is for syndrome. A collections of illnesses and symptoms. WALANG TELL TALE SIGN IF NASA AIDS STAGE KA NA OR IF MAY HIV KA. This depends on the lifestlye you're living, or where you live!
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Is HIV equal to AIDS? No.
HIV is the virus that one person gets. AIDS is a stage where there's so many HIV in their body. Kumbaga sa cancer, meron kang cancer (HIV) at nasa stage four (AIDS) na ito. Gets?
To understand it further, what happens ba when HIV enters our body?
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
In our body, we have nodes that send out white blood cells aruond our body if may germs sa loob or may sugat tayo. They fight that shit and kill them. Kaya madaling gumagaling ang ibang sakit sa katawan natin.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
When we have sipon, what does the elders tell us? Tubig+pahinga lang, oks na yan. that's our immune system in the works.
HOWEVER, before lumabas ang white blood cells, dapat meron munang magtrigger sa kanila o "mag-sumbong" na something wrong is going on. This is the CD4 cells.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
When HIV enters our body, it goes to the bloodstream and hunts the CD4 cell. Since HIV nga is smaller than a cell, papasok siya sa CD4 cell, sasabog to kill it, at saka magpaparami.
Until soon enough, wala nang CD4 cell, wala nang magusumbong na need ng white blood cells.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
If sobrang baba na ng CD4 cell count + sobrang dami na ng HIV sa body, this is what we call the AIDS stage.
Mahina na ang immune system at hindi na agad gumagaling ang mga sakit na nasa body. Opportunistic infections will enter the body weakening us further.
Gets? HIV =/= AIDS.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
So, let's backtrack a bit. When HIV enters the body of a healthy person, destroys the CD4 cells, and reproduces itself, what happens to the body? Nothing.
HIV is asymptomatic. There won't be any signs or symptoms that will tell someone they have it.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
One can know their HIV status only through testing! Yun lang, wala nang iba.
When should you get tested tho? THREE MONTHS AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE. Not the day after, not a week after. Three months.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Bakit? Kasi the virus needs to find the bloodstream and then reproduce itself bago siya mag-appear sa test. This is what we call the "WINDOW PERIOD"
Need to wait ng three months talaga, mga sizt. So if harvat ng January 10, test dapat by April 10. Keri?
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
NEXT. What are the four body fluids that contain HIV?
1. Blood
2. Semen (pre-cum included)
3. Vaginal fluid
4. Breastmilkthat's all.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
NEXT. What are the three modes of transmission of HIV?
1. Blood and blood products.
– This is sharing needles (injected prohibited drugs, reusing needles when getting tattoos), not following the testing protocols when donating blood, etc.— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
2. Mother to child transmission
– This is from pregnancy, labor, to breastfeeding the child. So girls, get tested before you decide bearing a baby! But also every three months if sexually active hehehez— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
3. Unprotected, penetrative sex!
– This is oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex na walang condom. Pls guys use condoms!!! IT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT HIV TRANSMISSION— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
So what are the things that you can do that won't risk y'all of getting HIV?
EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT IN THE AFOREMENTIONED LIST. Talking, kissing, mosquito bites, sharing utensils, sharing toilet seats, swimming, living in the same house, etc
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Y'all don't need to isolate and exclude people living with HIV (PLHIVs). As long as the interaction is not one of the three, you're good. DONT HATE, DONT DISCRIMINATE. #EndTheStigma!
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Re: Testing. So where can you get tested?
1. Social hygiene clinics in your cities.
2 Through non-government organizations like @TheRedWhistle, @LoveYourselfPh, @pozziepinoy, and other! <3
3. Private institutions that offers HIV testing.— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
It usually comes with other tests for hepa b or syphilis. Others have packages so pak mas madaming tests. Yay for being responsible and knowing your status!
There is no shame in testing. In fact, mas nakakaganda ng imahe ito. You're responsible and it's an act of self care! <3
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
So what happens after testing?
If you're non-reactive or HIV negative, the worries and overthinking will be over. Take care of yourself more to keep this status. Then get tested again after three months. Every three months, fren, make it a habit! <3
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
If you're reactive or HIV positive, fret not! It is not a death sentence, it is not the end of the world. This is actually a chance for you to treat yourself better and start living a healthy lifestyle.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Places like LoveYourself is actually a one stop shop for everything because after counseling you, they will redirect you to a life coach who will guide you all the way. You also can get your meds from them!
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
WAIT. MEDICATION?
Yes. Like diabetes and hypertension, HIV has no cure yet, but it has treatment. They all it ARV or Anti-Retroviral Drug. <3
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
ARV is a pill a person takes everyday to make the HIV dormant or "put it to sleep" Para di na magpadami, soon enough magiging mababa na ang HIV count at tataas ang CD4 count. Until one day when a PLHIV gets tested, ang lalabas nang result is UNDETECTED. #UequalsU
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
What does #UequalsU mean?
UNDETECTABLE = UNTRANSMITTABLE.
If a PLHIV gets tested and the results says undetectable, it means that the HIV count in their body is so damn low that they won't be able to transmit it to other people!! SURPRISE!!! IT CAN HAPPEN1!!
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Re: Sexy times.
If a PLHIV is undetedtable, pweds na makipag-sex? Yes, but still use condom pls!! Just to be safe. Also, hindi lang naman HIV ang prineprevent ng HIV, STDs din! Hehehehe.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
If a PLHIV is not undetectable no sex na? NO. Hello, sex doesn't always mean penetrative. Madaming ibang sex techniques ang anjan. To name a few: frottage, mutual masturbation, finger blasting, etc.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
((mejo nagbra-branch out na tayo, but this is a megathread anyways.))
What happens if a couple is made up of one non-reactive person and one reactive person? This is what they call SERIDISCORDANT COUPLES. <3
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
So, the PLHIV must take ARV. Then the non-reactive person can take PrEP! If you're watching "How to Get Away with Murder" you must have heard this from Connor Walsh. This is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.
It's a drug that non-reactive people take to protect themselves from HIV.
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
What is does is it covers the CD4 cell with a protective layer so when HIV tries to enter, it won't be able to so it will go out of the body nalang. Hehehehe.
I actually don't know where or how to get this. Google mo, girl! (a SFW version of GMG hakhak)
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
If you've noticed, I haven't said anything about the gaysâ„¢ or heteros. This is because HIV is not an LGBT+ centirc or gey-exclusive issue!!
Always remember: IT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE THAT PUTS YOU AT RISK. IT'S WHAT YOU DO THAT PUTS YOU AT RISK.#EndTheStigma!!!
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
Ayun lang sana wala akong nakalimutan. Sana may natutunan kayo! Now go forth and share the knowledge. Don't be afraid to correct people (even me) when they say something wrong.
Comments? Suggestions? Reactions? Corrections?
Thank u <3
— Watson (๑˃ᴗ˂)ï» (@akosisupertian) August 27, 2018
