Nurses with Hepatitis B in the Philippines?

World Philippines

Published

You are reading page 5 of Nurses with Hepatitis B in the Philippines?

balfore_rn

1 Post

hi there..

im newbie in this forum and i was glad to find this site. well we are all in the same boat, suffered from fear of rejection, dilema, depression. found out that i was hep b+ way back 1998.. before the clinicals-- last few days of my 3rd year in college.. evry student need to be screened and immunized prior hospital exposure in manila. got soo stunned when university nurse approached me and talked to me in private that im one of the few who got + with hep b.. i was in a state of shock then but kept evrythng within me-- i was paperwhite then and feeling so sick to my stomach but i ddnt tell anybody nor my friends even if they've been soo concerned of whats going on with me. my mom got me right away to the doctor..and i was prescribed to take IMMUNOSIN (im not sure of the spelling) for a couple of days. i was 20yrs old then and all the dreams of a 20 year old suddenly collapsed-- i chose to be so quite in school & even at home, dnt have courage to tell even to my sisters.. i got so paranoid- i even separate my own silverwares,cups, plates, etc..,wash my plate and utensils with warm water for fear that my fmily might catch it too... i cried only once.. bcause of frustration.. but my faith with the LORD kept me sane.. few weeks after learning im + -- iv told myself the LORD gve this to me so HE knows that i cn conquer this illness. my mom brought me to a well known gastroenterologist in makati med tru the help of a family friend..they ran some labs..and i found out that my HBVDNA is also +..meaning im a chronic carrier.. i kept that result up to this time to remind me of my journey with hep b within me..

i found a very warm and encouraging gastroenterologist in our province.. and that time the very first LAMIVUDINE medication just got out of asian market. my gastroenterologist ddnt want me to have interferon bcause of the side effects..he asked me if i want to try lamivudine which just got out of market and he got samples to give me whom he got from the convention he attended for the launching of the Lamivudine somewhere here in california. i ddnt hesitate told him whatever i takes il try it.. 1 tab of lamivudine then costs 150.00 Php nd have to take it evryday. i decided to lookfor a job to sustain my treatment.. got off from fatty foods.. eventually got hired in one of the hospital in our place.. they never required the staff to be screened for hep b then since the reagent is costly-per say--- i cntinued to work in that hospital for almost 5 yrs-- and just tryng to avoid hep b screening everytime they remind the staff to submit current screening result.. iv undergone lamivudine treatment for almost , maybe 3-4 or 5 yrs..i guess.

my gastroMD stopped the treatment when eventually i got nonreactive result with my HbeAg though still reactive with HbsAG and still no anti body for both. per my gastro MD..the fact that i turned out to be NON REACTIVE with HBeAG..he said that im no longer 'infectious' but a chronic carrier.. its just that the virus was contained and not replicating as long as il be NON REACTIVE with HBeAG..but i still have the bug in my system..my MD gave me a medical certificate stating that i am eligible to work abroad.. i cnt thank the LORD enough of what had turned out to be a miracle for me coz my papers to US got approved and was praying so hard that i may not hve trouble with the physical exam-- physical exam came at st lukes--blood draw was done.. got the shock of my life when staff called me and told me ''u have to come back next week-- for ur urine analysis-- i asked about the blood draw-- she said-- THE ONLY THING THAT U NEED TO DO IS UR URINE ANALYSIS OTHERWISE EVRYTHNG SEEMS to be clear!!! Praised the LORD..!!

now im currntly working in one of the hospital here in california.. . THE THING IS.. WE HAVE TO CONQUER OUR FEAR.. KEEP OUR FAITH... just go on with life.. as long as you know how to protect urself and other people-- universal and standard precaution at all times. we just need to be more responsible. im happily married now--my partner- a nurse too- accepted me for what i am..

hobbit20

5 Posts

hello balfore_rn,

Thank you very much for posting your very inspiring story here..you really give hope to us nurses here in PH..if i may can i ask some questions? did the employers of yours know that your a reactive to hep b? had you told the st lukes regarding your situation? and what happen to your certification from your doctor clearing you that you can work abroad? sorry if some of my questions are personal i just really want to know the whereabouts of it so that i would know what to do and what to expect looking forward that you can share to us about this...

..God bless us all..

cares,

hobbit

hobbit20

5 Posts

To silverdragon102,

Thank you for editing my posts sorry i thought it was ok to write about something like sites..coz i thought that personal mails are only not allowed bt now i know...kudos to all nurses moderators..good job to all..

To balfore_rn,

Looking forward to hear from you soon..God bless always and have a good health at all times..

Cares,

Hobbit

angelofgod

2 Posts

To balfore_rn and others,

I am new here, and i'm in the same dilemma in these thread...i am really happy to read all your experiences and encouragements..Diagnosed way back 2006 when i'm in second year for screening...my world shutdown...got depressed and same feelings u all have experienced..then i decided to continue my chosen career and hope for the best and keep my faith to our lord..then thanks to our lord god ive finished my college and passed the board exam..then the this dilemma strikes me again...now i'm confused and don't know what to do where to start... i prayed and prayed...i've decided to study other course that is not related to medical or heath but i've found myself not happy..maybe my purpose in this earth is still become a nurse...

To balfore_rn, we have the same health treatment bout lamivudine i took it for one year and it cost 8thousand per month...then my HbeAG (indication whether ur highly infectious or not) became negative.... and had my DNA test...my doctor discontinued the medication... i am now chronic carrier inactive and not infectious... and still praying for the best...i am planning now to take nclex after i've read the thread of you miss balfore_rn...and i get so inspired...i wonder if we can have private message and talk some stuffs bout are experiences i'm looking forward for your reply...many thanks...

To others, just keep ur faith all things are possible with our lord jesus christ.. maybe for us it's a burden but i still wanted to believed that there is a message and plan behind our sickness....god is always good...god loves us..i don't want to give up so ive decided to give it a try and lift the next episode to god... and btw ive done research bout supplements for us... i'm taking ginseng extract, honey, virgin coconut oil once a day..then vitamins are important... vitamin c, multivitamis, vit e...and sometimes vit. b complex... most important are rest, 8- 10 hours sleep. no stressed, balanced diet everyday (with fruits,vegie,carbo and proteins), exercise and PRAYERS....i will have my next blood test this month..pls pray for me...hope my prayers granted.. since then i hve my own blood monioring every six months or twice a year...... GODBLESS EVERYONE!!! till next tym...we all can make it!!!

ljgyen

4 Posts

hi. I am also a hepa b carrier...I passed the Nclex last sept 16, i'm scared that my condition will hinder my dream to work in USA...I want to help my parents and my siblings that's I want to work in USA...I wanna know if hospital in USA accept nurse who are hepa b carrier?thank u..GOD bESS us all.......... LORD help us!:redbeathe

Silverdragon102, BSN

1 Article; 39,477 Posts

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I don't think you will have issues being Hep b carrier I think the issue at the moment is finding a employer willing to sponsor you for the US especially in the current US job climate when many US nurses are struggling to find work

ljgyen

4 Posts

thanks for d reply! so you mean,in USA hepa b carrier is not an issue? I am really scared not to practice my profession and not to work abroad because someone told me that i cannot work in US or even in canada and UK because of my condition... I believe that GOD is with us..LORD help me and all nurses who are hepa b carrier to pursue our dream and not to be hopeless...

chubbyness

1 Post

hi im new here in this site...i am also a RN already..and of course with hep b...a carrier..had it with my family since my mom has it..i am planning to take the nlcex next year and my worry is that i will just waste my time and money and effort taking the exam and yet i cannot work as a nurse in the US...hepl..

i read all the post and saw hope...

can we really work as a nurse in the us even if we have hep b?

can we be granted a working visa if they know we have hep b?

can we work in hospitals here in cebu?

jahda_ph

32 Posts

Hello everyone! It's been a while since i visited this site. I just want to give an update regarding my case. When i was diagnosed back in 2003 during 3rd yr in college that i have hepatitis B and after series of exams, my doctor told me i'm a healthy chronic carrier, i thought working abroad will never be a reality. After passing the embassy interview and having to undergo the dreaded medical exam, i was so afraid and still in denial if i can really go and work here in the US. Even if my hospital knew about my status, i still haven't gone to my primary doctor here for check-up for fear of others judging me based on my medical illness. I just want to let you all know that i'm already working here in the US, and yes, they do screen nurses for hepatitis B but it's a case to case basis. I've been advised by our health employee management to have double gloving each time i do invasive procedures, other than that, i'm ok to practice as a nurse here. I'll be honest by saying that i'm still afraid of letting others know about my condition including my doctor, i think i still haven't fully accepted myself and this illness tagged along with me. BUt nevertheless, just pass those exams required by the place you want to go work to and have a healthy lifestyle and of course, pray a lot. Let's not be defeated by this illness..God bless!

marhia

5 Posts

hi i would like to ask guys if i can still have a student visa in new zealand even though i am positive with hep. b, i am also a nurse and unemployed here in cebu city, if anyone knows a company here in cebu that would still hire hep.b positive and wont discriminate, pls do help me and inform me i badly need a job right now, hope to here from you all =) ♥

Helo mfr.rn,good day to you..i just want to know what happen to your application in new zealand..im a nurse as will and hep b possitive trying to apply as a student in new zealand..i really want to know coz it might help or give me peace of mind..thank you so much..GOD BLESS U.:crying2:

marhia

5 Posts

hi there..

im newbie in this forum and i was glad to find this site. well we are all in the same boat, suffered from fear of rejection, dilema, depression. found out that i was hep b+ way back 1998.. before the clinicals-- last few days of my 3rd year in college.. evry student need to be screened and immunized prior hospital exposure in manila. got soo stunned when university nurse approached me and talked to me in private that im one of the few who got + with hep b.. i was in a state of shock then but kept evrythng within me-- i was paperwhite then and feeling so sick to my stomach but i ddnt tell anybody nor my friends even if they've been soo concerned of whats going on with me. my mom got me right away to the doctor..and i was prescribed to take IMMUNOSIN (im not sure of the spelling) for a couple of days. i was 20yrs old then and all the dreams of a 20 year old suddenly collapsed-- i chose to be so quite in school & even at home, dnt have courage to tell even to my sisters.. i got so paranoid- i even separate my own silverwares,cups, plates, etc..,wash my plate and utensils with warm water for fear that my fmily might catch it too... i cried only once.. bcause of frustration.. but my faith with the LORD kept me sane.. few weeks after learning im + -- iv told myself the LORD gve this to me so HE knows that i cn conquer this illness. my mom brought me to a well known gastroenterologist in makati med tru the help of a family friend..they ran some labs..and i found out that my HBVDNA is also +..meaning im a chronic carrier.. i kept that result up to this time to remind me of my journey with hep b within me..

i found a very warm and encouraging gastroenterologist in our province.. and that time the very first LAMIVUDINE medication just got out of asian market. my gastroenterologist ddnt want me to have interferon bcause of the side effects..he asked me if i want to try lamivudine which just got out of market and he got samples to give me whom he got from the convention he attended for the launching of the Lamivudine somewhere here in california. i ddnt hesitate told him whatever i takes il try it.. 1 tab of lamivudine then costs 150.00 Php nd have to take it evryday. i decided to lookfor a job to sustain my treatment.. got off from fatty foods.. eventually got hired in one of the hospital in our place.. they never required the staff to be screened for hep b then since the reagent is costly-per say--- i cntinued to work in that hospital for almost 5 yrs-- and just tryng to avoid hep b screening everytime they remind the staff to submit current screening result.. iv undergone lamivudine treatment for almost , maybe 3-4 or 5 yrs..i guess.

my gastroMD stopped the treatment when eventually i got nonreactive result with my HbeAg though still reactive with HbsAG and still no anti body for both. per my gastro MD..the fact that i turned out to be NON REACTIVE with HBeAG..he said that im no longer 'infectious' but a chronic carrier.. its just that the virus was contained and not replicating as long as il be NON REACTIVE with HBeAG..but i still have the bug in my system..my MD gave me a medical certificate stating that i am eligible to work abroad.. i cnt thank the LORD enough of what had turned out to be a miracle for me coz my papers to US got approved and was praying so hard that i may not hve trouble with the physical exam-- physical exam came at st lukes--blood draw was done.. got the shock of my life when staff called me and told me ''u have to come back next week-- for ur urine analysis-- i asked about the blood draw-- she said-- THE ONLY THING THAT U NEED TO DO IS UR URINE ANALYSIS OTHERWISE EVRYTHNG SEEMS to be clear!!! Praised the LORD..!!

now im currntly working in one of the hospital here in california.. . THE THING IS.. WE HAVE TO CONQUER OUR FEAR.. KEEP OUR FAITH... just go on with life.. as long as you know how to protect urself and other people-- universal and standard precaution at all times. we just need to be more responsible. im happily married now--my partner- a nurse too- accepted me for what i am..

nice story balfore..God bless to your family..does it mean u become hep be negative after taking meds?

marhia

5 Posts

helo what happen to your application in the states,im new to this pls do give me some feedback..thank you so much

+ Add a Comment