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“I’m not in this alone”Presenters: Joe Kimpton

Andrew English

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ADAHPS

• Adahps was created in 1997

• It is service of NSW Health

• Originally its name was an acronym of ‘AIDS

Dementia and HIV Psychiatric Services’

• Adahps creation was a response to an emerging

need for specialist care for individuals living with HIV

related cognitive issues

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MY STORY – JOE KIMPTON

• In 2009 I moved to Sydney and commenced

work as a registered nurse

• Shortly after I began to feel unwell and

losing weight

• Went for a check-up and was diagnosed

with HIV

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HIV

• CD4 cells are an

essential part of our

immune system

• HIV high-jacks CD4

cells and uses them

to make copies of

itself

• During this process

it kills the CD4 cells

• When CD4 cell levels

get too low, we lose

the ability to fight

infection - AIDS

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MY STORY

• Over the next year I became increasingly

confused and erratic

• Recognised I was unwell and quit nursing

• Waited for CD4 levels to drop so I could

commence HIV treatment

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BOARDING HOUSE – “MODERN “KITCHEN”

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ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

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HOMELESS - WYNYARD PARK

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MY CONDITION DETERIORATED

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HAYMARKET CENTRE

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NEW HOME

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ANTIBIOTICS

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MIMI

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HAPPY ENDING

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Thank you

MY STORY

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MY STORY – ANDREW ENGLISH

Diagnosis:

• Tested positive for HIV virus in November 1997

• Sex work and unprotected sex

• The worst flu I’d ever had, ever

• Waited one week for results

• In my head was the Grim Reaper with a

bowling ball, and I was in that ad!

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COMING TO TERMS WITH DIAGNOSIS

• The doctor asked how I felt

• “I’m not going to live through that I’m going to have a

huge dose of heroin and kill myself”

• Admitted to Caritas mental health unit

• While an inpatient had time to sit with the nurses and

talk about what was going to happen

• At that stage it was a death sentence

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GETTING CLEAN

• Into rehab I went

• Next few years were spent in and out of rehab getting

my act together

• Frequent relapses

• 2003 I had finally got my act together

• Own flat, living in Newcastle, volunteering for ACON

(NGO) and Positive Speakers (people living with HIV

presenting to the general public)

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BECOMING UNWELL

• It started one Friday afternoon when I went home sick

with a migraine

• Over the weekend it got worse

• By Monday I was taken to John Hunter hospital for

assessment

• Diagnosed with cerebral tuberculosis with meningitis

and a minor stroke – completely wiping out my

memory

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INITIAL MEETING WITH ADAHPS

• Adahps were contacted and Michelle, the Adahps

psychologist, came to do a memory assessment

(neuropsychological assessment)

• Half way through I went to the toilet and then went

back to bed for a lie down

• Found in bed by Michelle

• Memory so bad I forgot to return to my memory test!

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MOVING TO SYDNEY

• I was given two weeks to live, but then two

weeks turned into 10.

• Moved to ‘the Bridge’ in Glebe, with the help

of Adahps

• Moved to ‘the Villa’ in Marrickville

• Case manager, Jenny from Adahps… and the start of

independent living begins

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STOPPED TAKING MY PILLS

• Feeling well so I did something very stupid. Thought I

was well enough to stop taking my pills

• Viral load went through the roof

• Jenny arranged for me to pick up my pills at St

Vincent’s hospital

• Undetectable viral load and CD4 (t-cells) never below

1000

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LIFE IS GOOD

• With the support of Adahps I’m

living a good life

• I’m well

• I have accommodation

• Last year I turned 40 and

I wasn’t supposed to get past 30!

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REBUILDING MY LIFE

• Now living in Woolloomooloo, a St George

Community Housing property in partnership with

Adahps.

• My case manager is Heidi

• Positive Speakers and speaking to high school

students

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MY STORY

Thank you