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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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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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