Transmission Magazine ED01

1ssue1 1 edition october ‘08 january 2009

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EDITOR Scott West ADVISORY GROUP Tim Baxter Kay Bazley Jenny Douglas Jacque Griffin Paul Harvey Carmel Laurie Sonam Paljor Gideon Warhaft Nathan Whitton CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Marty Schneider Dylan Horrocks Timothy Kidd

The Hepatitis C Council of NSW is an independent, community-based, non-profit, membership organisation.

We are funded by the NSW Health Department ph: (02) 9332 1853 fax: (02) 9332 1730 www.hepatitisc.org.au postal address: PO Box 432

DARLINGHURST NSW 1300

AUSTRALIA

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ofit,

contents

page 4

red hot

page 12

know your A B C’s

page 16

dummies guide to hepatitis C testing

page 22

today ... somewhere...

page 28

the liver

ment

Aside from HCCNSW editorial comment, views expressed in this magazine or flyers enclosed with it, are not necessarily those of the Hepatitis C Council of NSW. Neither are such views necessarily those of our funding bodies.

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RED HOT WAS DEVELOPED IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE NZ HEPATITIS RESOURCE CENTRE

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The End RED HOT was created by Dylan Horrocks & Timothy Kidd

and was kindly donated by The NZ Hepatitis Resource Centre (Te Waipounamu) Christchurch, New Zealand

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kNow YOUR

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inflammation of the liver

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Y

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The hep A virus lives in POO You get hep A when infected poo ends up in your mouth.

That is why it is important to always wash your hands after going to the toilet.

If you get hep A, normally you will be sick for a few weeks.

Then your body will fight it off and you will not get it again.

You can have a vaccination for hep A

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BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

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The hep B virus lives in sexual fluids (sperm & vaginal fluid) and blood Most people in Australia get hep B from having unprotected sex or from sharing injecting equipment.

95% of adults who get hep B fight it off by themselves.

You can get a vaccination for hep B

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CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC CCCCC

BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB

BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB BBBB

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

The hep C virus lives in BLOOD ONLY Most new infections in Australia come from sharing ANY injecting equipment.

People can also get hep C from things like unsterile tattooing and body piercings, or anything else where there is blood around.

Treatment is available for people who have hep C. Talk to a doctor or the Hep C Helpline (freecall) to find out more about hep C. The Hep C Helpline is free, confidential and is open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm.

There is NO vaccination for hep C Hep C Helpline (02) 9332 1599 (sydney callers) 1800 803 990 (other NSW callers)

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g n i t s e t C hepatitis *

not a * we know you’re

dummie

so you know what to expect when you go for a

hep C test at a sexual health clinic 16 easy read mag ed 1 final.indd 16

with special thanks to Clinic 16 Sexual Health Clinic

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t

- are under 25 - have ever injected drugs - think you have a STI

g

(sexually transmitted infection)

- do sex work - have ever had sex with someone of the same sex

- have had unprotected sex

A sexual health clinic

mie

t

c

is one of the places you can go to have a FREE hep C test.

Just follow these steps ... step 1

find your local clinic

To find out where your closest sexual health clinic is, talk to the people that work where you picked this mag up.

You can also call the Hep C Helpline to ask.

(02) 9332 1599 (sydney callers) 1800 803 990 (other NSW callers)

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if you are in prison you can get tested through a Justice Health clinic.

if you are Aboriginal an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) is another place you can get tested.

if you are a young person a youth health centre can be a good place to get checked out.

step 2

talking to the clinic You will speak to an ‘intake worker’ who will be a social worker or a nurse.

They will ask you some questions to make sure that a sexual health clinic is the best place for you.

They will ask questions about:

- your age

- why you want to get tested

- your sexual history & partners

- your drug use and - if you have any symptoms If the clinic is the best place for you they will make an appointment for you.

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If it is not the best place for you they will refer you somewhere else.

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c.

step 3

your appointment

After you check in with reception staff at the clinic, you will sit in a waiting room like this one and wait for the nurse or doctor to call you.

step 4

in the doctors room

The doctor should clearly explain to you what happens when you get tested.

They will ask questions about your experiences to find out the things you should be tested for.

This is called a pre test discussion and is very important so that you know everything that will happen when you get tested and why you will be tested for certain things.

It might be a good time to have a full sexual health screen while you are there. The doctor should tell you more about this.

The doctor or nurse will need your permission before they do any tests. This is called informed consent.

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step 5

getting tested

After the pre test discussion the doctor or nurse will know what tests are right for you.

With your informed consent, they will take a blood sample and might need to take a urine sample for your sexual health screen as well.

These samples will be sent away for testing.

step 6

getting your results

Normally it will take 1 week to get your test results.

You will have to go back to the clinic to get your results.

The nurse or doctor will talk to you about your results and what they mean for you. This is part of a post test discussion They might give you details of some other services for you or give you information about staying safe and not putting yourself at risk of getting hep C.

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some helpful Translators are available for people who speak languages other than English.

You dont have to have a medicare card or give your real name if you don’t want to BUT you will have to be in contact with the clinic so you can get your results.

Sexual health clinics are a really good place for testing because the workers there deal with hep C testing and issues everyday so they have lots of experience and understand your situation.

you can get tested for hep C at other places too ...

Any doctor can test you for hep C If you go to a medical centre any of the doctors there should be able to give you a test for hep C.

If you need any more information about testing please call the Hep C Helpline (02) 9332 1599 (sydney callers) 1800 803 990 (other NSW callers)

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a

N

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WIN A $200 gift voucher

all you have to do is

NAME THE MAG *

SMS 0404 440 103 * cost of a normal message

or call the Hep C Helpline on 1800 803 990

(freecall for inmates on prison phone)

Before February 1 ‘09 and give us your ideas

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is the largest organ in your body and is on the right side of your body behind the lower ribs

Your liver has over 500 jobs to do.

These include :

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cleaning your blood (just like a filter) breaking down fats for digestion making and storing energy helping with blood clotting repairing itself after being damaged

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this is a healthy liver

this is a liver with Cirrhosis Cirrhosis [sir-roh-sis] = scarring of the liver Cirrhosis means that your liver cells are replaced by scar tissue and this can happen if your liver is inflamed over a long period of time.

Having cirrhosis puts pressure on your liver to do all its important jobs.

People who have hepatitis are at risk of developing cirrhosis.

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things for your liver lots of water fruit & vegies exercise rest 30 easy read mag ed 1 final.indd 30

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things for your liver

lots of alcohol fatty foods some medications

s

(check with a doctor)

look after your liver

and

it will look after you ...

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0404 440 103 1800 803 990

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