Fall 2014 Edition

Learn t he Lingo:
Viral load test: a test that involves a blood draw to show
how much virus is in your blood.
Fibroscan: a test, like an ultrasound, that shows the
amount of liver damage there is.
HCV: an acronym for hepatitis C virus.
Genotype: refers to the different strains of the hepatitis C
virus. There are 6 different genotypes. The most common
genotypes in southwestern Ontario are genotypes 1, 2
and 3.
Sources: www.catie.ca
Did you know?
H
e
p
c
n
e
w
s

Enable Others to Act 2
Hep C Care Team
Updates
2
Keeping your Ship
Afoat
3
Event Dates 4
Hep C Diagnosis;
Whats Next?
4
Treatment Experience
with Sovaldi
5
Canning 6
Healthy Recipe 7

Inside t his issue:
Want to know
more about
hepatitis C?
Contact Regional
HIV/AIDS
Connection to
arrange a
presentation!
Regional HIV/AIDS Connection has been providing
hep C education and support for many years. We
strive to educate community members, clients and
service providers about hep C transmission in
order to lessen the spread of the virus. We also
work with people living with and affected by hep C
to support them with whatever they need. We
encourage anyone who has a question or concern
regarding hep C to stop by our agency. We would
be happy to help you out!
P A G E 2 HE P C N E WS
Hep C Care Team
We have some news to share with you all: The Dine & Learn In Motion is now called Cooking with
Keri. Not only has the name changed, but so has the time! We will now meet and eat from 1-4pm
every 3rd Tuesday at The London InterCommunity Health Centre at 1355 Huron St, Unit 7. We also
have exciting news about our Hep C Peer Social: on the 4th Thursday of the month throughout the
fall, we will be having a Smoothie Social. We will make smoothies and give away Harvest Bucks to
those who attend. Harvest bucks are vegetable and fruit vouchers that are redeemable at
designated farmers markets for fresh produce purchases. Our Lunch & Learn events will also be
featuring homemade soups over the next couple of months.
If you are interested in getting tested for hepatitis C, We have nurses available on Wednesdays and
Thursdays from 1:30 to 4pm at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.
By: Keri Wheatley, Peer Support Worker; Hep C Care Team
Throughout the ages weve all been taught that being different has always equaled
wrong. Weve been beaten stoned and burned and sent off to eternal hell and
damnation. How dare you be different those of us who are right is a common cry.
Now, no one can say quite when the seeds of reason started to take root. In spite of
the layer upon layer of political fodder that lay about, the pendulum kept swinging.
One side was winning, the other at a loss. Then it swings slightly back the other
way. Back and forth the battle waged. A lot of good people passed into forever, but
fip the coin and see that a lot of good people now stand in their stead and raise
their voices. With their hearts they enable others to act in unison in this dance for
our lives. From your strength to stand up and speak on behalf of others who have
lost voices, I am drawing breath. I now feel the power of might just because its
right.
Enable Others to Act
By: Andy.
Would you like to submit an article to this newsletter?
Contact the editor, Zach at [email protected]
P A G E 3 F A L L 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N
Maybe you have recently
discovered that you are
hepatitis C positive, and maybe
you are not in a space and/or
time where you are able to
take advantage of treatment
options. That is absolutely
okay. Treatment can be
extremely stressful for many
individuals, particularly those
who are experiencing unstable
conditions in their living/work
environments. As such, it is
understandable to try and
stabilize your world before
introducing treatment into it.
Stability looks different for
everyone, but one way to add
stability to your life can be by
maintaining relationships.
It is understandable if
you want to be careful about
who is aware of your current
condition or status. Once you
have discovered those in your
life who you can trust, there is
the matter of how to maintain
these relationships. Many
people would brush off the
idea of relationships during
such a time in their life.
Personally, I believe that the
support and love of your family
and friends can be a very
powerful force. There are many
days where you may wish to be
alone, but there will also be
days where the hug of your
best friend, the kiss of your
lover, or simply the warm
wishes of your family can give
you the push or leverage
needed to tackle the seemingly
insurmountable tasks which
may lay ahead of you.
Ultimately, the choice of
who you let know of your
current status/condition rests
frmly on your shoulders. The
people you do include should
be trustworthy. However, being
trustworthy should not be the
only deciding factor. The
people you choose should
carry a mixture of qualities
which may include:
supportive, loving,
understanding and being in a
place of stability.
Sometimes the people in
our lives dont have these
particular traits, and this can
put a lot of additional weight
on your own shoulders. If you
ever feel this way, it is good to
remember there are people
who care, people who have
gone through, or are going
through your current
situation. These people can
be found at the Hep C Peer
Social, every Thursday
between 2-4 PM, at
Regional HIV & AIDS
Connection (RHAC), located
at 186 King St.
Refreshments are provided.
Just head to the reception desk
and you will be directed to
either Zach Templeman, or Keri
Wheatley. Remember that you
dont have to do this alone. You
can draw on family, friends, or
the support network provided
by RHAC.
Keeping your Ship Afloat
By: Clint, Peer Educator
P A G E 4 HE P C N E WS
Event Dates

WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET TESTED?
Contact RHAC for testing information: 519-434-1601
October
2nd Peer Social 2-4pm
9th Peer Social 2-4pm
10th Lunch & Learn 12:30-1:30pm
14th Cooking with Keri 1-4pm
(at 1355 Huron St Unit 7)
16th Peer Social 2-4pm
23rd Smoothie Social 2-4pm
30th Peer Social 2-4pm
November
26th Peer Social 2-4pm
13th Peer Social 2-4pm
14th Lunch & Learn 12:30-1:30pm
18th Cooking with Keri 1-4pm
(at 1355 Huron St Unit 7)
20th Peer Social 2-4pm
27th Smoothie Social 2-4pm
Have you received a hepatitis C diagnosis and dont know what to do next? You have options. Here
are some things you can do (in no particular order):
1. Get Information
There are many places to learn more about hep C and how it impacts your life. Start by
connecting with Regional HIV/AIDS Connection or reading information on www.CATIE.ca.
2. Check the rest of your health
Check in with your family doctor if you have one and fnd out how your general health is. It is
also a good idea to make sure your hep A and B vaccine is up-to-date.
3. Find support
Hear about the experiences of other folks who are living with hepatitis C. Regional HIV/AIDS
Connection holds a social support group for people living with and afftected by hepatitis C. You can
drop in any Thursday afternoon; it runs 2-4pm.
4. Seek treatment
Treatment is an option for many people living with hepatitis C. Liver specialists can treat
hepatitis C, but if you need a bit more support, the Hepatitis C Care Team has a multi-faceted
approach to supporting folks through treatment.
Hep C Diagnosis; What Next?
By: Zach Templeman, Hep C Educator; RHAC
P A G E 5 F A L L 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N
I live in the London region and have an HIV/HCV co-
infection. I am on Pegasys and Sovaldi. Im sharing with
you some of my experiences, take from it what you want:

1. I follow my doctors orders. I never, and must never,
miss a dose. This is not negotiable.
Interferon sucks! But its necessary
2. I often feel lousy. Counselling and peer support get me
through it. Talk is good.
3. The treatment is the cause of my mood swings. I keep
repeating that to myself.
4. I eat a balanced diet. My appetite has not been affected.
5. I rest.
6. I drink lots of fuids. I carry my water bottle everywhere and know where to fnd the nearest
washroom.
7. I keep to my regular routine as best as I can
8. I walk away from stress. My only focus is on getting better.
9. I reward myself every week.
10. My doctors and nurses have invested a lot of their time, care and knowledge in me. Self-
respect is the best way to show gratitude to them.
11. I have new possibilities. The world is my oyster
Treatment Experience with
Sovaldi
By: Paul
Joke Time
Keep Smiling!
Q. What kind of shoes does
a frog wear?

A . O p e n - t o a d s h o e s .
P A G E 6 HE P C N E WS
The Science. The more you learn about food science, the more confdent youll be in the
kitchen. This is true for all kinds of cooking, but is especially helpful with food preservation.
When you preserve food, you are either trying to freeze time or to encourage specifc
bacteria to proliferate and crowd out harmful bacteria. Canning is all about freezing time.
With the simplest method of canning water bath canning you fll jars with acidic food
such as tomatoes, berries or cucumbers in vinegar, cover them with lids and boil them in an
open pan of water until a seal forms under the lid. This action forces air out of the food and
out of the jar and creates a vacuum in an acidic environment in which bacteria will not thrive.
Water bath canning can provide you with a number of delicious foods, including jams, jellies,
whole tomatoes and pickles, and its a great place to start. A more advanced method is
pressure canning. It requires a little more skill and
some specialized equipment, but it will unlock a
wide world of food and favor options.
The Equipment. You can get by without all of the
fanciest canning-specifc equipment, but youll
need a few inexpensive basics, most of which are
widely available used. A pot that holds enough
water to cover whatever size jars you want to use
with a little extra room for boiling water is key. Jar
lifters are also extremely handy, and of course the
jars are a necessity
The Ingredients. Use only the best, freshest and blemish-free produce, spices and herbs.
Buy seasonally to fnd the best deals. Talk to farmers at farmers markets to see what theyll
have when, so that you can plan your canning time accordingly. Consider making bulk
purchases with other canners in order to save even more money.
The Process. Its Sunday morning and youve just collected your best specimens of perfectly
ripe produce. Your clean jars, like ducks in a row, are lined up on the counter and your
equipment is at the ready. The next few steps are easy. (1) Prep the ingredients. (2) Fill the
jars. (3) Wipe the rims. (4) Screw on the lids and bands. (5) Boil. (6) Remove and cool until
you hear the satisfying pop-pop-pops of the seals forming.
About Safety. Theres no reason to be afraid of canning, because ensuring safety is entirely
possible. The basic rules of sanitized canning are simple and practical. That said, its
important to follow those rules and to use pre-tested recipes.
Canning
By: Clint, Peer Educator
P A G E 7 F A L L 2 0 1 4 E D I T I O N
Healthy Recipes
Ingredients

1-2 eggplants, sliced
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups bread crumbs
1 Tbs Italian herbs
3 cup tomato sauce
2 cups shredded cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp basil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Dip the eggplant slices in the egg and
then in a mixture of breadcrumbs and
Italian herbs. Place in a single layer on a
baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes on
each side.
3. In a baking dish, spread tomato sauce to
cover bottom, place a layer of eggplant
slices in the sauce and sprinkle with
both cheese. Continue to layer in this
way with remaining ingredients and
sprinkle with basil.
4. Bake in oven for 35 min or until golden
brown.
Eggplant Parmesan
Contributed By: Zach Templeman, Hep C Educator; RHAC

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*Optional, instead of using a baking dish, layer the ingredients in a muffn tin to create
individual portions to freeze
If you are infected w
ith, affected by or at-risk for hepatitis C
,
R
egional H
IV/AID
S C
onnection has services for you! C
om
e in
and chat w
ith us and w
e w
ill do our best to help you w
ith
w
hatever you need.

Looking for inform
ation? H
eres how
w
e can help:

W
e can answ
er any questions you have about the virus and how
to
protect yourself from
getting it.

W
e can provide you w
ith tips and inform
ation on living w
ith the
virus and help you m
ake inform
ed choices.

W
e offer m
onthly lunches w
ith guest speakers w
here you can learn
about and discuss specifc topics related to hep C, as w
ell as m
eet
other people living w
ith the virus.

W
e provide presentations to educate people about hepatitis C.

Looking for support? H
eres how
w
e can help:

W
e can provide referrals to treatm
ent providers.

W
e can help w
ith basic needs such as housing, applying for
fnances, connecting w
ith other services in the city, etc.

W
e offer casual counselling if you are looking for som
eone to talk
to.

W
e can accom
pany you to appointm
ents and act as a support and
advocate.

W
e offer support groups to connect you w
ith other people living
w
ith hep C.
#30- 186 King Street
London, Ontario
N6A 1C7
P: 519- 434- 1601
REGI ONAL HI V/AI DS
CONNECTI ON
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Hep C Peer Social

2- 4pm
Every Thursday
Location: Community Room, Regional HIV/AIDS
Connection, 186 King street
The hep C Peer Social is a chance for people who
are either currently living with, or who have been
through hep C, to connect with other people going
through similar situations. It is a chance to come
out, socialize and meet new people. Light snacks
and refreshments are available.
Hep C Lunch & Learn

12:30- 1:30pm
Second Friday of every month
Location: Board Room, Regional HIV/AIDS
Connection, 186 King street
The hep C Lunch & Learn is for people living with
hep C ,or who are personally affected by it, to
listen to information and guest speakers on topics
related to hep C. Free lunch is provided. Spots fll
up fast so, please RSVP if possible, to make sure
you get a seat.

For more information on either of these events, or to RSVP, please contact:
Zach, Hepatitis C Educator 519- 434- 1601 ext 226
Production of this information piece has been made possible through a fnancial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The
views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.