HIV query

[wtp25]

Dear Dr, I apologize as my question is annoying but I've been going through a terrible time with anxious thoughts and will see my Dr ASAP to get help. Although I'm not promiscuous I got tested for HIV a few years ago to clear any fears before starting my current relationship. The only worry is that maybe some event has occurred before the window period or after my test which could give me HIV. I worried some of my friends may have been gay at university, at perhaps if we shared a kitchen they could have cut their hand on a knife, and possibly I could have cut myself also. I don't think that people generally need to remember every possible time they've received a cut, but it just seems possible HIV could be transmitted this way. Would there have to be a lot of blood on the knife (that you wouldn't miss it) and you would have to get a bad injury? I think thats what the Dr meant in this thread:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/CHANCES-OF-GETTING-HIV-FROM-CUT-AT-RESTAURANT/show/1852400
I have become scared of touching knives at home in case I got a small cut and didn't notice, and my family also cut themselves. It just seems possible it could happen before the HIV dies.
My second worry was that bcs I am afraid of blood I sometimes see it in my mind, in a tea cup or in my drink, and the imagined image becomes mixed with real life. I'm guessing though that HIV wouldn't survive in a liquid- although I'm worried if it is in a fridge that would preserve the HIV? I have got some cuts in my lips because of cold weather, again I'm guessing there would have to be a serious amount of blood and a serious cut on my lip.
Sorry Dr I know these are annoying Qs I hope I receive help soon from my provider.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

I know our replies can sometimes imply we annoyed by a question.  Sometimes that's true, especially when the same user keeps returning with the same question in different words.  But most of the time it's just frustration on behalf of the quesioner -- that they have spent a $22 posting fee when our reply is obvious by reading other, similar questions.

As I think you recognize, this is a cry for emotional and psychological support.  Having read other threads, including the one whose link you provided, you know, intellectually, that HIV has never been transmitted in the environment.  And the only injuries -- or contacts with sharp instruments -- that have ever transmitted HIV are those that occurred in medical settings, in which a health worker was injured by a contaminated instrument.  Further, HIV simply does not survive outside the human body, at least not in numbers that permit transmission.

In other words, your fears are entirely unfounded.  It would not matter whether any or all your roommates or friends are gay, otherwise at risk, or actually infected with HIV.  All you need to do to be sure you will never catch HIV is choose your sex partners wisely, use condoms for vaginal or anal sex outside mutually monogamous relationships, and don't share drug injection equipment with anyone.  Follow these rules and forget any and all other possibilities of infection.

Please do not return with additional "what if" or "yes but" questions.  Trust me on this: there is no information you could provide about HIV exposure in your environment that would change my opinion and advice.  You are not at risk.  Do your best to believe it.  And if your fears about it continue, please follow up on your plans for professional counseling about it.

Good luck with it --  HHH, MD

[wtp25]

Thank you so much Doctor for your help and support.
I wanted to clarify this advice would cover blood borne infections in general?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, it does.

Thanks for the thanks.