THE END OF THIS

Drs.

Thank you for having this outlet.  I have been through an ordeal to say the least and I was hoping you could help me put the experience behind me.  In january I was in Asia and went with clients to a joint and took one of the girls home, a prostitute.  She gave me oral sex and that was it, I had always thought this was not the way HIV was transmitted but like so many others the seed was planted and I could not let it go.  I got all of the appropriate testing done for STDS and began testing for HIV.  I had several tests (3) out until 90 days they were negative all rapid test.  I then needed to do an insurance exam where they also tested they took a long time to respond as I had other things of concern to them which were a result of an antibiotic I was taking. That test was negative as well.  I repeated the insurance exam at 176 days from the initial oral event at quest, this test was negative as well.  To sum it up I had six tests in 176 days all negative.  I had no other risky sex:

1. I had several blood draws for insurance exam as well as the std testing were any of those risky in any way resetting my window?  They were all at clinics/labs/doctors offices

2.  176 days test is final and I can finally move on?  when do you stop testing?

3. can I resume normal relations with my significant other who is definitely negative?

4. Is having blood drawn different than being an IV drug user, I know it is different of course but what I mean to say is draws are blood going out and drug users are injecting fluids there is a difference correct?

5.  Having the std testing done for the appropriate possibilities at the appropriate times including HIV did I miss anything? are the odds of the draws causing a problem a risk that is even measurable i.e. oral is 1 in 10,000?  Or is the chance so remote the question is beyond reason?

Thanks for your time the service you provide is incredibly needed and appreciated by many.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Let's get this behind you.  There is no way that you have HIV.  If you had, one of the many tests that you had would have been positive.  Straight to your questions:

1.  No, there is no risk of HIV from having your blood drawn in a physician's office.  The doctors do not re-use needles.  The risk from needles occurs when they are re-used and the blood from the person who the needle was used on previously enters the next person, carrying along with it the virus.  The medical profession has strict procedures to prevent this from happening.  

2.  Absolutely.  We recommend that no further testing is needed after 12 weeks (84 days) at the outside.

3.  Yes

4.  Yes, see my explanation no. 1.  

5.  No further testing is required.  Further testing would be a waste of time and money from a medical perspective and, from a personal perspective would just represent you continuing to punish yourself unnecessarily.

Time to move on without concern.  Take care EWH

[DONEWITHITNOW]

your advice and the compassionate way you delivered it is appreciated beyond measure.  Thank you very much for giving me a new lease on life,  I was thoroughly punishing myself likely due to guilt but I think I have figured out how to manage that now that I KNOW I am healthy.  Best wishes.

[DONEWITHITNOW]

Dr,

Are there any statistics on this type of thing, reused needles in a healthcare setting?  Or is this such a non-event that it is not considered any more of a risk than kissing, hand holding and other non-events.  I have been reading some of the community posts and the posters there all seem to tell people asking similar questions that the idea is ridiculous and an obvious no risk.  It is at least an assumed risk as there are more than a few questions in that direction so perhaps this post could end that once and for all. I also read the risks of contracting HIV with a known HIV needle in an occupational setting is only .32% so it seems the odds are ridiculously lower than having oral sex which was my main concern.  Thanks I look forward to your answers.

[DONEWITHITNOW]

Doctor,

did you miss my last post?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, I did not miss your last post.  I also do not monitor the site 24/7.

There are no numbers regarding the frequency of needle re-use in developed nations.  The practice is prohibited and great measures are taken at all levels to avoid such practices making needle re-use so rare as to not be measurable.

As for your risk - also immeasurably low.  You have a negative test almost six months after your very low risk exposure.  F

Forget about this.  You do not have HIV and are not at risk from any of the activities you have described.   To help, I will not fuel your anxieties further by continuing this thread.  Your questions have been answered, you are not at risk and do not have HIV.  It is time for you to put all of this behind you and move forward.  EWH

[DONEWITHITNOW]

Thanks for the kick in the butt I needed it and now I have your answer to forever reference thank you again.