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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Not a typical exposure
by para_noid, Nov 08, 2007 11:35PM
This website is a wonderful resource, thank you for all your work.
I tested negative (3 times) over a year ago and have been in a monogamous relationship with a partner who also has tested negative. Prior to the last blood test, 8 months post possible exposure; I was worried about hiv and the accuracy of the tests.
I recently had surgery that left me with 2 fairly significant scars. The scars were not healing smoothly, but were bumpy from the scar tissue that was forming. I went to a dermatologist, who was on my company's insurance provider list. He suggested a kind of steroid shot that would make the scar go a bit flatter. He left the room to get the injection. I am terrified of needles and the shots were painful so I had my eyes closed most of the time. My fear comes from the fact that I did not see where the injection syringe came from because he left and came back into the room with the syringe and I did not remember seeing him wearing gloves or remember feeling him clean the injection sites. I know he used the same syringe for the injections into both scars, because he only had one syringe.
So here are my questions:
1-Am I just being paranoid about the whole thing?
2-What is the likelihood of obtaining HIV from injections of this kind?
3-Should I be worried about whether or not the doctor wore gloves?
4-How safe are injections usually in healthcare settings?
Your responses have provided comfort to so many, thank you for taking a few moments to respond to my questions.
I tested negative (3 times) over a year ago and have been in a monogamous relationship with a partner who also has tested negative. Prior to the last blood test, 8 months post possible exposure; I was worried about hiv and the accuracy of the tests.
I recently had surgery that left me with 2 fairly significant scars. The scars were not healing smoothly, but were bumpy from the scar tissue that was forming. I went to a dermatologist, who was on my company's insurance provider list. He suggested a kind of steroid shot that would make the scar go a bit flatter. He left the room to get the injection. I am terrified of needles and the shots were painful so I had my eyes closed most of the time. My fear comes from the fact that I did not see where the injection syringe came from because he left and came back into the room with the syringe and I did not remember seeing him wearing gloves or remember feeling him clean the injection sites. I know he used the same syringe for the injections into both scars, because he only had one syringe.
So here are my questions:
1-Am I just being paranoid about the whole thing?
2-What is the likelihood of obtaining HIV from injections of this kind?
3-Should I be worried about whether or not the doctor wore gloves?
4-How safe are injections usually in healthcare settings?
Your responses have provided comfort to so many, thank you for taking a few moments to respond to my questions.
2) Zero.
3) No.
4) In industrialized countries, or any setting with only single-use injection equipment (the world wide standard), there is n o HIV transmission risk.
This question is beyond reason and the very fact you felt compelled to ask it suggest a likely need for psychological counseling; and your choice of username has the same implication. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Good luck with it-- HHH, MD