Possible exposure with glucose test strip

[mjakeso]

Before I start, I know I have an issue with absent mindedly putting stuff in my mouth without thinking and it's a problem.

Found one on the floor at my desk, never seen one before. Peeled off the front gold film. Peeled off some tape on the metal part with my teeth threw them both into my soup container to be thrown away with garbage. Few minutes later I picked up the metal part and used my mouth to clean off the metal part. I am so nervous and distraught. I cannot sleep. I have been to the ER and my PCM for a baseline blood test. PEP was not recommended as the risk/reward benefit was low, according to my PCM. I hBe no open sores on my mouth, though I had a pimple sized sore in the corner of my mouth open earlier that day and small bits of blood came out. What are my risks?

[GuitarRox]

HIV would never transmit like you describe. The only risks are to have unprotected vaginal or anal sex or share IV needles to inject drugs. Saliva and air inactivate the virus. There is zero risk from putting an object in your mouth. This is why the ER and doctor said no to pep as that would be inappropriate. You have nothing to worry about. Two words, NO RISK.

[mjakeso]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I haven't slept since it happened and I keep worrying about it.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Well, you better go to sleep now, because that mouth metal contact was a non-event.

[mjakeso]

It doesn't help. Sleep is not coming easy and I repeatedly doom scroll on Google and reddit. Thank you for your response.

[AnxiousNoMore]

The first step to peace is to stop (cold turkey stop) studying your body for a disease that doesn't exist, and the second is to stop googling for death also cold turkey. If you can't do that, then see a therapist, because your anxiety is a bit of a mental health issue at this point, considering how impossible your worry is. This is just an hiv forum so no one can deal with irrational anxiety ideas.