Aa
OCD: HIV test more dangerous than sex?
I initially posted this question on hiv forum, but they asked me to take it here. I understand it might be OCD, but, how to get rid of the thoughts? the numbers are real, and we have to believe in numbers... pls read below.
After months of anxious waiting, I have put myself in a higher risk situation and I have to wait for another three months to test. It may sound ridiculous to you, but let me give you numbers.
More than four months ago, I had a protected sex with a sex worker, I did not remember if the condom slipped off, so I had to assume it was a unprotected vaginal insertive sex, so the risk was 1:2000 (if the sex worker is positive)
After many tests and the long three-months mark, I was happy to know I'm negative, just as expected. However, I did not notice if they changed the needle in the lancet device they used to do the finger *****. (Note to Teak, I have asked them, and they were using an older model of Accu-Chek Softlix which did not have the built-in design to prevent reuse of the needles in lancet). Many people always said we have proper medical procedures, it's not possible for them to reuse needles in the lancet. OK, but this is just a groundless statement, first you do not have statistics to back you up, even if you have, you do not have statistics for that particular clinic or nurse; second, it is common sense that we all tend to forget to lock the car even if we use the car everyday, or we may forget to close the fridge door even if we use it everyday, so it is not impossible for nursese to forget to change the needle in the lancet.
So I checked the statistics for hiv risk from reused lancet. All I can find is 1:300 for HIV contaminated needle injury. There is no statistics for lancet. From what I read, "needle" includes all types of needles, including hollow needles, suture needles, and perhaps the needle in the lancet. Many people said because lancet needle is not hollow, it can't hold the blood, and the blood will dry out in the air very soon, so the probability for lancet needle is lower than 1:300. OK, but first the lancet needle is held in a pen-like device, so it isn't really exposed to the air; second, no one knows how soon the blood will dry out (there are many different views), so the conclusion is, we do not know how low is the risk for HIV contaminated lancet, 1:300? 1:500? 1:1000? There is just no scientific statistics to prove this. But you see the point, it is higher than the above 1:2000 for unprotected insertive vaginal sex with a HIV positive woman!
Regardless, I have now put myself in a higher risk situation, after so many tests and so many months, and I have to wait for another three months... It appears that testing is more dangerous than having sex! at least the statistics strictly showed that, and I don't think you can find a statistics to prove this wrong. That's why I feel like a fool!
After months of anxious waiting, I have put myself in a higher risk situation and I have to wait for another three months to test. It may sound ridiculous to you, but let me give you numbers.
More than four months ago, I had a protected sex with a sex worker, I did not remember if the condom slipped off, so I had to assume it was a unprotected vaginal insertive sex, so the risk was 1:2000 (if the sex worker is positive)
After many tests and the long three-months mark, I was happy to know I'm negative, just as expected. However, I did not notice if they changed the needle in the lancet device they used to do the finger *****. (Note to Teak, I have asked them, and they were using an older model of Accu-Chek Softlix which did not have the built-in design to prevent reuse of the needles in lancet). Many people always said we have proper medical procedures, it's not possible for them to reuse needles in the lancet. OK, but this is just a groundless statement, first you do not have statistics to back you up, even if you have, you do not have statistics for that particular clinic or nurse; second, it is common sense that we all tend to forget to lock the car even if we use the car everyday, or we may forget to close the fridge door even if we use it everyday, so it is not impossible for nursese to forget to change the needle in the lancet.
So I checked the statistics for hiv risk from reused lancet. All I can find is 1:300 for HIV contaminated needle injury. There is no statistics for lancet. From what I read, "needle" includes all types of needles, including hollow needles, suture needles, and perhaps the needle in the lancet. Many people said because lancet needle is not hollow, it can't hold the blood, and the blood will dry out in the air very soon, so the probability for lancet needle is lower than 1:300. OK, but first the lancet needle is held in a pen-like device, so it isn't really exposed to the air; second, no one knows how soon the blood will dry out (there are many different views), so the conclusion is, we do not know how low is the risk for HIV contaminated lancet, 1:300? 1:500? 1:1000? There is just no scientific statistics to prove this. But you see the point, it is higher than the above 1:2000 for unprotected insertive vaginal sex with a HIV positive woman!
Regardless, I have now put myself in a higher risk situation, after so many tests and so many months, and I have to wait for another three months... It appears that testing is more dangerous than having sex! at least the statistics strictly showed that, and I don't think you can find a statistics to prove this wrong. That's why I feel like a fool!
i just re-read bits of what u wrote and realised that i forgot to mention... the finger ***** is exposed to air coz those lancets are not air tight... oxygen is very small you know and also it doesnt have a hole so that makes it TOTALLY different to a syringe type needle. Believe me even if u sat next to a pos guy and quickly stabbed him, then yourself, you would have almost no chance of getting hiv, after 2 minutes, it would be IMPOSSIBLE!!
So chill out and go see a doctor like i said. Good luck!
So chill out and go see a doctor like i said. Good luck!
hello!!
you sound exactly like me! I went crazy for 3 months because i used a test from the internet and i was totally freaked out that the finger pricking device was contaminated with hiv. I don't think i needed the test in the first place!
From your description, you definitely have OCD, just like me. I've let go of the hiv fears now and instead i'm worrying about cancer. It's like a day to day battle of trying to not be scared of one thing or another!
I can tell you now which might make u feel better for about 5 minutes before u start googleing some other possible risk or illness, that a finger ***** is too small to have enough hiv on it to infect u and was probably in the air for a long time beforehand so all the hiv would have been inactivated anyway + you must remember that needles and stuff are just not reused in hospitals in civilized countries in this day and age. It will be literally- poke it in your finger then put it in one of those plastic tubs to be disposed of. So, please, don't do any more research after that. Don't look up anything or ask anyone. Teak on the hiv forum is right, you're problems in this forum, not theres.
In terms of OCD to reduce the anxiety... folic acid is good for brain health, milk and carbs are good too because they make u release more serotonin which is the chemical which makes u happy. Try to avoid caffeine as it makes you more panicky. Avoid alcohol as a means of escapism coz its a depressant. And the best possible thing u can do is go to your doctor...talk about your fears of hiv which are IRRATIONAL and if this worry is really taking you over, ask about SSRI's. They are an anti-depressant and im not saying you are depressed but they are often used in the treatment of OCD. They stop your nerve cells from reabsorbing serotonin which we OCDers dont have enough of and they will make you feel a whole lot happier about life and more chilled out. I'm going back on them this week as I've realised that they make a huuuuge difference!
Theres tons of therapy that u can try too which i can advise u on if needs be!
Let me know how u get on!
you sound exactly like me! I went crazy for 3 months because i used a test from the internet and i was totally freaked out that the finger pricking device was contaminated with hiv. I don't think i needed the test in the first place!
From your description, you definitely have OCD, just like me. I've let go of the hiv fears now and instead i'm worrying about cancer. It's like a day to day battle of trying to not be scared of one thing or another!
I can tell you now which might make u feel better for about 5 minutes before u start googleing some other possible risk or illness, that a finger ***** is too small to have enough hiv on it to infect u and was probably in the air for a long time beforehand so all the hiv would have been inactivated anyway + you must remember that needles and stuff are just not reused in hospitals in civilized countries in this day and age. It will be literally- poke it in your finger then put it in one of those plastic tubs to be disposed of. So, please, don't do any more research after that. Don't look up anything or ask anyone. Teak on the hiv forum is right, you're problems in this forum, not theres.
In terms of OCD to reduce the anxiety... folic acid is good for brain health, milk and carbs are good too because they make u release more serotonin which is the chemical which makes u happy. Try to avoid caffeine as it makes you more panicky. Avoid alcohol as a means of escapism coz its a depressant. And the best possible thing u can do is go to your doctor...talk about your fears of hiv which are IRRATIONAL and if this worry is really taking you over, ask about SSRI's. They are an anti-depressant and im not saying you are depressed but they are often used in the treatment of OCD. They stop your nerve cells from reabsorbing serotonin which we OCDers dont have enough of and they will make you feel a whole lot happier about life and more chilled out. I'm going back on them this week as I've realised that they make a huuuuge difference!
Theres tons of therapy that u can try too which i can advise u on if needs be!
Let me know how u get on!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
