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Exposure....very sore hand
This happened two years ago, approximately. Yesterday I developed a fever, sore throat, headache, etc. I do not believe this to be related to my exposure to HIV, however it did remind me of the incident and now I'm somewhat anxious about it. What happened was this:
There's this guy who happened to work in our building but he left after it became known he had HIV. One day, I was asked by my mother to take a heavy pottery to the garage. The pottery had an irregular surface and my hands were completely irritated and sore after I took the pottery to the garage. (It was very heavy.) So I chanced to encounter the guy (who still comes by, sometimes), and I carelessly shook his hand. (My right hand.) I don't know exactly why I did it, it was very stupid IMO. A few seconds after I shook his hand I became aware of what I had just done and went upstairs frantically to wash my hand. Both hands were *very* irritated, all red, but I didn't see any cuts. Perhaps there were microscopic cuts. His hand was kinda sweaty and dirty. What are the chances that I was infected?
There's this guy who happened to work in our building but he left after it became known he had HIV. One day, I was asked by my mother to take a heavy pottery to the garage. The pottery had an irregular surface and my hands were completely irritated and sore after I took the pottery to the garage. (It was very heavy.) So I chanced to encounter the guy (who still comes by, sometimes), and I carelessly shook his hand. (My right hand.) I don't know exactly why I did it, it was very stupid IMO. A few seconds after I shook his hand I became aware of what I had just done and went upstairs frantically to wash my hand. Both hands were *very* irritated, all red, but I didn't see any cuts. Perhaps there were microscopic cuts. His hand was kinda sweaty and dirty. What are the chances that I was infected?
IMike....t was nice that you apologized...and believe me, you are by far not the only one with major misconceptions about HIV. The good thing is...you can hopefully take this experience and educate yourself. Then, you will also be able to educate others that aren't properly aware. I know you didn't purposely mean to hurt anyones feelings.
Because all this does is feed into the isolation these people live with day in and day out. If you take your scenario...you wouldn't have given a second thought to a hand shake with someone you don't know their status, and that's where people have to stop and think....and why the stigma continues.
Lizzie, teak...my heart truly goes out that you all live with this kind of stuff day in and day out. Last year, I was doing some home health and one of my patients was an AIDS patient, and her husband was HIV positive. My one hour (typical) visit turned into an almost all day affair. Not only was this lady very physically ill and needed home care and follow up...but their were SO many other psychological issues going on...that I made sure I hooked them up with all of the possible rescources I could. Their story broke my heart...they only had each other...both of their families had completely turned their back on them...had no friends to speak of...and even their neighbors who they once were very close with...deserted them. They had NO ONE to help them with a damn thing. They were struggling financially, due to them both being ill and unable to work...had to fight tooth and nail for disability...and only had each other to rely on for emotional support.
Once we got social services in there....a whole world of options opened up for them....they got hooked up with an AIDS support group, their families started counseling and education...and at my last visit about a month later...they were honestly like two new people with a new lease on life.
The sad conclusion to the whole story is that it SIMPLY DOES *NOT* HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
I wish the people who came here were more open to understanding how the virus is transmitted...but so many of them are SO anxiety consumed, they have tunnel vision...and everything is a risk to them. If they WERE more open minded...it could allow for more education. Worried is a great testament to this kind of board...he came here like so many others...and yet was able to turn things around and actually now helps to educate people.
Thanks for letting me sort of rant and babble. This has always been a sore subject for me...and like I said before...the ignorance is alive everywhere...even among educated people who have been thoroughly TRAINED to know the risks. :0( Keep doing what you guys are doing...and we's gots LOTS of room in the anxiety forum (my primary "home" here on medhelp)...keep sending them to us. Sometimes we can help them work through it...and sometimes we can't....but it's worth a try anyway!
Because all this does is feed into the isolation these people live with day in and day out. If you take your scenario...you wouldn't have given a second thought to a hand shake with someone you don't know their status, and that's where people have to stop and think....and why the stigma continues.
Lizzie, teak...my heart truly goes out that you all live with this kind of stuff day in and day out. Last year, I was doing some home health and one of my patients was an AIDS patient, and her husband was HIV positive. My one hour (typical) visit turned into an almost all day affair. Not only was this lady very physically ill and needed home care and follow up...but their were SO many other psychological issues going on...that I made sure I hooked them up with all of the possible rescources I could. Their story broke my heart...they only had each other...both of their families had completely turned their back on them...had no friends to speak of...and even their neighbors who they once were very close with...deserted them. They had NO ONE to help them with a damn thing. They were struggling financially, due to them both being ill and unable to work...had to fight tooth and nail for disability...and only had each other to rely on for emotional support.
Once we got social services in there....a whole world of options opened up for them....they got hooked up with an AIDS support group, their families started counseling and education...and at my last visit about a month later...they were honestly like two new people with a new lease on life.
The sad conclusion to the whole story is that it SIMPLY DOES *NOT* HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
I wish the people who came here were more open to understanding how the virus is transmitted...but so many of them are SO anxiety consumed, they have tunnel vision...and everything is a risk to them. If they WERE more open minded...it could allow for more education. Worried is a great testament to this kind of board...he came here like so many others...and yet was able to turn things around and actually now helps to educate people.
Thanks for letting me sort of rant and babble. This has always been a sore subject for me...and like I said before...the ignorance is alive everywhere...even among educated people who have been thoroughly TRAINED to know the risks. :0( Keep doing what you guys are doing...and we's gots LOTS of room in the anxiety forum (my primary "home" here on medhelp)...keep sending them to us. Sometimes we can help them work through it...and sometimes we can't....but it's worth a try anyway!
You didnt know that our friend Teak is hiv positive, and that a son of Lizzie too, so now that you realized that and that you apologized for that awfull coment, just try to learn more about HIv, and dont worry you were never at risk.
I'm very very sorry, I didn't know I was going to upset so many people. I apologize.
BRAVO NURSE is the best post I have ever read, and mike is not your fault to continue ignorant about hiv, but it si on your hands to learn about it and help in the fight to get out of this suking stigma and discrimination, I do think that the 100% of worried people that comes here are afraid of the stigma, discrimination, ect. of HIV-AIDS rather than afraid of dead, just ask them if they would change having HIV for leukimia, lung cancer, ect. and the whole of them will say yes, so please be more carefull and what you type, and read in thebody.com avert.com to fill up your knowledge
No risk anyway
No risk anyway
this is the kind of IGNORANCE my son is faced with on a daily basis. this nauseates me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a fool you just made of yourself.
i agree nursegirl more people need thr proper education on hiv transmission plus people also need to realize that hiv is a fragile virus if it was that easy to get hiv then we would all have it
and as for your statement above with the triple gloves LOL
and as for your statement above with the triple gloves LOL
You do need to educate yourself about HIV transmission. You do NOT get HIV from handshakes, hugs, any kind of casual contact whatsoever...irritated hands or not.
It is this kind of thinking that continues to fuel HIV anxiety and the stigma these people have to deal with day in and day out.
I tell you...I have cared for many patients through the years who were either HIV+, or had AIDS...and I cannot tell you...how even in a hospital setting, with supposedly educated people...how stupid people can be. Some of my co-workers would double glove just to deliver a cup full of pills. I was mortified at that. And, don't think it doesn't hurt the person time and time again. It made them feel horrible.
I had one woman thank me through tears for not treating her like that...and for being aware of what puts you at risk or not. I told her to totally ignore the awful and ignorant behavior my co-workers displayed.
Funniest thing? They'd triple glove for the AIDS patient when delivering their lunch...yet walk next door and insert an IV without gloves on someone they had no clue about their status.
Sorry....this just struck a nerve for me. I wish everyone could be more educated and learn to have some compassion.
It is this kind of thinking that continues to fuel HIV anxiety and the stigma these people have to deal with day in and day out.
I tell you...I have cared for many patients through the years who were either HIV+, or had AIDS...and I cannot tell you...how even in a hospital setting, with supposedly educated people...how stupid people can be. Some of my co-workers would double glove just to deliver a cup full of pills. I was mortified at that. And, don't think it doesn't hurt the person time and time again. It made them feel horrible.
I had one woman thank me through tears for not treating her like that...and for being aware of what puts you at risk or not. I told her to totally ignore the awful and ignorant behavior my co-workers displayed.
Funniest thing? They'd triple glove for the AIDS patient when delivering their lunch...yet walk next door and insert an IV without gloves on someone they had no clue about their status.
Sorry....this just struck a nerve for me. I wish everyone could be more educated and learn to have some compassion.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean no disrespect. I was simply saying it was stupid to shake an HIV+ individual with an irritated hand, *if* there is any risk of infection.
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