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Risk assessment & shingles question
Hi doctor,
29 years old, 6', 185 lbs. Good health as of physical in Nov 08.
I went to a community clinic about 3.5 weeks ago for Oraquick testing. I do not question the negative result as the previous event was near zero risk and 18 months ago. While waiting in the examination after my sample was taken, I resorted to my nervous habit: I grabbed a paper clip that was on the table, straighened it out, and used the wire tip to clean my nails. I jabbed myself under one of my nails. Didn't see any blood, but it did feel very sore for a few days.
I was ready move on, but a few things arose. Lost ~10 lbs., some soreness in the muscles around the elbows and knees, and some soreness in my lower back/elbows/knees. No fever. I realize stress and lack of exercise may be the root cause.
However, on a physical follow-up Thursday last week (~3 weeks after clip), I was diagnosed by my GP/IM to have shingles. I'm taking my prescription, and the shingles are limited to a small area on the back of my neck.
Questions:
1. Is the clip thing no HIV risk? Other STD? I'm not asking as if it was needle sharing, but more like how things can spread at a tattoo parlor or nail salon.
2. I realize the clip was not in a pool of blood nor semen, but if blood was on the tip, would the virus die before I touched it?
3. Are the symptoms I listed, including shingles, likely caused by stress? Could shingles be an early symptom of infection?
4. I had to leave my home a few times for errands. I know when I'm out I have touched surfaces, and then later on touched the back of my neck (shingle affected area). I don't think I've had any bleeding or fluid come out, but would that touching of surfaces and then those blisters(?) -bleeding or not- cause any risk?
5. I had some blood drawn at that dr's appointment. I took the band aid off about 10 min later and I know the bleeding stopped. Same question as #4. Would touching surfaces put me at risk if I touched where the blood was drawn?
29 years old, 6', 185 lbs. Good health as of physical in Nov 08.
I went to a community clinic about 3.5 weeks ago for Oraquick testing. I do not question the negative result as the previous event was near zero risk and 18 months ago. While waiting in the examination after my sample was taken, I resorted to my nervous habit: I grabbed a paper clip that was on the table, straighened it out, and used the wire tip to clean my nails. I jabbed myself under one of my nails. Didn't see any blood, but it did feel very sore for a few days.
I was ready move on, but a few things arose. Lost ~10 lbs., some soreness in the muscles around the elbows and knees, and some soreness in my lower back/elbows/knees. No fever. I realize stress and lack of exercise may be the root cause.
However, on a physical follow-up Thursday last week (~3 weeks after clip), I was diagnosed by my GP/IM to have shingles. I'm taking my prescription, and the shingles are limited to a small area on the back of my neck.
Questions:
1. Is the clip thing no HIV risk? Other STD? I'm not asking as if it was needle sharing, but more like how things can spread at a tattoo parlor or nail salon.
2. I realize the clip was not in a pool of blood nor semen, but if blood was on the tip, would the virus die before I touched it?
3. Are the symptoms I listed, including shingles, likely caused by stress? Could shingles be an early symptom of infection?
4. I had to leave my home a few times for errands. I know when I'm out I have touched surfaces, and then later on touched the back of my neck (shingle affected area). I don't think I've had any bleeding or fluid come out, but would that touching of surfaces and then those blisters(?) -bleeding or not- cause any risk?
5. I had some blood drawn at that dr's appointment. I took the band aid off about 10 min later and I know the bleeding stopped. Same question as #4. Would touching surfaces put me at risk if I touched where the blood was drawn?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You went through the paper clip business in a large number of threads a few years ago. Guess what? Nothing has changed.
1) Nothing has changed in the past 2-3 years. No risk.
2) Probably.
3) Shingles is a recurrence of your childhood chickenpox and to my knowledge stress is not known to be a trigger.
4) Good grief. What kind of question is that? Have you learned nothing in participating on this and the STD forum for 3 years?? You know that HIV is not acquired from environmental contamination.
5) No.
This thread is over; I will not respond to any follow up comments. Please do not start a new thread on this forum. Please seek the counseling you so badly need.
HHH, MD
1) Nothing has changed in the past 2-3 years. No risk.
2) Probably.
3) Shingles is a recurrence of your childhood chickenpox and to my knowledge stress is not known to be a trigger.
4) Good grief. What kind of question is that? Have you learned nothing in participating on this and the STD forum for 3 years?? You know that HIV is not acquired from environmental contamination.
5) No.
This thread is over; I will not respond to any follow up comments. Please do not start a new thread on this forum. Please seek the counseling you so badly need.
HHH, MD
Just one clarification. I was 195 as of my physical in Nov 08. Now 185.
Also, I looked on this board for anything similar (especially shingles), but didn't find anything. I only posted because of that.
And for what it's worth, I am hoping this is just stress!
Thanks all
Also, I looked on this board for anything similar (especially shingles), but didn't find anything. I only posted because of that.
And for what it's worth, I am hoping this is just stress!
Thanks all
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