Aa
SOOOO NERVOUS
I had an occupational exposure where possibly a bloody droplet went in to my eye. I was wearing goggles! it happened so fast, my eye didn't water, irritate, tear, and I flushed it out after; not long enough thou. After speaking with the post-exposure docs and an ER doc. everyone told me not to take the HIV meds. And everyone told me that was such low risk almost impossible for that amout to cause HIV. Patient is 73, gay, asked 3 times about HIV status and all times said he was healthy, However, About 2 weeks later I developed classic ARS signs. Thrush, body tingling sensations, and maybe night sweats (not sure). I am 19 months pregnant, EXTREMELY stressed, no sleeping, hardly eating, hardly drinking, feel like a zombie and at this point am convinced I got it. Dr.s are still optomistic and state you cannot be sure unitl you get results. I feel like I am going to DIE...I took 2 orasure tests @ 3 and 4 weeks (neg) I am awaiting PCR results. I am so dying.... And not to mention I test positive for PPD Tb test. So I have latent TB which I have read is really bad to have wih HIV. And that will send me to the grave. At this point I am ready to just make an appt with the HIV Doc and be treated ASAP. I feel I am dying day by day or kill myself. PLEASE HELP>>>Any encouraging thoughts.
Hello nervousnelly911, how are you doing? As you can see your post was moved to the Prevention Forum. I realize you probably didn't know exactly were to post. Don't worry about all that. It sounds like you have enough going on. Know one is here to lecture you, we are all just trying to help. Sometimes those of us that have been dealing with this personally for years forget that others may not understand what's going on. Don't let that deter you from check-in with us though. Anything new with you???
First of all, teak is right, you posted in the wrong froum...you should be in the "HIV Prevention" forum.
Second of all...you are WAY over-dramatizing this. Do you have CONFIRMATION that this person was HIV+, or are you just assuming so b/c he is gay (I hope not)? Secondly...even if he IS...there is NO way you are going to be infected.
Third...a LOT of people test POS with the tuberculin (TB) skin test, it doesn't mean that they all have latent TB...were you Dxed as having latent TB, or are you making another rush assumption? It just means at SOME time you came in contact with someone who had active TB.
And, to clarify another misconception...HIV (AIDS actually) and ACTIVE TB are a worrisome combo. Not what you said.
CHILL out....no way did you get HIV from one droplet of blood in your eye. To even have a minute risk...you would have had to have been exposed to HUGE amts of the virus. The virus is weak and basically incapable of infecting OUTSIDE of the body.
LASTLY..from your post...
"I had an occupational exposure where possibly a bloody droplet went in to my eye. I was wearing goggles! it happened so fast, my eye didn't water, irritate, tear, and I flushed it out after; not long enough thou"
You are again making assumptions. How in the world would a droplet have made it into your eye if you you wearing goggles? And again..."possibly" bloody. This is clearly a case of you catastrophizing a situation way beyond the reality of it...my guess is likely b/c you had knowledge that the pt was HIV +? I really wish that health care workers were better educated (and that isn't 100% your fault...I blame the facilites and educators)
I do this every freaking day...have been exposed to glood guts and gore. NEVER had a problem. I draw the blood of one of our + pts almost every day. I've had a droplet land on my skin...near my mouth...you name it. I still remain HIV free. Even people with needlesticks RARELY EVER have anything to worry about...and you're planning your funeral over a "possible" drop? Seriously.....you are way overreacting.
All that being said....MODS....please move this convo to the Prevention forum so that the poster may respond in the appropriate place. THANKS!
Second of all...you are WAY over-dramatizing this. Do you have CONFIRMATION that this person was HIV+, or are you just assuming so b/c he is gay (I hope not)? Secondly...even if he IS...there is NO way you are going to be infected.
Third...a LOT of people test POS with the tuberculin (TB) skin test, it doesn't mean that they all have latent TB...were you Dxed as having latent TB, or are you making another rush assumption? It just means at SOME time you came in contact with someone who had active TB.
And, to clarify another misconception...HIV (AIDS actually) and ACTIVE TB are a worrisome combo. Not what you said.
CHILL out....no way did you get HIV from one droplet of blood in your eye. To even have a minute risk...you would have had to have been exposed to HUGE amts of the virus. The virus is weak and basically incapable of infecting OUTSIDE of the body.
LASTLY..from your post...
"I had an occupational exposure where possibly a bloody droplet went in to my eye. I was wearing goggles! it happened so fast, my eye didn't water, irritate, tear, and I flushed it out after; not long enough thou"
You are again making assumptions. How in the world would a droplet have made it into your eye if you you wearing goggles? And again..."possibly" bloody. This is clearly a case of you catastrophizing a situation way beyond the reality of it...my guess is likely b/c you had knowledge that the pt was HIV +? I really wish that health care workers were better educated (and that isn't 100% your fault...I blame the facilites and educators)
I do this every freaking day...have been exposed to glood guts and gore. NEVER had a problem. I draw the blood of one of our + pts almost every day. I've had a droplet land on my skin...near my mouth...you name it. I still remain HIV free. Even people with needlesticks RARELY EVER have anything to worry about...and you're planning your funeral over a "possible" drop? Seriously.....you are way overreacting.
All that being said....MODS....please move this convo to the Prevention forum so that the poster may respond in the appropriate place. THANKS!
This is a forum for individuals who are HIV positive or have AIDS to connect and support each other.
OK, I agree latent TB and HIV are not a good combo. But, TB can be treated. Are you on medication now for the TB? If not, you need to be. Also, HIV moves very slowly. Even if you were infected at the time you mentioned above, it sometimes takes years before any symptoms occur. As I said before, try to slow down here. You don't have to do anything tomorrow about this. You mentioned the possibility of shingles. If that were the case, they would be on only one side of your body, accompanied be small blisters. Has your doctor looked at this? At this point I would be more concerned about getting on medication to clear-up the TB, rather than an immediate concern about the possible HIV. Talk to your doctor. Take Care.... Jack
Thanks for your input...but I read the articles regarding latent Tb and HIV. Not a good combo. I feel like I need to get treated starting tomorrow. (results or not) I can't believe this. Also, I feel like I might be a fast progressor of HIV. I feel like the symptoms keep changing and worsening. The tingling and burning sensation feels like Shingles. I could die in like 1 year. Have you ever read anyone dying quickly after infection? And Thanks for all the CDC stuff. I have called just about every hotline there is.
Also, don't you agree symptoms are strange...never had them before in my life. And the timing is insane. I am curious also, if you know of any other conditions that mimic hiv symptoms?
Thanks for your input...but I read the articles regarding latent Tb and HIV. Not a good combo. I feel like I need to get treated starting tomorrow. (results or not) I can't believe this. Also, I feel like I might be a fast progressor of HIV. I feel like the symptoms keep changing and worsening. The tingling and burning sensation feels like Shingles. I could die in like 1 year. Have you ever read anyone dying quickly after infection? And Thanks for all the CDC stuff. I have called just about every hotline there is.
Please get a hold of yourself. You're not going to die. The doctor's are right, the likelihood of that small amount of blood in your eye probably didn't infect you. Also, you would not be having symptoms after just two weeks of possible exposure. The possible thrush you are talking about is curable. The TB is also curable. HIV is treatable. In the worst case scenario if you did test positive, the doctor would give you antivirals prior to giving birth. That way it would help to prevent your child from becoming infected also. That having been said, you are doing the right thing by getting tested for HIV just in case. But please don't panic. Slow down, take a deep breath, and most of all trust your doctors. If you need immediate help contact "The National AIDS Hotline" 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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