Aa
Hi, I'm new and scared.
Back story: I've been tested for Hepatitis C two times (I think) in the last 3 years. There came a period of my life where I just became terrified of contracting Hepatitis and so I spent many months worrying and being depressed and waiting for test results. While I didn't have any exposures like sex or drugs or blood transfusions, I did believe that just using common public objects would infect me if I had cuts anywhere on my body. (I will admit I struggle with OCD, but please don't write me off.)
I come here this time with an actual legitimate worry. I had two teeth appointments yesterday. The first was with my dentist for a cleaning. The 2nd was with my oral surgeon for a dental implant check-up.
The oral surgeon was going to show me how to clean the implant and here's where things go terribly wrong for me.
He took the toothbrush out of the package and for some ungodly reasonk, he ran his UNGLOVED fingers over the bristles, then put them right onto my teeth and pressed down. Because I had just had my teeth cleaned, blood began to cover the bristles. He didn't seem to care. He just set the brush down on the table like it was no big deal and continue to play with his watch and cross his arms as if he had not just handled a patient's bloody brush.
I am terrified that he does not practice good universal precautions and had remnants of another patient's blood on his hands when they ran over the bristles and then entered my mouth where there was fresh blood.
Right now I know I need to wait the 3 and 6 months for testing, but I am preparing myself for the worst. I thought I would come on here to try and join the community in case I come back positive.
I come here this time with an actual legitimate worry. I had two teeth appointments yesterday. The first was with my dentist for a cleaning. The 2nd was with my oral surgeon for a dental implant check-up.
The oral surgeon was going to show me how to clean the implant and here's where things go terribly wrong for me.
He took the toothbrush out of the package and for some ungodly reasonk, he ran his UNGLOVED fingers over the bristles, then put them right onto my teeth and pressed down. Because I had just had my teeth cleaned, blood began to cover the bristles. He didn't seem to care. He just set the brush down on the table like it was no big deal and continue to play with his watch and cross his arms as if he had not just handled a patient's bloody brush.
I am terrified that he does not practice good universal precautions and had remnants of another patient's blood on his hands when they ran over the bristles and then entered my mouth where there was fresh blood.
Right now I know I need to wait the 3 and 6 months for testing, but I am preparing myself for the worst. I thought I would come on here to try and join the community in case I come back positive.
Well thankfully, I am done seeing him because my dental implant procedure is complete. So, I won't be going back to him.
Idyllic, last time I checked, I was Hep C negative. However, after this recent exposure, I am scared I will be infected with Hep C so I am preparing for the worst.
Idyllic, last time I checked, I was Hep C negative. However, after this recent exposure, I am scared I will be infected with Hep C so I am preparing for the worst.
I'm not sure what Ceanthus means by granting you permission to stay on the forum. I don't get it when you say you are new. Do you have Hepatitis C or not? Why frequent an HCV Forum if you are not infected with the Hepatitis C virus.
It would have grossed me out if my dentist did that. I have had a ton of dental work from cleaning to cosmetic work and I can honestly say none of the professionals I have would even absent mindedly do such a thing. I think you should change oral health providers since the person has habits that alarm you. No reassurance in the world can replace the trust once it is gone.
It would have grossed me out if my dentist did that. I have had a ton of dental work from cleaning to cosmetic work and I can honestly say none of the professionals I have would even absent mindedly do such a thing. I think you should change oral health providers since the person has habits that alarm you. No reassurance in the world can replace the trust once it is gone.
Yeah trust me, I feel sick I didn't stop it.
But it all happened so fast. I didn't know he would actually stick the brush in my mouth before it was too late. Especially since he wasn't wearing gloves. I thought it would be an out of mouth demonstration then all of a sudden in the mouth it goes. I also did not think for a second my gums would bleed like that because I've never had that happen before.
We called after I got home and told the guy exactly why I was furious with him about what he did. He kept assuring us that everything was clean, but I mean... he HAS to say that.
But it all happened so fast. I didn't know he would actually stick the brush in my mouth before it was too late. Especially since he wasn't wearing gloves. I thought it would be an out of mouth demonstration then all of a sudden in the mouth it goes. I also did not think for a second my gums would bleed like that because I've never had that happen before.
We called after I got home and told the guy exactly why I was furious with him about what he did. He kept assuring us that everything was clean, but I mean... he HAS to say that.
I question why if your so aware of hep c..... you didn't stop the dentist
from putting the brush in your mouth. Did you say something to the dentist
when he put the brush on his gloves? Help us all stop the transmission
of Hep C. Help yourself and others by stopping the hep c transmission.
Just say NO!!!! Save yourself lots of anxiety problems. It doesn't hurt
to remind people that safety comes first.
from putting the brush in your mouth. Did you say something to the dentist
when he put the brush on his gloves? Help us all stop the transmission
of Hep C. Help yourself and others by stopping the hep c transmission.
Just say NO!!!! Save yourself lots of anxiety problems. It doesn't hurt
to remind people that safety comes first.
I just saw the other responses, and wanted to add that of course it's "okay" for you to stay on the forum, but it is probably not in your own best interests. Even people who have a diagnosis and are under the care of a hepatologist have on occasion become way too stressed out from worries after reading a lot of posts be others who are amongst the sickest here. It seems a somewhat risky place for you to hang out. Should you ever actuallybe diagnosed with HCV, this group will go all out to help you, but right now you would probably get a lot more good out of a forum for OCD sufferers.
First i have to say that i am mot a doctor or a therapist, but just a HCV patient. I'm really sorry you are so stressed out over this – it sounds emotionally very painful, but it also does sound like much more of an OCD problem than an HCV problem. Your risk of infection from this particular incident is next to zero if not actually zero. The dentist would have had to be personally infected with HCV and also bleeding from an open cut and placing that blood in direct contact with your bleeding gums – not a very likely scenario. However, I do think you should look for a dentist whose practices are more overtly safe and cautious. Did you say anything to this dentist? He should be made aware of the fact that his patients are noticing his practices. No dentist should be putting his/her hands in your mouth without wearing gloves, and this is for all kinds of disease prevention, not just for HCV.. For your next dentist, you might want to tell them about your health concerns in advance of having any work done. You certainly have the right to request that they reassure you of their safety practices.
For now though, find a new dentist before continuing your dental work, or if this is really difficult then you should at least have a discussion with your dentist about your concerns regarding disease prevention. Get yourself tested just for the peace of mind, and try to find a therapist to work on the OCD. That is such a waste of your precious time on this earth, to spend it on needless worrying, and you could be much happier if you could get the OCD under control.
For now though, find a new dentist before continuing your dental work, or if this is really difficult then you should at least have a discussion with your dentist about your concerns regarding disease prevention. Get yourself tested just for the peace of mind, and try to find a therapist to work on the OCD. That is such a waste of your precious time on this earth, to spend it on needless worrying, and you could be much happier if you could get the OCD under control.
orphanedhawk, trust me, i know i have deep anxiety problems. But I wouldn't be coming on here if I didn't truly believe I was put at risk. This doctor did not seem to care that much about handling blood. I just can't imagine he's super careful with all of his patients. He's an older oral surgeon, so I'm sure he's still stuck in his ways about not being the greatest with universal precautions. It's probably entirely plausible I could have been infected.
I would just like some place to talk with people in case I do end up being infected with hepatitis C. I hope it's okay if I stay here.
I would just like some place to talk with people in case I do end up being infected with hepatitis C. I hope it's okay if I stay here.
People were infected by dentists back in the days before we even knew there was a hepatitis C.
Your problem is anxiety. I suggest you get help for that.
Your problem is anxiety. I suggest you get help for that.
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