Didn't fall far from the tree...

[gettinbetr]

The apple sure didn't fall far from the tree.  My daughter also has ocd.  Today she called me all in a panic.  She was in a store, opened up a little sewing kit, and immediately a needle pricked her finger.  She called me, and I did my best to be the strong mother I am trying so hard to be.  

As told to me on this forum, hiv does not live on surfaces.  A needle is a surface, right?  So, if someone who had hiv pricked their finger on the same needle, it would still be okay.  Like someone would have to ***** their finger and then immediately ***** her finger, right?

I feel like she's safe, but I would like to hear some comments to share with her to make her feel better.  Little Yellow Flowers, I am counting on you!!!

[gettinbetr]

Thanks for your response.  It was most helpful.  I am learning more and more and gaining more validation than I ever imagined.  

It is people like you who help people like me get better!  Thank you!

[gettinbetr]

Thanks, JGF......I didn't realize that there was a 0.3 percent chance of getting infected by an hiv needle.  I thought that the transmission rate would be greater than that.

I'm thankful for the information you are giving me.  I was able to use my newfound knowledge today to help my precious and dear daughter.  God's Blessings to you.....

[darkenergy]

Hi Gettinbetr,

First of all a sewing needle and syringe are different although both are called needles. One can house fluid, while the other is just a pointy metal surface.

Your daughter contracting HIV from a sewing needle is virtually impossible. As you mentioned yourself, the virus cannot survive outside the body. She picked up a kit, opened it, picked up the needle and got a *****. That's quite a lot, not to mention that it's statistically highly improbable that someone with HIV would have pricked their finger on the same needle in the same sewing kit right before her. She is at no risk for HIV under these circumstances.

I have had OCD since being a teenager. I was a bio major undergrad and was convinced that I would get infected with HIV in the hospitals and labs I worked in. I used to call the CDC and check with them about different scenarios in which I suspected I could have contracted the virus...many of the situations were like the one you described. The CDC told me that they have virtually no reported cases like this and that even if you were stuck with a HIV infected syringe the odds are still incredibly low that you would contract the virus.

The obsessing over this incident and replaying it over and over in her head is part of OCD. We all fixate on something with OCD and slowly try to convince ourselves of something that is untrue. Your daughter is at no risk of HIV under these circumstances, but I hope she finds a way to manage the OCD. Best to both of you.

[JGF25]

You are correct.  HIV doesn't live on surfaces and if there were any on that sewing kit needle, and I absolutely don't think there was, it would be dead and not transmissible.  Your daughter has nothing to worry about so just reassure her.  You came through the irrational thoughts and she will too.  It just isn't a way that HIV is transmitted.  

Now let's say you were an EMT and you were treating an HIV positive patient and you drew their blood and then immediately stuck yourself, your chances are still not 100 percent that you would get infected.  From what I have found on the web it is a 0.3% chance.  Less than 1 percent chance.

I hope this reassures you and your daughter.