POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: gmandgman on July 10, 2006, 07:57:26 pm
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I first want to apologize for signing on with a new screen name, it has been over a year since I was on this site and I forgot my username.
Last Monday I was going to get a haircut, while I was waiting for the guy to cut my hair there was a customer in the chair. He used a pair of electric clippers on him.When he was done he put the clippers in a drawer and closed it. Then it was my turn, It was about 5 mintues before he used the clippers on me and he did not clean them or spray anything on them. It really did not bother me until he was done and when I got to my car I was checking the back of my neck for any cuts or scrapes and I did not feel or see any blood. I am nervous about this because my wife and I would like another baby. Is this anything to worry about?
David
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gman,
We all had to create new accounts when the forums upgraded it's software a month or so back. So don't sweat it.
Let me assure you that there is absolutely no risk of HIV transmission from electric hairclippers.None at all. Zero, zip, zilch, nada.
Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) which contains links to our transmission lessons.
I repeat, this is not an HIV situation.
MtD
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David, you have a case of the what ifs.
There's never been a case of tonsorial transmission and you aren't going to become the first. Nicks, cuts, scrapes and such in the barber shop -- that's not how HIV is transmitted.
Your time would be better spent reading the lesson on transmission, a link to which you can find in the first thread in this section. This is not an HIV situation. Do yourself a favor and become educated about the real risks. This wasn't one of them.
The lesson on testing also has a laundry list of things to NOT worry about.
Cheers,
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Thank you for responding to my question. Your right about the what if's, its a terrible feeling when you can't control your feelings. I went as far as taking a napkin and rubbing it all over my head and neck to see if there was any blood.
What about the next time,is there anything I can do to prevent this for the next time?
David
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If you have that much fear of getting your hair cut, don't cut your hair.
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I don't have fear of getting a haircut, it was the fear of the clippers that were not cleaned.
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Like they have all told you. You did not have a risk.
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I would just like to ask one more question in regards to this situation. I read Andy's post in regards to razor transmission in where the person was using a straight razor and the risk was theoretical
In regards to my situation, is there a difference between the two, razor vs electric clippers.
Last night was the first night that I slept and I woke up not feeling to good. Sore throat, I know that you cannot equate symptoms or no symptoms with HIV.
David
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gman,
The main difference I can think of between a straight razor and electric clippers is that you don't get cut from electric clippers.
You did NOT have a risk of hiv infection at the barbers - unless you were having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse while you were there. Brings a whole new meaning to "short back and sides", eh?
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.
Ann
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I shave with an electric razor and I have nicked myself from that.
I think that I am just scared in relations to this event. My wife and I would like to have another baby.
She knows about the haircut and she thinks that I am crazy. I am sorry if I am bothering anyone with this, but please understand my situation.
David
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gman,
The only person you are "bothering" with this is yourself... and possibly your wife.
You did not have a risk for hiv infection in what you bring to us. Thankfully, hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily successfully transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. Once hiv finds itself OUTSIDE the human body, it quickly becomes damaged and unable to latch onto the cells it needs to in order to infect a new host. These cells are not found on the surface of your skin.
Good luck with the baby attempts. You have no worries about hiv.
Ann
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Thank you so much for all of your help.
I went over everything that happened at the barber and I did not miss anything. There is nothing to add so thanks to all of you I can move on
David
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Hey, the worst thing you might get from "uncleaned" clippers are head lice or maybe skin irritation. You should ask the person who cuts your hair to clean the clippers. After all, it is your $$$ and they will understand. IF he doesn't, go to another barber or cut your own hair. I do once in awhile, and use the 1/2" attachment, and my wife does the back.
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The only thing I would want to ask, would be what if the customer before me got nicked and then he used the clippers on me, I did not feel any cuts or see any blood
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NO, a nick won't be cause for HIV infection. You can keep asking the same question over and over again and you'll still get the same answers. NO RISK>>>
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I have come to the conclusive that I need to talk to someone about my fear. I thought I could put it out of my mind, but I keep searching the internet and I keep reading other sites about this incident.
For whatever reason, I feel like I would be the first person to acquire this from a haircut. It does not make sense, but I feel like that.
I keep going over and over the incident in my head and I know that I did not feel any type of nick or cut but this is bothering me. I read that the CDC has cases in which they do not know the way the disease got transmitted and that confused me even further.
David
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Gmandgman,
If you were nicked by those clippers you would definitely noticed it...... it really hurts. An experienced barber does not often cut people with electric clippers. They find that their customers are not fond of the beesting feeling it imparts. That said even if you were nicked, and the guy before you was too, you still had no risk.
Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.
Morgan
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One thought though,
The guy used the electric clippers to clean the hair off my neck, I know my neck was a little red but I did not see or feel any blood. Any change in this regarding HIV
David
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You can keep asking the same question over and over again and you'll still get the same answers. NO RISK>>>
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I can see no further benefit to continuing this remarkably circular conversation.
You do not get HIV from a haircut. Period.
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Gmandgman,
No. Are you reading the replies in this thread??
Stop obsessing and go have some fun..... just stay out of barber shops (and off the internet).
Morgan ;)
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Just a quick thanks to all.
I woke up this morning and I realized that this is all in my head. This is my last post regarding this subject and I want to thank everyone for there words of wisdom and great advice.
I am moving on.
SO LONG
David
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Please remove my password so that I cannot ask any more questions also
David
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One thought though,
The guy used the electric clippers to clean the hair off my neck, I know my neck was a little red but I did not see or feel any blood. Any change in this regarding HIV
David
David-
Although you can't get HIV from a haircut using contaminated clippers, you CAN get LICE... but that's an entirely different ailment forum, alltogether. :) Check out www.licemeds.com
-joseph