Author Topic: Possible needlestick (Read 9945 times)

xps420 · « **on:** September 22, 2008, 03:01:24 pm »

Hello
3 and a 1/2 months ago I was sitting on a bus and felt a small prick on my underside forearm, that I believe could have been a needlestick. I thought little of it at the time, but the week after had a negative HIV test, for a 6 month previous sexual possible exposure, and then started to worry. In the following weeks I had a slight illness. But I doubt this was ARS as there was no general lymphadenopathy, fever, rash, fatique or sore throat.

I have a large swollen mass on the left of my neck that appears to be a tonsilar node, but it is long and seems to be as though two nodes are matted together, and has stayed ever since. On the other side of the neck I have a similar swelling, again appearing to be two nodes that move together, but much smaller, possibly half the size. I have had these from almost two weeks after my possible needlestick incident, when I was slightly ill. I have also had a possible node, but may be a collection of veins or tissue under my right armpit. I also have noticed two occipital nodes swell to just under a cm, in the last few weeks and several submandiublar/submental nodes at a cm, symmetrical, for a month. Does this sound like it could be persistent generalized lymphadenopathy as associated with HIV?

I want to know if any one here believes that I should test for HIV, or whether not to and get on with my life? I know that there are no documented cases of HIV infection through a community needle stick, and that it is highly unlikely, but in light of my symtoms is this still the case? Finally, would the needlestick needed to have been significantly deep, and would it have certainly made a visible wound? I did look for a wound, but am worried that it could have closed over in the slightly so not to be visible by half an hour.

Tell me if I am being ridiculous and need to grow up, I am only 18 and really need some help

Andy Velez · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2008, 03:32:05 pm »

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

This is aboslutely NOT an HIV situation. It's a bunch of what ifs that your mind has gone to town on with absolutely no basis in HIV science. None whatsoever.

HIV is not transmitted through this kind of incident and never has been. If you haven't already done so, read our lesson on TRANSMISSION, to which you can find a link in the Welcome thread which opens this section.

xps420 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2008, 08:11:08 pm »

Thanks a lot, the thing that got me really worked up were the comments by the 'AldousOrville' of a couple years ago, who believed that he was infected by needlestick. Could he have been or is he just denying how he really got it? I ask as I see you replied to a thread of his. Also he talks about camden town, London which is where my possible 'needlestick' occured, and it appears to have a high rate of HIV+ IV drug users. Any I assume that suggest not to test, even with the possibility of swollen nodes?

Sorry to waste your time, as I understand you must think I am simply another idiot worry well!!!

xps420 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 23, 2008, 09:58:23 am »

So is was that aldous simply a liar or not? His story does seem unlikely, as the needle had been dragged through the wet on the bottom of his shoe.

RapidRod · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2008, 10:06:23 am »

xps420, don't bring another persons situation into your thread. Your situation has been answered.

xps420 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2008, 10:12:55 am »

sorry, I understand it may be rude. I just thought that community needlesticks didn't result in HIV, and then I saw his thread so you can understand that it gave me a shock.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2008, 01:09:14 pm »

As Rod has pointed out that other thread had absolutely nothing to do with your non-situation. Stop searching around for more misinformation to scare yourself with.

You did not have a risk. Period.

xps420 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2008, 04:53:03 pm »

Thank you for your patience.
I have decided that I don't need another test then. It was just all the different nodes that were swollen and for an unusually long time. But many of them aren't even symmetrical, or are under a cm and I guess if I had HIV related PGL then they would be all over and noticable, not just in a few places. correct me if I am wrong

Ann · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:37:31 pm »

xp,

You don't need another test, no. However, you should show your nodes to a doctor. There are hundreds - if not thousands - of reasons why nodes can swell. Go make sure yours aren't a symptom of some other problem. Whatever is going on has nothing to do with hiv.

Ann

xps420 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2008, 06:05:48 am »

I shall do that just to be on the safe side, I have booked an appointment for a couple days time. Can I just ask if any of you have experience with PGL and if there are significantly more swollen nodes than I am having, in general? or can just a few be involved?

Ann · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2008, 06:20:55 am »

xp,

We don't discuss symptoms here. The questions about PGL are ones you need to be asking your doctor.

Unless you've been having unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse you haven't told us about, you've not been at risk for hiv.

Go find out what the real problem is - if there actually is a problem - instead of chasing hiv on an hiv website.

Ann

xps420 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2008, 02:39:12 pm »

Hi
The doc said my nodes are not swollen, just palpable within the normal range. So no PGL!

I was just wondering are youre response based on the fact that I only think I was pricked. In other words say I was definately pricked, and the needle had been left for 10 mins and had pricked me by a couple mm so caused a small wound. Would that still be no risk? I ask this last question so that I can get on with life, I don't want to find out I have HIV in 10 years, when I cant do any thing about it all cos of one bus journey!! Would any of you test???

RapidRod · « **Reply #12 on:** September 27, 2008, 03:28:09 pm »

Your additions don't change the assessments.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #13 on:** September 27, 2008, 04:41:37 pm »

You weren't at risk, you don't need to test and let's skip tagging on the what ifs now.

Get on with your life.

Cheers,

xps420 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2008, 08:22:21 am »

Ok, now that I have realised my 'symptoms' were just anxiety based. Can you just explain the basic science behind why a needle that is left in public, even if for only 10 mins, is not infectious. Is this time long enough to damage the HIV by drying, temp., ph and other environmental changes?

xps420 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2008, 06:30:38 pm »

Can someone explain the basic science behind why a needle that is left in public, even if for only 10 mins, is not infectious. Is this time long enough to damage the HIV by drying, temp., ph and other environmental changes?

anniebc · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2008, 10:50:38 pm »

HIV does not live oiutside the body and is rendered harmless in a matter of seconds, also blood in a hollow bore needle that has been lying around for a period of time will dry up therefore eliminating all infectious HIV particles, and making the risk of HIV infection from blood or bodily fluids outside the body essentially zero.

Now it really is time for you to move on..you were not put at risk.

Jan

xps420 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2008, 07:01:45 am »

I just find it hard to believe that ten mins will kill the virus. Also can just several headaches, over a couple weeks, and some loose stools (one a day and mainly only loose and not really bad) and some painful swollen nodes in groin (may be due to poking) , without any other symptoms except some possible malaise (could be paranoia) be ARS? Would ARS with fever, fatigue, generalised lymphadenopathy, rash and sore throat be extremely unlikely?

Ann · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2008, 07:42:28 am »

xp,

Did you actually see a needle? In your first post you used the word possible. This leads me to believe you never even saw what you think pricked you.

Sharing needles is a risk because infected blood is actually injected directly into the blood stream. This will not have happened in your case, if it was actually a needle.

You've been told repeatedly that you didn't have a risk. If you cannot bring yourself to believe us, go test and collect your negative result. Unless you've been having unprotected intercourse you've neglected to tell us about, you'll test negative.

As for your symptoms, symptoms, or even the lack of symptoms, will never tell you a single thing about your hiv status. Only testing will. If you feel unwell, see a doctor. We do not discuss symptoms here.

If you've read the Welcome Thread like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Quote

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned.

Ann

Andy Velez · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2008, 07:46:56 am »

We're not here to convince you of anything that you "find hard to believe." You came here with a totally speculative incident to begin with and now you're wrangling about what you find hard to believe.

It's ridiculous to even be discussing your symptoms with you. They have nothing to do with HIV nor are they in anyway HIV specific. You'd best keep your hands off of your swollen nodes or you may cause a real problem with them as they are very sensitive to being manipulated.

You're not going to be permitted to continue returning here with this "problem" and demanding our respectful attention to a situation that I will frankly say is ridiculous in origin. In more than 20 years of working in the epidemic I have never known of anyone to become infected through the kind of accident you are carrying on about. You aren't going to make history by becoming the first.

xps420 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2008, 08:06:44 am »

Sorry I didn't mean to be rude, by saying 'I don't believe ...'. You guys are the experts and I am going to accept what you say. HIV is clearly a fragile virus. I really respect and am grateful for the responses you have given me. I am accepting that I don't have HIV now, even if I was pricked, which I probably wasn't as I didn't see a needle only felt a prick, I would >99.7% have not contracted the disease if the virus was still viable. But I prob wasn't even pricked, and I know non of my symptoms even suggest HIV, I am just a worrier and have been scared of needlesticks many times in the past, albeit not to this extent.

I apologise if i seem to be wasting your valuable time, honest. i am gona try my hardest to accept that I have no chance of being HIV+, and I am gona try to stay away from the internet. It really just fuels paranoia!!!

Thanks again for your patient and helpful replies!

Andy Velez · « **Reply #21 on:** September 30, 2008, 09:18:58 am »

That's a good plan you have to stay away from the internet. As useful as it maybe at times, in relation to your present concern all it will do is fuel your worst fears with a lot of misinformation.

You don't have an HIV problem. You need to get on with your life.

Cheers,

xps420 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 05, 2008, 07:21:40 am »

I have managed to stay off the internet for a while, but today I realise that if someone had intentionally left a syringe on the bus to infect someone, it may have been left so that it could inject someone if they were pricked by it. I could only have been very slightly pricked by it, only enough to slightly break the skin if at all, but I am now worried that it may have slightly broke the skin and injected a drop of blood in to the wound. I remember that when I felt the 'stick', I briefly looked to where it could have come from, and didn't see anything but hardly checked very well. I then thought it must have been a hair being pulled, or something and thought little of it.
Would a needle that had injected, even just a tiny amount, of blood would certainly have been felt by myself?
Also would there have been a clear and visible mark, or some blood that would have seeped from the wound? I ask this cos I am sure there was not a significant punture wound.
Finally am I just being paranoid? I mean surely someone with HIV would want to do anything to stop others being infected, or if they wanted to infect others would just inject them themselves not leave a syringe in open view on a bus seat.

I no this sounds mad, but I am still really quite scared, and I just want your opinions. Promise, this will be my last post about this situation.

Ann · « **Reply #23 on:** October 05, 2008, 07:26:37 am »

xp,

Yes, you're being paranoid and yes, this will be your last post - for 28 days anyway. I'm giving you that time out I warned you about. Do not attempt to create a new account to get around your time out because if you do, you will be permanently banned.

Ann

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Author Topic: Possible needlestick (Read 9945 times)