POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: lord2004 on January 17, 2008, 06:09:52 pm

Title: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on January 17, 2008, 06:09:52 pm
hi,

i am a health care worker @ a local hospital. I'm really concerned about this needle prick accident i had 3 months ago ( 13 weeks ago ). needle was 23 gauge hallow bore, part of a vacutainer system. Pt. was Hep B, which i am immuned for and hospital has done the surface testing and i'm ok for HBV. My major concern is Hiv although i have tested negative 13 weeks later. I have no symptoms and i was not given any PEP from the hospital , since they thought it was a slim to none risk. My question is if the 13 week testing for my situation is enough??......oh yeah the guy whose needle i was stuck with is negative according to him. He hasn't taken the HIV test since the incident although he said he would. so am i ok @ 13 week's test result or should i wait another 3 months........thnx :-\ there was no visible blood in or on  the needle and when i was stuck with it my finger did bleed.
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on January 17, 2008, 06:11:51 pm
Your 13 week test is conclusive. You are HIV negative.

Some workplaces have 6 month testing policies for these sorts of incidents, but such policies are about insurance/legal stuff. They have no basis in HIV science.

Clinically speaking you do not need to test for HIV any further.

Be well,

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on January 17, 2008, 06:14:53 pm
hey ,

that was extremly fast. You guys are doing a great job. i really appreciate it. so no worries for me then right although i don't even know the guy's HIV status.

thnx
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on January 17, 2008, 06:16:17 pm
You don't need to know the patient's sero-status.

The only thing that matters is that you were tested at the appropriate time (ie 13 weeks post incident) and that test result was negative.

You don't have HIV.

Take care,

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on January 17, 2008, 06:18:56 pm
thnx much for ur help. I feel much better after getting the answer from u
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on January 17, 2008, 06:22:06 pm
Not at all. I'm glad you've found our exchange helpful.

Be well,

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 02, 2008, 11:56:06 am
my 13 week test is conclusive( atleast that what i thought ), but why do the doctors & nurses in the hospital keep asking me to test again at 6 months. Do i still have to worry for another 3 months. it was a needle stick injury, would it take more than 13 weeks to show up??

thnx
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 02, 2008, 12:02:13 pm
Lord,

As I noted earlier, there are probably legal and insurance reasons why they insist that you test at 6 months. Have you sought the advice of your Union delegate?

Nevertheless, if you tested HIV negative at 13 weeks, then you don't have HIV. I know this is hard to believe when you have your colleagues saying otherwise, but really it's true. I have no reason to lie to you about this.

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 02, 2008, 12:26:15 pm
matty,

Its so kind of u to answer back so fast. I was just wondering if needle stick injuries took longer time than sexual encounters as far as HIV goes??? don't have a union in this hospital, we are a catholic hospital. i know u have no reason to lie to me and i appreciate u getting back to me.

thnx for all of ur help again
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 02, 2008, 12:43:36 pm
No mate, there is no difference between needle stick exposure and sexual exposure in terms of seroconversion.

If your 13 week test is negative then you don't have HIV. I'm really pleased for you here. Congratulations on a good outcome.

Best regards,

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 02, 2008, 12:51:25 pm
hey matt,

u r a gr8 guy. thnx soooo much.

God bless u
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 02, 2008, 12:53:20 pm
Not a problem doll. I'm glad we've been able to help you.

Be well,

MtD
Title: worried again!!!!!
Post by: lord2004 on February 10, 2008, 07:38:21 am
hey guys,

sorry to bother u again, last night i had this awful experience, itched all over my body, especially neck, chest and abdominal area. now i have these red spots and itchy sensation on my neck chest and abdomen......is this any way related. upper back feels itchy too. i'm at work now and my neck is itching again :'(
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 10, 2008, 07:46:06 am
ooh yeah i forgot to mention my arms were itchy too and after i lscratched and left them alone for a while, they fon't itch anymore but there are red spots on both of them after 6 or 7 hours now and i'm a pretty tanned skin guy......
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Ann on February 10, 2008, 07:50:26 am
l,

You have tested conclusively hiv negative. Your rash has nothing to do with hiv. You do not have hiv.

Ann
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 10, 2008, 08:09:59 am
thnx ann for ur prompt reply. i was wondering for my general info, that if this rash that  i have was to be hiv related would it itch this much , intiallt atleast?
or itch at all?? ???
thnx again
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 10, 2008, 08:14:22 am
Honey,

Don't do this. Don't do the whole panicky symptoms thing. Don't start questioning your conclusive negative HIV result. It never ends well.

If you're having problems coping with what's happened you should arrange from face-to-face counseling for yourself. You're a health care worker, you should know this stuff. We're not able to provide you with the kind of support you need.

Now go and do yourself a favour. Get some professional help.

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on February 10, 2008, 08:15:57 am
thnx matty.....sorry......got really scared after last night :-\
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Ann on February 10, 2008, 08:29:01 am
l,

The rash sometimes associated with hiv seroconversion does NOT itch. Whatever is causing your rash, it is NOT hiv. You are hiv negative. End of story.

Ann
Title: need help??
Post by: ypmemories on February 17, 2008, 08:54:41 am
i have been seeing this girl for last 5 months. had sex many times with her. always used condoms. in october i did her in the butt with a condom on, but when i was finished and pulled out, the condom had slipped off and it was still in her. 80 days later i tested negative for hiv ( that was in january of this year ). do i have to be worried about this incident? condom did not break as long as i was in her. my cum was still inside the condom. but the condom was not on my penis when i pulled out. :-\
Title: Re: need help??
Post by: ypmemories on February 17, 2008, 09:23:57 am
can someone help me plzzz :-\
Title: Re: need help??
Post by: Matty the Damned on February 17, 2008, 09:24:54 am
Nope. You don't have to be worried about HIV because of this incident. Even though you took this girl up the shit-chute it makes no difference. The intercourse was protected and so were you.

And her.

Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the links to our Lessons to learn more about how HIV is and is not transmitted.

MtD
Title: Re: need help??
Post by: ypmemories on February 17, 2008, 09:31:37 am
thnx mtd.  ;D
Title: Re: need help??
Post by: Andy Velez on February 17, 2008, 09:54:07 am
You are well and truly HIV negative. The condom protected you throughout. And testing negative at 80 days simply confirmed your HIV negative status.

Title: Re: need help??
Post by: Ann on February 18, 2008, 03:23:23 am
yp,

Can I ask why you are using different usernames while posting to our forums? Thus far, you have also used lord2004 (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=18433.0). I approved the new account and gave you the benefit of doubt because you are posting from your place of work and could have been another person. I can see plainly from your writing style that you are indeed one and the same.

Please realize that this kind of activity is disrespectful of other forum members, as well as our moderators. People spend a considerable amount of time helping others in these forums. Using multiple accounts is at the very least annoying, if not deceiving and disrespectful of others. It is also against our Terms of Membership (http://forums.poz.com/Terms.htm) which you agreed to when you became a member. This information is also contained within the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0), which you should have read by now. So really, you have no excuse.

You must realize that the answers won't change, no matter how many names you post under.

I would appreciate a reply to this message, and I hope you will commit to using just one account - preferably your original one. If not, you will be banned from further access to the forums.

Ann
Title: for ann
Post by: lord2004 on February 19, 2008, 07:34:57 pm
hey ann,

indeed the other name ypmemories was from the same place i work and its my coworker that has made that account. i was the one who told him about this forum and we both asked the question. is that ok?? :'(........as far as the writing style goes i typed it for him, since we were talking 'bout his concern with this gal. no disrespect to u or the other mods.
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Ann on February 20, 2008, 04:22:30 am
Pull the other one, mate, it's got bells on.

I've merged your threads and disabled your second account.

Stick to one account or be banned. It's as simple as that.

Ann
Title: quick question
Post by: lord2004 on July 24, 2008, 06:12:50 pm
hey guys,

I'm back with another situation. what if u don't insert and just rub Ur penis on girl's wet vagina for a long time. lets say 15 mins...and yes that's of course without a condom
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: Matty the Damned on July 24, 2008, 06:14:08 pm
No insertion == no risk. HIV is transmitted inside the body.

And stop with the what-ifs and hypotheticals. We don't do that here.

MtD
Title: Re: healthcare worker
Post by: lord2004 on July 24, 2008, 06:25:16 pm
sorry matty,

didn't mean to get u upset. sorry for asking the question starting with " what if "........next time i will just ask.......

thanks for ur quick response.... u guys r great