POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: nwo on June 05, 2006, 09:21:45 am
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Well, I know that I am being irrational about this but my mind doesnt seem to stop about the what ifs and all this shit....I recently had an HIV test done and it came back negative. I didnt have a real risk to begin with but I did the test just to make sure and as part of routine testing for being sexually active. The thing is that now I am not worried about my sexualk incidents but about the testing itself. When I had the test done I didnt pay attention to the lab specialist and didnt observe whether a new needle was used or no.
Asuming that a used needle was used, is there a chance of getting HIV this way?? I mean the last patient to be tested was about 15 minutes earlier to my test, is this enough time for the virus to be inactive??
Please answer my irrational questions and put my mind to ease :)
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nwo,
There is no way on earth an hiv testing facility would re-use needles. Not one person has been infected through getting an hiv test and you will not be the first.
Ann
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thanks Ann for your reply
I know that they will not use the same needle intentionally, but what if by mistake or they forgot to change it....will it be any risk considering that there was quite a time difference between me and the guy before me
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nwo,
No, no risk.
I would like to suggest that you seek the assistance of a mental health care professional to help you deal with this anxiety of yours. We cannot offer you counseling on this forum, you must see someone face-to-face.
Ann
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yeah, I guess I will need counselling with this as the issue is still worrying me..
Anyway, thanks for your help Ann, you guys are doing a great job on these forums.
nwo
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This is absolutely not in anyway and HIV issue. Period. End of story.
If you need help in dealing with the emotional aspects of your situaiton then get it now. That help is not within the province of this Forum. Do yourself a favor and seek out a professional who can help you to address whatever is really going on. Whatever it is, it's not HIV.
Good luck in sorting it out.
Cheers,
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Andy, this is not an HIV issue because you believe that the lab specialist will not use the same needle twice or because enough time must have passed to render the virus inactive??
As for the proffessional help I will be on it ASAP :)
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nwo,
It's not an issue because what you're worrying about just does NOT happen. Lab technicians don't forget to throw a used needle out. I wouldn't have thought there was any way of reusing them anyway. You're just going to have to believe this. As an hiv positive person myself, I've probably had more blood draws than you'll EVER have and I'm telling you, this sort of thing just does NOT happen. No way. Never. Nope.
And yes, please, get some professional mental health care as soon as possible, before this gets totally out of hand.
Ann
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wow, I thought I put this isue behind my yesteday but I guess I didnt. I woke up in the middle of the night terrified. I couldnt sleep. I started trying to remember the settings at the testing lab but unfortunately I couldnt remember seeing the specialist use a new needle !!! The only thing I remember and that am sure of is that I waited for 15 minutes to get tested and during that time there was no other patient before me. I am still very afraid that the patient before me was HIV positive and the same needle was used on me....
I am usually a rational guy but my obsession and fear of HIV is out of proportion :'(
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There's no shame in getting professional help when you need it. Quite the contrary, it's actually a strong and a brave thing to do when it's needed. From what you've written you seem to be at the beginning of awareness that what is happening is not grounded in HIV science. That's good. It's the beginning of a shift for you.
I can't say why your mind is coming up with ideas that are scaring you about HIV. Talking and saying everything in a safe and private setting can be very helpful in sorting things out. Do yourself a favor and get some help. Life is way too short to be spending it in a state of worry and anxiety.
The help you need is beyond the scope of this setting. Good luck to you.
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Just for the record we get this exact story about once a month. Your mind is worried about HIV and is searching for ways that you were exposed. The scenario you describe is fantastic in that it is so unlikely. As Ann has said, that is a mistake that never occurs. You probably didn't see them get a new needle because they often prepare things outside and bring them in. You would know if it was used on someone else because it would be covered in blood and most likely the blood would have clotted and blocked the needle - and the blood draw wouldn't have worked.
R
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Thanks for all your replies. I gave it some thought after reading the whole thread again and right now I am laughing at my irrationality. This issue is officially before me, I promise :)
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Good. Glad you found the exchanges to be....illuminating. And laughter is a wonderful medicine.
Cheers,
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just for info,how long does HIV survive in blood in a hollow bore needle? Can it survive for days or is it a matter of hours or minutes? Are there any studies on this issue?
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NW, never mind for the record. I'm not buying on that one. As long as you continue to focus on details you're mind is coming up with it will only continue to feed your fears.
Forget about blood in needles and all of that. It's all what if stuff and getting into that does not address whatever is really driving your fear. You could get all the details down from here to eternity and it will not resolve your problem. Really.
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I have been reading stories on the net about cases where labs were reusing needles to draw blood sometimes intentionally and sometimes by mistake abd this happened in Labs in the USA not in third world labs or whatever and this rekindled my fears again. I am not sure at all if they used a new syringe on me or not and I will never be sure of that. The only thing am sure of is that some time has passed since the patient before me has had his blood drawn and this is the only thing that is calming me down.
I am trying to search for studies on how long HIV can remain viable and infectious when it is in a hollow bore needle but the answers I am finding are conflicting. Some of them say that it can live for up to 48 days !!! I just need to know how long can the virus remain viable in the needle because I am sure this will allow me to think about the issue in a more calm and positive manner
Thanks for your help
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Seek out a mental health professional for your fears. We can not help you with fears such as that.
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I am trying to search for studies on how long HIV can remain viable and infectious when it is in a hollow bore needle but the answers I am finding are conflicting. Some of them say that it can live for up to 48 days !!! I just need to know how long can the virus remain viable in the needle because I am sure this will allow me to think about the issue in a more calm and positive manner
And I'm sure it will send you into total anxiety over-drive, if you're not there already. Hunting around the internet for information such as this is a REALLY REALLY REALLY bad idea Nwo. You probably won't be able to distinguish between reputable studies and total bullshit. There's lots of bullshit on the internet babe. What's more scientific papers can be difficult to read and comprehend unless you know what you're doing.
All the information you need is contained in our friendly Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0). Follow the links to lessons in that and you'll be right.
EDIT TO ADD: And follow the advice of Roddles. Get some mental health support. Seriously.
MtD
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I appreciate your advice regarding the mental health support but honestly I dont think I need it. I am not really not paranoid over this anymore like I was in the first few days after the incident. But since reusing needles does happen sometimes as I have read some cases about it (reputable cases) I just wanted an answer regarding the viability of the virus in the hollow bore needle.
Since it doesnt seem I will get an answer to this question, I just wanted to say thanks again.
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Your posting history here begs to differ. if you are truly not unduly paranoid, then the risk assessment given thus far is sufficient. Regardless, I respectfully withdraw fromthe conversation.
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I appreciate your advice regarding the mental health support but honestly I dont think I need it. I am not really not paranoid over this anymore like I was in the first few days after the incident. But since reusing needles does happen sometimes as I have read some cases about it (reputable cases) I just wanted an answer regarding the viability of the virus in the hollow bore needle.
Since it doesnt seem I will get an answer to this question, I just wanted to say thanks again.
Nwo,
You need to understand that we don't necessarily give you the answers you want. We're not a "confirm my unfounded fears" vending machine. We give you the answers which the peer reviewed science supports. I agree with Jonathan when he tells you that your questions have been answered.
There is nothing more we can do for you.
MtD
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sorry for being back again but I have a few questions regarding the testing for HIV.
What is the differnence between 3rd and 4th generation tests other than the fact that fact that the 4th generation tests look for the antigen as well. I mean, do the use the same method and have the same sensitivity when looking for the antibodies alone?
Also, why do you say that after 6 weeks, the generation of the test used doesnt matter?
Thanks
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Hello
I have noticed that in your forums you always say that kissing is a no risk activity regardless of the circumstances mainly because saliva is not infectious and cause it inhibits hiv. But my question is, does your answer remain valid when there are amounts of blood in the kissers mouth? I mean if an HIV + person is kissing another person and there was blood in the mouth, this blood can easily come in contact with the other person's gum and then possibly pass through the gum linings into the bloodstream. Why couldnt infection happen this way?
I hope you can answer my question because I am a bit anxious about a kissing incident with a girl of unknown status. The kiss was deep and prolonged and it was too dark for me to see if there was blood in her mouth or not.
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Nwo,
Why have you started a new thread? You know that's against the rules. Please read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0). If you can't find your original thread, click on the Show Own Posts link the User box to your left.
MtD
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I started a new thread coz it is a new subject. I didnt mean to break the rules. Am sorry for that ...
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nwo,
I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation.
You would not be kissing someone who had enough blood in their mouth to be infectious. Not only would you see it, but you'd taste it too. Unless you're in the habit of punching someone in the mouth before you kiss them, I can't see this ever happening.
Stop with the what iffs.
Ann
Ann
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Thanks Ann for your reply.
So why is it that there has to be lots of blood for infection to occur? I thought that only one particle is sufficient for infection (like with a needle tip)...
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any reply please...I am really worried over this
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nwo,
When you're talking about kissing, there has to be a large amount of blood to pose a risk because of the nature of the environment of the mouth.
The virus has to bump into the correct type of cell in order to infect. These types of cells are not found in the mouth. There are over a dozen different proteins and enzymes present in saliva that render the virus unable to infect. Kissing is NOT a risk for hiv infection. If it were, we'd tell you. The whole purpose of this forum is to educate people on what is a risk and what isn't a risk.
YOU did NOT have a risk.
Ann
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Thanks Ann......point noted....ur an angel :)
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I just heard it on the news to day so I googled it on the net. It is saying that some mothers were infected while breast feeding their HIV positive children. Is this possible? and if it is, doesnt mean that kissing is also a risky activity?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060829/wl_nm/libya_medics_dc_3
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Nwo,
Why on earth would you confuse kissing with breast feeding? You're just trawling the net for information to feed your unfounded fears of HIV infection.
There is no risk of HIV infection from kissing!!!!
MtD
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well if children can infect their mothers by sucking on their breasts then I cant understand why it cant happen through kissing. It is saliva in both cases. This report freaked me out again !
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nwo,
I think you heard wrong. Hiv positive children who are so young as to be breastfeeding were born with hiv. This means that the mothers were already hiv positive and did not become infected from breastfeeding their babies.
Babies, on the other hand, are sometimes born hiv negative, despite their mother being hiv positive. If a baby born hiv negative goes on to breastfeed with their hiv positive mother, there is a chance the baby will become infected that way.
However, a grown man who comes into oral contact with breastmilk is not going to become infected. There's a huge difference between a few drops of breastmilk and depending on breastmilk for all your dietary needs.
Kissing is not a risk for hiv infection.
on edit: Ok, I just read the article you linked to. This is all I have to say about that case - and I've followed that case for some time. Basically, I don't believe a word of it. It looks to me - and has always looked to me - that the Libyan government does not want to admit that hiv was already in their population and they want to blame these health care workers for bringing it in. To say that the mothers were infected through breastfeeding (without elaborating!) is an easy way to keep the farce going. The whole thing is a load of political bullshit and I certainly hope the truth comes out before these health care workers lose their lives.
Saliva is not infectious and kissing is not a risk for hiv infection - regardless of the political maneuvering of Col. Kaddhafi.
Ann
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The issue is that these kids were infected on purpose by a group of bulgarian nurses. And it is on the news and over the net that some of these childred managed to infect their mothers while breastfeeding from them.
All what I am saying is that if this is true, then kissing might also be a risk of infection :(
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Nwo,
The case in Libya (which I have been following too) is, as Ann says, pretty much an attempt by the regime there to blame their HIV problem on someone. Someone other than the government. In this case it's very convenient that some Bulgarian nurses were there to take the rap.
Now that report has nothing to do with the rock solid, peer reviewed science that we in this place base the advice we give to people such as yourself and I don't intend to get into a debate with you about it.
There is no relationship between kissing and breastfeeding. HIV is not spread through kissing.
End of story.
MtD
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nwo,
What are you going to believe - 25 years of scientific data that tells us saliva is not infectious and therefore kissing is not a risk for hiv infection, or something that Col. Kaddhafi and his followers cooked up? They don't call him Kaddhafi Duck for nothing. Nobody believes the lies surrounding this case. The ONLY reason it is even a court case at all is because it is being held in a Libyan court. If this case were being tried anywhere else, it would have been thrown out as fantasy a long, long time ago.
Believe what you want. Live in fear of the boogie man and test to your heart's content. However, don't expect to be able to do it here for much longer. Please read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and take note of what is said about repeatedly posting about a no-risk event. Please also consider yourself officially warned.
Ann
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warned !!!!! for what....for asking a question...
well excuse me but I thought that this is what this forum is for....to answer questions and concerns...
I guess I will be taking my second warning now...right?
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Listen, you can go on forever with more what ifs and nonsense like this Lybian trial.
That doesn't mean we have signed on here to take every further burst of anxiety and questioning seriously. Just look at the length of this thread and the number of responses you have already received about the incident you were concerned about.
If what you have gotten here doesn't suit or satisfy you, that's all there is, there isn't anymore.
The real issue is why you are indulging in seeking out more what ifs to hold on to your unwarranted fears.
No kiddig.