In turmoil

[Green2]

Hoping to get some sort of help and clarity from here. I had a sinus infection and a staph infection inside my nose & was in a lot of discomfort so went to the ENT. I couldn’t go to my usual doctor as I was traveling so had to do make do with another doctor. Now the issue that has scared me is

1. He used a metal speculum to check inside my nose and he did not sterilise this at all. He took it out of his drawer and after using it on me put it back in. There was a lot of patients going in before me so I would’ve definitely been exposed in a matter of minutes.

2. He used an endoscopy to check inside my nose and I made it a point to ask him if it was clean seeing as he had not cleaned the metal tool before. So he took what I am assuming was an alcohol wipe, and cleaned the endoscopy tube with it. But I have no way to know what type of disinfectant wipe it was, and I have no way to know if it was even wet and new, perhaps it was dried and old in which case it would not have removed any germs or blood on the endoscopy tube.

3. If he did use an alcohol disinfectant wipe, would it be enough to clean the instrument?


After a month of this doctors visit o started getting strange symptoms on my fingernails and when I googled it hiv shows up as one cause. I am really freaking out. There has also been a HIV breakout in my city recently and I am just so upset I cannot even sleep anymore.

If there was any risk to me please let me know. Because I know for sure he has probably used unsterilised tools on me. He seemed like a very lousy doctor.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya

1. He used a metal speculum to check inside my nose and he did not sterilise this at all. He took it out of his drawer and after using it on me put it back in. There was a lot of patients going in before me so I would’ve definitely been exposed in a matter of minutes.

2. He used an endoscopy to check inside my nose and I made it a point to ask him if it was clean seeing as he had not cleaned the metal tool before. So he took what I am assuming was an alcohol wipe, and cleaned the endoscopy tube with it. But I have no way to know what type of disinfectant wipe it was, and I have no way to know if it was even wet and new, perhaps it was dried and old in which case it would not have removed any germs or blood on the endoscopy tube.

3. If he did use an alcohol disinfectant wipe, would it be enough to clean the instrument?

Nothing you mentioned here was an HIV risk to you. Zero!

Relax and move on with your life.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.

[Green2]

Really?? Omg i feel like a fool for worrying so much.
So even if there was a minute or less between me and some other patient before me and if the same tools were used on them before me, I am still safe right?

And would alcohol wipes be enough to kill hiv if it was on the endoscopy tool that went up my nostril? I know the nose is a mucus membrane so does this make any difference?

[Jim Allen]

Really?? Omg i feel like a fool for worrying so much.
So even if there was a minute or less between me and some other patient before me and if the same tools were used on them before me, I am still safe right?

Not an HIV risk to you.

And would alcohol wipes be enough to kill hiv if it was on the endoscopy tool that went up my nostril? I know the nose is a mucus membrane so does this make any difference?

Rather irrelevant question as the receptors needed for HIV to cause infection already corroded simply by being in contact with the environment outside of the host.

Stop looking for an issue you don't have.

If you are sexually active use condoms for any intercourse and get an STI & HIV screening yearly out of standard routine.

[Green2]

And would you say the same regarding a dentists tools? I got scaling done the other day and obviously with scaling you do bleed a little as they use a sharp metal to.. If the tools were not properly disinfected am I at any risk?

[Jim Allen]

Getting a scaling and polishing isn't an HIV risk either.

[Char]

I am well aware this will sound a little paranoid however I feel like some reassurance will do me good.
I was eating dates that I had just bought from the store, I rinsed them with water and then popped them in my mouth. Upon eating the second one I tasted blood and immediately pulled it out of my mouth but shook my head and continued to eat it. For a second I thought what if there’s blood inside it but then I tried to rationalise and calm myself and just ate it. However ever since then I am genuinely worried. The packet was not sealed properly, it was just a box of dates that were easily opened by sliding the box, there was no plastic and I checked the rest of the dates, one seemed like it was definitely bitten, it had a chunk missing. I am scared the box of dates I bought was tainted with blood. I don’t know why it would be, but the fact I tasted blood and even saw one date half eaten inside the box has now raised alarm bells for me. I know hiv doesn’t survive outside the body BUT, if it was INJECTED from a syringe taken from someone hiv positive, and then directly injected inside the dates, so it wasn’t exposed to oxygen, am I at risk?? I am not trying to be silly or funny, I really need some advice on this I am trying to get pregnant and was trying to eat healthy and now this has happened and I am so worried I had previously tested negative for HIV, hep C etc before embarking on my pregnancy journey but now I am just feeling so despondent. Would I have to test again?

[Jim Allen]

You can't get HIV from food, and this concern is a popular myth that has been around for as long as I can remember. https://www.beintheknow.org/news-and-blogs/5-weirdest-hiv-transmission-myths-ever

The environment within the dates would be hostile towards HIV, it's not an HIV concern.

I really need some advice on this I am trying to get pregnant

Well, I wish you all the best. Of course, if you are trying to conceive naturally, this comes with HIV risks. You can reduce those risks by testing together with your partner before trying to conceive, and if you do conceive, then retest for HIV during pregnancy.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.

[Jim Allen]

When you created an account with the POZ Forums, you agreed to have only one account. Starting multiple accounts is against the rules of the Forum and will cause you to be banned from our forums.

Banned and if you continue to have these irrational fears, please consider talking to a qualified therapist/psychiatrist to help you cope.