Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 11:22:58 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772964
  • Total Topics: 66312
  • Online Today: 741
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 143
Total: 143

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Welcome to the "Do I Have HIV?" POZ forum.

This special section of the POZ forum is for individuals who have concerns about whether or not they are HIV positive. Individuals are permitted to post up to three questions or responses in this forum.

Ongoing participation in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum (posting more than three questions or responses) requires a paid subscription, with secure payments made via PayPal.

A seven-day subscription is $9.99, a 30-day subscription is $14.99 and a 90-day subscription is $24.99.

Anyone who needs to post more than three messages in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum -- including past, present and future POZ Forums members -- will need to subscribe, with secure payments made via PayPal.

There is no charge to read threads in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum, nor will there be a charge for participating in any of the other POZ forums. In addition, the POZ Basics "HIV Transmission and Risks" and "HIV Testing" basics, will remain accessible to all.

NOTE: HIV testing questions will still need to be posted in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum; attempts to post HIV symptoms or testing questions in any other forums will be considered violations of our rules of membership and subject to time-outs and permanent bans.

To learn how to upgrade your Forums account to participate beyond three posts in the "Do I Have HIV?" Forum, please click here.

Thank you for your understanding and future support of the best online support service for people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.

Author Topic: Splash to the eyes, please help.  (Read 5913 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline rpmk104

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Splash to the eyes, please help.
« on: January 26, 2007, 11:34:39 am »
I've read the lessons of transmission and also the rules of posting. So I am going to be quick about everything!

First, thanks in advance the excellent advice and guidance of the aidsmeds forum. My HIV education has grew significantly thru lurking these forums.

I have a question now. I've been living with a roommate in college for a year and we have separate toothbrushes. However he's very absent minded and recently I found out that he sometimes uses mine by accident. I have no idea how many times he's used my toothbrush, but I am sure its many times thru out the year. We both have bleeding gums when we brush so should I be worried of this repeated exposer? We usually brush our teeth within 10mins of each other since we wake up at the same time due to similar class schedules.

I have since gotten a UV toothbrush sanitizer to prevent farther worries.

I know that sharing toothbrushes aren't listed on the lessons of transmission, but is my case special due to the repeated exposer? I've never asked him about his HIV status since it never crossed my mind to do so.

Please let me know, Its been bothering me ever since I found out last week.

Am I just thinking too much? Do I have a risk?

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Please help me out, need a simple answer!
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2007, 11:56:11 am »
I've never known of a single case of transmission via a toothbrush. We've had any number of people concerned about this issue, including some with an HIV+ family member or roommate.

HIV is a fragile virus and not easy to transmit. It requires a friendly environment to remain viable. Your concern is essentially in the domain of what ifs. What IF he's HIV+ and what if etc. See what I mean?

I don't see any cause for concern or testing in relation to this issue.

And protecting your toothbrush by finding a way to keep it securely separate doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. Passing a cold or other such is much easier to do so your personal stuff should be somehow kept apart.

Cheers,
Andy Velez

Offline ACinKC

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,994
  • Bring it VIRUS! #2 Ranked In-crowd Member!
Re: Please help me out, need a simple answer!
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2007, 12:13:37 pm »
I concur with Andy.  I see no risk whatsoever here. And its a good idea to keep your toothbrush securely seperate due to the YUCK OMG THATS GROSS factor regarding him scrubbin his choppers with it!!!

Your fine in regards to HIV.  But I would have a conversation about roomie boundaries if I were you!
LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT A
RIDE!!!

Offline rpmk104

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Please help me out, need a simple answer!
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2007, 12:19:06 pm »
You are going to yell at me for doing this...but I have to ask anyways.

Even if my roommate is HIV+, I am not at a risk from the toothbrush issue?

I just need some reassurance from the worst case scenario.

My knowledge is telling me that everything is okay, but my mind is feeling me with fear. All these chemicals and neuron transmitters in the brain has a funny way of affecting a person.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2007, 12:20:53 pm by rpmk104 »

Offline ACinKC

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,994
  • Bring it VIRUS! #2 Ranked In-crowd Member!
Re: Please help me out, need a simple answer!
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2007, 12:26:04 pm »
We wont yell the first time you ask  ::) Just dont make the what if's a pattern ok?

Now to answer you, No it just doesnt happen in the real world that way.  As Andy has said, I've never known of a single case of transmission via toothbrush.  So worst case scenario, NO no risk for HIV infection.
LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT A
RIDE!!!

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Please help me out, need a simple answer!
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2007, 01:05:51 pm »
HIV is transmitted in few very specific ways. And toothbrushes, nicks and cuts on hands, barbershop cuts and such are NOT among them.

You have no cause for concern.

Germs are a whole other issue as well as personal esthetics, so I suggest you find a way to keep your utensils separate.
Andy Velez

Offline rpmk104

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Splash to the eyes, please help.
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2007, 02:31:13 pm »
Hey everyone. Please help me regarding a possible exposure.

I am taking a hematology course in my school right night. Recently we learn now to manually count RBC/WBC's under the microscope.

We first diluted 20ul of blood into a 5ml solution of of gower's solution (mixture of Glacial Acetic Acid, Sodium Sulfate, and water) and then we put a drop (10ul) of that out a slide to count the cells.

It must have taken me a good 30mins to count the cells, but when I was done, I washed the diluted blood off the slide with water. I didn't know water was pressurized so when I opened the faucet, the water hit the slide and sprayed it all over my face. I felt some of it go into my eyes also.

I think I am just thinking too much...but is this a risk if the blood had HIV in it? The diluted blood was sealed from the air with a coverslip over the sample on the slide.

My logical self tells me that the HIV virus has been killed almost instantly when the blood was being diluted. But I am unsure. Also, the coverslip sealed the sample from coming in contact with air....should I be worried?

This event has bothered me greatly these past few days. And I would llike to get some advice from the experts on this board.

Thanks again!
« Last Edit: September 20, 2007, 02:33:51 pm by rpmk104 »

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Splash to the eyes, please help.
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2007, 03:28:36 pm »
RP, once again you are hanging around the domain of "what ifs." There's not a smidgin of basis in HIV science for you to be concerned here. NONE!

Get on with your life and if you're going to continue to come up with this stuff then I suggest you see a counselor and discuss what's really driving these unwarranted concerns.
Andy Velez

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Splash to the eyes, please help.
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2007, 03:30:33 pm »
rp,

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 so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

You did NOT have a risk of infection in this instance. Read the Welcome Thread like you should have the first time you were here, and follow the Transmission Lesson link and READ.

Hiv is a very fragile virus that does not remain viable and able to infect when it is outside the human body. The blood you were dealing with would not have been viable AT ALL.


You really should have raised this concern with your instructor or lab assistant. I would also imagine you are given goggles to wear - wear them. While you didn't have a risk for hiv, you never know what is going to get in your eye at a lab sink.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.