Worried AIDS/HepC?

rose2summer · 03-29-2008, 01:06 PM

I have been really ill the last few days & went to have my blood drawn. I had a high fever and was really dizzy and I almost thought the nurse poked herself before drawing my blood because the phlebotomy needle flipped around. Later when I was leaving, she was holding a towel against her hand, which seemed suspicious. I am not really sure though and I am concerned because I am living in a country with very high AIDS incidence. I know the chances are small for getting AIDS but I am also worried about Hep C. I really want to just ask her did you poke and do you have AIDS, but that might be very rude, what would you do? I will get tested when I am back in the US but the stess & agony is really bothering me right now when I am already sick.

rose2summer · 03-29-2008, 01:16 PM

I don't know who to report it to, I am in a 3rd world country. I could go up to her and ask if she has AIDS, since it's so common here, but I don't know if she would answer honestly. I just have a bad feeling especially when she was holding a towel against her hand after she drew my blood.

**BellaDonna** · 03-29-2008, 01:17 PM

If you think you have been exposed to that nurses blood you need to take the "AIDS cocktail" right away.

And do not worry about being rude- my goodness- this is your health and life at stake! Go to the place where you had the needle, immediately,and talk to someone in managment. The nurse can get tested on the spot and then you'll have your answer as to whether you need to worry.

I worked as a dental assistant for many years- if a dentist ever p r i c k ed themself with a needle (it only happened once to a dentist in the 8 years I worked in that field- he p r i c ked himself while disposing of a needle he used on a previous patient- so in this case he was the one at risk) Standard procedure is to a.) take the AIDS cocktail b.) have the patient go for a blood test to see if they had any diseases (the dentist paid for the patient to do so)

Act on this now, don't wait- and certianly don't worry about being rude.

rose2summer · 03-29-2008, 01:19 PM

We don't have the AIDS coctail, anti-retroviral here.

The clinic is closed until Monday, so I have to wait in agony

**Hope75** · 03-29-2008, 01:19 PM

Eek!

Rose, I would definitely call the facility and let them know what happened. I don't know how things work where you are, but here in the US if a nurse sticks herself with a needle she must file an incident report and report to employee health, and if there is a patient involved they can ask to have an HIV test (but I don't think they can force the person to.)

This is sort of the opposite situation because you think the nurse may have stuck herself before sticking you- but I would still report it so it can at least be investigated.

I'm curious why you did not question her when you first thought it happened, before she drew your blood with that needle?

rose2summer · 03-29-2008, 01:21 PM

I had a fever and vertigo, so I was like, maybe I am imagining it, I was really out of it, but then when I saw her with the towel afterwards, I thought I had more reason not to doubt my fears.

rose2summer · 03-29-2008, 01:24 PM

How do I ask her? Do I say, Did you poke yourself with a needle when you drew my blood? I don't know how to phrase it so she isn't on the defense & lies.

**BellaDonna** · 03-29-2008, 01:25 PM

You don't ask her- you go to whoever is in charge- tell them your concerns, and then let them ask her.

**Hope75** · 03-29-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rose2summer

How do I ask her? Do I say, Did you poke yourself with a needle when you drew my blood? I don't know how to phrase it so she isn't on the defense & lies.

It's a bit too late for that now- but you call the facility where you had the lab work drawn, and you describe the nurse and tell them what happened.

This is not the time to be shy or worry about what impression you are making- your health is at risk.

Rose, you know that you can't be too careful.

**BellaDonna** · 03-29-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

This is not the time to be shy or worry about what impression you are making- your health is at risk.

I agree 100%.

03-29-2008, 01:06 PM	#1
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	Worried AIDS/HepC? I have been really ill the last few days & went to have my blood drawn. I had a high fever and was really dizzy and I almost thought the nurse poked herself before drawing my blood because the phlebotomy needle flipped around. Later when I was leaving, she was holding a towel against her hand, which seemed suspicious. I am not really sure though and I am concerned because I am living in a country with very high AIDS incidence. I know the chances are small for getting AIDS but I am also worried about Hep C. I really want to just ask her did you poke and do you have AIDS, but that might be very rude, what would you do? I will get tested when I am back in the US but the stess & agony is really bothering me right now when I am already sick. __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~ Last edited by kamurj; 03-29-2008 at 01:18 PM. Reason: Language

03-29-2008, 01:16 PM	#2
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	I don't know who to report it to, I am in a 3rd world country. I could go up to her and ask if she has AIDS, since it's so common here, but I don't know if she would answer honestly. I just have a bad feeling especially when she was holding a towel against her hand after she drew my blood. __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~

03-29-2008, 01:17 PM	#3
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	If you think you have been exposed to that nurses blood you need to take the "AIDS cocktail" right away. And do not worry about being rude- my goodness- this is your health and life at stake! Go to the place where you had the needle, immediately,and talk to someone in managment. The nurse can get tested on the spot and then you'll have your answer as to whether you need to worry. I worked as a dental assistant for many years- if a dentist ever p r i c k ed themself with a needle (it only happened once to a dentist in the 8 years I worked in that field- he p r i c ked himself while disposing of a needle he used on a previous patient- so in this case he was the one at risk) Standard procedure is to a.) take the AIDS cocktail b.) have the patient go for a blood test to see if they had any diseases (the dentist paid for the patient to do so) Act on this now, don't wait- and certianly don't worry about being rude. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

03-29-2008, 01:19 PM	#4
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	We don't have the AIDS coctail, anti-retroviral here. The clinic is closed until Monday, so I have to wait in agony __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~

03-29-2008, 01:19 PM	#5
Hope75 Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: kitteh ville Gender: Female Age: 33 Posts: 12,503	Eek! Rose, I would definitely call the facility and let them know what happened. I don't know how things work where you are, but here in the US if a nurse sticks herself with a needle she must file an incident report and report to employee health, and if there is a patient involved they can ask to have an HIV test (but I don't think they can force the person to.) This is sort of the opposite situation because you think the nurse may have stuck herself before sticking you- but I would still report it so it can at least be investigated. I'm curious why you did not question her when you first thought it happened, before she drew your blood with that needle? __________________ Muffin cats need love too. Please refer to the forum rules before posting: http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php Mama to a beautiful baby girl born 6-25-09. :)

03-29-2008, 01:21 PM	#6
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	I had a fever and vertigo, so I was like, maybe I am imagining it, I was really out of it, but then when I saw her with the towel afterwards, I thought I had more reason not to doubt my fears. __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~

03-29-2008, 01:24 PM	#7
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	How do I ask her? Do I say, Did you poke yourself with a needle when you drew my blood? I don't know how to phrase it so she isn't on the defense & lies. __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~

03-29-2008, 01:25 PM	#8
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,583	You don't ask her- you go to whoever is in charge- tell them your concerns, and then let them ask her. __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php