needlestick from hep c and HIV + patient

[Proverbs 16:3]

i'm scared as crazy but i gave an insulin shot to pt, moves his arm and needle hits my left finger. i was wearing gloves. i took the gloves off asap, went to squeeze the finger and teeny microscopic dot of blood came out, i washed my hands, told the charge nurse, was sent to the ed, labs taken, next thing i know i was given the hiv drugs and i started within 2hrs after the stick. i'm really scared but anyone have stories to encourage me and make me feel better. i mean i keep asking the guy at the er what are my chances, i asked the lady at employee health what are my chances. under normal circumstances, i'd refuse these hiv meds but since the pt is high risk, i guess a little gi upset with the diarrhea i'm currently having is worth it.

Has anyone had a similar experience, i call my mum to get some comfort and she's yelling at me over the phone for making this mistake. So much for comfort!

[Proverbs 16:3]

has anyone found a trick or special something that helps with the nausea/vomitting aspect of it. the last time i drank water was on tuesday morning. i'm so nauseated i only drink orange juice or milk when taking the pills. otherwise, i can't drink anything, i feel like something is coming out. Throwing up insn't what kills me, it's that sensation of nausea.

oh, that wierd taste in my mouth. it's been there since i started the meds on tuesday. No matter how many times i brush my teeth it doesn't help. Even when i take OJ with my pills, that taste is still there.

[Lena1972]

dear proverbs I just had a similar event 2 days ago. my pt was positive for both. he jerked his arm while giving him an insulin injection it went through his skin and stuck my finger i was wearing gloves.. the meds are horrible! im so light headed and sick..p.us my nerves are shot..I have not told my mother bc i dont want to worry her (since my sister died of AIDS 17yrs ago)..I am so scared I was hoping u could give me some in couragement too. my pt was given lovenox earlier that day and is in the wasting stage of the disease:crying2:..im sure his viral count is high my regular email is [email protected] have a year of testing to go..and probably a life time of fear

[rkitty198, BSN, RN]

One of my fellow nurses also recieved a needlestick from an HIV/Hep C patient several months ago.

She took a harsh regime of drugs and felt pretty sick.

She always said "heck I needed to lose weight, and these meds are helping me." She said it was the best part about the meds (the 10lb weight loss).

She got a script for phenergan for when the nausea was really bad and it helped.

The ID doc she was seeing said the risk from (she was administering Lovenox) a SQ injection and getting stuck with such a small needle was very rare.

She was so scared. All of her tests came back negative, no more meds, lost 10 lbs and she feels great.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Wow, so sorry. Have stuck myself with infected patients needles also. Never acquired the disease.

Please get some counseling. It's easy to obsess about this.

Don't make a bad situation worse with worry!

Best of luck, Keep us posted. You are in my prayers.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

OP, please re-read post #20 again and then again. It should definitely reassure you.

Remind yourself:

1)Small gauge needle, not large bore.

2)From SQ space, not blood vessel.

3)You were wearing gloves, which reduces the risk of transmission even with the needle stick.

You are almost certainly going to be just fine.

Now, take some deep breaths, put on some calming music, and one more thing- read post #20 again. :)

Good luck and take care.

[starzrn]

I am praying for you guys right now who have stuck yourself. The more you talk about it , the better. Please keep us updated.

[Lena1972]

well i could use the weight loss but not this way..i started the cocktail within 4hrs of the needle stick. and have not missed a dose. thank you for responding..Im a new LPN only been on the floor since september.

[lmferrrentino]

Let me tell you the truth honey I believe this is every nurses fear. However, I do believe you reduced your risk by going on the HIV drugs early. You are forever in my thoughts and prayers. Yes your mom was upset and yelling it's because she is very scared and nervous. Remember you are her baby! She has done everything she knows to help keep you from harm. Now that has been taken away from her and she feels terrible and afraid. Believe me fear and the unknown are not a good combination in a mommy! Remember she will always love you andbe ther for you no matter what happens. You are in my prayers and thoughts. If you ever need to talk or vent about anything please feel free to email me. You also stated that you have faith that G-D will see you through this, I promise you this he will be by your side the entire time. He feels your fear, sadness, and every emotion you are experiencing! Let him carry you through this,he will never let you fall. God bless and good luck honey. You wil be on alot of prayer list!!!

[apple_dumpling]

Hi Proverbs,

I see this thread is about a year old, I pray that you are fine. My wife is a dialysis R.N. and just got stuck today in a very similar manner, it was great to find all these stories of people who made it through without contracting the disease. She was giving a sub Q with a small bore needle to an HIV positive patient and pricked herself in the left index finger through the latex as a result of becoming distracted. She quickly bled and washed the contact site and her manager got her to the ID Dr. She has just taken her second dose of combivir. We are both very scared, although this thread, especially post 20, has helped significantly. I pray for my wife and all medical professionals.

[snoogie28]

i can relate. I,also had a needle stick by a patient that was hep c +. I was so scared I had to call my husband to ask for our address. waiting for the results of the hep and HIV test had to be one of the scariest days of my life. The dr told me my chances of contracting it from a needle stick was very very slim. just pray and everything will b ok.