Anxiety about diseases

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Does anyone ever get paranoid about catching terrible diseases at work? I have a terrible fear of hiv and hepatitis c. Over the summer, I started an iv on an HIV+ patient and have been so paranoid that I touched something. I know I possibly touched the tegaderm label that had dried blood on it. Next evening I was vomiting and then the next week I had a slight sore throat and genreal malaise that lasted a week or 2. No fevers. I was tested about 2 months later after a possible needlestick from a hep c + patient and was negative. The hep c patient I attempted several times to get an iv on didn't feel a stick but after I left the room noticed a small pink bump on my palm that looked almost like a pinprick. Then maybe 4 weeks later I started haVing RUQ pain on and off and I'm just scared. I have suffered depression because of all this and thinking about getting out of direct patient care. Thoughts? Has anyone else ever gone through this?

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I think you should talk to someone (your doctor) about anxiety/depression because your paranoia isn't rational. I mean that in a non offensive way. It's just not rational to be that afraid of catching a transmissible disease from the level of contact/exposure you have had. Have you done education and researched the actual likelihood of catching a disease this way? If so, do you still feel paranoid?

If you are informed/educated and still obsessive then you really need to talk to your provider about your emotional and mental health. I wish you good luck! I have family members with severe anxiety and depression who allowed their paranoia and irrational fears to dominate their lives. It is not a happy way to live.

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I have read everything there is to read on HIV and Hep C. However, when I had weird symptoms that's when I started worrying more. Even though these could be symptoms of something else. Like a 24 hr stomach virus like I likely had and a cold or sinusitis. And I'm not sure what could have caused the RUQ pain except a pulled muscle or possible gall stones. Idk.

I had lost a lot of weight but have probably gained 15 lbs back bc all I'm interested in is eating. I have no drive or interest in anything else and have let myself go ad far as weight goes :(

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I have read everything there is to read on HIV and Hep C. However, when I had weird symptoms that's when I started worrying more. Even though these could be symptoms of something else. Like a 24 hr stomach virus like I likely had and a cold or sinusitis. And I'm not sure what could have caused the RUQ pain except a pulled muscle or possible gall stones. Idk.

I had lost a lot of weight but have probably gained 15 lbs back bc all I'm interested in is eating. I have no drive or interest in anything else and have let myself go ad far as weight goes :(

Have you ever considered seeing a therapist because of these issues? It's hard to care for others when you are suffering on the inside.

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Hi I know this is an old post, but I was just hoping to let you know that you're not alone in having this anxiety. It actually made me feel better seeing that I'm not alone when I saw this post! I am a new nurse and was not really nervous about anything until I started having patients with infectious diseases. Each time I had a patient that I later saw in their chart was HIV+ or HepC+ I would immediately become incredibly paranoid that I had touched something without gloves and would become infected from microscopic blood or blood I didn't see that I had washed into a hangnail, etc. Really irrational things! What actually helped me was talking to a doctor who helped me see the rarity of these risks and going to a few sessions with a therapist to deal with my paranoia that was heightened by some underlying anxiety. I also get tested once a year just to ease my mind. I really recommend doing something similar if you haven't already. I feel SO much better!

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Specializes in ICU.

:roflmao:OMG I needed this laugh today...Dried blood on a tegaderm!! Please educate yourself about HIV transmission and get some help for your anxiety. You are worrying yourself sick. All because the patient's HIV or Hep C status is known do you even realize the amount of patients you see without known statuses? The known carriers might be on treatment which lessens any chance of transmission. I treat everyone like they have a blood born disease. I hope you do not discriminate against homeless and gays.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Special snowflakes melt in sunshine. ......I'm sorry , can't help it

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

You hhave received support from experienced nurses.... You have not apparently heard it....seek professional counseling, as you appear. Paranoid

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Oh my. This post is old. But, I think I found someone just like me. I realize my fear is irrational too. I just can't help it either. I did same thing as you, with a spot on my finger after helping a patient with hiv. I was never stuck but in my mind I was thinking...what if I was. Then I start obsessing about it. Was I stuck? Did somehow I get stuck? Terrible.

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