Long story short, I’m a paramedic and have been for about 7 months. Been doing EMS for roughly 6 years and just recently had a bad experience.
I was treating a patient when I went to start an IV. Ended up never obtaining flash in the IV and putting it down to the side. First time ever doing this and I know how beyond stupid it was to do. After controlling the bleed from the IV stick I went to pick up the used IV and ended up poking myself in my left hand at the Pam below my middle finger. I felt so crappy. I was in the back of the ambulance so there was no way to wash my hands right away. There was very minimal bleeding at the site. The bleeding stopped fairly quick and I used a alcohol prep to clean it until I reached the hospital. Patient was 27 year old. No known medical history. Only thing patient said was she smoked crack. Other than that no diagnoses. The hospital tested her for HIV, Hep B & C. The test later that night all came back non-reactive (negative). It’s only been a week and I’m still waiting to hear back from results but I am stressing out and worried to the point where I am getting bad anxiety and depression over this.
I hate this because I have to wait 6 months to truly know where I stand. That’s why I am worried about her test. Just because it came back negative doesn’t mean she did not have the disease.
Am I overacting? HIV has always been my biggest fear. I chose not to do the antiviral medication. Plus the facility advised me not too since the patient was negative. I’m terrified that I may of contracted HIV and I won’t be able to live with myself ever again.
It's an exposure because it's a sharp you used on someone, but definitely not much of an exposure at all. If you can, look into Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits with your employer so you can talk to someone. You are going to drive yourself crazy worrying about this, and you risk is seriously so low. Hang in there!!
Thank you for the reply. Yes I sound crazy and I’m not going to deny that. It’s just hard for me right now. Hard for me to accept it as a really low risk. My mind just sees it as a risk and I would be that crazy statistic especially since I am in the state Georgia. One of the highest states with the most infections. It just messed me up. Thank you for the kindness. I’m going to do my best to hang in. I just struggle to accept the thought of this running my plan for my life from such a stupid accident that should have never happened. It’s embarrassing.
Thank you for the reply. Yes I sound crazy and I’m not going to deny that. It’s just hard for me right now. Hard for me to accept it as a really low risk. My mind just sees it as a risk and I would be that crazy statistic especially since I am in the state Georgia. One of the highest states with the most infections. It just messed me up. Thank you for the kindness. I’m going to do my best to hang in. I just struggle to accept the thought of this running my plan for my life from such a stupid accident that should have never happened. It’s embarrassing.
You were doing your best to care for another human being, you got distracted. It WAS an accident. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Your anxiety regarding HIV indicates you need to change to another profession. Don't want to lose a good paramedic.. but your mental health has to come first.
You were doing your best to care for another human being, you got distracted. It WAS an accident. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Your anxiety regarding HIV indicates you need to change to another profession. Don't want to lose a good paramedic.. but your mental health has to come first.
Best wishes.
Thank you for the kind words. I think the issue is I really enjoy the medical profession and helping people. Especially the people who truly need the help. I've always wanted to be a cath lab RN and then eventually obtain my PA or NP and specialize in Sports Medicine.
Even if I did leave the medical profession, I can’t even think of another career I would choose. I’ve researched it before and I can’t see myself in IT just because it’s growth is not the same as the medical profession and my age. I’m 27 and I’m worried it would be really hard for me to obtain a job the time I finish my bachelors. I only have an associates in paramedicine right now applying for a nursing bridge program.
You may just have to sit with your anxiety for a while. It sounds like you already know how incredibly low the risk is for this situation, so all of our reassurances aren’t going to help you. Practice your anxiety coping skills— hot shower, get exercise, deep breathing, concentrate on other things as best you can. Consider short-term counseling. Eventually this situation will pass, and your anxiety will wane.
You may just have to sit with your anxiety for a while. It sounds like you already know how incredibly low the risk is for this situation, so all of our reassurances aren’t going to help you. Practice your anxiety coping skills— hot shower, get exercise, deep breathing, concentrate on other things as best you can. Consider short-term counseling. Eventually this situation will pass, and your anxiety will wane.
Believe it or not my anxiety actually subsided related to this situation until a couple days ago. My body started to feel achy and sore. I’m usually used to this because I work out hard but this soreness was different. No fever or sore throat but I did develop this bump on the right side of my neck below the ear. At first I wasn’t thinking anything about it until I couldn’t get it to pop. No matter how hard I squeezed, it just wouldn’t budge. Then I started to think well maybe this is my lymph node which has swelled up. So I went to the dermatologist yesterday and the PA couldn’t confirm if it was or wasn’t my lymph node. When she cut it open after administering the lidocaine, she said nothing really came out expect for some blood. This was concerning to me too. She gave me a cream and antibiotic to take for two weeks. So did also take a sample from the bump and will test it to see if anything comes from it. I’m not freaking it out but it is hard right now not to think about what is going on with my body and the thought of all this being Acute symptoms.
That’s a picture before of it before the dermatologist.
NYCNative21
150 Posts
Thank you for the reply. Yes I sound crazy and I’m not going to deny that. It’s just hard for me right now. Hard for me to accept it as a really low risk. My mind just sees it as a risk and I would be that crazy statistic especially since I am in the state Georgia. One of the highest states with the most infections. It just messed me up. Thank you for the kindness. I’m going to do my best to hang in. I just struggle to accept the thought of this running my plan for my life from such a stupid accident that should have never happened. It’s embarrassing.