HIV+ - page 2

Time Running Out! Help select the Caption Contest winner today.
Download Now! Fall 2018 issue of our allnurses magazine.

Hi, im a single 31yr old OR nurse. About 8 months ago, I was stuck in a substerile room with a 18g hollow core needle. Someone had left it at the sink and I did not notice it. It was laying on a... Read More

  1. by OR-RN
    Apr 29, '01
    Joined: Apr '01; Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone. Thanks for the prayers. I found out Fiday that th eWestern Blot came back negative. I did not believe them, so I asked to see the results with my own eyes. It was the best news I have ever heard. I cried in the employee health nurse'e office. I had ben carrying this around for 3 days and felt like I was going to explode. I had been praying and asked GOD to take control.. I was not strong enough to handle it. He answered my prayers for comfort and healing. I believe I was positive. I can't explain it. I just know HE healed me. I have a new prospective on life. I told my family after I found out the good news. They were mad at me for keeping it to myself, but they were 39 hours away and would have been worried and I was trying to keep them safe. Again thanks,

    In God's Love, REX>
  2. by nurs4kids
    Apr 29, '01
    Occupation: Nurse Clinician/Case Manager Specialty: 20 year(s) of experience in Pediatric Rehabilitation ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 2,830; Likes: 67
    Thank God! You have constantly been in my heart and mind. That is a nurses greatest fear. I can't imagine what you've been through the past few days. Thanks for the good news, finally a breath of fresh air here!

    p.s. BE CAREFUL!
  3. by natalie
    Apr 30, '01
    Occupation: rn Joined: Sep '00; Posts: 99; Likes: 2
    Wonderful!!
  4. by Doey
    Apr 30, '01
    Occupation: RN Joined: Aug '00; Posts: 113; Likes: 9
    I've been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing. Great news!!!! Now do something nice for yourself!!

    PS Thanks for updating us.
  5. by kjmta57
    Apr 30, '01
    Occupation: medical technical assistant Joined: Feb '01; Posts: 118; Likes: 4
    Thats very good news! Please do not now that you are negative get away with the way they treated you though. It could happen again and they should not get away with treating you like that
  6. by waggy-2
    May 3, '01
    Occupation: RN Joined: May '01; Posts: 31; Likes: 3
    Hi OR-RN I just read your posting and I am truly sorry for what you have been going through. I know your mind must be going in a thousand different directions. But please stop and take a few deep breaths. Talk to your family and and all the other people that love you. Get some sound advice (note the addresses from other postings) See a doctor ,preferably a specialist. You shouldn't go through this alone. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sue
  7. by waggy-2
    May 3, '01
    Occupation: RN Joined: May '01; Posts: 31; Likes: 3
    GREAT!!! I am very happy for you.
  8. by kennedyj
    May 28, '01
    Occupation: OB nurse, MSN student Joined: May '01; Posts: 364; Likes: 8
    I just let out a sigh of relief as I read your post of receiving the neg western Blot. Wshooo!!!!
    There are many studies out there that support early treatment with meds after needle sticks. Most say around 80% of people who have early tx will not become HIV positive.

    . Case-control study of HIV seroconversion in health-care workers after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood - France, United Kingdom, and United States, January 1988-August 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1995;44:929-33. [Medline Link] [Context Link]

    2. Cardo DM, Culver DH, Ciesielski CA, Srivastava PU, Marcus R, Abiteboul D, et al. A case-control study of HIV seroconversion in health care workers after percutaneous exposure. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Needlestick Surveillance Group. N Engl J Med 1997;337:1485-90.

    This makes me angry that they blew you off. You should make them sweat a little so it doesn't happen again. You would probably have a good suite also.
    Jared
  9. by BeachNurse
    Jun 3, '01
    Occupation: Clinical Endpoint Coordinator Specialty: 12 year(s) of experience in Research,Peds,Neuro,Psych, ; Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 1,681; Likes: 4
    That's wonderful about your test results! I work with HIV+ patients. I would advise everyone to be aware of taking necessary precautions, including taking antiretrovirals until you have had the "final" test. HIV does not HAVE to be the kiss of death nowadays.
  10. by ornurse2001
    Jun 13, '01
    Occupation: RN Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 57; Likes: 3
    AMEN.
  11. by hanginginthere
    Jun 13, '01
    Occupation: Nursing Student Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 51; Likes: 1
    It's a miracle ! !
    I believe you did have AIDS but God did an intervention. Your faith in God really healed you. Glory be to God ! !
  12. by Melissa Jackson RN
    Jun 16, '01
    Occupation: RN Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 5
    I feel for anyone that this happends to. We all know this is reality. I am also a travler and before I decide to choose a site I always make sure all injuries are covered by the hospital +/or my company. The hospital I was at previously was in Fort Pierce FL, which is the highest Aids:resident ratio. It was not a strange night for me to have 4-5 HIV+ pt. This hospital did have the rx to prevent HIV in case of blood to blood contact. If you got stuck or splashed you immediatley went to the ED and recieved medication you had to take for 2 wks in order to prevent the virus from binding to your cells. Which according to the research has a high chance of success. This option was available to anyone working in the facility. They never tested the pt it was just automatic. This did give my husband and myself a secure feeling.
    You do however need to contact a lawyer, there is no reason you should have been blown off by the hospital, this is unappropriate. If the hospital doesn't protect you your agency should. In actuality your agency should'n do business with that hospital.
    Remember this is not the end of your life, people are living a full life with the proper care. An older friend of mine has been HIV+ for 23 years and has been "full blown" AIDS for 10 of that. He just recently went for his physical and blood work up, all of his labs came back normal. Except for the 1 positive saying he carries the vires he is in remission. He isn't rich, just follows the regiem,eats well, and exercises. He still goes out and has a great time with friends, sometimes parties abit too hard for me, but he is happy.
    Do your research that got you your degree, find a good doc, and try to get the hospital to pay for your expenses.
    Good luck, my heart is with you.
  13. by BeachNurse
    Jun 16, '01
    Occupation: Clinical Endpoint Coordinator Specialty: 12 year(s) of experience in Research,Peds,Neuro,Psych, ; Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 1,681; Likes: 4
    I am responding to the post from "hangininthere". First of all, AIDS is something that is diagnosed after a person has had HIV for several years. OR RN could not have had AIDS. And I hate to sound pessimistic, but HIV and AIDS cannot be cured at this time. THERE IS NO CURE FOR HIV AND AIDS. Praying is wonderful, and I love God, but only medication and good health practices can keep this virus at bay. We have had some patients come to our clinic on death's door because they were told by religious leaders that God would "take care of them". Once they started taking meds regularly, they eventually began live full lives, just like person described in the post before me. God made skilled and knowlegeable people who became doctors--and that is the only miracle here.

    There are MANY instances when HIV tests have resulted positive initially, and then found to be negative. Sometimes when people have a virus living in their body (ANY virus) it CAN cause the test for HIV to be a false positive. All nurses should take the time to educate themselves about the facts of HIV and AIDS.

close