Hep C nightmare and work exposure

[annmariern]

Hi All,

Need advice if you have any, also to raise the question of how well our employers protect us. I had a needlestick 2 weeks ago. I reported it and was impressed by the response. Employee health came to my floor, filled out the paperwork, took me down to the ER, insisted I was seen promptly, had labs drawn, talked to the patient and drew labs also. She was a low risk pt, but had had many transfusions, I really wasn't too concerned. Then I got a call asking me to come in at some point during my shift to go over labs. Well, I was off that day, statrted worrying and thought I would go in there and then. The PA tells me the labs were "interesting". Hep C came back positive on me, not me the patient. I was floored. I had him pulled my preemployement labs from 2 years ago, I was negative. He acted liked I he was surprised I was upset. Imagine doing this to me in the middle of a shift? And back to work. Yeah right. Basically he asked me a few questions, told me it was most commonly an STD, nothing to do with them anymore, seeya. I admit I didn't know more than the basics, but after a little research, seems like I have no other significant exposure risk except this job. Nothing. As for telling me its an STD, seems that it a very low possibility, less than 3% over 20 years. Now wouldn't you think your giving this news to a colleague, a) give them time to deal with it, i.e on a day off. b) be damn sure your read up on the disease first. I can remember an incident where I had a fairly fresh cut on my hand, had a patient disconnect her iv, and got covered in blood. I didn't report it, she was elderly, no huge alarms went off, I was really busy etc. Yesterday, while disconnecting a drain, wearing these cheap vinyl gloves they provide, and being very cautious, I took of the gloves and foung blood still on my hands. A month ago, same unit a night shift RN stuck herself with a dirty needle, the pt was HIV/Hep alphabet. She was kept waiting for hours in the ER, they didn't want to give her the meds, until she sopke up. Then she had trouble finding a pharmacy to fill the antiretrovirals and wound up missing so many doses she ended it a week early. She has a new baby she can't breast feed now and is living on pins. I am so upset by this and awaiting repeat labs to confirm this and take it from there. Worse still I have been struggling to overcome a drinking problem. I watched my 36 year old brother die a horrible death of cirrhosis a year ago. It haunts me. I know this is a job related exposure and I feel like they just are happy I can't prove it. We are all exposed to everything every day. I am glad it isn't HIV, but still this is devastating to me on many levels. Thanks for the ear. And maybe it will make you a bit more cautious at work. Do whatever it takes to protect yourself. My hospital is under the gun at the moment from the state, but I want to voice my concern over the penny pinching crap of cheap (lets save a cent) gloves that don't fit, cover adequately or are so hard to get on in a hurry (worse with the purell stuff on you). Anyone out there have a similar experience?

[leslie :-D]

i'm so sorry annmarie.

the first thing i'd do is demand a repeat hep c test.

do you have a pcp you could call? perhaps you'd feel more comfortable getting the repeat testing from your doctor. and see what s/he has to say.

much luck to you....

leslie

[TazziRN, RN]

Definitely demand a repeat test. I had an exposure several years ago and my hep panel came back positive also, even though the source pt was negative and I had no risk factors. The emp. health nurse offered to have it run again (good thing she thought of it because I was so freaked I never would have) and the repeat came back normal. No idea where the glitch happened, but it was a glitch.

[BennyMambo]

annmarie,

I read in your post that you're trying to overcome a drinking problem. I was wondering, could it possibly be alcohol induced hepatitis? I work in a drug and alcohol detox center and we get quite a few clients with alcohol induced hepatitis which is a precursor to cirrhosis. Women are actually more prone to this than men. I wonder if the tests can tell if it's alcohol induced or viral? Just some thoughts for you. I'll say a prayer for you that everything will be okay. Remember to take it one day at a time, one moment if you have too.

[annmariern]

Hi all and thanks so much for your info and support. I saw my PCP, and am having repeat labs drawn. I guess in some ways this may actually be a blessing (in big disguise !) It really has shocked me. I am taking a new med for the traetment of etoh, it blocks the high after a while. Your support has meant a lot, thanks again