Nursing student question - possible hepatitis a and clinical practice?

[NooNieNursie]

Hi :)

Toward the end of my semester break, my father came down with what appeared to be pretty bad food poisoning. His symptoms were cold/flu-like for a few days, which then turned into symptoms of gastroenteritis like n/v, lack of appetite, and profound lethargy/weakness. As he started getting better, he then had diarrhea which lasted a few days. After about 5 days to a week, his symptoms went away.

A few days after his symptoms started, I began developing symptoms in a similar pattern. My illness differed from his, in that I had much more nausea and vomiting and no diarrhea at all; also, my lethargy was more severe, I was unable to function from fatigue for 2 days at least, and I was rundown/tired / lethargic for many more.

My mother also developed symptoms but they were very, very mild - slight fatigue and a little diarrhea.

Anyway because I'm a nursing student and nerdy like that I started searching the INTERWEBS for what type of disease might fit our symptoms. Of course I'm not certain but I think it might be hep A. The reason I think hep A isn't just because of the symptoms, but because I also developed mild jaundice, dark urine with a strong odor, and as of today pale stool. My stool *never* changes color and is always a very dark brown, which makes me extra suspicious to see such a pale mustard-colored stool. When i saw the dark urine (a few days earlier) I assumed it may have been dehydration second to low intake/vomiting ... but now that I see a lighter color stool as well (a few days later, consistent with the time of the dark urine a few days earlier) ... it makes me strongly suspect hep a.

Okay so here's why this is relevant.

On monday I start my fourth semester, and that very week we are going to clinical practice. Thing is, because hep a is so contagious and it takes about 4-6 weeks to fully recover, I'm worried about any potential risk I may be to patients.

I don't have insurance or disposable income (I am unemployed due to school) so I can't go to the doctor to for sure diagnose (or rule out) hepatitis a.

I don't want to needlessly stigmatize myself and mess up my new semester (if I DON'T have hep a)... but I don't want to put patients in jeopardy either (if I DO).

Right now here is what I am planning on doing: I will wait and see how much direct-patient-contact I will be expected to have the first few weeks; if I am expected to care for a patient who has severe illness or immune system dysfunction then I will tell my instructor that I may have had hep a in late jan, so it is UNWISE for me to care for such patients because I may still have the virus for like a month. If my patients are healthy walkie/talkie types then I will not say anything, because they are not much more at risk than any ordinary person.

Before I make a move, though, I was wondering what you, as nurses, thought about this plan? Is this an appropriate way for me to manage both my need to complete school without endangering patients?

[oMerMero]

You really need to see a doctor about this. Self-diagnosing is not a good idea.

If I was your instructor and you told me it was "unwise" for you to take care of a patient because of "possible" hep A, I would think you were a little crazy. If you feel it is something your instructor should know, let her know right away, not just based on the type of patient you have. But, this might require you having a doctors note stating it is ok for you to work.

Either way, see your doctor.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

This is something that can only be sorted by seeing your doctor and gaining proper advice.

As this is against Terms of service I am closing this thread