Well its finally happened to me. I was drawing bllod the other night, and the patient jumped and the needle went flying and I got stuck. Went right through that latex glove and stuck in my hand. Needless to say I was not very happy. In fact I was downright angry. Probably more at myself for it to happen to me.
Well to make matters worse. the pt was immediately tested and is positive for Hep c and HIV. Now the paranoia and associated fears creep into mind as subtle as a Tidal Wave.
No matter how well educated and analytical you are by nature. It doesnt keep that emotional bullet from hitting you right in between the eyes. My god he is positive!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Analytically, we all know that needle puncture from a know contaminated source only result in a 0.01 % seroconveration to positive. And that is wth a large bore blood filled needle. So I was using a 23 g butterfly to draw blood and with there being no noticeable blood in the needle. Analytically I know the odds are very much in my favor that I will never convert.
But right now I am working my way through the emotional garbage in my brain from this incident.
The hospital did its job well, tested the pt promptly. got me started on triple program prophylaxis. If I was single I dont think I would go through the prophylaxis, particulalry at my age. However I do have a lovley wife and 7 kids, and numerous grandkids to think about, so I have opted to go through it,. to optimize my chances even more for never converting... I owe that to my family. More than I owe it to myself.
Then the hard part comes, letting my wife know I was stuck, by this contaminated needle. That and reassuring her that nothing was going to happen, and that everything possible was being done.
Of course I also have to bring up that we now need protection for love making and that doesnt go over to well either. even with trying to throw in a little levity. Havent needed protection in almost 30 yrs now. Damn do I actually remember how to use them things. And what kind do I get, the smooth, the bumpy, the ribbed, with or without lubrication.. The colored ones, the incandescent ones, the psychedelic ones. And do they come in different sizes now. I havent looked in almost 3 decades. I know I cant get the edible ones I saw an ad for, kind of defeats the purpose.
Hi,.......want to give you some hope and reassurance. I've been through what you've been through. My patient was HCV positive. I ended up testing positive after 8 weeks, but then after a few more months, I tested negative. The doc told me that my exposure was so small that my body seroconverted on it's own. (mine was a large bore needle).
Perhaps your biggest challenge will be the meds you are taking. Best wishes to you and lots of prayers and positive thoughts.
Geeze, sorry I missed this thread completely. I haven't been gittin around here much lately.
Anyhoo, I just wanted to say that I'm glad the tests were negative and you can get on with your life again.
I know what an anxiety attack it was for you because I went through the same thing. On a my third 12 in a row about 2am in a warm NICU one night I made one little slip trying to direct a needle to a cube. The patient was positive for everything and I was simply numb for months. My wife and I didn't need protection cause I most definitely wasn't in the mood.
Couldn't have pulled a pin out of my butt with a tractor:chuckle
BTW
I did make it back the the great state of Texas! I'm not likely to even think of hitting golfballs till the dang temp gets above thirty.
Soon as it hits 40 ish again, I'm off to the Palmer academy in Frisco.
chris_at_lucas_RN, RN
1,895 Posts
Way to go!!!