After reading about other people panicking on allnurses about the cursed needle stick....I can finally join the club.
Unfortunately.
These are the facts:
1. drawing labs with a butterfly, and about to retract
2. Patient moved unexpectedly and rapidly
3. needle pierced my hand
4. I was wearing gloves
5. I bled a lot under my gloves, indicating a deeper stick
6. Patient was a confirmed HIV+ with fairly high viral load according to last labs
7. Patient was already confirmed Hep C+
8. I started antiviral HIV meds within an hour and a half after incident
9. There are no prophylaxis meds for hep C
10. The labs were redrawn anyways on the patient (but not holding hope for a previous mistake)
10. I already know the statistics, as I was counseled heavily at work
My question is, how do I sleep at night, I am so so so upset, the kind of upset that makes you want to "turn back to 5" and crawl into your mom's lap and cry
I am so glad to hear you are doing relatively well right now! This is a stressful time in your life and it is nice that you have so many supportive people helping you through it. What labs will they draw each scheduled time?
I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. This isn't the same, but I had a patient who was HIV+ wipe saliva away (he was crying heavily upon being admitted for detox) and it flew into my eye. Freaked me out. My risk was fairly low- but still scary; I can't imagine how hard this is for you- but keep remembering that the antiretrovirals now are so much better than they used to be :)
I must admit that I hesitated before resurrecting this sad thread
But then I always hate it when I start reading a thread and there is no conclusion to the story.
Plus, I kinda want this thread to be searched for if someone else were ever to find themselves in my shoes.
So my lab work results are in for the 6 week check. This test will be the first one where there is a good chance that the hep C would show if I was going to seroconvert
Hep C RNA -NEGATIVE
Hiv- NEGATIVE
I'm starting to breath a whole lot easier.
Next labs will be drawn at the 3 month mark. Then the 6th. Then a year.
Thanks for doing it, though. Your story may be what gives others hope in a scary situation. And in some small way, by posting updates in this thread, you are not going through it completely alone, because there are a lot of people who care and want to follow through with you. I am so glad that your tests have all been negative! Keep hope alive, and know that people care about you.
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
Laughing RN,
I've got everything crossed for you.
I have a memory that if you should show signs of an acute hepatits C, you can have Inteferon to help stop you developing chronic carriage. This idea was being talked about 10 years ago - I'm now over 10 years out of the hepatology field so that might not be current advice, but at the first sign of positive RNA I would say consult a hepatologist straight away.
BonewaxRN
68 Posts
Outstanding! You sound like you are coping well and staying upbeat. That is fabulous, I am glad it is going alright for you!