Afraid I stepped on HIV+ needle

[skleep]

About five months ago I went out at night with my boyfriend and got a little tipsy (not totally smashed though).  On my way home, we had to walk 2 blocks that are very very steep.  My shoes really hurt so I took off my shoes to walk those two blocks.  The blocks are in a very upscale area of town, residential streets.  Anyway, when I got home I noticed a cut on my big toe- it looked like a C-shape, like something had sliced into my toe (I realize this also could have happened from tripping on a break in the sidewalk, or some crack in the cement or a metal grate).  I freaked out and worried I had stepped on a needle that had HIV+ blood in it, and my boyfriend said I was being ridiculous.  I couldn't figure out how I cut my foot, and to this day I don't even know.  My family has urged me NOT to get tested for anything since it will make my anxiety worse.

I read that if it was HIV+, even if it was a needle, I probably wouldn't have caught anything because it would have been out in the air and non-infectious.  But now I'm worried I somehow stepped on a syringe and actually BROKE it and then HIV+ blood got onto my foot and into my cut.  I realize this sounds farfetched, but I guess I just would like some support.  Should I be worried?  My boyfriend says I probably just caught my toe on a crack in the cement, or even a pice of glass or something.  I feel fine physically.

I am not worried about tetanus because I got that shot recently, plus it's 5 months later and I feel ok.  I'm just worried about HIV or hep c but everyone says not to get tested.

[sixpack]

I agree with your bf---it is ridiculous to give ANY credence to this fear thought you have.  It IS irrational.

and no tetanus either...  IF someone were to get tetanus, it happens within a few days.  As I recall, a person who has a deep penetrating cut has 2-3 days to get a tetanus shot to prevent the disease.  All of this is completely moot anyway as you did this 5 months ago.

and the HIV+, AGAIN, completely irrational thing to fear in this situation.   So listen to your friends, they are correct.

[Angelofworry]

I'm sorry your stuck in the HA spiral! :-( But yes, it is irrational. I can safely say that I have never seen a syringe just lying on the sidewalk. I'm not saying they aren't out there, however if that were the case I'm sure the area wouldn't be clean enough that you would take your shoes off. Also you said the wound was a c shape, a syringe would most likely cause a puncture wound.

[ahrimoniac]

Oooh this one I CAN help with.

HIV is an incredibly fragile virus. Exposed to air and elements, it'll die super-quick. It doesn't stick around to top up its tan in the sunlight.

Think of the statistics.

Not only would you have to had stepped on a needle, as opposed to ANYTHING else, it would have had to be a needle with HIV blood on it. Say even if that had happened, you would have to had stepped onto a needle that, for the first time in HIV's life, it's decided to take a long extended holiday on and stay alive just so you could step on it. Not going to happen!

Please - rest assured that there is the absolutely tiniest, minutest risk ever from HIV. I'd even say no risk, but I don't think we're supposed to. Take it from someone who had a big old hoohah recently with worry about the HIV (post in my blog on my signature if you're interested) - it's just a waste of time. And to put it in perspective, my risk (5 seconds of unprotected oral sex), compared to yours, was colossal - and even my risk was tiny!

I hope that calms and soothes a bit. If you are really, REALLY freaking out, drop me a PM - there are a couple of websites where I sought further solace, but they're a little candid, so I'm loathe to post them on here. I really wouldn't worry though, please. You're safe and strong :)

[ahrimoniac]

I should add - if you're really freaking out, just get a test done. It's nothing to worry about, dead easy and will provide solace. IF (and I repeat, you won't have) you had managed to defy medical science and get HIV, it will show up on tests with (I think) even over 99.8% accuracy after 3 months. So with five months, you've got plenty of time in the bank!

[oregoncoastlady]

I agree with what everyone is saying, but also wanted to add that stepping on a needle, I don't care how drunk you are, would hurt like h*ll. You would have noticed it at the time.

[skleep]

Probably.  I wasn't even really that drunk, just drunk enough not to notice hurting my foot.  My feet are pretty resilient and I guess I didn't notice, lol