Accidental IV stick

[kat1lifeleft (OP)]

Ok, I'm kinda freaking out.

Some background...I've been an IV user for 20+ years with no problems. I've never shared needles and never had any problems. Every time I've gone to rehab all my tests come back clean. I don't share water or anything btw.

So anyway, last week this dealer came thru and sold my buddy some H that ended up being fentanyl. He scared the crap out of me. Turned purple, was pouring sweat and out of his head making crazy noises and shit. So I'm trying to talk to him and trying to keep him conscious. Wiping him down with a towel because he was soaking wet.

While this was happening, I didn't see the syringe in his hand. He ended up stabbing me in the thigh with it. I know he has hepatitis so I'm usually very careful around him. But shit was spiraling out of control at the time and I didn't see the damn syringe!

Basically, I'm wondering how long I need to wait before getting tested to see if he infected me. I know hepatitis is highly contagious so I'm super worried about this. I guess I've been lucky through the years that something like this hasn't happened before now. I'm just kinda scared and worried. Anybody with any experience with this kinda thing? Would love to hear from you....kat

[nick]

Firstly,clean the site thoroughly with soap and water and then IMMEDIATELY get your ass to the ER and ask them about PEP(post exposure prophylaxis)

I believe infection rates from needle stick are pretty low,BUT considering the BBVs you could be infected with......go ask about PEP.

 

[Zoops]

Hep B or C? That makes a difference too. And post exposure prophylaxis is something anyone with an accidental needle stick injury should always seek out - it can actually prevent infection with HIV.

Not so sure about what they do for hep PEP but it would likely be some interferon alpha or ribavirin or maybe some antibodies like a vaccine or something.

[corlene]

Accidential needle sticks for those stuck in the hospitals here are given a month of truvada(for hiv) and a month of harvoni(for hepc) if the person is afflicted with either of those diseases.

Seems they have a 99.9% success rate of you not getting either one of those disease if treated immediately.

A pregnant nurse was stuck by a HIV infected guy, took truvada for a month and both her, and her unborn baby are HIV free. She just told me the story while I was admitted for the past 6 days.

Keep in mind both of those drugs cost more then $1000 per PILL. Not kidding. I took harvoni and the pharmacy bill for that and harvoni was just under $1200 dollar a  pill from the specialty pharmacy.

I am hep c free now tho, my ast/alt are perfect considering im pretty fucking ill otherwise.

[kat1lifeleft (OP)]

It's been a week...I should have posted sooner. I was vaccinated for hep a & may have some immunity to hep b...But hep c there was no vaccine for and I think it's the most prevalent. I'm not sure what kind the dude has. Guess I need to call the er and see if I'm to late on this.

Also I've got Medicaid so I don't know if that will cover any of those expensive meds bc I just recently got it and haven't used it before. I'm kinda curious what will happen when I do tho... Thanks for the replies guys. Kat

[LoneRanger7]

I know that here in Florida, Medicaid won't cover harvoni at all. If you have hep C and need treatment (that is, they do a liver biopsy and you are over Level 1, as high as Level 4 depending on your insurance if it's private) they will give you the old school interferon treatment. Accidental needle sticks in the hospital are a different beast, I think, because the hospital could be held liable.

If he is an IV user he probably has Hep C.

I have it, yes it sucks. The only way I can get rid of it is to get really sick from it. yay

[nick]

You need to be tested for both HepC now and then you'll need a follow up PCR test in 6 months to be absloutley sure.

Obviously,you need an HIV test too.

Much luck with it,man.

P.S. I suspect you're too late for PEP-but check.

[theSWPK]

Accidential needle sticks for those stuck in the hospitals here are given a month of truvada(for hiv) and a month of harvoni(for hepc) if the person is afflicted with either of those diseases.

Seems they have a 99.9% success rate of you not getting either one of those disease if treated immediately.

A pregnant nurse was stuck by a HIV infected guy, took truvada for a month and both her, and her unborn baby are HIV free. She just told me the story while I was admitted for the past 6 days.

Keep in mind both of those drugs cost more then $1000 per PILL. Not kidding. I took harvoni and the pharmacy bill for that and harvoni was just under $1200 dollar a  pill from the specialty pharmacy.

I am hep c free now tho, my ast/alt are perfect considering im pretty fucking ill otherwise.

Where is this hospital?

[corlene]

South florida

[corlene]

I know that here in Florida, Medicaid won't cover harvoni at all. If you have hep C and need treatment (that is, they do a liver biopsy and you are over Level 1, as high as Level 4 depending on your insurance if it's private) they will give you the old school interferon treatment. Accidental needle sticks in the hospital are a different beast, I think, because the hospital could be held liable.

If he is an IV user he probably has Hep C.

I have it, yes it sucks. The only way I can get rid of it is to get really sick from it. yay

You don't need insurance to get harvoni, claim indigency  and sign up for their patient assistance program.

If you have medicaid one would gather especially in florida your either disabled or below poverty level with kids, since the idiot gov Rick Scott didn't expand medicaid under Obama  care.

But to each their own. My insurance approved it and my fibrosis score was 1.

[Jega]

Listen to these people:

Get Treatment.

[Chip]

not that long ago I got stuck with a mate's syringe.

he had HCV and I also learned that he had some sexual relationship with a guy with AIDS.

I got tested and cleared both.

PEP needs to be taken as soon as possible and the Hep- C diagnosis is not a foregone conclusion.

just get tested, treated quickly as time is of the essence.

[CARNi]

KAT - Any update on this situation? I sincerely hope you are cleared of any/all possible illnesses that may arise due to this accident!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOURS!!! :/

[corlene]

I agree, I hope it's turned out well for you. Would u mind sharing with us?

[kat1lifeleft (OP)]

So far I'm good. Hospital basically found nothing but I still have to be tested again in about 4-6 months just to be totally sure. I'm definitely gonna make sure bc I've always been so careful about this kind of thing. This is the first scare I've had with 20+ years of iv use. Got my fingers and toes crossed. But I will definitely take advantage of the healthcare system if things don't work out for me. Thanks for caring guys. It helps to know that someone out there is thinking about me sometimes. Peace, Kat