Benzos ive never shared a needle,wat are my risks of having infection

[bbgirlclueless]

help guys,ive not been completely sterile,have used my fingers to stop bleeding,but ive not injected with anyone ever,and not shared needles,i was immunised for hep b when i was 15,im 34 ..ive stoped injecting.i used to inject 5 mg midazolam (versed) ampoules,but i reused needles at the start of the 3 month long injection time.and have often reused syringes,replacing with new needles,but i havent shared needles,what may be my chances of having hep c or hiv,im paranoid now that im off the downers...

 

[rocketqueen]

EXTREMELY unlikely that you would have been transmitted anything if you never shared a needle. If you have reused needles that you yourself were the only one to use, the answer is the same...I hate saying impossible but I will say it in this case: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO CONTRACT HIV/AIDS, HEP A, B, C, D, ETC, ENDOCARDITIS, OSTEOMYELITIS, HERPES, etc. from needles that ONLY YOU YOURSELF HAVE USED AS LONG AS THEY WERE USED IN A STERILE AND APPROPRIATE FASHION.

I am not sure of a whole lot of things in this world, but @bbgirl, I do not think you have anything to worry about.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You could have HIV from having sex as well. Have you had unprotected sex?

 

[bbgirlclueless]

thanks for replying rocketqueen and captain heroin
what you said is very reassuring,but im still scared,what iff i picked something out of a bottle or off the floor.floors are covered with bacteria.ive often not used sterile but tap water and resused though only syringes many times,but ive not been injecting with anyone so ive not shared.im sorry for the typo captain heroin,i meant to write im 24 but i havent had sex yet.the thing is downers make you forget but ive always used my own needle,the backdrop is that i work in a hospital setting and hep c is very common in the country,im worried sick i might have used someone else's syringe/needle and forgotten clean about it,but every time i was injecting initially i would use a sterile solution,a new packet syringe,later i didnt have many syringes and had to inject at home so i reused my needles and barrels,im completely worried that i may have touched a positive patient,then touched myself to stop the bleeding,sometimes i stopped it with fingers,and given myself something...i remember always washing my hands before injecting,but today i forgot to wash my hands,and at home i often dont wash my hands.should i get a blood screen? im so scared of this im even keeping my own glass to drink and not sharing with my family because i dont want to give them anything....i dont know.
sorry for the long post,and thanks for replying.
i put emptied sterile ampoules in a bottle once and got 'cotton' fever from that for a day,although ive never used cotton since i use commercially prepared ampoules.

 

[bbgirlclueless]

hardly need to mention the bottle was not sterile,im so scared.

 

[Albion]

Chances of contracting a virus seem minimal but the risk of bacterial infection are significantly higher. You'll know if you have caught an infection, one way or another. Cross the bridge when you come to it, but for future reference sterilize everything, use new needles, micron filter.

 

[BrokedownPalace]

I think the simplest thing to do would be to get yourself tested. I'm not sure what country you are from, but around here there are PLENTY of places that will do it for free, and anonymously. Such as methadone clinics, syringe exchanges, rehabs/detox, other various free walk in clinics. You work in a hospital so you probably wouldn't want to get it done there since you work there, but you can always just tell them you just want a routine test to see.. Or tell them you accidently stuck yourself with a needle after giving a patient an injection.

 

[bronson]

I don't think you have anything major to worry about but BrokedownPalace is right. It will put your mind at ease, and in the possible event of complications you could know about them, before they got out of hand.

 

[rocketqueen]

thanks for replying rocketqueen and captain heroin
what you said is very reassuring,but im still scared,what iff i picked something out of a bottle or off the floor.floors are covered with bacteria.ive often not used sterile but tap water and resused though only syringes many times,but ive not been injecting with anyone so ive not shared.im sorry for the typo captain heroin,i meant to write im 24 but i havent had sex yet.the thing is downers make you forget but ive always used my own needle,the backdrop is that i work in a hospital setting and hep c is very common in the country,im worried sick i might have used someone else's syringe/needle and forgotten clean about it,but every time i was injecting initially i would use a sterile solution,a new packet syringe,later i didnt have many syringes and had to inject at home so i reused my needles and barrels,im completely worried that i may have touched a positive patient,then touched myself to stop the bleeding,sometimes i stopped it with fingers,and given myself something...i remember always washing my hands before injecting,but today i forgot to wash my hands,and at home i often dont wash my hands.should i get a blood screen? im so scared of this im even keeping my own glass to drink and not sharing with my family because i dont want to give them anything....i dont know.
sorry for the long post,and thanks for replying.
i put emptied sterile ampoules in a bottle once and got 'cotton' fever from that for a day,although ive never used cotton since i use commercially prepared ampoules.

@BBGirl, just to put things in perspective for ya, we live on a planet that is fully alive. What the naked eye can't see is STAGGERING. We have colonies of critters living on our FACES, in our eyebrows and eyelashes, EVERYWHERE. Do you carry a purse? The goo living on your purse/purse strap? Your doorknobs? The keys on your computer? Your pets? Your steering wheel? Your pillow? Your XBOX controller? Your keys?

Your body is made to throw off 99% of the stuff we come into contact with, unless you have a disease that effects your immunity/degrades your immune response. The best thing you can do? You are already doing it - WASH YOUR HANDS, PEOPLE, PLEASE. Now, washing your hands before you inject is an EXCELLENT idea, and clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol before you inject. Do NOT LICK THE SYRINGE PLEASE. JUST...DON'T.

I think you have nothing to worry about, but go get a blood panel done for infectious diseases, k? You are worrying too much about this. I utilized sterile habits when I injected and I saved myself from a whole litney of horrible viruses and diseases, including track marks (by using new/fairly new syringes).

 

[Aphex747]

i know a woman who got pregnant from riding the bus! (lol jk) but seriously, your best bet is to leave needles and syringes to hospitals and doctors. id get a blood test to make sure your in the clear, count your blessings, and dont look back! no high or buzz is worth ruining your life over. if swallowing or smoking your dope doesnt get you where you want to be anymore, take a break, or move on to bigger and better things! (safer and more user friendly)

 

[Where Wolf?]

I think the simplest thing to do would be to get yourself tested. I'm not sure what country you are from, but around here there are PLENTY of places that will do it for free, and anonymously. Such as methadone clinics, syringe exchanges, rehabs/detox, other various free walk in clinics. You work in a hospital so you probably wouldn't want to get it done there since you work there, but you can always just tell them you just want a routine test to see.. Or tell them you accidently stuck yourself with a needle after giving a patient an injection.

This - but as most posters have said, it's highly unlikely you have anything to worry about. But there's only one way to find out, and having agonised about getting sexual health screens after unprotected sex with strangers, I've always found it a huge relief to just get tested: from the situation you've described, the odds against you having contracted anything serious seem overwhelming, but you clearly need to find out, if only to stop the anxiety and fear from taking up so much mental space. I've been there, obsessing and terrified, and feel for you: it's a horrible place to be. Worst-case scenario: better to know and get treatment in the very unlikely event you've been infected with something - even Hep C can be managed (ex-junkie uncle of mine's lived with it for years without great difficulty). Keep in mind that the unknown outer range of possibilities is a hell of a lot more scary than just about any reality: I keep quoting Cioran in these threads lately. 'Imaginary terrors are the worst of all fears, as we are incapable of living without them.' But fear of infection can be addressed with objective tests. Find out, and I'd lay money you'll learn you're in the clear. Then you can find something else to scare yourself shitless with. I always do.

 

[argentina420]

An easy way to get a blood test issued is,in my experiences (in the usa at least), if you get a physical and tell them your sexually active (even if its a lie lol ;P, 9X out of 10 they'll issue a bloodtest to check for HIV (standard opperating procedure in MOST hospitals) so they can start treatment immediately if need be, and get you into the database. Or say u got stuck, or just go 2 a needle exchange and be honest (I would NOT do this at ur place of buisness for obvious reasons lmfao . Bacterial infection is the only kind of trouble you may have but they are very treatable VIRAL ones are HIV ect. And fyi ud have 2 drink over a GALLON of saliva 2 get HIV from saliva (aka sharing cup that you were worried about)
Hope this helps ease some of it :D best of luck :D

 

[DooMMooD]

I can't believe someone said its impossible if you never share a needle.

Absurd.

What if you share a cooker? What if you and another keep drawing up water from the same bottle and you both stick your spikes in there (after having both just used them)?

All sound very likely and very dangerous to me, and no needle sharing required!

And FYI you need to get revaccinated for Hep B far as I know (considering my doc just did that to me). Could be wrong but i just got it for the 2nd time.

 

[argentina420]

And FYI you need to get revaccinated for Hep B far as I know (considering my doc just did that to me). Could be wrong but i just got it for the 2nd time.

There's a series of preventative shots that most doctors require you get in your teenage years, so you are indeed correct . Same with like HPV and like one or two others.

And I absolutely agree with everything else you've posted, there's been aloootttt of research into this and YES it is very possible. However, the person was using ampuoles so shouldntve been a problem cuz u don't "cook" it lol. But in general circumstances yes, I agree with what u said 100% but I'm fairly positive the OP wouldve mentioned that given how scared they are and he said he did NOT use with others so I don't think that they need 2 worry about it but your statement is entirely true and no one should believe just because they don't "share their needles" they CAN'T get it from those other sources.

 

[phatass]

........

 

[rocketqueen]

EXTREMELY unlikely that you would have been transmitted anything if you never shared a needle. If you have reused needles that you yourself were the only one to use, the answer is the same...I hate saying impossible but I will say it in this case: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO CONTRACT HIV/AIDS, HEP A, B, C, D, ETC, ENDOCARDITIS, OSTEOMYELITIS, HERPES, etc. from needles that ONLY YOU YOURSELF HAVE USED AS LONG AS THEY WERE USED IN A STERILE AND APPROPRIATE FASHION.

I am not sure of a whole lot of things in this world, but @bbgirl, I do not think you have anything to worry about.

@DooMood, this is what I said above, just a friendly tip to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. Is it sterile to share fixing water? Noooooo. It is "sterile" to share a cooker? Noooooo.

 

[rocketqueen]

However, the person was using ampuoles so shouldntve been a problem cuz u don't "cook" it lol. But in general circumstances

Yeah, that DOES eliminate the need for a "fixing" glass lmao, and I was responding to the specific circumstances of the OP as they reported it. But, hey, I freely admit I do not know everything, but I HAVE escaped HIV, Hep A-Z, herpes, and all that other shit, so I do know "something." Which is better than nothing, yes? lol

Cheers!

 

[Tony Williams]

the heroin you get in bags, wash with ISO alcohol and then water off. before you open. Dealers stick them in thier mouth and up their ARSE (yes)

 

[SydneyGal]

the backdrop is that i work in a hospital setting and hep c is very common in the country

Does your hospital offer testing for medical personnel? If you've come into contact with blood from possibly-infected patients in your work, you have the perfect reason to ask to be tested; no need to mention the other stuff at all. Amongst the medical people I know as friends or family members, seems like they all have a 'did I catch something?!?' freak-out occasionally; is one of the risks of the job, which is why you're so familiar with the correct protocols for injections etc.

Seriously, just get tested. If you're clear, no more worrying; if you're not, early treatment is a seriously good thing. Either way, you win.

 

[BruceLeeSwag]

I could be wrong but if OP's work finds out he has an infectious disease they wont be allowed to let him work in a hospital and he will loose his job.