I got my bloodwork done this morning. I usually watch to make sure they use a new needle but I forgot to watch this morning. Now I am worried they reused a needle and I will get HIV. 😔. I hate myself for not watching.
Don't hate yourself. Celebrate the fact that you forgot. In that moment of "forgetting" your mind behaved rationally in not creating a highly improbable threat.
@BrownBunE That’s actually a very good way to look at it. Thank you for that.
Thank you so much for giving an alternate way to look at it.
@Catlove9 Your OCD may not let you believe it but act in a way that you are celebrating to reinforce the idea. Tell people who know of your struggle and will feel happy for you, get yourself a treat or throw yourself a party do something that makes you feel good and chalk it up to the fact that you didnt look.
@BrownBunE That is such a good idea! And you’re right! For once I was just in the moment with my OCD keeping me “safe.”
Personally I get blood drawn regularly for different reasons and I make a point not to watch the needle insertion . Whenever possible I request the same phlebotomist each time whom has a excellent work ethic .
@777Q The place I go only has one lady but it’s the same one every time.
@Catlove9 That is good it shows continuity. It is more relaxing to focus on a painting on the wall or a pleasant thought than watching a needle go in me . A fresh needle goes in a patient each time whether they are watched or not , too much liability if they didn’t.
@777Q That’s a good point! Thank you!
I will share this further with you. Over many years of blood tests I have had only two negative experiences neither had to do with a used needle . 1- someone inexperienced had a hard time finding appropriate place of exactly where to stick the needle. 2 - another person very experienced with their job had a very condescending personality towards the interaction.
@777Q Oh yah. I had a few bad experiences myself. One time they stuck me so hard that blood just spouted out of me. It was horrifying!
@Catlove9 It is interesting that you mentioned that , the first experience with the person being inexperienced that is what also happened to me , blood splatter everywhere, LOL !
@777Q It was so awful! And then she blamed me for it! And I was just sitting there!
Omg i had the exact same problem recently and It is too hard to not think about that but really the possibilities are almost 0% (I calculated it while ruminating) you really don’t need to worry ❤️ you are not alone I know the struggle if you ever need to talk I’m here for you my dms are open!
@blp99 Thank you so much! The thought hit me like a ton of bricks when I walked out of Labcorp.
This fear keeps coming back and it’s to the point I cry and what to panic. I no longer talk to the man simply because I wanted to move on and find something meaningful to have with someone (relationship wise). I still keep fearing I need to go get my blood checked. Thoughts like “what if I have it and don’t know it and give to someone?” “What if that urine test I took months ago didn’t work” I got tested for stds but it came back negative. They took a urine test but google says you have to have your blood drawn!! I’m so scared. My mind tells me “you have HIV” and then a sense of peace comes and scares me even more!!!
I had blood work done for a test I was having a couple weeks ago. The phlebotomist hit my vein weird, my arm bled a lot, but eventually stopped. My arm is still sore several days later. The following week I had my bronchoscopy. The nurse used the same arm that was already sore to put in the IV for the meds. My arm started hurting, swelling and burning. I told her it hurt really bad but she ignored me; then I was out. It’s been a week and my arm still hurts, and my veins are tight and hard. Couple that with the white stuff all over my face, that nobody from the care team bothered to wipe off- which I didn’t know about until my husband asked me what it was, I got harm from my OCD! At first I chalked it up to the white stuff on my face was bad bedside manners. Now, I keep thinking that my doctors and everyone associated with the clinics are trying to harm me. This morning I had an incident with the fryer oven while toasting my bagel. I asked my husband about it and he says he didn’t notice anything. I was down to the last few bites of my bagel, and suddenly started feeling loopy. I spit it out and threw the rest away. After sitting awhile thinking of the doctors and phlebotomist etc… it dawned on me that it was my OCD telling me people were trying to harm me. I don’t know how to get over the fact that my arm hurts really bad and my doctor completely ignores my health concerns. I’ve been nauseous for the past two weeks or so - there is definitely something wrong! I think when they find out that you have OCD and/or Anxiety, they treat you differently, as if you’re making up the symptoms. I most certainly haven’t felt heard! My husband always says, what’s wrong now? It’s such a horrible feeling to hear him say that. Is this what you call Harm? Or is it associated with Harm? I’m not sure if this is triggering or not. I hope not.
A few days ago, I posted how proud I am of myself, that I managed to go to the doctor to get a vaccination. Now, two days later, I find myself panicking and ruminating. It was a practice where they also test a lot for HIV and other blood diseases and in my mind, the needle/syringe they used for my vaccination was somehow contaminated with blood from another patient. Maybe by accident but sometimes my mind would make up a scenario where they would do it even on purpose. I was so proud of myself, that I managed to go there on Monday and now I am making up scenarios how I caught HIV by going there - I am feeling guilty because I was „careless“. Any tips for the moment? ❤️
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