Hep C transmission fear

[AD1358]

I visited my dentist for filling up a cavity. I walked into the clinic and I felt as if I had touched something wet on the door handle. I knew that this is just my fear of touching blood on inanimate objects (my OCD). I checked the palm of my hand quickly and didn't see anything except a little reddish spot which was probably just a reddish spot on the palm of my hands as I have fair hands. I have been trying to look at my hands for not more than a second or two whenever I feel something wet because my obsessions have been causing me to look at my hands closely for minutes. I was taken in by the dentist for my procedure and she lay me down and gave me some topical anesthesia using some blue gel on a cotton swab on my gums. She left me for a minute or two. My dentist came back and removed the cotton swab. She was then preparing the freezing injection (local anesthesia), in the meantime I happen to  rub my lips with my hand as I was feeling a bit itchy on the lips and then licked my lips with my tongue a few times. After this my dentist gave me the freezing injection at four different points on my gums. My weird fear at this time is that if by any chance the reddish spot on my hand was hep C positive blood (that I got from the door handle) and I licked this blood which got mixed in my saliva, right before the dentist injected the freezing in my gums...could I have any chance of contracting hep C as the injection might have hit a blood vessel and gotten into the bloodstream. Could the needle have injected some small amount of Hep C virus which could  be on my gums, into my bloodstream as it penetrated my gums ? PS. I know how silly this sounds. I know this is HIV prevention forum and for the longest time I had had fear of HIV but I am now over the irrational fears of contracting HIV...however, sadly I am ending up obsessing with Hep C now. I am hoping that you will be able to help me with Hep C related queries.Thanks for your help in advance doctor

[AD1358]

Thank You doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This just duplicates your question above in different words; and the answer is obvious from my previous replies and shouldn't have to be spelled out.  I deleted your first attempt at posting this comment because with OCD there's always a "yes but" or "what if" question and I don't play that game -- which in the long run just tends to foster an unending stream of clarifications and, in my experience, prolongs anxiety.  Call it tough love if you like, but this thread is over.

[AD1358]

Thanks for your reply Doctor. I really appreciate it. I know that the series of events I have described are unlikely to have occurred. I am however, assuming that even in the rare event of these events occurring your take on the risk would be zero risk. Please let me know if I am assuming correctly ?

This will be my last question. Thank you for all your help Doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Correct on all counts.

[AD1358]

Thanks for your inputs doctor. I really appreciate it. I am assuming that what you are essentially implying is that as long as I don't engaged in

1. injection drug use
2. Got blood Transfusion before 1992
3. Get tattooed with an infected needle
4. Share razors/ tooth brush (theoretical risks)

I should not worry about Hep C infection.

Is my assumption right ?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back to the forum.

I'm glad your HIV related fears are in the background -- but still, this is obviously your OCD speaking.  You have outlined a sequence of events, each one of which is patently very unlikely -- and that collectively translate to absolutely zero risk of infection with HCV or any other blood borne virus.  I'm sure you know that intellectually -- and I'm happy to confirm it.  That said, I doubt this reply is going to help much.  You are well aware that it doesn't much matter what sort of reassurance you may get; there's always a "yes but" question.  But you can ignore any and all such thoughts, as well as your current concerns.  Until and unless you start sharing injection equipment with other people, or otherwise having overt and obvious blood exposure, you're never going to get HCV.  (Unlike what you may have come to believe, HCV really isn't an STD.  It has never been proved to be sexually transmitted except by anal sex between men.)

I hope this has helped a little but.  But I'm not going to play the "what if" or "yes but" game -- i.e. I'm not going to respond to additonal questions about your dental office HCV concerns.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD