Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Please help! Paranoid about using public toilet

After I delivered the baby four months ago, I suddenly started to suffer from OCD-contamination, especially HIV due to some bad experiences while using the public toilet at my school. I know there were several post about toilet-related questions but I'd really appreciate the doctor could review my questions and answered all of them at one time. Please give some help to a worrisome, anxious, tired new mom. Here are some episodes trigger my deep fear of HIV infection:

Episode 1. Horrible backsplash happened during bowl movement with the bleeding hemorrhoids. The laceration repair has been healed but left an external hemorrhoids like polyps that iwas also bleeding a little bit during that backsplash. I was so scared and did the test after three months that is negative.

Episode 2: Tiny backsplash still would like to happen sometimes while I pee after the test. Am I at risk?

Episode 3: I noticed some suspicious dry blood on the toilet seat before using the toilet. I wiped it with a partially damp paper towel (I washed my hand before using the toilet and the dry the hand with paper towel). The paper towel turns a little bit red and I realized that might be blood so I gave up using that toilet. However, I forgot whether I washed my hand after that wiping action before I used the new paper to wipe my annal area after bowl movement. Although my hemorrhoids is not bleeding during that bowl movement, it was bleeding one day before and I also have a minor annal fissure. So, what if the blood diffuse through the damp paper towel and touch my finger, my finger touch new paper and then my annal fissure and hemorrhoids. Was I be on risk? Later I was sure that I washed my hand, although there is no cut on my hand that wiped the toilet seat, there is a cut on my another hand. My two hands rubbed each other while washing. Is there any risk? I touched my lips where there is a cut and eyes after washing my hand with soap, will I be on risk?

Due to those things, I am too afraid to use public toilet...

Thank you for your patience to read my long questions.

Alison
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
3191940 tn?1447268717
COMMUNITY LEADER
There are no doctors here, but your questions do not require a doctor's attention, nor do they require individual responses.

The only adult risks for HIV are:
1) Having unprotected penetrative anal or vaginal sex, OR
2) Sharing IV drug equipment with other IV drug users.

You will NEVER get HIV from a toilet, or a bathroom, or any other everyday scenario.  It sounds like you could benefit from counseling to help you cope with these irrational fears.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks CurfewX for your kindly reply. I just saw some post was answered by a doctor. So I thought the doctor will review those questions.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.