Cut from knife and food

[A0727]

I have a couple of questions.

About a month ago my department at school had a "back to school" barbecue. I was cutting up tomatoes and when I was about half way through cutting them all up I cut my finger with the knife. The knife had just been washed and was steel sort of wet when I began cutting up the tomatoes. I asked my doctor's nurse about this risk and she said that since I cut my finger after I had already been cutting up the food, that maybe if someone had cut their finger on the knife before, if there was any microscopic bits of blood on it, it might have been wiped off by the food before the cut took place.

I also asked one of my professors about the knife and he said it hadn't been used for months and he said that he didn't think anyone had cut their finger before with the knife and I was probably the first. He also said that no one that had used the knife before has hep C. I know I should be reassured by all this info, but I'm still very worried. I just got over a hep C scare and now I've got anxiety over this incident once again. Should I be worried and get tested again soon? I just got tested in September and my doctor thinks I'm a hypochondriac, so I'm not sure if he'll order another test so soon.

Also, I know this is probably a really stupid question, but can you catch hep C from someone using your deodorant and the next day you using it? My friend was at my house yesterday and used my deodorant. I meant to throw it out after she had used it, but forgot and ended up using it about 30 minutes ago.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[A0727]

Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciat it.

[fretboard]

Whether you get tested or not is totally up to you and your doctor, I don't really feel that it's necessary as you've already been tested.  Plus you don't even know if someone had previously cut themselves with the knife in question, let alone someone who was HepC positive.  I think it's time to let that incident roll off your back and chalk it up to experience, just like I said.

I think it's extremely safe to say that the knife incident was a time in your life when your paranoia won over your reality and now is your chance to grab it back and move on with your life.  Life is too short to be stuck in yesterday, maybe it would help you to talk to someone about it if it keeps coming up.  peace

[A0727]

So you don't think I should worry about this incident and bother getting tested again?

Thank you so much for your help and not just joking about my situation.

[fretboard]

I really don't think you have to worry about the knife incident.  You really don't have to worry as much as one would think, seeing as HepC is a blood to blood borne illness.  The fact that you didn't even know if someone with HepC or anything else had used the knife prior to your use, should ease your mind.  On the other hand you have explained yourself, so I appreciate your honesty in this matter.  There is certainly no shame in being careful, but with that said I think it's extremely safe to say that the knife incident was a time in your life when your paranoia won over your reality and now is your chance to grab it back and move on with your life.  Being careful is a good thing, there's nothing wrong with being careful.  good luck with your meds and your future, God Bless      

[sunqueen]

You won't get an argument from me but I think the situation you described doesn't sound like it would put you at risk - a knife, not used for months (as you stated) is not going to cause you any harm. I'd worry more in a commercial environment where people share all sorts of sharp objects routinely and injuries are common.

I hope you're doing some cognitive behavior therapy and reality testing when you come across situations that cause you to fret and worry excessively. The right meds should help too.

[A0727]

Yep, I am seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist. I've begun taking meds for my OCD which hopefully will help me out with these issues. I am actually concerned with my family's health. I live with my mom and grandma and I'm worried about their health, as well as other issues that concern them. I'm not sure why I'm so concerned with hep C. I'm also like that with HIV. They just seen so easy to get by just having small cuts on your hand or by accidentally getting cut by something that has already cut someone else. Thanks for your concern.

[A0727]

Not to keep asking questions, but since you all are sort of joking about my situation, can I assume that I can't get HCV from this knife incident? I know it's a blood borne disease, so I just thought it would be the same principe as getting cut with someone else's razor that they might have gotten cut with and bled on, which is a transmission route.

[fretboard]

"I know I'm paranoid. But I guess this is a risk too, which is why I'm scared.  Should I be worried and get tested again soon? I just got tested in September and my doctor thinks I'm a hypochondriac, so I'm not sure if he'll order another test so soon".

You are extremely paranoid, so much so that it is cause for serious concern.  Have you seen a mental health care professional?  Why is it HepC that concerns you so much?  Why only you, are you as paranoid with other family members' health or only your own?  Your question brings up more questions than answers.  In other words, forget about the knife incident and do something about your mental health.  good luck and God Bless

[Rockerforlife]

Lock up your knife drawer....toothbrushes and razors  sewing needles ..saftey pins...im am not joking here...maybe this will give you some comfort...i dont think you should apply for a job in a hospital anytime soon either...and forget being a paramedic

[Marcia2202]

I seriously advice you to get your OCD treated properly! You are only 20 and you are so paranoid about HCV, HIV and other diseases. You should be out there enjoying your life and your studies with your friends. This is much more serious than you maybe believe it is and it doesn't get better by itself. You don't want to continue to live the rest of your life in fear like this. So please, promise me to get some help. It will be difficult sometimes to go through treating it, but you will feel so free when you get rid of this paranoia.

Marcia

[can-do-man]

Hmmmm, a girl, a knife, paranoid, does the name lorena bobbit wake you up dude?

[eureka254]

But: she's not very careful with the knife, and she's paranoid (self-admittedly), and she's thinking about what would happen if someone else accidentally got cut with the knife...
be she with or without teeth, you could be dreaming dangerously...
~eureka

[GoofyDad]

A girl who knows her way around the kitchen, *AND* uses deoderant? I think I maybe just died and went to heaven. I wonder if she still has all her teeth too... I know, I know, now I'm just dreaming.....

[A0727]

I guess I'm just mainly concerned about the knife thing. Not so much about the deodorant, but I just thought I'd ask. I mean, I know hep C can be transmitted through getting cut by something someone else may have cut their-self on. That's my main concern. That if someone cut them-self with the knife that I cut myself with. Idk.

I know I'm paranoid. But I guess this is a risk too, which is why I'm scared.

[FlGuy]

I think the doc is trying to hide something from you. Sounds fishy.

[Rockerforlife]

Dont throw away your deoderant...i dont like smelly people

[Rockerforlife]

Get a grip woman...watch out for the killer tomatoes


YOU ARE PARANOID

[Marcia2202]

I think that it is more important that you seriously get the OCD treated. I'm sure trying to get that under control, will also help you with these issues.

Good luck to you,

Marcia

[Marcia2202]

No, no and no!

I'm sure you must have figured out by now that hep c is a blood borne disease. So please stop worrying and be happy you don't have it!!!!

[can-do-man]

Hep C from deodorant??? Me thinks your doctor is right. Your being way to paranoid.