Infection Risk?

[LaVienRose]

I was wondering if someone could help me.  Here is my situation.  Yesterday, I had surgery for endometriosis.  Of course, I was on pain meds after surgery and still had some anesthesia that hadn't worn off yet...anyway, I was getting ready to leave the hospital and had changed my clothes.  I had to throw out the undergarment I was wearing, and for some reason, I have no idea why other than I obviously wasn't thinking properly, I placed it into the garbage and pushed down on it (as if to compress it).  I do not think my hand came into contact with anything else in the trash, but I cannot be 100% sure.  I had seen latex gloves in the trash bin earlier that had blood on them, and having realized what I did, I immediately washed my hands.  I do not know if I came into contact with any items that were in the trash...as I stated, but I do have a fresh hangnail on that hand, that was red and sore.  It wasn't actively bleeding, but had been a little previously that day.  I am vaccinated against Hep B because the school I taught at recommended it, and I know there is really no risk for HIV infection from what I have read, but I am less clear about Hep C infection.  If I did come into contact with another persons blood in this way, what is the risk of infection?  I think my OCD is kicking in big time, probably because I am stressed out about the surgery...I am pretty certain that my hangnail didn't touch anything.  Anyway, thanks for your help, sorry if this question seems stupid or babbly, but I am still pretty funky from the pain meds I am taking and I am worrying.    

[Rockerforlife]

Are you goin for a blood test?

[LaVienRose]

Thanks everyone...still obsessing a bit, but not as bad.  No, I did not see any blood on my hangnail, or on my fingers.  I am fairly certain that I only touched my undergarment, and nothing else...it is the memory of the bloody items in the bin that has me freaked and that is why I am thinking it is my OCD flaring up.  Wish I would have just dropped the item in and never had come in contact at all with the bin, but then again, I was on some strong pain meds and wasn't thinking clearly.  

I have no way of knowing if any blood I would have come into contact with was positive for anything or contaminated, so again, I am probably over-reacting as odds are it probably wasn't and I most likely didn't touch it anyway.  To top it off, I think probably the items at the top of the bin were actually used on me, so it was probably my own blood that I would have come into contact with anyway, but there was quite a bit of stuff in there, so it couldn't have all been from me.   Also, the hangnail is on my index finger, which would have come into contact with the center of the garment and nothing else...but also, I think only the pads of my fingertips touched it.  I HATE OCD!!!   G*D...I know I am way over thinking this.  My husband and my sister both said they wouldn't have thought twice about it...I've never been put on medication before for my disorder, but maybe it is about time.  This is nuts.  Anyway, thanks for your responses...      

[Rockerforlife]

Only way to really ease your mind is to get a blood test,i dont know how long it takes for hep or hiv to show up on blood tests....BUT ...odds are you ok.. ...just by thw way your asking this question i know you wont be satisfied until you have the test...like i said...odds are low...did you see blood on your oped hangnail?....even if you did...how do you know it was contaminated with any kind of disease?...i can see your concern tho

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I have CDO - that would be obsessive compulsory disorder, but with the letters in order like they are suppossed to be!!!

You need to relax about your hangnail. If the virus were passed that easily everyone would have it. It takes pretty direct and strong exposure for that to happen. Doesnt sound like your trash can episode fits the profile.,,,,,,,,, breath in ......breath out,,,,,,,and move on....best of luck to you!

[LaVienRose]

Thank you for your response, it helped a lot.  I think you are right, and I'll try not to worry about it.  No, I did not see any blood whatsoever on my hand and I am fairly certain that I only came into contact with my own personal garment anyway.  I just freaked a little from remembering seeing the bloody items in the bin earlier.  Plus I have OCD and it flares up on my from time to time, epecially when I have times of stress/anxiety and I end up questioning everything.      

Anyway, thanks again, I really appreciate your opinion!  :)

[Trinity4]

I would say your risk is so low that you should not worry.  Firstly, you don't know if you actually came in contact with the blood on the glove. Also, you can't assume the blood was infected with hepatitis C.  Your wound would have to be an open wound with direct contact to infected blood.  That blood would have to have entered your wound and made its way into your bloodstream.  Doesn't sound like you saw any blood on your hand when you removed it from the recepticle.  A hangnail can be painful, but what you are describing does not sound like an open wound.  I'm not saying it isn't possible, but highy unlikely.  
If you continue to have concerns,  have a test done in 6-8 wks which will show if you are positive for hepc antibodies.  Personally, I wouldn't worry.
Good Luck
Trinity