I hope that you will be so kind to answer my question as I am having a lot of worry about this. Earlier this year I had a positive syphilis test which turned out to be false positive. At the time I was on many hormone injections for ivf. During my latest ivf which I did in Athens, Greece I injected myself with clexane every day and took pills - estrogen, predisone etc. I was worried when I was traveling that someone might access my needles to inject clexane (single use) I stored when traveling in my suitcase but were in a box and not sealed- in the U.K. they do not put the injections in a sealed packet. However I locked my suitcase. I did though go on a ferry to a greek island and forgot to lock my suitcase and left it in the luggage area. Once I arrived (about an hour later) once I arrived to my hotel, got a needle and injected clexane. My worry is if someone had tampered with my needle I could have exposed myself to hiv. I think I did squirt the liquid out of the needle a bit prior to my injection to clean the needle tip due to my worries and am wondering if this would make a difference? I have tried to put my anxieties aside but 3 weeks later I developed a white spot (looks pimple like) on my tongue. The Dentist said that probably due to an injury biting my tongue I might have developed a small fungal infection though he didn't recommend pills. He did a laser treatment but it is still there (more flat now). I also have developed about 5 weeks later an intensely itchy rash on the side of my knee. Again I went to a Dr and she said 'it might be fungal.’. It worsens when I take a shower at night and it is dark and sometimes red on my skin. These issues have gone on for over 3 weeks at this point, the tongue over a month. I just would like to know my risk if someone did in fact prick themselves with my needle etc. Also, if these fungal infections would raise an alarm for you.

Welcome. Thank you fore your confidence in our services.---

Hello Dr Handsfield. Thank you for your response. I consulted with the dentist again this morning and he has now clarified that the lesion on my tongue is not fungal and says though he initially was unsure if it was, has determined almost certainly is 'bite trauma' and an oral surgeon colleague agrees. I am now only unsure why it's persisted so long. The leg issue does continue to itch badly especially after hot showers and looks dark but gets a bit better when I put cream on it. In terms of the needles I understand what you are saying and I have tried to tell myself that it is 'almost impossible' but unfortunately it has really flared up my anxiety and of course I start questioning too if the needles might have been contaminated at any other point too. My question is theoretically if for some 'impossible' reason it did happen if there was contamination of the tip of the needle, does that put someone at high risk of hiv? Or would it be less if fluid had already been pressed on the tip of the needle(when I pressed some liquid out before I injected). And since there was a short window of time in between would that make a difference? Is it more risk if blood is in the syringe of a needle which obviously couldn't happen because they are single use? I don't plan to do these treatments abroad again as I think it's too overwhelming. I was not in the company of anyone. I was alone on a ferry with many passengers and I also asked the ferry company and they said 'none other than the crew members has access in the places where passengers luggage is stored for the duration of the trip.' In terms of the syphilis result it was a shock at the time, I wasn't aware something like that could happen but put it down to the hormones, 2 per cent seems low chance of that happening. In terms of testing yes that would be logical, last time I tested was in february due to the fertility treatments and regulations but now with my anxiety I am feeling quite scared to do so. 

You're really obsessed with these issues. I read these comments very carefully, and every potential exposure or event you describe was zero risk for HIV.---

Hello. I understand you think my worries are unfounded but I would really like compassionate and practical answers to my specific questions. I don’t want to test right now mainly because I will have to leave country I’m in if positive but based on your answers I can work something out. . I have been very ill the past week. First started with losing appetite and acid reflux. Also stomach feeling sore - hard to explain soreness but barely able to eat. I also got leg aches. And yesterday I had fever up to 38 but had been exposed to sun day before. I then got a cough a week after losing appetite that which was just after drinking out at cafe. My throat is now so sore I can barely swallow. Cough is constant and now can barely move from bed. Questions are as follows; 

I'm sorry you didn't find my comments sufficiently compassionate, but you have asked similar questions several times and it is not our role to resolve questioners' underlying anxieties. Yes, your worries are unfounded. And I disagree there is risk even if someone "tampered" with the needle you are concerned about. ---
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