I am a long time OCD sufferer, since 1999. I was in therapy from 2014 since 2017 and on SSRI since a few months ago. Now I'm still on meds from the first days of September. My OCD is only about HIV, I was scared to be infected from everything and pratically I didn't go outside home. After therapy, I was free from OCD for 8 years, I don't know why some weeks ago I started to think to a situation that happened me last year.

While I was driving my car I saw a car off road that needed help, the car was upside down, a lady was trapped inside. My wife and I stopped our car and ran to reach the woman, luckily we were able to help her.

Going off road, in an area with trees and bushes, I slipped on the grass and I felt a prick to my hand, the injury was not very important however I bleed for some minutes. At the moment I thought that I was injured from a bush or a tree and I was thinking only to help the woman. I don't know why this event came back to my mind some weeks ago and I started to think that it was also possible that I was injured from a discarded needle or a syringe and I am now thinking that I am a risk for HIV for this event.

As I told before, I was diagnosed with OCD, and it easy to get a test, however I get dozens of tests in the past, and it seems like a compulsion of my OCD. I'd like to be able to listen to an expert and rely on his opinion.

So I would like to ask if you think that this event put me at risk for HIV and I need to test or if I can forget about it and move on.

Thank you for your answer.

G from Italy.

You are a good Samaritan for assisting this unfortunate woman.  If the prick on your hand that you felt had been a used needle or syringe, given the force of the an average fall, the needle would have remained in your hand and been visible when you looked at it.  I am confident that whatever it was that cause bleeding from your hand, it was not a needle. In addition, I should also comment that at this time, eight years following the event, had do you acquired HIV from this situation, you would have begun to develop signs and symptoms of late infection by this time. There is no realistic possibility that you acquired HIV from the event you described.  I see no medical or scientific reason for testing at this time and would urge you to do your best to move on without concern. 

I hope that you find my comments helpful. EWH

Thank you very much for your answer. I only want to clarify that this event happened one year ago. I understand your answer, time to move on.

Thank you again.