Is it possible to not feel a needlestick?

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Mila_92

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Hi, I'm sorry for posting another thread about my fears (last one, I promise) but I have a question. I'm currently an intern and today, when I came back from drawing blood, the waste was almost full and the needleset I threw in didn't go in there so I pushed it a little (!) further inside with my hand. I know you shouldn't do it, and now I'm obsessing that I might have been stuck with a needle that was already in there without noticing. I also read that needlesticks sometimes occur unnoticed. Is that even possible?
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Mila_92 said:
Hi, I'm sorry for posting another thread about my fears (last one, I promise) but I have a question. I'm currently an intern and today, when I came back from drawing blood, the waste was almost full and the needleset I threw in didn't go in there so I pushed it a little (!) further inside with my hand. I know you shouldn't do it, and now I'm obsessing that I might have been stuck with a needle that was already in there without noticing. I also read that needlesticks sometimes occur unnoticed. Is that even possible?
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If you didn't feel anything, I think it's safe to say you're fine.... Besides, if you did get stuck and Felt no pain or saw any blood, the needle(s) probably didn't go far enough to cause any harm.
 
Mila_92 said:
Hi, I'm sorry for posting another thread about my fears (last one, I promise) but I have a question. I'm currently an intern and today, when I came back from drawing blood, the waste was almost full and the needleset I threw in didn't go in there so I pushed it a little (!) further inside with my hand. I know you shouldn't do it, and now I'm obsessing that I might have been stuck with a needle that was already in there without noticing. I also read that needlesticks sometimes occur unnoticed. Is that even possible?
Click to expand...

Unless you have neuropathy* of some sort, highly unlikely.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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You to be very nervous about these things. Rightfully so, to a certain extent, since needle sticks are potentially dangerous.

However, your degree of fear seems out of proportion to the situation. Have you thought about seeking help? I say this is all seriousness. I cannot diagnose anything over SDN, nor would I try. But the way it comes across sounds like anxiety.
 
ProfMD said:
You to be very nervous about these things. Rightfully so, to a certain extent, since needle sticks are potentially dangerous.

However, your degree of fear seems out of proportion to the situation. Have you thought about seeking help? I say this is all seriousness. I cannot diagnose anything over SDN, nor would I try. But the way it comes across sounds like anxiety.
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😱😱😱
 
It is fairly hard to not notice being stuck with a needle, but as others have said above, I believe you might benefit from talking to a professional about these concerns of yours, it could do you a lot of good.
 
Yes I will, as apparently its getting worse.
just today.. similar situation... Went to draw blood from a new patient, didn't succeed because I forgot to pull the tourniquet and was really nervous (😵). Afterwards I spent the whole afternoon thinking if I did something wrong while removing the needle and carrying it to the trash. Like accidentally stuck myself or so.. It's really bad right now. Will l ever get over my fears.. I doubt it. 🙁
 
Mila_92 said:
Yes I will, as apparently its getting worse.
just today.. similar situation... Went to draw blood from a new patient, didn't succeed because I forgot to pull the tourniquet and was really nervous (😵). Afterwards I spent the whole afternoon thinking if I did something wrong while removing the needle and carrying it to the trash. Like accidentally stuck myself or so.. It's really bad right now. Will l ever get over my fears.. I doubt it. 🙁
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You will. Just go talk to someone like you are planning on.
 
You should be OK.

You'd feel a needle poke.

You feel a paper cut? Bug bite? Why wouldn't you notice a needle stick which would also cause you to have some noticeable blemish if not actually bleed a drop or two?
 
Light at end of tunnel said:
You should be OK.

You'd feel a needle poke.

You feel a paper cut? Bug bite? Why wouldn't you notice a needle stick which would also cause you to have some noticeable blemish if not actually bleed a drop or two?
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I've had plenty of paper cuts and bug bites that I didn't feel.
 
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Mila_92 said:
Afterwards I spent the whole afternoon thinking if I did something wrong while removing the needle and carrying it to the trash. Like accidentally stuck myself or so.. It's really bad right now.
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Sounds OCD-esque, tricking yourself into doubting your own memory. I second the idea of talking to someone about this, quick action can be beneficial. I'm not giving a medical opinion, just my perspective from personal experience.
 
OP - this is the 2nd extremely high, anxiety-leaden threads. You need to seek professional help. Maybe give your gig up or something else. Something's gotta give.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
I didn't feel either of the sticks when I got my vasectomy. The two sticks I got in the OR, I most definitely felt.
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+1 dont always feel needle sticks

Just the other day got a tetanus shot from a nurse while talking to my doc, didnt bleed at all either. However it definitely happened because my left arm feels like i got slugged this morning.

To be fair another part of my body was in a decent amount of pain at the time so its possible that could be the reason i didnt feel the stick.


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if you didnt feel it, and have no sensory deficits at baseline, i would 100%not worry about it.
 
Light at end of tunnel said:
I was wondering the same thing about the other times you didnt feel bug bites/needle pokes but somehow knew you had gotten them anyway...
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Well the bug bite one is easy - the bug bite appears (i.e. the red bump) but you don't remember ever seeing/feeling a bite
 
Pretty unlikely. Having had needle sticks, I would say that you will be very aware of them, since they are usually in the hands or fingertips. To me, they feel like a sharp sting, and a weary feeling of knowing that there is an employee health visit in my future. Although labs should be drawn and the protocol followed, the risk of disease transmission is pretty low, unless you get a stick from a bloody large bore needle during a trauma resuscitation or other similar circumstances. In that case, you should get used to a morning ritual of taking Truvada and Tivicay. Life goes on.
 
If you were shoving a needle into a container, if you got stuck, it would have been forceful enough to feel it. It's not worth dealing with the hassle of needlestick testing if you don't have some sort of event to report. Half the time surgeons don't report it even when they do feel it, because it's such a PITA and no one wants to waste their time talking to an Occ Med NP telling them to use condoms for 6 weeks...
 
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