brother in law died/questions on a continuous monitor

[Ohana]

Hey,

It has been forever since I posted, I have had a rough couple of months...
I have been away dealing with family issues and school... didn't realize how long it had been.

My husband's brother died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 40...
and he didn't leave a will... so I have been helping out with probate court (it gets really complicated, involving multiple properties in multiple states and a "life partner" who isn't listed on all of the estate) and I had to take my yearly comprehensive exams this summer.... anyway

But my main reason for bringing this up is I found out this life partner is HIV positive. Has been for 23 years. (never was told, and am slightly mad about it now)
I am mad because I CONSTANTLY have finger wounds!!!!! I tested on my toes the whole week before the memorial service after I found out because I didn't want finger wounds...

Sigh, I have never claimed to be educated in this department. I never knew I had to be. The point is I have spent the night at their house in the past, I don't know if I should be worried or not, and I don't know if I should be MORE worried due to the finger wounds issue. Don't know if I have been "exposed" to, and now need testing...

So that got me thinking... I want a continuous meter. Like a Freestyle navigator. I am a Clinical Doctorate student, and I am constantly dealing with patients. I am now paranoid about the finger stick issue. I know I would still have to calibrate, but if I am not testing 6-8 times a day, I would be ok testing on my arms or toes....

So, any advice? Should I be worried? does anyone have a continuous monitor and NOT on a pump or not have greatly out of control numbers? (I haven't been near 200 in almost a month!! YEA me! (so I am pretty well controlled))

Am I making any sense here? Please help!

[yannah]

no. you should NOT be worried. HIV hates it outside of the body, can't survive and is transmitted body fluid to body fluid under perfect conditions.

no you should NOT be worried unless you have had sex with him or blood tranfusion of his blood. or used the same needle injecting, like real fast, he used passed it to you, you injected.

do not worry you re okay

[fairyblood]

Honestly it is none of your business whether he is HIV+ or not. With a disease that has all the stigma that HIV has, it is completely up to the person to decide who they want to disclose it to. Just like with diabetes, it is up to you to decide how open you are about it.

However on a different note I worked for years with a manager who was positive and I test anywhere from 7-15 times a day on my fingers. Unless he cut himself and you had a open wound and touched it, you are fine. That isn't something you would do with anyone positive or not. Many people who are HIV+ look completely healthy. You never know who might be positive or not so think like a health professional and think of everybody you know as positive. That way you wont be caught off guard. ;)

Working in an environment with knifes, I really didn't worry about it. My manager was a really great guy and was very careful with himself. If I had never known I wouldn't care. I did appreciate the trust he put in me by being open about it but that was up to him not me.

[foxl]

Yes, everyone else is right, HIV is the LEAST casual-transmission-friendly virus. Which does make it a not-your-business issue.

I know this b.c on international adoption lists there are people who adopt kids with HIV and with HepB ... and they have to decide how to cope with daycare issues and what to ethically disclose or not. Some were advised by medical professionals not to disclose, because of the very low risk of transmission of these viruses.

In other words, STDs ARE STDs, because it is the only way they can get transmitted often enough to catch on. (I mean there are other ways, needles, etc. but ... !).

[AngelKitty]

Hi Ohana and welcome back :)

Sorry for your loss of your brother-in-law, it must be a difficult time for you as your husband comes to terms with the loss of his brother.

I think what you are feeling is shock/surprise at discovering that your brother-in law is HIV positive. Unfortunately all the hard-core ads of AIDS (with the grim reeper bowling and using humans as pins) has been burned into our corneas and minds. Thankfully the disease is not transmitted as easily as first thought. I understand your panic as you try to recollect if you has an open bleed and touched not knowing if the other person also had a wound - a very long shot, but our brains do like to torment us now and then!

To completely put your mind at ease you could get yourself tested, especially if this situation is stressing you out a lot (which of course will reak havoc with those nice BGLs that you have been working so hard on).

Nice to have you back.

[Lloyd]

does anyone have a continuous monitor and NOT on a pump or not have greatly out of control numbers? (I haven't been near 200 in almost a month!! YEA me! (so I am pretty well controlled))

Am I making any sense here? Please help!

I have the Navigator. I pay all costs myself, so I use it sparingly to adjust my pump.

30 day average 94, standard Deviation 12

I have dawn phenomenon, and 13 basal rates to counter that (3 am is 5 times the basal rate of 3 pm).
The navigator makes basal testing to adjust the pump easy, exact, and done in a short period of time, and no sleep lost for overnight basal testing.

It improves my results.

-Lloyd

[butterflykisses]

Like everyone has already said, there's no need to worry. And CGMS does not replace finger sticks anyway. They are not perfect and although they can warn about dropping or rising blood sugar, you will still need to test for accurate readings and to calibrate the system. The gloves and hand washing you should be doing should rest your worries.

And you test on your toes??? That's a new one for me! YIKES! lol

[Dis-N-Dat]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Ohana]

Thanks everyone for your replies...

I can see where HIV would be a private disclosure issue... And who knows, maybe he is super diligent about being careful as to NOT be putting people at risk... I am kind of a control freak, so I was upset that I did not have all of the information... but it seems the overwhelming consensus is to not worry.

I think I am still gonna ask about the continuous monitor. We don't use gloves unless there is a need to for Audiology. And when I graduate, I may just make it standard of my own accord. I am a hand washing/sanitizing FREAK... :D :D and it only got worse once I started testing... and even worse once I started working in the clinic ;) So I am not TOO awfully worried, but it just seems like if I can reduce the number of finger sticks, that has to be a good thing.


Thanks again for the info!