Visit to hospital accidentally touched my eyes

[oldbagface]

Please can someone help me. I'm stiff with fear

[Plantmoretrees]

Hello - do you want to tell us what happened? Were you somehow in a Coronavirus area? I think the chances that touching your eye once meaning you get the virus is really low, but I understand why you are worried. Hospitals are really well cleansed so chances of anything being on your hand at that time should be low.

[Shelley54]

Nothing you can do now. Not worth worrying about something you've already done.

You'll know on a few days if you're poorly or not. The chances are you'll be fine.

[Peppafrig]

I really wouldn't worry .

[Maxamill]

I understand your anxiety OP but none of us can offer you the answer you want. You want a guarantee that everything will be ok that's the only thing that can rest your mind. The truth is no one knows, you're worrying about something that may or may not happen and you have no control of it now.

The only thing you can do is tell your self the facts over and over, that you touched your eye. That is the only fact you have, you don't know if you came into contact with coronavirus, you don't know anything beyond your action.

Please try not to drive yourself crazy with the maybes and what ifs. They're not going to help you, I promise you that all you will achieve by worrying is self torture. Take each day as it comes and when you find yourself wondering distract yourself every time until you learn to not think about it x

[oldbagface]

I had to go with an abscess. I touched doors and all kinds..also dropped my water bottle on hospital floor and picked it up and carried with me. Also was in a very small room with doctor. He may have it. I'm most worried about touching my eyes. Frankly I'm peteified. I have underlying health issues and I'm mid 40s. Also a smoker

[Shitsgettingcrazy]

Chances are you don't have it.

You need to have touched something where someone else has touched it quite recently. That person also needs to have had it and not following hand hygiene.

You also need to have picked up enough viable covid cells, and put it in your eye.

The Dr may have it. But there's a bigger chance he doesn't. Given most doctors or people don't.

And you also have to have not used hand sanitiser at all while you are there, or in between the above steps.

[Shitsgettingcrazy]

Sorry, I meant to add that that even with health issues, it's doesn't mean a disaster.

Chances are that you didn't though.

[oldbagface]

I didn't use sanitizer as I had my hands full

[SmileEachDay]

Hospitals have been divided into “hot” and “cold” sections. Covid patients, or anyone presenting with covid are in the hot section. Staffing in those sections require full PPE and staff are where possible not moving between sections. So in a shift you are either “hot” or “cold”

Cleaning regimes have been massively upped also.

I bet the doctor who treated you had gloves on also?

Do you have heightened anxiety usually?

[oldbagface]

Yes. I suffer with anxiety normally. I'm literally stiff with the fear. My finger went into my eye. Hands were filthy. They felt manky. Had touched lots of areas that would be full of the virus

[SmileEachDay]

Did you read what I said d about hospitals having different “zones”?

[Shitsgettingcrazy]

I didn't use sanitizer as I had my hands full

I would suggest carrying your things in a bag, so you can sanitise your hands in future. Sanitiser is available in a hospital, you need to use it, even if it just to reduce your anxiety.

Again, all the other things have to have been a just right for you to catch it. The chances are slim.

Bit make sure you take steps, whilst out so you don't get as anxious.

[oldbagface]

Yes I did. I dropped my water bottle on the hospital floor and then carried it. Also the taxi door handles. So many places full of virus

[Shitsgettingcrazy]

Yes. I suffer with anxiety normally. I'm literally stiff with the fear. My finger went into my eye. Hands were filthy. They felt manky. Had touched lots of areas that would be full of the virus

You really should prcatise better hand hygine, even if its just for your anxiety.

[SmileEachDay]

Yes I did. I dropped my water bottle on the hospital floor and then carried it. Also the taxi door handles. So many places full of virus

‘This is not about the virus. What do you normally do to manage your anxiety?

[Oxyiz]

Well its done now and there's no changing it. Do you know any slow breathing exercises? You need to try and not "think yourself ill" at this point. Not that you can give yourself an infection that way, but we can all get psychosomatic symptoms.

[oldbagface]

Medication. I am really terrified of getting the virus. I won't do well. I am normally super careful. It was a combination of issues that made me drop the ball on hand hygiene.

[SmileEachDay]

Have you taken your anti anxiety meds?

Are there any other ways you manage it - breathing/exercise/distraction/talking? Anything?

[oldbagface]

No. I'm too anxious. I know I will have caught it.

[legalseagull]

I'm surprised you're so anxious given you're a smoker and presumably not anxious about the many many health issues that causes? COVID is not a death sentence. 80% of people will just get a cough or slight fever. It's estimated that of people will have no symptoms whatsoever

[TheLovleyChebbyMcGee]

The chances of you getting it are small. If the doctor had the virus and were showing symptoms they would be at home, all medical staff are really aware of their health at the moment. Also, if you do get it, the chances of you becoming very ill with it are very, very small.

Remember that loads of us have been going into hospital every day for the last 6 weeks and haven't picked it up. Yes the virus can survive on surfaces, but someone has to put it there, so with everyone else being aware of cough hygiene and also using hand sanitiser it does reduce the chances of that, even if you didn't use it the hand sanitised.

[SmileEachDay]

You need to call whoever support you will your anxiety as soon as they are open. GP presumably if you’re on meds.

Do you have children to look after today?

[oldbagface]

Yes. I know smoking is stupid. I have no other vices and its my crutch. I ha e tried to stop and.will continue to try and stop until I do

[soccerbabe]

noone can 100% guarantee that anyone won't get this virus, but think of all the people who work in a hospital all day every day, who don't/won't contract the virus, I really think there's a very very small chance of you having caught it.

[oldbagface]

My husband will look after the kids. They are teens. Not sure what my GP can do?