Can somebody tell me I’m actually being silly ? (OCD contamination panic)

[stupidworryembarrassed]

I know I am but I can’t reassure myself .

I have diagnosed OCD which is poorly controlled at the moment . I was using a heat pad to help with period pain tonight which burst on to table . Without thinking I didn’t clear it up and started chewing pen also on table . I am concerned I might have ingested a couple of grains (if that?) of iron - pack says if they burst seek immediate medical attention ... they just contain iron and ‘activated carbon’ .

I feel totally fine - am also on a higher dose of sertraline than normal , Was increased tonight so appreciate I’m going to be all over the place . But I’m now scared to sleep in case of iron toxicity . How can I convince myself I’m being an idiot and need to sleep ? I’ve even read a bloody medical journal which states several elderly people have eaten the entire packet , and been fine ..

I just want to settle down and sleep but going to have this nagging worry for the next hour I think . Not sure if anyone can reassure me ?

You will be absolutely fine, get off of Google and read a book to take your mind off of it.

Surely the “if they burst seek medical attention” is if they burst all over you and burn you, not about the toxicity of the contents. You haven’t actively eaten any of it, it didn’t burn you, so all is well.

You are going to be fine. You’re probably right the Sertraline making you more anxious than usual, can you make a herbal tea or a hot drink? I find that helps me when I can’t sleep. The actual getting up and moving about is part of the relief

I don't think ingesting a tiny amount of iron could harm you, otherwise anything containing iron would be plastered with warnings. I agree with the pp, the warning will be about possible burning.

The body does not absorb iron easily. The best way to absorb it is from animal protein sources, and iron supplements are chemically chamged to make them as alike to animal sources as possible. The iron in your heating pad will be nothing like the iron your body usually absorbs. ITS going to pass straight through and give you black poops in about a day. The activated charcoal is going to make you less likely to fart.

Good advice here - the warning is about burning, not iron. And I'd suggest that you might stop chewing pens if you are concerned about what goes in your mouth. You'll be fine.