Adding to the below

FYI there are other things that you can contract from needles and so on. I am also being tested for those. I AM a low risk case as we don't know how long the needle has been on the beach. BUT still. It doesn't make it easier.

It will never happen to me!

So its Friday afternoon (21st November) we're having dinner with friends in Houtbay, so we thought we'd go to houtbay beach for a little while with Gemma.
The weather was shocking out that way,should have taken that as a warning...

We started walking along the beach,I noticed how dirty the beach was,glass everywhere.As we walk I start picking up the glass pieces I found along the way,there is a dump on the side of the one dune, I add the glass to the rest of the pile. A little way down the beach Leon and Gemma start playing on the dunes, running up and down.I'm not in the mood,so I put my towel down, and watch the waves and run my hands through the sand...Then I something sharp prick me. I couldn't see it at first glance but lifted it out of the sand,it was a hypodermic needle attached to the syringe still.FREAKING HELL! What is that doing on the beach!? Whats in there?
I shouted to Leon to lift Gemma up off the beach and walk to me. I showed him what I found and told him what happened. Thankfully we have a family member who is a doctor and Leon called him while we were walking off the beach. He prepared me to a point for what I needed to do.
Find the nearest medical centre and get help. The chances of any type of infection is low BUT there is a chance!
So we found a place near by,waited to see the doctor.At this point i was VERY angry. Mad at the thought that if Gemma had felt it she wouldn't have known what i was and... and i don't want to think about it....

So Simone, the lovely pregnant doctor that dealt with me, informed me that i would have to go on ARV's for a month, just in case there was blood that was infected with the HIV virus on the needle. JOY. I also had to get a tetanus jab and give blood for testing.

The side effects are endless of the ARV's (combivir) So far for me its been headaches,nausea and a runny tummy. Its made me feel like i have the flu. Tired allot.
But its improving! Thankfully.

So I'll need to wait till the 6wks blood tests to see if I'm ok. Chances of infection is very low and with me taking the drugs its much lower!

I've been added to prayer chains and to our local Priest prayer list. My family are supportive and my friends, NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.

I'll be updating as I can. Please tell everyone about what happened. Tell them to watch where they are. No were is safe and for now, HOUTBAY beach is not safe for us or our children!

I will post photos of the needle when i have the strength to face it. Its still in the garage.

It only really hits you a few days later.After the anger goes. How much you stand to lose. Just by some dickhead that left his/her crap on the beach! Its so unfair!
The expense is also alarming! Hardly any of the average South Africans can afford the following
Doctor consultation and tetanus jab R400
Meds R500
Still waiting for account for blood work!!
Most people don't earn that in a month! And they say there are free clinics. Ok sounds great. BUT how do they get there? You need to start the ARV's with in a short space of time! (48hrs i think) for them to work. Do they get the mental care i got?
So much of this makes me want to scream!

Remember its world aids day on the 1st of December. Do something this year. Even if its only for me