I think I got palytoxin poisoning

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

ok, so I got some free palys from a friend and while scraping them off the glass with no gloves I cut my finger just a little knick but it was/is in so much pain. This was yesterday at 7pm. now I have a VERY swelled up hand the doctor is calling cellulitis. I think it might be palytoxin poisoning and it is very painful and I cant even see the knuckles between my middle and ring fingers. I am scared this is not what the doctor said and it is palytoxin. Any info to distinguish the two is appreciated and I missed a performance for graduation today because I cant play "P and C" on sax with fingers I cant even bend.

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...901.1073741825.100001118564518&type=1&theater

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

anyone have any info?

reef208 · May 28, 2015

The easiest way to distinguish is that if it was palytoxin, you'd be dead. You probably just got some kind of common mostly harmless reef bacteria into your cut and now your immune system is doing it's job by swelling your finger up with white blood cells and killing whatever it is.

Aquaph8 · May 28, 2015

Go back to the Dr. And explain what happened, can't be too careful.

dougers31 · May 28, 2015

reef208 said:
The easiest way to distinguish is that if it was palytoxin, you'd be dead. You probably just got some kind of common mostly harmless reef bacteria into your cut and now your immune system is doing it's job by swelling your finger up with white blood cells and killing whatever it is.

Not necessarily true. All depends on the species etc.

steve&mari · May 28, 2015

Most drs won't even know what it is but I agree about going back and informing them in detail what it is even show information from your phone about it. And you wouldn't necessarily be dead as stated.

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

I did tell her but she obviously didn't know what it was because she didn't react at all.yesterday salty things tasted sour but not today and I feel a little bit of nausea. The swelling is moving and is starting to get my ring and pointer finger.

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

At first it made a red line up my arm that branched off like veins

heathd.hd · May 28, 2015

Doesn't sound like palyotoxin to me there's alot of things u could have a reaction to in your tank when getting a cut. Palyotoxin symptoms would be shortness of breath anxiety nausea and fever. For starters. Metal taste in the mouth. Amongst other things.

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

My taste was altered but only for a day. I wonder why?

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

Guess the corals had a pricetag after all

reptileguy112 · May 28, 2015

The palys are plain paper white

heathd.hd · May 28, 2015

If I was to guess at something I would say you got some sort of bacteria into your cut. But I'm not expert. I'm just a welder that used to be a firefighter paramedic.

reef208 · May 28, 2015

Palytoxin poisoning starts out with flu like symptoms and can progress to muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, and potentially death. Again, if you had palytoxin poisoning, you wouldn't just have a swollen finger. You'd feel sick and/or be heading to the E.R.

Guarantee it's bacterial. No need to go back to the doc unless your finger is still swollen after a few days and/or if it starts turning any funky colors.

mainn · May 28, 2015

The line up the arm makes it sound like blood poisoning. Either way, if it isn't palytoxin it is probably some sort of infection and you should probably go back to the doctor and get antibiotics.

heathd.hd · May 28, 2015

Missed the line up arm. Yah go back to doc.

reef208 · May 28, 2015

heathd.hd said:
Missed the line up arm. Yah go back to doc.

Ooops... yeah I missed that too. You should see a doc first thing in the morning.

Muttley · May 28, 2015

I'd go to the ER bro... here is a pic of a guy who had something similar. He was in the hospital for 4 days because it traveled up his arm and they had to cut open his hand.. here is a pic of his arm.. draw a line every hour to see how its traveling... if you want more info.. Search for : Hospital Visit from tank infection at ReefCentral.