Trip to the Doctor

[WhiskyTango]

I know we’ve all heard about some of the potentially harmful pathogens in our systems, palytoxin, bacteria, etc etc. Over the years I’ve ignored most of the warnings thinking I’d be fine, well - this weekend I got nailed...

Saturday I nicked my finger on live rock while peeling away the base of a sinularia leather. On Sunday my finger became inflamed and hurt like hell. Yesterday, it wasn’t getting any better on its own, so I snapped this pic, swallowed my pride and went to see a doctor. I left with a 10 day dose of antibiotics and instructions to get to an ER if gets any worse.

This is my first marine bacteria infection in of 10 years of reefing and 35 years of swimming in the ocean.

Be careful folks

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Yup, it will jump on you at some point. I always wash my hands and make sure I have no significant cuts on them before working in my tank. Hopefully your infection has already reached it's peak and you're on the mend now

 

[ZaneTer]

Hope it gets better. I have lost count of the number of times I have cut my feet open on mussels and barnacles. Swim into plenty of sea urchins too.
Rapid infection that was always gone after a week for me. Good luck.

 

[WhiskyTango]

Yup, it will jump on you at some point. I always wash my hands and make sure I have no significant cuts on them before working in my tank. Hopefully your infection has already reached it's peak and you're on the mend now

Hope it gets better. I have lost count of the number of times I have cut my feet open on mussels and barnacles. Swim into plenty of sea urchins too.
Rapid infection that was always gone after a week for me. Good luck.

Yea, yesterday I’m looking at my finger thinking I can’t believe this is getting so serious.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

When I get cut in the tank it normally hurts and is red on day two. I worry a little then it starts to get better. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[WhiskyTango]

When I get cut in the tank it normally hurts and is red on day two. I worry a little then it starts to get better. Hope you feel better soon!

It seems to be getting a little better.

 

[playapixie]

Been there. I’ve also been on antibiotics for what started as a seemly-minor scrape in my reef tank. Within 24 hours it was pretty gnarly. But cleared up fast. Hope you heal fast.

FWIW, I’ve also had palytoxin poisoning, from being dumb, and starting a siphon with my mouth. Felt like the worst-ever flu and took weeks fully recover. I have a way healthier respect for the little reef now...

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Dumb newbie question...

What does a person do that is routinely getting new knicks, cuts and scrapes at work?

Obviously gloves are a good idea but not water tight. Should I be wearing shoulder length gloves?

Sounds dumb but guess it's valid seeing these things pop up time to time

 

[User1]

Hope you feel better. I always wear nitrile gloves although they can and do usually rip open. Two main reasons is because a pair of clown fish think they own the tank so bite me the other because I've had rashes from time to time when brushing up against corals. Odd how our hobbies sometimes take us to see the Doc. I was diving a wreck once and wasn't wearing a wet suit. It was warm water so I just brought my shorty - anyway my leg brushed up along side the ship and scuffed it up pretty good. Finished the dives but the next morning it was pretty much infected. So saw the doc the next day and did something similar with meds. Then took a look into my ear and proceeded to tell me I had a pin hole in my ear drum. No issues clearing, stops, etc - but somehow during the weekend of diving it happened. Not only did she give me my meds but then a letter for my employer for no flying and a letting to my wife to say I can't go diving until my checkup. Great doc but she wrecked me that visit

So yeah - anytime I'm in the tank working or pruning my soft corals I get my daughter to wear a mask (bad allergies and asthma) and open windows just to play it safe.

 

[User1]

Dumb newbie question...

What does a person do that is routinely getting new knicks, cuts and scrapes at work?

Obviously gloves are a good idea but not water tight. Should I be wearing shoulder length gloves?

Sounds dumb but guess it's valid seeing these things pop up time to time

Not dumb. I have a pair of vet gloves that are shoulder length. But in my post above I just use hand gloves, nitrile. I buy a box and use them for several jobs around the house such as working on the car, spraying week killer, or what not. You are correct - they are not water tight although you can use a rubber band I guess and they can and do tear of something is sharp. I still use them though.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Not dumb. I have a pair of vet gloves that are shoulder length. But in my post above I just use hand gloves, nitrile. I buy a box and use them for several jobs around the house such as working on the car, spraying week killer, or what not. You are correct - they are not water tight although you can use a rubber band I guess and they can and do tear of something is sharp. I still use them though.

My plan was wearing nitrile gloves anytime handling coral or moving things around. I'm just wondering how affective it is?

I own a business in the pool industry so I am constantly knocking off knuckles and getting small cuts while installing equipment and making repairs in tight places. I always wear nitrile when handling chemicals

 

[Tahoe61]

How is it today Whisky?

 

[WhiskyTango]

How is it today Whisky?

Much better, the doxycycline is definitely working as the inflammation has gone down and pain is gone. But I know there still a battle raging under a little band aid.

 

[Tahoe61]

Man I am glad you caught it early. There are so many nasty bacteria in tanks.
You can not be too careful with open wounds when working in tanks.

 

[Dobermanp]

dang, glad you're ok man. I was rooting around in my tank last weekend, and brushed up against my frogsapwn, apparently caused a major reaction to my skin, broke out in hives all over where I rubbed against it. Itches likena sob.