PopEyeTim Posted September 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Sorry to hear this happened Tim. Hope for the best! I have a really bad habit of just sticking my hands in my tank to move stuff. This thread might be my inspiration to change that habit and get some gloves. Trust me when i say this.....wear gloves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBugmaster Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Please keep us updated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Makes me rethink how I frag some corals . I never wear gloves or eye protection. Palys are always slimy and produce a lot of mucus. And a lot of others produc e slime also. This could be a good lesson for all of us. Tim I hope you heal quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefNewby82 Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Crazy stuff - hope you heal up well. I will see this as a lesson learned as well. I'm in my tank a lot without gloves, mess with Zoas and palys, sps and lps while fragging. I always check fingers for cuts but this definitely makes me rethink my process... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefer82 Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Just seeing this! That's pretty crazy and wonder what stabbed you in the finger to begin with? Could be anything, I've had rocks slice me like a knife before. I'm 50/50 on gloves. If I think about it I slap them on but being thinish nitrile I doubt they'd afford enough protection to prevent what you have going on here. Still better than bare skin for sure. I just have a hard time handling things with anything heavier. I have a set of 3m gloves I use when handling muriatic but they are thick enough its hard to handle a softy without almost crushing it. I keep a pair of my shooting glasses handy when I frag most things...they fit tight and curve around my eyes so about as good as it gets aside from true goggles. Hopefully it gets better quick, definitely doesn't look too fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indymatt Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 So what was the overall diagnosis? Hope you are feeling better! I had a staph infection in my knee and ended up spending the night in the hospital with IV meds running wide open. Not something to mess with guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopper320 Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Man that is scary! Hopefully the Cipro knocks it out. I hardly every wear gloves but I am going to try to start wearing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin1300 Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 With zoanthids/palys always have took caution since learning about the palytoxin issues. I'd love to see an article written up on this on the site to make members aware of the potential risk you face with not being protected in our little slices of the ocean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted September 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 They dont know yet. Couldnt sleep last night bc the pain. Back at hand surgeon this morning. Told me not to eat or drink so im assuming they may want to cut it open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indymatt Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Yikes! Man I sure hope they help you out. Have they tried benedryl? Could it be an allergic reaction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted September 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Sending me to another hand surgeon in noblesville. Still dont know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willbennett00 Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Any more information from the new hand surgeon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted September 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Any more information from the new hand surgeon? Its either a staff infection or mycobacterium marinum. He has me on antibodic for staff and another for the fish bacteria. Also had to cut out the infected area with a scalpel and scissors. Luckily i was completely numb. Took 2 hydrocodone and he froze my hand before. No pain right now but very nauseous i assume from the hydrocodone. Have to go back tomorrow. Said there is a 90% chance ill be fine, 10% chance i may have to get admitted to ER. Thanks to jeremy brower doctor was able to diagnose the mycobacterium marinum infection. It must be pretty rare too bc he said it may be hard to find the antibodic needed, luckily walgreens across the street from us had it. Not sure whats going to happen from here but just trying to stay positive. My wife is absolutely freaked out...she doesnt even want me in the hobby anymore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Just take precautions when you put your hand in. Glad that you have a diagnosis and a high percentage of it healing just fine. I hope you recover quick and your pain is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldend Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Are they doing a culture to ID the bacteria and then using that to do a antibiotic sensitivity study? When we had our first child I was pretty worried about what "stuff" they could get from the tank. On my research for myco I thought it was a slow growing bacteria. Typically doesn't show for up to months and then presents as sores or lumps that may go away before coming back worse. I am sure there are exceptions but I wonder if this is a staph or even a vibrio that Ken mentioned earlier. Whatever it is good luck. Thoughts are with you as you recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldend Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 On that note Ken - if you do your research you should contact Christine Williams (Reef Threads). I believe she has given presentations, at MACNA last year maybe specifically, on the bad stuff we can get from our tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Nature will always defend itself even if it thinks it is threatened Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogum99 Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 That is crazy. I stopped putting my hands in the tank unless I really had to years ago because of what the bristle worms do to me. Funny thing I had arm length gloves for years and never used them. I used them to move some rocks few weeks ago and I got a bunch of water in my right glove and either the mix of water and latex or something caused me to break out in super itchy red bumps all up my arm. My left arm didn't get any itchy bumps, I didn't get too much water in that glove. I wished I had rinsed out the gloves before I used them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrood Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Glad it's improving finally. I'd be surprised if this turns out to be mycobacterium - those infections are usually much more insidious, and usually not as painful. Unfortunately it takes up to 6 weeks for cultures to grow so it's sometimes better just to empirically treat for it rather than wait for culture results! Staph, strep, vibrio, aeromonas, are much faster acting and very painful, but also improve faster with proper treatment. If it is mycobacterium marinum, expect to be on antibiotics for a long time (just like treating TB). All this said, I'm as bad as everyone about my hands in my tank! And I have a bunch of gloves right there.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Glad to say my thumb is doing a lot better! Thumb and around it is still really sore but doesnt hurt 1/10th as bad as it did! Still is a little numb i assume from cutting on it/cleaning it out....but hey its getting better and better each day! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted October 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Crazy how something so beautiful can hurt you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted October 5, 2015 Report Share Posted October 5, 2015 Good to hear that it is getting better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin1300 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Glad all ended up being ok. You happen to catch any pictures of when the swelling really set in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Glad all ended up being ok. You happen to catch any pictures of when the swelling really set in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopEyeTim Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 This is the day before it got really bad. Was in too much pain the day it got really bad to take pictures. Kinda disappointed i didnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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