Fish fin poke gone bad.

[Tawn]

Was admitted to Bethesda Wed for an infected fish fin poke. Today they had to operate on it to literally scoop out the infection. Basically cut hole in my palm and a hole in the tip of the finger and ran a pipe cleaner through it to clean it out. I will be in here until at least Monday on IV antibiotics to kill the rest of it.

Wear gloves and don't let it go as far as I did.

[Tawn]

Another ic.

[Chessie27]

Man, that doesn't sound fun at all. Sorry to hear and see that.

I know I got a pair of those fish off gloves around here somewhere....

[5th Tuition]

Tawn; sorry to see those pictures. Damn glad you got back to the hospital in time. When I said it was a fast acting organism, I meant fast Hang in there buddy.
The only other thing I can think of, is you might ask the Bethesda Doctor to do a consult with a Union Memorial hand specialist (nobody better in our area then Union Memorial Hand Center)
Was it confirmed as Vibrio?
5th (Marty)

[Tawn]

The culture hasn't came back yet .... When the meds wear off, I think this is gonna hurt!

The thing that looks like a piece of penne pasta is actually a drain tube sewn in to my hand.

[Chessie27]

Ok, now I am looking for the gloves to add to the fishing yard sales I am about to have! That looks like it is REALLY gonna hurt when the meds wear off.
So the rest of us don't find ourselves in there next you, can you share a few more details? (Understand you might have a tough time typing right now so short and sweet works great). Main question is - when we're you "attacked"? How long did it take to go from normal to nasty??

A charter capt buddy of mine always wipes down with hand sanitizer immediately if poked. Seems to work for him or he's just gotten lucky to not have had an infected fish stick him maybe...

[CAGE RATTLER]

Thanks for posting and hope you have a speedy recovery.
I love the FISH OFF gloves and have a couple pair velcroed around the boat for easy access. I still however grab a fish bare handed from time to time and will re-think that after this post.

[bhl]

Holy crap Tawn, I wish you a speedy recovery. It sure makes me rethink about using gloves.

bhl (Bruce)

[Spot77]

I hope your wife/girlfriend/significant other/life partner treats you to an extra great "old fashioned" while the hand is recovering.

I had big suregery on my paw a few years ago and I remember what a change it was to do things one handed or with my weak hand. It's amazing the simple things we take for granted.

[Jalopy]

How Freaky is that, I am sitting here at my desk looking at my scraped, gouged and fish pricked hands after fishing on Sunday. No redness or swelling, the thumb hurts where it got sliced and another slice that took the skin with it, but they seem to be healing well.
I have to remember to use a rag or a glove because I can't afford to be down and out for a week or more.
Good Luck and wishing a speedy recovery for you. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Tight Lines,
John