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View Full Version : Palytoxins.. no joke



Mr Cob
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 10:10 AM
Did some fragging yesterday, well ok... a LOT of fragging for the frag swap this weekend. Made about 50-60 frags of chalices, acans and palys <die palys>.

Since I have been fragging in bulk I have been very careful to wear gloves, but I was a bit careless yesterday. Even though I wore gloves, pretty sure a lot of the palytoxins ended up on my towel that I used throughout the fragging session, which I also hung over my shoulder.

Anyways, around 6pm...a few hours after fragging I started to feel a little nauseous:sick:, by 10pm I had broken out in a fever:mad: followed by an aching body:angry:, coughing, light headed and slight short of breath:thumbs_down:.

I decided to wait it out and let the fever take its course. I was shivering and every time I would nap I’d wake soak and wet from sweating. Pretty obvious my body was working through something. I was borderline taking a trip to the hospital, probably would have gone if I had chest pains or more difficulty breathing.

Anyways, be careful. Palytoxins are no joke! I have never had a problem in the past but this is definitely something I don’t want to repeat.

Today, I woke around 7am covered in sweat again but I felt much better. Just have an aching body, kind of feel like someone was punching and kicking me all night. Lol

Oh…I couldn’t even look at the tanks this morning. <I’m mad at you coral>

hobogato
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 10:12 AM
yikes! that is definitely no fun.

Zack
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 10:52 AM
That's crazy! Glad your feeling better!

350gt
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 01:09 PM
Idk if it was the toxins that got me.... But I was fragging the other day and I slipped with the blade and sliced my finger... Of course I wasn't wearing any gloves at the time. Well I went to bed that night with my finger in serious pain, enough to think about going to the ER. I didn't but told myself if the pain is really bad in the morning I would.

The next day my finger was swollen and I had real pressure on it. A customer that happens to be a nurse checked it out and said its fine, just infected... My finger felt like it wanted to burst, so I popped the little white bubble that was forming under the skin.. Not the smartest thing to do, but it actually helped after a little while of more pain...


I noticed yesterday I have a little rash on some of my fingers still..... But all pain is gone..

hobogato
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 01:28 PM
folks, dont mess around with infections from your fish tank - get them treated.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/rare-skin-infection-contracted-from-aquarium-bacteria

SinisterLou
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 01:31 PM
Hope you guys are OK, thanks Tony and Rob for posting your battle stories. It helps to teach others that fragging corals shouldn't be taking lightly. I am still freaking out on last weeks story about the steaming paly incident.

350gt
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 01:50 PM
And rob, i forgot to say hope you feel better......

I will definitely take better precautions next time I frag....

grouch
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 02:41 PM
Glad to see youre feeling better Rob, and don't forget to wear glasses or protective eye lenses I got squirted real good once in the eye and it was not fun at all.

Mr Cob
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 04:08 PM
thanks for the replies...feeling better, just a sore body today. It's so easy to think nothing of the risks when fragging. I've been doing it for years...not anymore. I will definitely be more cautious in the future, especially when bulk fragging.

Tony...that's crazy...yeah open wound and coral don't go well together. lol Pee on it...? lol

FireWater
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 04:29 PM
Pee on it...? lol
That's funny. Wrong type of incident though.


The bacteria in the systems is nothing to take lightly. I always wear latex or nitrile gloves and wash well afterwards.

Glad you are doing better Rob.

reefreak
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 04:34 PM
Man that's scary

350gt
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 04:51 PM
Tony...that's crazy...yeah open wound and coral don't go well together. lol Pee on it...? lol

Lmao no urine on my finger.. But I did open the wound and after squeezing all the nasty stuff and blood out I bit down on it to try and get every last drop out.... Lol, which wasn't any more smart. I was in pain and didn't really care..... Glad its over with....

Bill S
Wed, 21st Mar 2012, 06:13 PM
I still have a rough scar from an infection on my finger about 3 years ago. Had to go to the Dr. it hurt so much!