WARNING.........Don't let this happen to you

[LC]

Long story short.............

Im a charter boat mate

my hands get abused every day.....nicks, cuts, scraps, punctures etc...etc...

I'm constantly handling, fish, blood, $hit, and guts

I contracted a Nasty infection in my Left Hand looks like it is going to cost me a week of work............plus I don't have health insurance as a Mate.............So the medical bills are going to be a pain in my A$$..............

I didn't take care of my hands the way I should have..........hard lesson to learn

Guys be careful handling your fish............try your best to avoid getting nicks, cuts, bites etc...............beware of sticking your hands up into the gills.....................disinfect/wash your hands several times throughout the day...........also wash/disinfect your fish handling gloves after every trip..................and when you get done for the day throughly scrub/wash/disinfect your hands

some guys use clorox, hydrogen Peroxide etc.....

My doctor reccommended I start using Hibiclens

"Regent Medical is pleased to provide the HIBICLENS brand of skin antisepsis products. HIBICLENS, a trusted leader in antimicrobial cleaners, bonds with the skin to create a protective, germ-killing field. In addition to the fast acting antimicrobial effect, HIBICLENS' non-drying, low skin irritation potential promotes compliance with the frequent hand washing associated with today's clinical protocols."

take care of your wounds guys, keep them clean and disinfected

LC

[Reel Fool]

apply Neosporin to your hands & cuts in the evening. I apply just b4 I go to sleep

[Becky]

Hey Lee, sorry to hear about this... I hope you have a speedy healing and that nothing more comes of this... Take care of yourself man!

Becky-

edit~ Also, thanks for posting this and making us all aware of how serious this can be...

[TommyTuna]

Thanks 4 sharing Lee, this stuff isn't a joke, that's for sure. There are more and more stories of these infections, some are extremely resistant to antibiotics, which is scary stuff.

Hopefully u will be back in action real soon.

[Baitcatcher]

Thanks Lee,
Hope all goes well and you are back in action soon, I always enjoy reading your reports. I've read of this is the Chesapeake Bay before but I've let my bottle of hydrogen peroxide run out. Time to go get a new one.

Doug

[Kevin Smith]

Lee,

Sorry to hear about your infection. However this is great first hand information!![grin][grin][grin]

Get well and back to fishing soon!

Kevin
Weekend Mistress

[Capt. Fred]

Hey LC. Yup, that wrist looked bad that day. How's the sprain? I keep a gallon jug of alchohol gel on board and go to it several times a day. I've heard about some nasty infections from fish. Be careful.

[HIT N RUN]

Thanks Lee for sharing this info with us so we dont have to learn the hard way. I was glad to hear that you think the meds are starting to work. Hope the ER bill isn't to bad & that it clears up in a couple more days so you can get back out there & stick some more. BILL[grin]

[crazylegs]

I hope you are resting your hands and typing with your elbows.

Remember also - no matter how much it itches, don't scratch your butt. Have you seen what's in there???

[trex]

I had issues my first year mating to LC. I never got a full out infection like you did, but my hands were swollen, hurt, itched and the whole lot. I started soaking them in clorox every afternoon when I got home. Before I went to bed I would cover them up in Corn Huskers lotion, and in the morning I would apply liberal doses of neosporin. I can still remember the fire I would feel in them in the morning when rigging a bait, or how bad it hurt when I rammed the pin through my thumb for the umpteenth time. Hope everything clears up for you pretty quick. I remember a couple of folks having the infections like you have it. Nothing to play around with!!!