Just wanted everyone to be aware that a fin bite on the top of my foot last week in LB new York resulted in a raging infection and 6 day stint in the hospital. Apparently heavy runoff must have created some funky conditions in the water (confirmed by some recent beach closings on the news). I was hit by the fin on the top of my foot last Saturday which gave me a nasty gash, but not something requiring emergency room treatment or stitches. Apparently that assessment was wrong as by Sunday afternoon I had a 103 fever and swelled up foot. Got to rapidcare place (hate the ER) and they would not treat me as the dr. said it was bad and to get to ER fast. They put me on intravenous antibiotics (3 types) for five days. Just a warning for everyone that any laceration received in the water should be treated by a dr. or ER. I've had numerous gashes/cuts/abrasions over the years and never had anything like this. Looks like it caught up with me and want you all to be aware that it can happen at any time. I lost the whole week at work, 4th of July festivities and of course, missed out on some recent decent surf. My bad - so please dont be a fool like me. you have been warned
I always carry Doxy on surf treks, even on local jaunts. Stuff is amazing & keeps the nasty bugs down on the critter farm.
after surfing near there last weekend, I had a miserable sinus infection that is just clearing up. sucks to hear about how bad it was for you, but at least I now have a pretty good idea why my sinus' were so fcked this past week. Waves were really good last weekend though....
yeah, I cleaned the wound OK using sterile saline wash and gauze and butterfly bandage to hold the skin - but it was not enough, way too late or just bad-ass luck. My buddy talked about how a "crush" injury can push bacteria down into the tissues where superficial cleaning cannot get to it (crush as defined where the point of impact causes a pressing down when the fin clipped me, not so much as a slash or cut).
Wow, this is sobering. And be sure you're up on your tetanus shot schedule too, with such a deep wound. This must've been a little scary when your fever spiked.
Been there. I went to the ER immediately. But the lazy 3rd worls "doctor" sewed up sand and sea monkeys. I had to get an artery and muscle taken out of mine and I was laid up for 3 months. The second time, I got stabbed in the other foot. I went to Dr. Adam Billet in Chesp. Va. He saved my foot the 1st time. His suggestion is NOT to sew up a foot wound.
That sounds awful! I came off the top during a hurricane swell the board flipped and I landed on a fin right into the bicep. I drove myself to the ER and had the wound cleaned and sewn up. The doctor made me absolutely promise that I wouldn't get back in the water for 2 weeks minimum. For once in my life I listen and didn't surf for 3 weeks. After hearing your story I'm glad I listen to the doctor.
tough break, man... anyone have any knowledge on whether you should get out of the water after dinging your board on your own head? The rail shatter wasnt that bad but the egg on my head was like an inch out
Yeah, get out of the water and wait on the beach to be sure you don't have a concussion. Go back in if all is well after some beach time. Mom says....
We should all default to blaming "global warming". What the hell, everybody else does......"The E. Coli was the size of a giant jellyfish!!!!
Uh-oh this sounds like me! I cut my foot on the side with my fin on Friday & it's been healing up but it's swollen and pretty painful to walk on. Almost like a rolled my ankle or something cause the muscle is really tender.. I put some hydrogen peroxide on it with some Neosporin hoping today it will start getting better. I freaked out a little bit after all those weird cases of flesh-eating disease & how grossly polluted our oceans are now.
Scrub it kook! Use betedyne, and scrub it till it hurts soooo bad you can't stand it, then scrub it more. Then hit it with HO, Then put the neosporine on it. And keep putting it on. If it gets red, go to the ER.
I got a tetanus shot once after I collapsed on Kensington Avenue. Sucks, youse NY guys' water quality is so poor. Jersey's is, like, untouched by man these days. Payback for your medical waste back in the day. F'ing New Yorkers, man. What fin set-up nailed you? Thruster, quad? Twin Fin !? You get any pain killers?
