OUCH! Fire Coral....please help!

[mermaid8773]

Dove approximately 2 weeks ago with some friends on a wreck dive. Mandatory safety stop for 5 at 15. Told we must hold onto mooring line by the dive company, which was apparantly covered in fire coral! Burning began on the stop, and being a new diver, I wasn't weighted properly (instructor's fault...he says less is better), so, I had no choice but to hold the line to keep from floating up.

Upon boarding boat, it was extremely painful, but, not so bad that I didn't do the 2nd dive, of course!

Needless to say, I have since increased my weight so that I don't have to hang onto anything. That is what a BCD is for, right? And am getting dive gloves before my next dive.....But, in the meantime......

Pain lasted for a few hours, then went away. However, now I have gotten it back....with a vengance! 2 weeks later, my hand is swollen, rashy, itchy, tingley, hurting, etc. Is this normal? How can I help this? I am tingling from my fingertips to my shoulder. Would rather not go to a Dr., I don't like taking medications.

Are there any topical treatments for this? I feel like my hand is going to fall off at any given moment. Puffed up, swollen and sore. Benedryl takes my mind off it, as it makes me sleepy. So, I don't know if it is helping or if I am just too tired to care!

Any info would be helpful. I just want to know that #1, it isn't going to kill me, #2, I won't have to have my hand amputated, #3, it is painful for now, but, will go away?

I was thinking about lancing the blisters and see if there is anything in there.....should I just leave it be and take my benedryl and beer and forget about it or what?

Any info is appreciated....I'm sure most newbies have gone through this.

PS...I've done a search on Google, and wasn't impressed. Would love real-life opinions!

Big Hugs to all~

Alix Myers
~New, stupid, and not properly weighted diver. Lesson learned.~

 

[dlndavid]

Looks like DAN has got this question well covered.
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=125
btw: welcome to ScubaBoard.
David

 

[CoyKoi]

Consult the DAN website (www.diversalertnetwork.org). Search "fire coral" and you will find helpful articles and remedies. I've never gotten mixed up with fire coral, but I do get into poison ivy almost every spring. For really bad rashes, weeping and itching, etc. I'll go see my family doc and have him give me a Rx of methelprednizone (10-day dose pack) and some Allegra-D. The combo works wonders for drying up the weeping and stopping the allergic reaction (itching, soreness). Good luck!

 

[mermaid8773]

Thanks...did the DAN thing.....

Looks like I will just have to suffer through it.

Thanks for the welcomes....I'm sure you will see more and more of me here....what a great site!

Big Hugs~

Alix

 

[buzet47]

......yes just wait......that happened to me 15 years ago when I was begginer..... that last 2/3 days really painfull, did you try ice cube.... Good luck

 

[mermaid8773]

have an ice pack in my pocket...but, as I said, this is 2 weeks later! Just making sure this is normal and will go away, basically.

 

[scubajoh44]

Same thing happened to me 16 years ago. (during my 1st dive) I got it on my leg. It went away pretty quick. Then came back. It continued to come back for about 2 years!!! I was told it was probably not fire coral (but saw what I got into and that is what it looked like).....maybe I just got into it really bad. Whatever the case....I got little clear blisters on and off for 2 years. I still have the scars to prove it. (about 6 in diamater on my leg) Anyone else had similar experience? Know of anything else this could have been?

 

[mermaid8773]

So, here is the progress thus far.....

Papain and the Americaine hemmoroid ointment applied topically seem to be helping. Looks like the blisters are coming to the surface and breaking and swelling has gone down. Doesn't look so pretty, but, it feels soooooo much better.

Taking Benedryl as well (internally), but, it makes me soooooo very tired.

The topicals today made a HUGE difference in the itch and swelling. Great combo!!! I definately recommend it for the recurrence of this pain and itch that happens weeks later. Papaya extracts and hemmoroid cream....whod'a thunk it?

Thanks to all of you for the help.....the DAN page wasn't as helpful as the team of people here that have had it happening recently.

You guys are the best.....thanks a million!

Alix

 

[mermaid8773]

Almost healed on one hand and is now coming up on the other.

Does this ever end?

Not as bad as it was when I posted, but, it still sucks.

Big Hugs~

Alix

 

[El Orans]

I had my first (and hopefully last) encounter with fire coral on Bonaire. I experimented with putting just a drop of shampoo in my mask to stop it fogging up. Only, I put in too much. So, at the end of the dive, my eyesight had become less than ideal :11: and I was just trying to get to the ladder when a very small part of my left hand touched fire coral.

At the end of the day it didn't bother me any more but it came back several weeks after.