Stung by unidentified "animal", please help!

[TheRedHead]

Perhaps a scorpionfish? Their spines have venom sacs. Definitely hard to see and possibly moved out of your way by the time you looked. I've had run-ins with fire coral and hydriods while snorkeling and they itch like crazy. I break out in bumps blisters and wake up in the middle of the night scratching.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

What was it that made you scratch like that? I was in Bermuda two summers ago, just snorkeling, but something must have brushed my left forearm, because for about six months after, I would wake up at night, scratching until my arm nearly bled... I tried ammonia, ice, calamine, hydrocortizone cream... I don't know what it was, but it was miserable!

 

[gangrel441]

I agree this doesn't sound like fire coral. My wife had a run-in with fire coral a few years back. The mark consisted of a few scratches, and it burned like hell in the infected area, but had no symptoms anywhere else in her body. A few months later, it got agitated again, but a hot compress for a night or two and it disappeard, never to be seen again.

 

[Haloeight]

I have a full wetsuit, but the dive master said it was too warm for it, so I just wore shorts and a shirt. I am vowing to never go into the water without it though. I have a nice coral scartch turned blister itchy thing on my other knee from snorkling.

I have just gotten a reply from the DAN website. They said:

"I am sorry to hear about your problems while diving. It definitely
sounds like a marine envenomation but it doesn't sound like fire coral.
Fire coral would have been under your knee and you would have seen the
coral.
It sounds more like a fish envenomation like a scorpionfish or similar
fish. They are very good at camouflage and then it may have swum off
after you put your knee on it accidentally. Typically, after a fish
envenomation like what you described, remove any visible pieces of the
spine and then scrub with soap and water and then putting the affected
area in hot water helps with the pain. If the area shows any signs of
infection, you should see your physician for an antibiotic. Vinegar is
good for envenomation like jellyfish or marine creatures that have
nematocysts that fire."

I want to thank all of you for your help!!

 

[TheRedHead]

The blistery itchy stuff is probably fire coral stings. They initially sting and then begin to itch, sometimes not for 48 hours later. After days of torment, I put sticky tape on it and yanked off most of the nemocysts. Then I shaved it. This was after trying hydrocortisone and benadryl. Fire coral is really common on shallow reefs.

My last encounter was with a hydriod (related to jellyfish, but look like pretty plants) coming out of a swimthrough. They tend to grow in darker, recessed places. Even worse, for me, than fire coral.

If it's too warm for a wetsuit, I would strongly advise a skin at least. Henderson makes 1 mm suits with kneepads.

I have good reports about the Sting Thing, a packet with a pad loaded with anti-inflamatory stuff and urea with a slightly abrasive, sticky texture to get the unfired nemocysts. You don't have to pee on it anymore.

 

[Diver Lori]

I have NEVER had the water so warm that I couldn't wear a diveskin or 3mm jumpsuit. And many times I have seen others (in swimsuits) on the same boat in complete frustration with stinging, itching, burning and pain. It just pays to be prepared. It's not the Boy Scout Motto for nuthin'!

 

[DandyDon]

If you'd put your location in your profile, we could help you more in the future...

I have a full wetsuit, but the dive master said it was too warm for it, so I just wore shorts and a shirt. I am vowing to never go into the water without it though. I have a nice coral scartch turned blister itchy thing on my other knee from snorkling.

I have just gotten a reply from the DAN website. They said:

"I am sorry to hear about your problems while diving. It definitely
sounds like a marine envenomation but it doesn't sound like fire coral.
Fire coral would have been under your knee and you would have seen the
coral.
It sounds more like a fish envenomation like a scorpionfish or similar
fish. They are very good at camouflage and then it may have swum off
after you put your knee on it accidentally. Typically, after a fish
envenomation like what you described, remove any visible pieces of the
spine and then scrub with soap and water and then putting the affected
area in hot water helps with the pain. If the area shows any signs of
infection, you should see your physician for an antibiotic. Vinegar is
good for envenomation like jellyfish or marine creatures that have
nematocysts that fire."

I want to thank all of you for your help!!

Good they came thru for you quickly by email. Good luck on speedy recovery. I like a long suit no matter the water temp, and now you do too.

The blistery itchy stuff is probably fire coral stings. They initially sting and then begin to itch, sometimes not for 48 hours later. After days of torment, I put sticky tape on it and yanked off most of the nemocysts. Then I shaved it. This was after trying hydrocortisone and benadryl. Fire coral is really common on shallow reefs.

My last encounter was with a hydriod (related to jellyfish, but look like pretty plants) coming out of a swimthrough. They tend to grow in darker, recessed places. Even worse, for me, than fire coral.

I think you pegged this one..

What was it that made you scratch like that? I was in Bermuda two summers ago, just snorkeling, but something must have brushed my left forearm, because for about six months after, I would wake up at night, scratching until my arm nearly bled... I tried ammonia, ice, calamine, hydrocortizone cream... I don't know what it was, but it was miserable!

If it's too warm for a wetsuit, I would strongly advise a skin at least. Henderson makes 1 mm suits with kneepads.

As I mentioned above ^^^

I also like to wear a do-rag in warm water, to keep tiny animals out of my hair and especially after once giant striding into a sea nettle on my forehead. :11: Had a scab there for a month.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Yep. I'm a big believer in wearing a skin, now. I hadn't thought of the do-rag idea...