Don't Forget to Wash Your Hands!

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
I hate to admit I'm this stupid, but maybe it will save someone else some grief.
I'd had a case of "floaters" in my right eye for about 6 days, nothing new really, happens occasionally. This time they were different, tho---thicker and jelly-like. After a couple of days it occurred to me that I might have an eye infection. By then it was Friday and I knew I couldn't get anything done with going to the ER, so figured I'd wait and see.
Friday night I put a dose of Advantage on my baby-girl Bridget, and told DH and DD to stay away from her neck for 24 hours. Sunday night, Bridget's napping on my lap and I'm petting her when my fingers brush the medicated spot on her neck. I really didn't think anything of it; it was 48 hours after the application. About that time my eye strarts bothering me again, so naturally I'm checking it out with the mirror---totally forgetting that I should wash my hands.
I went to bed and within an hour I was awake and in pain. My eye was swollen shut and matted, so I figured I'd better take a look in the mirror. OMG! My eye was bright red, the skin and eyelids were so swollen I looked like I'd been punched, and the eyeball itself was so swollen it looked as if it was going to ooze out from between my eyelids! I got DD out of bed and asked her to drive me to the ER, cause I was really, really scared.
The ER doc looks me over and says, "You've got an infection and a severe allergic reaction." I wasn't thinking very clearly at 2 a.m., so the idea of the flea meds on my fingers didn't occur to me until this morning, when I went to the eye dr. I'm pretty sure that's what caused the allergic reaction, tho.
So, I'm on oral steroids, eyedrops with steroids, and an eyedrop for the infection. I still look like I've been punched, but at least I can open my eye a little now.
The moral of the story is---wash your hands! Don't believe that 24 hour guideline on the flea med box. I cringe when I think about how much this is all going to cost, all because I didn't wash my hands.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
Thanks for the sympathetic ears! I feel like a total fool for not realizing what I was doing. In fact, as I was waiting to see the dr. I was muttering to myself, "I"m such an idiot, I'm such an idiot."
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Flea meds contain no proteins so it wouldn't be an allergy to it, but that's not a chemical that belongs anywhere near eyes! Chemical irritation can make your body over sensitize then have a severe allergic to something else - even something like dust, cat dander, or pollen.

You could try cold compresses on your eye. Either keep rewetting a washcloth to keep it cool or use a small ice pack and wrap it up really well.
 

gailc

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 18, 2004
Messages
11,567
Purraise
13
Location
Wisconsin
I concur about the cold compress applied to your eye. I do this during hay fever season and it really helps.
 

weldrwomn

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
2,136
Purraise
11
Location
In the snow!!!!
I know it sounds silly, but when welders get flashburn in their eyes, a common thing to do is to put nice thick potato slices over the eyes.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

I know it sounds silly, but when welders get flashburn in their eyes, a common thing to do is to put nice thick potato slices over the eyes.
I've heard of using cucumber slices for reducing puffiness, so why not potato slices? I just might give that a try.

I have been using cold, damp compresses to help with the swelling. They also help clean up the gunky stuff from the infection.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
I don't know if I would try potato... Whenever I peel and cut potatoes if I'm not careful and rub one of my eyes the juice and starch really burn, but then I have sensitive eyes.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
Originally Posted by strange_wings

I don't know if I would try potato... Whenever I peel and cut potatoes if I'm not careful and rub one of my eyes the juice and starch really burn, but then I have sensitive eyes.
To show how unclearly I'm thinking at the moment---I have contact dermatitis and when I peel potatoes my hands usually itch afterwards. I can't imagine what they might do to my eyes! Like I said before, I just mutter to myself "I'm such an idiot."

Thanks for reminding me!
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
I thought itchy hands after peeling potatoes was normal?! I thought it was just from the moisture and starch.
Do your hands get a bit red, too?

I never thought it could be some sort of allergy.. I've always snacked on raw potatoes without them bothering me.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
I don't know if itchy hands after potato peeling is normal or not. I know that if I peel potatoes on a regular basis my hands break out in nasty, itchy little blisters. My allergy dr. told me it's a contact dermatits reaction. Sometimes it's bad enough that I use rubber gloves when working with them.
I eat potatoes constantly, they're a huge staple in my diet, and they never bother me (never eaten them raw, tho')
 

mbjerkness

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
7,583
Purraise
18
Location
In the middle of BC
Originally Posted by libby74

I don't know if itchy hands after potato peeling is normal or not. I know that if I peel potatoes on a regular basis my hands break out in nasty, itchy little blisters. My allergy dr. told me it's a contact dermatits reaction. Sometimes it's bad enough that I use rubber gloves when working with them.
I eat potatoes constantly, they're a huge staple in my diet, and they never bother me (never eaten them raw, tho')
When I used to work in a cafeteria I had to peel a lot of potatoes my hands were raw and covered in blisters. I was also told it was contact dermatitis
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,024
Location
In the kitchen
Originally Posted by libby74

I don't know if itchy hands after potato peeling is normal or not. I know that if I peel potatoes on a regular basis my hands break out in nasty, itchy little blisters. My allergy dr. told me it's a contact dermatits reaction. Sometimes it's bad enough that I use rubber gloves when working with them.
I eat potatoes constantly, they're a huge staple in my diet, and they never bother me (never eaten them raw, tho')
I had my hairdresser order me a large box of gloves, the same kind that she uses when she colors and perms hair. The gloves can be used on either hand and a box isn't all that expensive.

I use them when I'm cutting into really hot peppers. Even soap and water won't get all the pepper oil off my hands and I don't want my cats getting sick from me cuddling with them or from them licking my hands. I also wear them when I cut up a chicken or handle other raw meat.

It's also better for me to use gloves because I tend to keep my fingernails quite long. I don't want chicken juices and such under my nails.

It's worth a thought....check into it.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
Buying disposable gloves in bulk is a good idea, but I don't have a hair-dresser
I do buy smaller packages of disposable gloves to use when I'm staining (for my crafts); I should probably keep an extra pack in the kitchen.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by libby74

Buying disposable gloves in bulk is a good idea, but I don't have a hair-dresser
I do buy smaller packages of disposable gloves to use when I'm staining (for my crafts); I should probably keep an extra pack in the kitchen.
You can get a big box of 100 at walmart, probably at Walgreens and CVS, too. I had to get boxes of them years ago when in HS for dissections. The last box lasted me years.

I suggest you get vinyl gloves instead of latex, they don't make your hands smell as gross as the latex gloves do.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

libby74

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
6,217
Purraise
18
Location
Illinois
Originally Posted by strange_wings

You can get a big box of 100 at walmart, probably at Walgreens and CVS, too. I had to get boxes of them years ago when in HS for dissections. The last box lasted me years.

I suggest you get vinyl gloves instead of latex, they don't make your hands smell as gross as the latex gloves do.
Thanks for the tip; I'll check WalMart next time I'm there.
 
Top