A serious health warning...

[Tom Schindler]

My brother-in-law was admitted into the hospital to intensive care. He has Tetanus. He got it from an infected finger. He was fine saturday. On sunday, he was at the Soccer field with his daughter during "sign-ups". His fingers started to get stiff and his right middle finger was swolen. Soon his arms started to stiffen up. He was rushed to the hospital.



Doctors said that his condition is so bad that if he would have waited a few more hours, likely, he would have died. He is only 37 years old.



If you havent had a Tetanus shot recently, get one!



I think Theresa and I will be visiting our doctor to get one this week.



Tetanus is very serious. My little sister could have become a widow sunday. She is only 30 years old.



Todd will be in the hospital for a few days, maybe longer.





Tom

 

[Mike Dziubina]

i back this up 100%, i myself am an EMT and find myself taking patients to the hospital for similar reasons. it can be prevented and will save you big time if anything were to happen. dont let it happen to you. do the right thing....

 

[Richard Kolb]

I got one just a little while ago, when my truck was inspected they left a razor under the seat that was used to scrape off the old sticker. When I was putting on seat covers I sliced myself but good.

 

[Gavin Allan]

Thanks for the reminder, Tom. I hope and pray that your brother-in-law has a quick and full recovery. Please keep us posted.



Something else to keep in minde: In my part of the world, ticks are a huge problem this year. I know a few people who are being treated for Rocky Mountain Fever and Lyme disease.



Be careful out there.

 

[Rich Stern]

Tom, glad he will make it.



Do you know when his previous Tetanus booster was?

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Good to hear that he's doing fine. I had to get one last year when I decided it would feel good to put a box cutter blad into my knee. (seriously though it was by accident) Hadn't had one since I was a kid. (I'm 35 now) So, now I will keep up with it since I'm pretty accident prone when it comes to physical labor. (I'm a x-ray tech now so there is little chance of me getting "punctured" at work) Thank God I didn't become a carpenter. I'd be dead by now.:lol:

 

[Wes Davis]

I have had Tetanus shots after minor accidents a few times in my life. I have never actually heard of someone contracting it till now. I thought it was one of those almost eradicated things like Polio or something. Now because of this post I have one more thing to worry about in my life. :-(

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Great...my wife has a hand that is aching, started with her middle finger, now working up whole arm as soreness. She can't remember doing anything to it, and she has a recent tetanus.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Do you know when his previous Tetanus booster was?

We don't know. I bet it has been a minimum of 7 years...possibly more.

Thank God I didn't become a carpenter. I'd be dead by now.

He is a plumber. He knows better and should be getting them every three years. Plumbers work around some nasty stuff. Fortunatly, most of the stuff he does is "New Construction".

I have never actually heard of someone contracting it till now. I thought it was one of those almost eradicated things like Polio or something. Now because of this post I have one more thing to worry about in my life. :-(

They actually called doctors to the hopspital to look at Todd. Many doctors have practiced for 15 years and have never seen a case, or if they did, they have never seen a case that bad.



He is still in critical condition.





Tom

 

[Tracn Black]

Tom,

I hope everthing works out for your Brother-in-law.

I will say a prayer for him.

Best wishes.

Chris

 

[Jean Hogan]

I raise goats and chickens. So I am constantly exposed to rusty shovels, pitchforks and animal feces. I went to the doctor a few years ago and asked for a tetanus booster. It had been 9 years since my last one. Well, the doctor said I didn't need one yet. Maybe people who aren't exposed to as much nasty stuff as me wouldn't need one, but he wanted me to wait for another year! How much does a tetanus shot cost? I'll bet a lot less than flu and B12 shots yet they are always dispensing those...doesn't make any sense...

 

[R 2]

WOW...I had to do some Katrina relief work last November w/ my church, and we were required to have our boosters updated (tetanus + hep A & B). Glad thing we did! The shots were free since they were included in my HMO plan. Most shots I imagine have some type of coverage.



EVERYONE GO FOR Y'ALLS CHECKUPS!!!

 

[Kevin Palmer]

I agree, this is one of those things you never think about until it is an issue. You need to address it BEFORE it is an issue....

 

[Gavin Allan]

Don't forget to get your tubes snipped too.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Don't forget to get your tubes snipped too.

Honestly Gavin, that is a pretty stupid comment. It is a health issue many of us never even think of. Tetanus is not something to take lightly. It is everywhere. In the ground, in animal feces, and just about every where else. We get cut and never think of going to the doctor. He did what many of us do on a regular basis. We are working in the yard, or at work, and get a cut on our finger. How many of us just keep working until we are done, then go in to clean it out?



It could happen to you. Sitting in the hospital, I look at my hands. I have all types of scrapes and scratches on my hands from doing yard work, working on my project car, etc. A cat's claws touches a dirty litter box, but you see people with scratches from their cat's claws.



There were many little signs that something was coming on. In hindsight, he should have thought something was wrong, but how many times are your arms tired after working all day? How many of us get a swollen finger that hurts from a little "Boo Boo". Before long, his arm and wrists were locked. By the time he got to the hospital, his right leg was locked up and he could not feel his other leg. If he would not have Been treated by one of the best hospitals in the nation, Summa Health Systems, he might not have been diagnosed properly. He could have lost his life. Tetanus can cause cardiac arrest. His jaw could have locked up and they would have had to cut a hole into his throat so he could live.



This is not something to make fun of or to laugh at.





Tom

 

[Mike Wilson]

I guess that we all think that because we are not 6 mos, 2 years old, or three or five,

entering school anymore, that we are all done with our "shots".

Not true!

Although we may not need to get our MMR, HMR, or other shots and/or boosters

as most of us "Boomers" had to get as children, we are not done with the needles.

A Tetanus Booster (every five years) or a Tetanus Shot, at least every ten years,

is one of the least preventative measures that we can take as adults.

If any of you here remember, in the old days they just called it "Lock Jaw", and that

was actually one of the final stages!

jean,

You may also want to consider anthrax! It can live naturally in the soil and/or coat

and fur of goats or places that goats lay or are raised! Although not as deadly as the

weaponized form, it can still cause health issues.

 

[Jean Hogan]

Thanks, Trac...I'll speak to my doctor about it...

 

[Gavin Allan]

Hey Tom:



I get my tetnaus booster on schedule, as well as my annual flu shot, pneumonia, etc. Yes, it is a serious subject. Thanks for the reminder--you may have saved someone's life with this thread.



Getting one's tubes snipped can also prevent serious problems.



Have a good day.



I'll keep your brother-in-law in my prayers.

 

[Chops]

Tetanus is serious. I am up to date, not by precaution but because of insignificant mishaps every 5 years or so.



Something more serious than tetanus that 50% of Americans are plagued with?

Obesity.

This country is rampant with appalling obesity, yet it gets swept under the rug because it is a touchy subject.

 

[Wes Davis]

I sweep my obesity onto the couch. LOL Ok I am not that bad but I could stand to loose a few pounds.