hkgar
Active member
Yes the stories and reports you see/read are true. I spent 2 days in the hospital this week and I even know better.
I have been battling a major outbreak of GHA -since December - and after running all option I began the breakdown and scrubbing of all rock, then spraying with Peroxide rinsing and replacing. All coral (SPS) was long gone either from the AlgaeX or GHA suffication. I broke the project into 3 days.
On day two, one of the rocks had a few Zoa head, 20-25. They came as a hitchhiker on a rock purchase and I really didn't want them in the tank. I then scrubbed them off under warm running water along with the algae on the rock.
About an hour later (3 PM) I went to my LFS (well not mine - someone else owns it, but I get to visit) and on the way home I began to experience a tightness and soreness in my upper chest. This was followed by a dry cough and nasal congestion. At this point I said to myself - damn I poisoned my self.
At six I fixed dinner and at and the symptoms were no worse so I thought I might have luck out. I was confident that I did inhale fumes or whatever of Palytoxin, but figured the dose was small enough i would escape much harm.. About 7:30 I notice a bit of a shortness of breath. By 8 I had a small fever (100) an still not concerned. Chills and shakes began by 8:15. I committed to calling the ambulance if the temperature reached 102. 101 at 8:30 At 9 it had passed 102 and 911 was called. I live alone. They arrived and I was on my way. I told the EMT what I believed it to be and one of the googled palytoxin, turned around and just said damn, this sounds serious. 2nd deadliest vaso constrictor poison.
Hospital ER: Temp 103.5 BP 195/115, pulse 116 and respiration 112
Fever came down after treatment with 2 Tylenol (that didn't do it) followed and hour and half latter by Motrin. Then up to the room by about 3:00AM.
The worst it got was shortness of breath, severe wheezing. I received an infusion of steroids via IV and after the wheezing cleared (48 hours after admission) I was cleared to go home.
I believe I was a lucky one and didn't inhale enough to be more sever. It has been 4 days and I still have some minor lung issues with taking a deep breath, but regular breathing is ok. I didn't help that I am also asthmatic.
Please beware of each and every Zoa polyp.
There should be some sort of must read on the at least the newbie forum and this one as well. I knew because I remember reading about someone a couple years ago who boiled rock with Zoa on it . He and his wife got critically ill and did not know what it was. I took a while for the hospital staff to get it figured out. Oh, there is no antidote as I am told and it can be fatal.
I have been battling a major outbreak of GHA -since December - and after running all option I began the breakdown and scrubbing of all rock, then spraying with Peroxide rinsing and replacing. All coral (SPS) was long gone either from the AlgaeX or GHA suffication. I broke the project into 3 days.
On day two, one of the rocks had a few Zoa head, 20-25. They came as a hitchhiker on a rock purchase and I really didn't want them in the tank. I then scrubbed them off under warm running water along with the algae on the rock.
About an hour later (3 PM) I went to my LFS (well not mine - someone else owns it, but I get to visit) and on the way home I began to experience a tightness and soreness in my upper chest. This was followed by a dry cough and nasal congestion. At this point I said to myself - damn I poisoned my self.
At six I fixed dinner and at and the symptoms were no worse so I thought I might have luck out. I was confident that I did inhale fumes or whatever of Palytoxin, but figured the dose was small enough i would escape much harm.. About 7:30 I notice a bit of a shortness of breath. By 8 I had a small fever (100) an still not concerned. Chills and shakes began by 8:15. I committed to calling the ambulance if the temperature reached 102. 101 at 8:30 At 9 it had passed 102 and 911 was called. I live alone. They arrived and I was on my way. I told the EMT what I believed it to be and one of the googled palytoxin, turned around and just said damn, this sounds serious. 2nd deadliest vaso constrictor poison.
Hospital ER: Temp 103.5 BP 195/115, pulse 116 and respiration 112
Fever came down after treatment with 2 Tylenol (that didn't do it) followed and hour and half latter by Motrin. Then up to the room by about 3:00AM.
The worst it got was shortness of breath, severe wheezing. I received an infusion of steroids via IV and after the wheezing cleared (48 hours after admission) I was cleared to go home.
I believe I was a lucky one and didn't inhale enough to be more sever. It has been 4 days and I still have some minor lung issues with taking a deep breath, but regular breathing is ok. I didn't help that I am also asthmatic.
Please beware of each and every Zoa polyp.
There should be some sort of must read on the at least the newbie forum and this one as well. I knew because I remember reading about someone a couple years ago who boiled rock with Zoa on it . He and his wife got critically ill and did not know what it was. I took a while for the hospital staff to get it figured out. Oh, there is no antidote as I am told and it can be fatal.
