Topic: Cut my finger on galvanized sheet metal - Tetanus risk?
bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Ok..I know y'all aren't doctors.
I'm putting together a dryer duct for my new dryer. Stupidly took off my gloves and managed to slice my finger. It is about 1/2" long and not too deep. Right on / near the finger tip on my middle finger.
The duct is galvanized stainless from Home Depot. It has ZERO rust on it and has a small amount of oil on the surface.
What is the tetanus risk? I haven't had a booster in over a decade. Maybe now is the time. Ug...vaccines + lyme are never fun. But neither is Tetanus.
I'm sure it is likely fine as the cut I got is like one that someone would get from a kitchen knife while cutting vegetables. Still..it is a concern. Thoughts?
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- It's not so much rust as the tetanus bacteria which can be in dust, soil, etc.
You need to call Urgent Care now and ask them.
The galvanized metal may have been very clean or very dusty or in between. If it was in a sealed plastic bag, that's a better chance rather than it having been in a dusty shelf in a home repair store, sitting next to potted plants, for instance.
Some potting soils are sterilized but I'm not sure about all - or the soil in potted plants that are brought in from outside vendors.
Even on the check out line, though, if exposed, it could pick up tetanus spores from potting soil debris, etc. on the conveyor belt or counter top.
That "small amount of oil on the surface" of the metal could harbor tetanus spores if it had been around any and it's just nearly impossible to know unless it had been in a seal bag.
It also could be that the Rx combo you are on might be helpful. Though, I'd want someone in the medical field to weigh in on this as tetanus is nothing to chance.
Good luck. Hope all is well soon. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Email or call your LLMD tomorrow. You may have some risk of the wound being contaminated because the materials you were working with sat out in the open environment at Home Depot. That is not a clean environment!
Tetanus is commonly found in the soil. That is why we need to keep the tetanus vaccine up to date, because we can be exposed so easily. Deep puncture wounds, cuts, and slices allow the bacteria in to multiply. Cleaning these kinds of wounds is difficult, sometimes impossible.
So call your doctor to discuss your situation. He will know what is best for you.
I had to get a TDaP vaccine a couple years ago and I tolerated it well. I had the typical achy arm immune response, it was actually good to know my body recognized the vaccine. That was it, no side effects.
Take care. Hope your finger heals quickly.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- The thing with tetanus is that HOURS matter. Waiting until tomorrow can be too late. A tetanus shot has a very slim window of time in which it can be given after possible exposure.
While it may be just after 11 where you are, you could still get to Urgent Care and back home by midnight.
Tetanus (Wiki - for a start to your research) -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
UGggggg.. I am not going to be fair minded on this answer because I believe my last booster shot caused me major problems. I also believe if you ask a general doctor they will push the booster, needed or not.
Here is the official vaccine schedule for adults by the wonderful vaccine pushers - the CDC.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- While I, too, had a terrible reaction to a tetanus shot decades ago (there were mitigating factors), tetanus can kill and do so very fast. It can also cause severe neurological damage.
It's a tough call but you need all the facts and then decide.
If you decide to go for a booster now, try to do what you can for protection before hand, later and tomorrow, etc.
Not about a tetanus shot, but still some good basic suggestions there that may well apply:
What To Do if You are Forced to Take Swine Flu Shot (by Dr. Mercola) 2009
Excerpt (from the very end of the article):
Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure
1. Place a cold compress on the site of the injection immediately after the injection and continue this as often as possible for at least two days.
If symptoms of fever, irritability, fatigue or flu-like symptoms reoccur -- continue the cold compresses until they abate. A cold shower or bath will also help.
2. Take krill oil as a source of animal based omega-3 fats.
3. Curcumin, quercetin, ferulic acid and ellagic acid as a mixture -- the first two must be mixed with extravirgin olive in one teaspoon. Take the mix three times a day (500 mg of each)
4. Vitamin E (natural form) 400 IU a day (high in gamma-E)
5. Vitamin C 1000 mg four times a day
6. Astaxanthin 4 mg a day
7. Zinc 20 mg a day for one week then 5 mg a day
8. Avoid all immune stimulating supplements (mushroom extracts, whey protein)
except beta-glucan -- it has been shown to reduce inflammation, microglial activation and has a reduced risk of aggravating autoimmunity, while increasing antiviral cellular immunity.
9. Take a multivitamin/mineral daily (one without iron -- Extend Core)
10. Magnesium citrate/malate 500 mg of elemental magnesium two capsules three times a day
11. Vitamin D3:
A. All Children -- 5000 IU a day for two weeks after vaccine then 2000 IU a day thereafter
B. Adults -- 20,000 IU a day after vaccine for two weeks then 10,000 IU a day thereafter
C. Take 500 mg to 1000 mg of calcium citrate a day for adults and 250 mg a day for children under age 12 years.
Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Because I'm allergic to the tetanus shot, I prefer to use homeopathic options for tetanus prevention. Homeopathic Hypericum is supposed to act as preventative to tetanus (lock jaw), and I carry this remedy with me at all times.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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gmb
Unregistered
posted
I cut two fingers pretty deep last May and needed surgery to repair four severed tendons.
I thought about the risk of a tetnus shot on my supressed immune system and decided against getting the shot.
The limited research I did stated that a tetnus infection was a very low risk. Do a google search and see what you find.
posted
Once cut myself on a rusty nail. Called the LLMD who told me, that tetanus is so rare that the risk of the tetanus shot wasn't worth it. I did fine, no tetanus. Would think long and hard about getting any immunization.
Posts: 366 | From Louisville KY. | Registered: Nov 2003
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
quote:Originally posted by sammy: Email or call your LLMD tomorrow. You may have some risk of the wound being contaminated because the materials you were working with sat out in the open environment at Home Depot. That is not a clean environment!
So call your doctor to discuss your situation. He will know what is best for you.
I completely agree wtih what sammy posted.
Years ago before I got Lyme, I stepped on something and even though I was wearing shoes and socks, it cut my foot. The doctor told me there could be any number of nasty bacteria on the item. I got a tetanus shot. Despite a thorough cleaning of the wound, it ended up getting infected repeatedly over several months.
I also had to get a tetanus shot a few years ago (when having Lyme and company). It had no effect on me except the sore arm, and I am immune deficient.
Definitely call your doctor.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Thanks all. I managed to find and review my vaccine records and see that I had a Tetanus booster in early 2007. So only 5 years ago. I should be good to go.
Thanks!
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Whew. I didn't like either option: the booster (for someone with health issues), or to chance it. Glad you found your records.
Hope the cut heals well. -
[ 09-12-2012, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
bcb1200, what a relief!
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Keebler. Me either.
Before I would get vaccines without even blinking. Now...I have to always weight risk v reward.
I do think vaccines are good...or to be clearer MOST vaccines are good. They serve a purpose.
But for my kids, I now only allow them to be vaccinated with one thing at a time and never when they are sick. I space their vaccines out at least a month each. No more getting 3-4 jabs in a single visit. It is too much for their little systems to handle!
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
| IP: Logged |
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