New England ~ May 2014

When I traveled internationally the end of, umm...was it 08 or 09...anyway I had to get a whole bunch of shots in one batch. I'm pretty sure one was tetanus. I guess I'll have to look it up.

Speaking of potatoes, I keep piling wood chips on mine and they keep coming up through them so fast that I don't think I can fit anymore on. How long do we continue to do this?

Wow, capecodess, I've always been terrified of stepping on a rusty nail. Musta hurt like worse than heck. Hope you keep it clean and well-cared for and get all healed up soon!

I have a huge fear of rusty nails too, and haven't had a tetanus shot in decades probably, so it's probably not a bad idea to get one....

My potato bed is also springing up! When all the plants are visible and have some height I bought a bale of straw to layer on them. But I think as long as they keep growing, you keep piling the mulch on there, right? But, if you can't fit anymore on, then that's another story. Which is why I really want to add a second box to my potatoes. Trip to Lowes in the future...

Oh, RJ, alliums as in flowers! See, I only think in vegetables.   

actually stepping on the nail didn't hurt at all. And yes, I let it bleed for a bit and then washed it up, covered it with Ozanol and a bandaid for the night. This morning there was a small swollen bump and it was a bit sore when I walked on it so I put comfrey and a bandaid on it. tonight I'll put lambs ear and a bandaid on it.

what surprised me was camp saying I needed to have had a shot within the last 5 years as I thought they were good for 10. And I don't know if it was 5 years or 6 years ago that I had one. So I started doing research online. I came across an article saying that tetanus was prevalent back in the horse and buggy days when the horses would throw shoes and people would step on the nails thereby getting manure into their bodies. Apparently tetanus is prevalent in manure, which is how it gets in the dirt. Which leads me to believe that anyone with manure in their compost and gardens needs to make sure their shots are updated.

I'm going to post the link to this story in a minute but I need to send it because I've already lost 3 times

Re getting manure into your body, I could see that happening pretty easily to gardeners. I often garden without gloves, or take them off, am always getting splinters, and of course manure is commonly encountered.

It definitely won't hurt to get another tetanus shot. Working in the dental field we had to get them every 2 years.

It's not rust or manure that are actually a problem but the anaerobic bacterium, thus puncture wounds are often ideal for the introduction of tetanus into a hospitable environment.

If you do choose to get a tetanus booster, I believe you can get them at the Walgreens pharmacy. Booster/ immunoglobulin should be given within 72 hours of exposure.

more info: Cause[edit]
Tetanus is caused by the tetanus bacterium Clostridium tetani.[11] Tetanus is often associated with rust, especially rusty nails. Objects that accumulate rust are often found outdoors, or in places that harbour anaerobic bacteria, but the rust itself does not cause tetanus nor does it contain more C. tetani bacteria. The rough surface of rusty metal merely provides a prime habitat for C. tetani endospores to reside in, and the nail affords a means to puncture skin and deliver endospores deep within the body at the site of the wound.

An endospore is a non-metabolizing survival structure that begins to metabolize and cause infection once in an adequate environment. Because C. tetani is an anaerobic bacterium, it and its endospores thrive in environments that lack oxygen. Hence, stepping on a nail (rusty or not) may result in a tetanus infection, as the low-oxygen (anaerobic) environment is caused by the oxidization of the same object that causes a puncture wound, delivering endospores to a suitable environment for growth.[12]

Tetanus is an international health problem, as C. tetani spores are ubiquitous. The disease occurs almost exclusively in persons unvaccinated or inadequately immunized.[2] It is more common in hot, damp climates with soil rich in organic matter. This is particularly true with manure-treated soils, as the spores are widely distributed in the intestines and feces of many animals such as horses, sheep, cattle, dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs, and chickens.[3] Spores can be introduced into the body through puncture wounds.   from wikipedia you can find post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations here.

CapeCoddess wrote:When I traveled internationally the end of, umm...was it 08 or 09...anyway I had to get a whole bunch of shots in one batch. I'm pretty sure one was tetanus.  I guess I'll have to look it up.

Speaking of potatoes, I keep piling wood chips on mine and they keep coming up through them so fast that I don't think I can fit anymore on. How long do we continue to do this?

 If it was 08 you need another one ASAP!  Even though they say they 'protect' you for 10 years, if you do what you did and it's been more than 5 years they usually give another shot.  Please check right away!

+1, CC!  It's not worth the risk!

Ew. I'm around chicken manure a LOT. Definitely time for a booster or whatever it is.

Walgreens gives shots?

NHGardener wrote:

Walgreens gives shots?

I believe so, give them a call. If you have a primary care provider, you could also make an appointment for a visit with a nurse to receive the vaccine. Might be cheaper at the drug store. Let me know if you go.

Our Walgreens is always advertising shots for shingles and the flu.

Everyone will be happy to know I just got myself shot up with formaldehyde, mercury, thimerosal , etc. I went to a little clinic off the highway on the way back from shopping in the big city. And again they tell me its good for 10 years. Crazy right? Didn't even have to see a doctor, a nurse did it - 65 smackers. The only Walgreens on the Cape doesn't give tetanus shot apparently.

I think today must be the best day yet on the Cape, we are actually supposed to get up to the high 60's today! I'm contemplating planting out the peppers, basil, ground cherries and zinnias later this afternoon. But I think it's only supposed to be 50 tonight so I'm hesitating. We'll see. I just don't want to have to cover and uncover all the time.

What's everyone else up to? How's your back doing, camp? Are you taking anything for it?

Oh, CC! That's how I feel about shots, which is why I never get any. Oh well. At this age, how much can a little thimerosal hurt? Mercury? Bring it on! And isn't formaldehyde a preservative?   

CapeCoddess wrote:Everyone will be happy to know I just got myself shot up with formaldehyde, mercury, thimerosal , etc.   I went to a little clinic off the highway on the way back from shopping in the big city. And again they tell me its good for 10 years. Crazy right? Didn't even have to see a doctor, a nurse did it - 65 smackers. The only Walgreens on the Cape doesn't give tetanus shot apparently.

I think today must be the best day yet on the Cape, we are actually supposed to get up to the high 60's today! I'm contemplating planting out the peppers, basil, ground cherries and zinnias later this afternoon. But I think it's only supposed to be 50 tonight so I'm hesitating. We'll see. I just don't want to have to cover and uncover all the time.

What's everyone else up to? How's your back doing, camp? Are you taking anything for it?

The really good news is you won't die from the fatal disease tetanus. Well done. I know there is more mercury in a tuna sandwich than the wee shot that may save my life. FYI thimerosal is the Mercury derivative and is no longer used in a lot of vaccines.

I think it's going to warm up nicely here as well. I'm going to open up the seed potato box with the alien tentacles creeping out.

Back is feeling OK and seems to be responding to the ibuprofen in better fashion than yesterday. Thanks for asking.

It's my understanding that gardeners should have tetanus shots every five years.

camprn -   - Good thing there are people like you to remind us fruit loops to stay in the bowl.

donnainzone10 wrote:It's my understanding that gardeners should have tetanus shots every five years.

I did not know that!

Do you all do that?

I do, but my dr says every 10 years is good enuf.

edited to add:  I know its June 1st but I wanted to answer on the same thread.

One of my physicians, one certified in emergency medicine and with a Master's in microbiology, as well as expertise in holistic medicine, gave me this advice some years ago. 

In my experience, many doctors rely solely upon what they learned in medical school, without considering exceptions or context, which does not necessarily apply to all circumstances.

donnainzone10 wrote:One of my physicians, one certified in emergency medicine and with a Master's in microbiology, as well as expertise in holistic medicine, gave me this advice some years ago. 

In my experience, many doctors rely solely upon what they learned in medical school, without considering exceptions or context, which does not necessarily apply to all circumstances.

er, what advice?

He advised me get get a tetanus immunization every five years.  Sorry I wasn't more clear.

NHGardener wrote:camprn -   - Good thing there are people like you to remind us fruit loops to stay in the bowl.

  

True dat!