Boff Hoff to Sugarloaf

[Carl F]

Come on people, give me a break.

Of course Cactus spines do not get in to the bloodstream unless you inject them there. What do you mean doctors do not agree on everything. Of course.

Let me tell you what happens, in case you want to really know, and stop ALL THIS GUESSING!!

OK When you get stuck by something, if you are unlucky that "said" thing will drag your skin contaminant (usually Staph Aureus) into your bloodstream, causing a bloodstream infection. This would not happen very often. Worst case scenario the heart valve gets secondarily infected and VOILA: endocarditis. Then the next worst case scenario, you die from endocarditis. Very rare but it happens especially in people who refuse to go to doctors (because they waited too long)

Meanwhile, clean off/remove your cactus spines and take a nice shower

PS Trust me I am a Critical Care MD and I see this stuff all the time.

"trust me I am a doctor"

[Carl F]

Carl F..just to set the record straight...... my friend went to the doctor....... from a medical standpoint the doctor said to leave it in and charged $80 for pretty much nothing. Personally I would remove it if it had been in my leg.

I'm very sorry that you have substandard service up there. Come to Scripps next time. i am not my brothers keeper

PS get a Tetanus shot if you haven't had one in 10 years

[KathyW]

Come on people, give me a break.

Of course Cactus spines do not get in to the bloodstream unless you inject them there. What do you mean doctors do not agree on everything. Of course.

Let me tell you what happens, in case you want to really know, and stop ALL THIS GUESSING!!

OK When you get stuck by something, if you are unlucky that "said" thing will drag your skin contaminant (usually Staph Aureus) into your bloodstream, causing a bloodstream infection. This would not happen very often. Worst case scenario the heart valve gets secondarily infected and VOILA: endocarditis. Then the next worst case scenario, you die from endocarditis. Very rare but it happens especially in people who refuse to go to doctors (because they waited too long)

Meanwhile, clean off/remove your cactus spines and take a nice shower

PS Trust me I am a Critical Care MD and I see this stuff all the time.

"trust me I am a doctor"

Oh, maybe that was what she was trying to tell me and I misunderstood her. That's very possible. She also gave me a tetanus shot and said that it was pretty important for me keep up-to-date on those.

[lilbitmo]

Carl F..just to set the record straight...... my friend went to the doctor....... from a medical standpoint the doctor said to leave it in and charged $80 for pretty much nothing. Personally I would remove it if it had been in my leg.

I'm very sorry that you have substandard service up there. Come to Scripps next time. i am not my brothers keeper

PS get a Tetanus shot if you haven't had one in 10 years

I'll second the Tetanus shot, buddy lost his brother to staff in 7 days, that's right 7 days after stepping on a rusty nail and waited four days to go to hospital because the pain was to great by then - they were not able to save him the infection reached his heart (just as Carl is stating) and they fought it for three days before it took his life - silly when you think about it, one shot that can keep you alive and you wait until it's too late - he was 36 years old, my buddy is still torn up about it, these things happen.

[Sally]

Hi carl,

I'm sorry if I annoyed you with my post about getting the cholla spine removed from my thigh. I hope you didn't get the impression that my intention was to disrespect doctors. I hold doctors in the highest regard and I trust them to treat me when I am sick or injured.

My intention was simply to tell my spine removal story in a humorous manner. I was quite pleased that the doctor was able to remove the spine. As stated in an earlier post, I tried to remove it myself but it was in an awkward place to reach and was very tenacious. I did in fact also take a nice shower after the attempt.

As for spines getting in the bloodstream, I have always thought that the idea was ridiculous and was an old "wives' tale." So when Kathy said her doc said it was true I gave it a second thought and asked my doctor if it could happen, and his reply was "no." That my doc and Kathy's doc didn't agree on that was all I meant by "doctors don't agree on everything."

By the way, I already knew a bit about endocarditis - my mother had it twice and it nearly killed her, but I think it may have damaged her heart and that she never completely recovered from it.

[Carl F]

Hi Sally - actually I should apologize for coming off so harshly. After all I am here on this board to learn from you all about this mountain that is so wonderful and that you all love. I am somewhat of a novice (although I have telemarked off the top and at least done skyline now!) I respect all of your judgement and have benefited from the discussions.

After I posted I kind of wished I hadn't, but I am glad at least to get the message out to get a tetanus shot under all circumstances, because people forget about getting it, and it is so preventable. (PS Tetanus is a totally separate issue from endocarditis, and much worse)

No I wasn't annoyed at all I thought your story was very interesting and humorous --I'm glad they had the cauterizer nearby! (did they really have to use it? I hate the smell of burning flesh). I guess the thought of cholla spines going through the bloodstream set me off!!

Sorry about Mom, that is no fun to have to go through that

In any case, looking forward to seeing you on the trail!

[Sally]

Hi again, Carl! I'm glad we're still friends!

I don't really know if they really had to cauterize it, but I was wondering if maybe they could have numbed it first. The cauterization hurt more than getting the spine out. Out of reflex, I nearly kicked the poor doctor and nurse when they went at me with that thing!

I hope to see you on the trail, too!

PS: Thank you for reminding us that we all need a current tetanus shot. To tell the truth, I don't know if mine is up to date. I'll make it a priority to get one.

[msugarpants]

The Guadalupe trail is amazing in the spring. Two years ago I did it in April. The key is to drop your car off at the top early enough so that you can be in the cove before the sun rises. By the time you reach the boo hoff trailhead, there should be some light. The pictures I got (and those etched in my mind) are awesome! The backlit fresh cholla....the grasses...flowers everywhere (mostly brittlebush).

I am hoping for some colder weather again...and some snow. I want to find that frozen watererfall. What a sweet find!

When doing this hike, make sure you go with someone who knows the way! I did not the first time, and it was an ugly situation running out of water, lost, delirious. good times! Its my favorite local hike. thanks for sharing the pics and cacti stories. I will be sure to remove every spine now.

[halhiker]

Cactus thorns are nothing. I had to get several agave spines removed from my back last year. (Got a tetanus shot, too!). I just figured getting pricked by a cactus was an accepted hazard of hiking in the desert.

[bluerail]

If I had gone through what you went through Hal, I would agree...cactus are just an annoyance....and agave doesn't seem as fitting as bayonet plant..those guys scare me to death when I have close run ins with them.


---and Mike, you can do that hike without a car shuttle.