Folks, I'm posting this to spread the word around so that others will take caution. My uncle just came back from spending a few nights in Rockport. On Thursday morning, him and his family arrived back home. When they got home, he started feeling cramps and charlie horses in his legs so he was taken to a local hospital and treated for dehydration. When they arrived back home, the pain had spread from his lower legs up towards his hips and thighs area. A neighbor who is a doctor came over to check him out and immediately ordered him to the hospital in south Austin. He was rushed into surgery where he spent the next five hours being operated on in hopes of neutralizing the bacteria. 14 hours later he is still in a comatose state with 50-50% odds of ever recovering. Even if he pulls through, it's going to be a very long, hard and painful road ahead to have any semblance of a normal life.

We have not confirmed that what caused this is Vibrio Vulnificus but it is in the Vibrio family. Doctors here tell us this is one of the most severe and swift acting cases they have ever seen. In a matter of a couple of hours, the bacteria attacked his body and had he not been taken into surgery right away, he wouldn't have even had the slim chance he has right now.

This is a horrific situation for anyone to be in but the fact that it occurs in a hobby that we enjoy and love so much makes it all the more deadly. All this happened to a man just like many of us. Mid 50s, fairly good shape, enjoyed his beer (which causes his immune system to weaken) who was just out on the coast fishing off the piers at night and enjoying the beach with his grandkids in the afternoon. This man was a fisherman through and through. I am posting this here and a couple of other forums that I am a member of in hopes to get awareness out. Please feel free to forward this to anyone or repost it anyplace you see fit.

Many thanks and please keep them in your prayers.

JG

Wow, sorry about his situation and hope he gets better.

I had a friend too who caught something or got bit by something on a wade fishing trip and got some kind of bacteria or bite, but never found out exactly what it was. Long story short, after his wading trip he got a small welt looking thing on his arm then it got bigger and bigger till he had to go to the doctor and it was eating up his arm really bad and really fast. I think they gave him injections or medications. Doctor could not figure out what caused it. He was at Seton here in Austin. This was about 3 years ago. Wade fishing near Rockport.

Is there an update on his condition?

Not really. It looks like he's hit a point where he's not geting better but he's not getting worse. We had expected his kidneys to fail already but they are holding steady. His blood pressure dropped for a bit but now it's back to a more normal pace. The next 12 hours or should tell us quite a bit. As long as he hangs in there and fights he has a chance.

very sad~

my prayers go out to your uncle. how did he get the bacteria? was it from the water or a fish? did he have a open wound that got wet? any info would help us all.

Prayers are with yall.

It looks likes he's gotten through the first 24 hours after surgury. The fact that hes not getting worse is a positive. Were not sure where or what kind of cut he might have had but he worked outdoors with his hands. It's possible that something simple as a prick from a shrimp would have opened a small wound or that he cut himself on the beach someplace. He might have had a open wound before he got to the water. Were waiting to hear an offical result from the testing done this morning. Hopefully well get some good news.

It's amazing how some people can spend most of their lives in & around saltwater & never have a problem with the bacteria. People should be aware; however, that this bacteria exists & your immune system is your 1st line of defense.
Roger

I think that's one of the reasons this hurts so badly. The odds against getting this, given the huge amounts of people who spend time in and around saltwater are almost astronomical. Now not only did he catch this, he caught such a severe case. He hadn't been to the coast but a couple of times this summer and to go down for a vacation and have it end like this makes it all the more sad. The goal of me making this post is to get the word out that it is possible to get something like this and without proper care, someone could go through a lot of unnecessary pain or something worse. If people could repost this on other forums, I would really appreciate it.

I hope he makes it through and gets better.

Things like this really bring life into perspective and makes you think life is just too dam short sometimes. It can be taken away in an instant. Every day of life is a blessing.

My prayers to him and hope he makes it through. I am sure he will, just think positive. If he made it this far I am sure he will pull through.

Prayer sent

Faith and prayers be with your family.

It seems as it's been confirmed that the bacteria is actually vibrio vulnificus. After 72 hours were in the same situation as we've been during the last few days. One highlight was the removal of blood pressure medicine as it seems his bp is holding low but fairly steady. They did put him on dyalisis to help his kidneys but that seemed like it was more optional rather then nessecary. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

How to help prevent Vibrio infection?? I guess a big bottle of peroxide in the pier cart or on the boat and on the beach if wading in the surf. Wash hands and arms with the peroxide every once in a while and rinse down legs, etc after getting out of the water. It goes without saying that every cut and fin poke should be cleaned out with the peroxide as soon as you get them. Thankfully peroxide and soap are cheap.