Jelly Fish Sting

It had to happen; sooner or later my number had to be called in the sea.

Normally Jellyfish float on the surface, the tentacles hanging down below. This particular afternoon the wind was strong and the sea a bit rough. Depending on the tide one can walk more than a hundred meters out into the water before it reaches chest level. Normally I just lie on my back and float.
This particular afternoon I was struggling back to shore in waist-high water when I felt something cling to my lower left leg. Although at an unusual height I instantly knew I had been grabbed by the tentacles of a big jellyfish. I jerked my leg up, felt released and hurried back to shore as fast as I could. The piercing stinging, like electric shocks, had already begun. By the time I reached shore tiny blisters were forming on my left calve up to my knee. I shouted
“Jellyfish sting” toward my friends.

Instant action; Phool, my Thai buddy, rushed up to me as I reached shore. He told me to stand still and then he quickly rubbed my lower leg with beach sand granting me instant relief. Sandy, his English lady, and two beach masseuses gathered a green local herb, growing everywhere, and mashed it with a bit of water. Phool rinsed my leg off before rubbing the herb concoction onto my leg. The blisters retracted. I sat down where I stood on the beach and left this guck on my leg for half an hour. Then I painfully walked to the Condo shop and bought a bottle of vinegar. Thais use vinegar as condiments to many of their meals so it is available everywhere. Back in my room I soaked a towel in vinegar, wrapped it around my lower leg and lay down to read for a while.

The tentacle burn marks of the jelly fish on my leg looked quite interesting by next morning. Today, a month later, they are fading but still visible. I was advised not to go into the sea for at least two weeks after being stung. The warm sea water, full of exotic bacteria would work against the healing process.

Fortunately, the sting marks didn’t physically handicap my daily 4km power walk along the beach.

My advice to you: If you see jelly fish on the shore or in the water close to shore - avoid going into the sea. If stung - the faster the treatment begins ­ the less pain endured!
Many tourists have made their way, in agonizing pain, to the local hospital for treatment.

Pebo