Emergency Room, 8.23.01     Myrtle Beach, S.C.        This photo was taken in the emergency room by treating medical doctor half hour later after contact with portuguese man-of-war. Vinegar packs was first line of treatment to neutralize venom. The white powder is baking soda that paramedics used during ambulance transport.
	Emergency Room                    Myrtle Beach, S.C. The treatments in ER consisted of the following intravenously: morphine (pain), cortisone (tissue) and antihistamine (allergy). The reaction to venom caused my chest to extremely tighten during ambulance transport.
	Myrtle Beach, S.C.                                     next day The next day in the hotel room. Follow-up care consisted of warm bath soaks and oral/topical medications for pain, swelling and infection.
	Myrtle Beach, S.C.                                   next day Length of tentacle on my back: 30 to 38 inches. Tentacles of a portugues man-of-war can reach up to 30 to 150 feet.
	Myrtle Beach, S.C. next day      The left upper arm was very swollen and a lot of pain. This area of my arm and shoulder took significant hit from portuguse man-of-war.
	Myrtle Beach, S.C.                  next day From the left upper arm in the previous photo to the right upper arm in this photo, you can see how long the tentacles of a portuguese man-of-war can be and the danger if your far out in the water.
	Savannah, GA                                          seven days     Seven days later and still uncomfortable. Final prognosis: pain and soreness alleviated in about 3 weeks. However, into the second month, periods of sharp pain would shoot down left and right arm. Upper middle back experienced similar sensations. This lasted for about 4-6 weeks. Full recovery was made in about 3-4 months. Minor scaring and skin discoloration in left upper arm and shoulder.
	The blue bottle The portuguese man-of-war exhibits beautifull colorations: blue or dark pink with other features that are clear. Like a bottle bobbing in the water, hence it's nick name, the blue bottle. If you seem them washed up along the beach, here is some advice: don't touch them, you still can be stung.
	Portuguese man-of-war Found in all ocean waters !!
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