PSP - Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
depends on it, even though my husband and daughter were laughing at my black mustache.
The doctor said that making myself throw up probably saved my life, and it definitely saved me from having my stomach pumped which is the recommended treatment for PSP. He also told me that alcohol speeds up the effects of the poison, and people have died within five hours of eating. They kept me there for what seemed like days, but it was only a night, watching over me to see if I'd be needing a respirator and heart machine. I didn't.
But, I was lucky. And, it took days before I was my old self again. Even though the charcoal had gotten whatever toxins out of my body, it really tuckered me out! I was literally exhausted for a few days afterward and I slept ten hours each night. I'm usually waking up on my own after six hours; naturally early to rise no matter how late I stay up. My husband said I slept so soundly that it scared him because it seemed like I'd stop breathing. Periodically, he gently shook me to make me take a breath even though I probably would have anyway because I wasn't dead. But, it scared us all.
In the future I'll call the USF&G to find out the true water temp and when the last red-tide was, no matter how the month is spelled. We had red-tide two days after this happened to me, which meant the water was warmer than it seemed. Maybe I'll just buy my shellfish at the restaurant or store, where it's safe because they're raised in controlled farms.
Now, this is a Slice of Life that could happen in any coastal city, north or south, east or west. The whole point of this article is, we never know when or how one might accidently kill themselves, but I'm here to tell you about PSP so this doesn't happen to you. This was a close call, and I'm afraid of gathering and eating shellfish now, which saddens me because I've done it and loved it all my life.
I'm on vacation this week and next (hiking in the Alaska mountains) so I won't be available to respond to your comments, but please still leave them for when I get back. :) My articles will still be here on Fridays, right on time while I'm gone.
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