Sterilization

[bloosfisher]

Two part question:  I'm about to have a stem  cell  transplant  to  cut down on chemo-therapy .  Essentially , it will make my immune system non- existent for awhile.  I'm doing it  soon so my recovery is primarily through the winter.  I've been told no fishing for a year, unless I never handle the fish. I did not mention tying, as my team would have a fit.  Any thoughts on the fish handling? Any thoughts on sterilizing tying materials? I especially want to  tie, as  I'm teaching a good friend with combat related  PTSD  to fly fish and tie.  He just retired as a General, we're bright enough to keep ourselves from being the issue.  My team has been good about letting me finish some work and get some of the fall run in, but looking forward is bleak. Please help a fellow fish addict out.  

[ken r]

If it was me, I'd follow the doctor's orders.

Sorry man.

[Fergal]

21 mins ago, ken r said:

If it was me, I'd follow the doctor's orders.

Sorry man.

Totally agree with this. Ask them, see what they say. I wouldn’t **** around with this. 

[changed]

If you really need to fish, why not wear some nitrile gloves (2 pair?). Probably a mask. 

 

Or just stay inside.

[FishermanTim]

I would skip the fishing, as there would always be a possibility that whatever protective measure you take could fail.

 

I would definitely ask if fly tying would be OK, and would there be a way to do it without contact or possible contact with other people while your immune system is shut down? Ask if masks might be sufficient, but if not, see if there is a possible way of doing it remotely, like on ZOOM?

[HillTop]

"......I did not mention tying, as my team would have a fit.  ...."

 

What more is there to say ?    It's now a good time to Youtube all the fly related Videos you can find, tying, casting, etc, etc and do what they tell you.

 

Best of luck !!

 

HT

 

[Mike Oliver]

Please please do not take the risk. There must be huge potential for natural materials to have nasty germs. Fish and fish slime can't be the best. One year seems like a very.long time but better than maybe dying. I had hip surgery 13 months ago. My rehab was going  well but not quick enough. I was desperate to play sport again. I ignored the advice of the Physio and gym.trainer. Net outcome have severely Injured myself and put back recovery for a year. Typical male. I know best. Wrong so wrong. I don't /we don't want anything bad to happen to you. You have the cancer to fight beat that first. Good luck to you on the battle.

Mike

[saltyh2ofly]

Got my knee replaced and now I must take antibiotics before ANY dental procedures. I'm taking that to heart because the outcome would be terrible. You're procedure is wsy more involved so get use to following doctor's orders......it's really for your benefit. I haven't fished in three months planning my operation for summer doldrums. How about teaching kids or vets or anyone that may be interested in fly fishing. It is very rewarding and will keep you interested in the sport. I wish you all the best on your procedure.

Edited September 12 by saltyh2ofly

[Gilbey]

I am not remotely qualified to offer any real advice. I only wanted to offer my best wishes for a speedy and full recovery. F cancer. 

[JerseyJeb]

The concern for fish handling doesn't really make such sense to me. The zoonotic diseases from fish are mostly all bacterial. If you wear gloves and have no open wounds I don't see how it could be an issue. There is more viral, bacterial, and fungal risk from the general environment outside then generally handling fish. If you are healthy enough to go outside, should be good enough to handle fish with some basic PPE and hygiene. 

[bloosfisher]

I should have prefaced it by I have a shortened life anyway, and there's  no recovery. I seriously considered doing what I can while I can and ending all treatments. My doctor's have offered much better advice as to fishing, I wanted to see what people here would say. I should have known there'd be nothing concrete with the exception of nitrile gloves , and Jersey Jebs take which is exactly my take.  I've fished for steelhead and trout for decades in the winter with gloves. By the way, having my wife or friends put materials through a UV light box before I use them has been approved by my oncologist. Fishing has been as much as my life as breathing almost; I'll give them up coevally. My doctor's are well aware my iconoclastic approach to my care has kept me alive and got me the offer of stem cell in the first place. They are loathe to impede my life more than necessary.  

 

[Cabo2005]

Best of luck fight the bastard Big C.  I can't imagine fly tying would kill unless you dropped a hook on the floor and your wife stepped on it with bare feet.  Follow your Docs orders.

Cabo

[Mike Oliver]

bloo,

 

I like your attitude. 100% your call. All the very best.

 

mike

[JAL]

The only true way to sterilize something is through gamma irradation or ethylene oxide fumigation - neither of which you have access to. This is how medical devices are sterilized post manufacture (gamma). Ethylene oxide is for fumigation of fruits, veggies, etc. Disinfection and Sanitation (what many mistakenly call sterilizing) are much lower kill rates, and low levels of bacteria and viruses can still be present.

 

Best not play with things like this with such a compromised immune system.

Edited September 12 by JAL

[Mountain Brookies]

I'm proud of you for trying to find a way to do what you love while you go through with your treatment. I wonder if anyone could reach out to a fly tying oncologist? Lots of doctors fly fish and tie.

 

15 mins ago, JAL said:

The only true way to sterilize something is through gamma irradation or ethylene oxide fumigation - neither of which you have access to. This is how medical devices are sterilized post manufacture (gamma). Ethylene oxide is for fumigation of fruits, veggies, etc. Disinfection and Sanitation (what many mistakenly call sterilizing) are much lower kill rates, and low levels of bacteria and viruses can still be present.

 

Best not play with things like this with such a compromised immune system.

 

This is false.  Autoclaves/ steam sterilization are widely used and very effective. I used to work with surgical instruments (there are also other methods of sterilization). People use pressure cookers as home "autoclaves" there are plenty of peer reviewed journal articles backing up the practice. I would be somewhat concerned about damage to materials but it is worth a try. Maybe don't start out with your best dry fly capes.

 

Other ideas:

Experiment with synthetic materials.

Reach out to a local vet clinic they some times use ethylene oxide or vaporized hydrogen peroxide both of which would be less likely to damage materials. All they can say is no.