Tall Cool One
Published on March 29, 2008 By sleepydawg In WinCustomize Talk
 I work as a plant manager and my job consist of many things. Almost all involve the use of my arms and hands. From running a loader, welding a chute, or troubleshooting a computer I need my arms and hands. My hobbies are much the same. From drawing a portrait to making a skin for some computer program, my hands are the art.  

At the ripe old age of fifty, I have lived past the warranty of life. From here,  I do believe things will go down hill. Last year I had skin cancer cut from both of my arms. This year my fingers are locking in place from arthritis.  Now I have become allergic to mice.
 Allergic to mice!  Yes, that is what I said. I have become allergic to the computer mouse. "Contact Dermatitis"

Marjolein Wintzen, Esther J. van Zuuren  Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center say,

 "The use of computers has increased vastly, occupationally as well as for private use, and in the last decade, a number of reports have been published in which skin problems are ascribed to the (intensive) use of computers. Not only irritant or mechanically induced contact dermatitis has been reported but also allergic contact dermatitis. As this appears to be a new group of occupational dermatoses."

So, what to do?

The doctor cured the problem for a short time with steroids. But that just created a bunch more problems. Believe me, steroids are bad.

A friend, when hearing that I was allergic to mice suggested that I get a cat.

At once I thought of contacting  "Po Smedley" http://posmedley.wincustomize.com/.  He being the Cat and Mouse expert. Then I remembered that I was also allergic to cats.

 I have tried about  6 different mice including the old "Ball Type".

Gloves are just not practical.

 My wife thinks maybe gluing leather to the mouse will help. Don't know yet. Still to be tried.

So, does anybody else have this problem?  Any Ideas on what to do?  

 The good news is I still have both of my arms and hands. They're just all cut up, deformed, and broke out in blisters. 


Comments (Page 2)
3 Pages1 2 3 
on Mar 30, 2008
Thanks starkers. I did not no about the soap or the tea tree oil. Thanks for the info.
on Mar 30, 2008
My wife has finished gluing leather on one of my meces. Seems to help. Also feels real nice. Will report back after I use it for a few days.
on Mar 30, 2008
My wife has finished gluing leather on one of my meces


Years ago I had problems with my elbow and a touch of carpal tunnel.....but not anymore.....

Try a trackball. I use a logitech trackman marble (cordless) and have for years. Can't function with a mouse anymore. Thing stays in one spot and if you put a pad on it, it shouldn't effect the function. It does take a couple weeks to transition into but you'll never go back.
on Mar 30, 2008
My wife has finished gluing leather on one of my meces. Seems to help. Also feels real nice. Will report back after I use it for a few days.


Ooh, luxury mice...
on Mar 31, 2008
Thanks Lantec. Think I will try one. $23.00 is not to bad I guess.

Anything but PurrBall. Leather mice are causing a few problems. My wife dressed four of them in leather. Now they all hang out together. First they got tattoo's and piercings, now they rumble around the desktop and cause trouble by throwing up on the mouse pads.
Ever grab hold of a leathered mouse with piercings? Now I am back to wearing gloves.
on Mar 31, 2008
yeah, leather will do that to a mouse. You should see what happens when they get around cats. Taunts, insults, even giving them the mouse finger. And their parents wonder where they went wrong........
on Mar 31, 2008
They make condoms for keyboards, I wonder if they make them for mice as well?
on Mar 31, 2008

Try a trackball. I use a logitech trackman marble (cordless) and have for years.

You know what is better for your joints?  A vertical mouse.  I have Rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and go to hand therapy.  The vert. mouse has been a lifesaver.  This is what I use: http://www.thehumansolution.com/evoluent.html

It's really weird that putting a barrier ie: glove) between you and the mouse doesn't keep the dermatitis away.  It seems like maybe it's prolonged exposure to anything that is causing it, not just the mouse.

on Mar 31, 2008
You know what is better for your joints? A vertical mouse.

It looks rather large. Is it comfortable and did it take you long to get used to it?
on Mar 31, 2008
It seems like maybe it's prolonged exposure to anything that is causing it, not just the mouse.


Maybe the heat?
on Mar 31, 2008
I was thinking something like this.WWW Link
Cant afford it though. Guess I will just have to shoot holes in mine.
on Mar 31, 2008
They make condoms for keyboards, I wonder if they make them for mice as well?


CarGuy, I can just here the guys at work when I start putting a condom on the mouse. There will be no end to that one.
on Mar 31, 2008
CarGuy, I can just here the guys at work when I start putting a condom on the mouse


Ah, but you tell them it's necessary.... you caught the mouse getting frisky with the keyboard and fear how their offspring would turn out.
on Jul 20, 2009

I have the same problem at 56. I thought it was my imagination. It just seems to affect my thumb and I tried wearing bandaids whch got rediculous. Then I discovered Scotch/3m smooth white paper painters tape. It lasts for a while until the glue gets funky then you just change it off. It's not a permanant answer but it does the job for me. You just have to tear it to shape.

I hope this helps you.

on Jul 20, 2009

 

This might interest you:

Microair Inbetween Glove (PDF)

Unfortunately the only further info I can find on it is in swedish. (I do know swedish, so PM me if you want more info, I'll help out as much as I can. Google translate can help alot too)

Medeca give the following advise:

  • Use a softening cream without perfume you're comfortable with.

  • Protect your hands agains soap, detergents and other chemicals by using protective gloves WITHOUT latex.

  • Use cotton gloves as needed. DermaSilk and Microair IN-between-gloves protect and treat exzema.

  • Avoid doing laundry and dishes by hand.

  • Use lukewarm water and a small amoung of unperfumed soap when washing your hands. Dry hands with care after wash. Avoid washing your hands too often.

  • Sweat in rubber gloves makes exzema worse. Cottongloves, or preferrably DermaSilk-gloves, should be worn under loosely fitting rubber gloves. Avoid very warm water.

  • Remove any rings when working with your hands in water or dirt.

  • Shampooing should be done with protective gloves.

  • Talk to your employer if your exzema affect your work.

 

There goes... I hope it helps.

 

EDIT: Seems like EXZEMA is the apropriate word to use in cases like this, so I changed my use of dermatitis into that instead. Don't want to misinform you about this.

EDIT2: Further research indicate the spelling to be ECZEMA, I'm just too lazy to fix it...

3 Pages1 2 3