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. ;)