Foxgloves !

[Alan1947]

I’ve just had 2 days of heart irregularity, ectopics etc.

On Monday I was planting lots of foxglove seedlings. Could there be a connection - digoxin etc.

[BobD Volunteer]

Nothing is impossible but unlikely I think.

[10gingercats]

Did you wear gloves or did you handle the seeds?

[Alan1947 in reply to 10gingercats]

I didn’t wear gloves. No seeds now - just seedlings.

[10gingercats in reply to Alan1947]

I googled this out of interest and it seems exposure can take place through the skin.I cannot send you links as i am not super techy but you should be able to find something on Google as i did.

[Alan1947 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks. Lots of mentions of possible connections but my contact wasn’t really very great. I’ll be careful though in future.

[Finvola]

My thoughts too john. I can trigger tachycardia and ectopics by bending without taking care to breathe properly. If Alan bent over repeatedly when planting the seeds, it might have been too much for the heart.

[Affibber]

I wish I've only had them for two days. I have them every day.

[Maggimunro]

As far as I am aware, foxgloves are a natural source of digoxin, which can lead to all sorts of arrhythmias.

I always wear gloves when gardening, so maybe consider that in future?

[Glenn50]

There was a case a number of years back where a couple were camping in the woods in the US. They poisoned themselves by making and drinking what they thought was comfrey tea from some of the undergrowth however it was Foxglove. (The leaves of young comfrey and foxglove are very similar). They called the police but by the time help arrived it was too late and they had died.

[Glenn50]

BTW I was a nurseryman, still am in my retired life and I used to handle hundred of foxgloves so don't worry about pegging off by skin contact as I would've years ago also don't think they would affect the heart that way but then I'm not a GP.. Just don't eat them

[Hidden]

One more for the list of do not's. Coffee, booze, Almonds, bending over, breathing, foxgloves.:_))

[allserene in reply to Hidden]

Stroking long haired cats, wearing cheap reading glasses, drinking a glass of milk in one go, debating doorstep Jehovah's witnesses, getting a really high gas bill, worry over Prince Phillip's next urinary infection ; the list of triggers goes on and on...

[Finvola in reply to allserene]

😂😂

[Finvola in reply to Hidden]

😄

[Bagrat]

I would think highly unlikely. As already said if you get too embroiled in triggers you could end up sucking a grape ( non fermented of course) for breakfast and spitting it out for tea.

[bbthor]

I have worked and managed woodlands not commercial mostly private also worked for wildlife trust ,l have suffered all sorts of rashes,bites bad reactions where swellings reached neck. A consultant told me it was virtually impossible to determine what the causes were as individually we can react differently to whatever we come into contact with..toxicology tests are only done if symptoms are not controlled within given time limit or by antibiotics so because joe bloggs has been or is ok doesn't mean to say it hasn't affected you ie inadvertently put hand to mouth ..I'm not a doctor so not not qualified to advise but l wish you well and hope you're feeling better..

[reinaway]

When I start an episode I take 4 times 125 mg of digoxin as a stat dose to bring my heart rate down on the instructions of my GP.

[woodbon]

I know some drugs can be absorbed through the skin (I have my HRT that way), but extra physical exercise would be more likely, I would think. Check it out with a medical professional, if I were you. Also wearing gloves is a pain but, it does protect help protect you from lots of potential hazards in the garden, like stinging nettles, oh I hate them!!!