It's "just" a Copperhead

[BWSmith]

I hear all too often how Copperheads are a mild envenomation and have heard countless people refer to them as like a bee or hornet sting. I will write a longer thread when I have use of my left hand again but here is the very short version.

On Friday July 3rd at 2:50pm, I took a hit from a Copperhead while trying to extract it from a retaining wall. It struck me on the top of the left hand, Within the first 4-6 seconds, there was already swelling the size of an acorn at one of the fang penetrations. I got my wedding band and watch off and called the wife.

This was taken on the way to the hospital no more than 20 minutes after the bite.



Once in the ER, the edema was tracked and I started the antivenin. You can see by the time that I started av less than an hour after the bite.



The edema reached mt shoulder by about midnight.


In total, I got 18 vials of CroFab and 3 days in the hospital. I still have severe pain in the hand and only about 20% mobility. There is still some swelling at the bite site and my hand and are bruised from the swelling. But I am on the mend and shoud be back at work Monday although I am still on Demerol and steroid anti-inflammitories.

More to come when I can type again including the adventures in medical ignorance and my formal complaint submitted on one of the doctors.

[96Blacksunshine]

Whoa. Thats looks painful. Sorry you got tagged. I hope for you a speedy recovery.

[sesshomaru 15405]

wow. man im glad your ok.

[Amazon]

Dang, I'm sorry - about the bite and the medical ignorance you menioned. That sucks... Hope you feel better soon!

[Zombi-Hed]

Sorry to hear about your envenomation. Glad everything will be ok.

[dhonaker]

dosent look that mild to me

[John]

That does not look like fun.

I have seen the after effects of copperhead bites. I grew up in Texas where they are abundant. I remember one guy who had received a bite to his thumb. It was post-treatment when I saw his hand and forearm, but it was still swollen and looked painful. I would never classify them as "like bee stings."

Good to hear you were able to get to medical help in a short time.

[Ranger]

Brian, Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

To everyone else: If a recognized expert like B.W. Smith, who has literally written the book on hots, and who has many years of experience can get tagged, anyone can get tagged. If/when you think it is necessary to relocate/capture/mess with a hot snake, pause, count to 10, and remember that NO ONE IS EXEMPT from envenomation.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[toker]

Sorry to hear that bud, get well soon!!

[Sakara]

dang... sorry about the bite, especially over the holiday get well soon and glad ur ok!!

[Alex]

I'm glad to hear you're doing better! I'm also glad you got pictures to prove that it's not that mild. More people need to understand the severity of a hot bite.

[dasmay]

Looks painful, get well soon

[Stargazer]

Thanks for taking the time to post and for pics. I hope we can bring this thread up whenever some young kids on here get a little zealous about handling hots. I'm glad you were able to get help quickly.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[X-Factor]

Dang. Glad you're ok....makes me want to call the local hospitals and see what their antivenom stock is like....just in case. Haven't seen any Copperheads this year, though.

[96Blacksunshine]

Im just glad you thought to take your ring off fast enough. That could have got ugly real quick.

[LdyDrgn]

We're glad you're ok, too! My goodness...

I've heard "They won't kill you, but you'd wish you were dead."

[delonybro]

Thanks for the informative post! It's like they say in the zoo field, "the most dangerous venomous snake is the one that just bit you." I've heard so many keepers call a Copperhead bite a "Benadryl bite," but I'm sure you'll now agree 18 vials of AV is definitely not just Benadry... Glad you're OK!

[kellymack515]

Wow. I'm really glad to see that you're okay dude. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

[Xeikeness]

So glad you'll be ok!

Very sorry to hear about both the bite, and the incompetent doctor. Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

Ranger, good post... it always astounds me how many people go out and muck with hots, especially when "professionals" don't make any secrets about their bites. *eyeroll*

I swear, there's a reason baboons, lions, elephants and rhinos don't live in the wilds of America!

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[jake_brownell2004]

hope you get better. that really sucks. hope you back in action soon