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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by DKT9572 on May 26, 2004
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May 26, 2004 - Sitting here tonight with my foot elevated to relieve the swelling and discoloration from my 18th day after being bitten by a large adult Copperhead. Tired and frustrated with the rehabilitation, or lack thereof, I've decided to document my ordeal. I welcome comments and feedback on what I might expect next as that has been one of the most frustrating things about this type of injury-no one seems to know how long the pain will last, how to rehab my foot, or what the best approach is.
Flashback to May 8th, 2004: It was 10:00pm, our dinner party with friends was winding down, and I got the bright idea to walk down to our corral to get a citronella candle. My husband told me not to go, he told me we didn't need the candle, he asked me to come back. If only I had listend to this wise wonderful man. A few steps later, I screamed that something was in my foot. Being as dark as it was, my only guess was that somehow, I had stepped on a knife and it was sticking up through the bottom on my foot! Once my husband ran down to me and shined the flashlight at my foot, we saw the 2-3foot beast that had bitten me. My life has been upside down ever since. I was rushed to the hospital where they started in IV of antibiotics and a large dose of morphine. The morphine didn't even phase me...the pain so intense that I began shaking uncontrollably and throwing up. More morphine was given, more throwing up, and intense pain shooting up my leg. I wanted them to cut my leg off it was so intense. Finally, the morphine kicked in and I settled down.
May 9th - Happy Mother's Day to me...not. I don't remember anything on this day. I stayed in bed on pain pills with no recollection of visitors or conversations. My foot was so swollen and painful that I couldn't put a sheet over it.
May 10th - Went to see another doctor - searching for all the answers that the hospital couldn't give us, i.e. how long before I can walk, what can I expect next, why is the itching so intense? Once again, no answers, just stronger antibiotics.
May 11th -13th - Unable to lower my leg due to the intense pain of blood rushing to the bite site. Completely bed-ridden the entire week. Very bad emotional and physical rollercoaster.
May 14th - Back to the hospital in search of more answers. I was originally told recovery time would be around 5-7 days, but my foot was only getting worse. Once again, no answers, just different medicine. This time steroids.
May 15th - First attempt at crutches. As long as I kept my leg as high up as possible, I could manage for short periods of time. Swelling still bad, pain intense, foot very hot.
May 16th - 20th - Another week on the couch with leg elevated. More conflicting instructions with various doctors...do not ice it..put heat. No, put ice, no heat...try to put it down, no, keep it up..on and on. Now the doctors decided that the steriods were only hurting the situation. I was glad to be taken off the steriods as I had been awake for more than 36 hours straight. This was one of the lowest points of my ordeal. Basically, no one knows how to handle victims of snakebites!!
May 21st - New doctor seemed upset by what he saw happening to my foot. Streaking from toes to ankle, under foot, up other side. Referred me immediately to Orthopedic Surgeon. Surgeon thought maybe I had deep tissue infection going on but before she would operate, we would try mega-antibiotics for ten days.
May 26th - Swelling is down, red streaking is gone. Foot still turns purple when down too long. I can move big toe and little toe, but three middle toes can't move. Unable to apply pressure to bottom of foot due to painful "needle-like" sensation on heel and ball of foot. Arch feels like a vice-grip when I try to put any weight on it.
Each day is a new day but progress is going much slower than I ever dreamed. Does anyone know what tomorrow holds for me???? I need hope. I need a goal to shoot for. Am I looking at another week of pain or another month? Six months? Is this forever? I am desperate for answers.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by 91C2 on May 27, 2004
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I am compiling all info I can about copperhead bites. Please email me to give me more info on your case.
As for the pain, it should not last much longer, sometimes only a few days, mostly, though, a few weeks. I have one case that the pain continued for almost two months, with lingering effects. But, that is one of maybe three hundred cases.
My email add is fischefather@yahoo.com
I will send you a list of questions and ask you some relevant details.
Thank you,
Michael
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by PAMom on June 28, 2004
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I was bitten by a baby copperhead when I was about six years old, in 1974. I don't know if my account is like anyone else's, but some people haven't believed my story because of my physical reaction and where the snakes were located. I'm recounting the event to the best of my knowledge. I'd welcome comments.
At the time, I was living on my grandmother's property in Haverhill, Mass before it was developed. Back then, the roads by her house were still dirt. She had a small house, an old derelict guest cottage, and a huge old barn. We'd found nests of snakes underneath patches of Rhubarb and under pails left outside before, but never in her garden.
One day I remember going out to her garden for a snack. We were allowed to pick green beans or cukes to eat if we wanted them. I was wearing shorts and a pair of canvas sneakers with no laces. I remember that my leg just stopped working, like it had gone dead. I wasn't frightened, just puzzled. I hopped on my other leg to my grandmother's back door and called for help.
My oldest brother (15 at the time) was the only person home. He looked at my leg and found two tiny little bite marks just inside my shoe, inside the arch of my left foot. He got out his jacknife, heated it over a gas flame on the stove, then cut an X over the bite, then sucked the venom out. I remember feeling THAT, and it did hurt quite a bit.
When my mother came home, I was walking around on it just fine. There was some swelling, but it was negligible. She didn't call the hospital or our doctor and I was never seen for the bite.
My two brothers went out to the garden to find the snake that bit me, and discovered a hole in the side of the watermelon that I'd been standing next to. They broke open the watermelon, and it was FULL of baby snakes. The mother must have bored a hole into the melon and had her babies there.
Until recently, I thought copperheads laid eggs. But because I now understand that they are born live, that does not mean my story can't be true. So she laid live babies instead of eggs. I've never heard of coppers having babies inside of fruits, but that doesn't mean they never do. I've also not heard a lot about a limb "going dead" as my leg did, but that is what actually happened.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by SunnyD on July 12, 2004
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to: dkt9572
I am very sorry that you got bitten by one of these mean things (Copperhead). I also was bitten this July 5, 2004, as I was walking off my deck. I didn't see it happen, praise God. I was just wondering how you are getting along? At this time it has been 6 days tonight at 8:30pm. I have been having the most terrible time with this also. I was bitten on my left side foot near my ankle and it is very sensitive from my knee down to my foot. I also have a discoloration to my foot and up a small ways of my ankle. It is like the very bone hurts in my leg if I bump it or whatever. I cant stand very long without elevating it and then it stings and burns. I still have some swelling also.
Did they give you the anti venom? Are you healing as well now. I like you have never been bitten before or really knew anyone that has. Please keep in touch and let me know how your progress is going. I pray that you are feeling better.
sunnyd Darlene
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by tootough on August 9, 2004
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I am writing to the lady that got bite on May 8th.
I got bit on july 12 2004. It has been a nightmare for me. I got bit at my barn feeding my horses at 10:00p.m. that monday night. After I looked down at my left foot at the left of it between the ankle and little toe,I saw two marks I knew only then that I had been bitten by a snake. It was dark at that side of the barn and I could not see it. Of course I freaked out and just started screaming and running to my car. I drove myslf to my sons house just a couple hundred yards from the barn honking the horn and screaming I had been snake bit.He was already running to the car. Then he took off his shirt and tied it around my leg above the knee and held my left ankel with his hands very tight and begin to suck the venom with his mouth. I wasn't sure if it was the bite or the sucking that was killing me.He then got in the car and drove me to my home where my husband was comming down the steps to get in the car. Then my husband got me to the hospitalat 10:28p.m. and thats when the hell began.
I finally got to the examing room after tring to explain to the people at the hospital I didn't know what kind of snake it was and my husband was ill cause he had to get off the couch and take me to the hospital
in the middel of the night because I had waited till dark to put the horses up. Hell if had known that I was going to get bit I would have done things differently. None the less I was still very upset and hysterical. That was not helping matters. Finalt the nurse came in and gave me a shot. It was the tetnis shot then benadryle and demerall and finagrin. I never got sick at my stomach. But by this time my foot was swelling pretty good and they kept marking it every 1/2 hour and hour. There were Two doctors on duty and one said it will probably be o.k. an the other want to give the antivenom.I was in great pain. My foot and calve of my leg could not touch anything,not even the pillow or the sheet. I had to hold it up while lying on my back. At one time I wasa practly on my head streaching my leg out behind me in the air to try to get some type of relief. My mother was watching my vital signs and my bloodpresure would drop pretty low she said. It was pretty scary. I didn't have alot of reasurrance that I was going to be alright and the pain was getting worse.Well at about 2:30 a.m. the swelling had gotten to the Knee and was not stopping.Then doctor that was There was the one that wanted to give the antivenom and he ordered it then. My husband I had sent home and my mother was there. I wanted my father there when they gave the antivenom to me so he came at 3:00a.m and then they started it about 3:30 a.m.-4:00 a.m. I finally went to sleep for a few minuets. I was still in pain and could hear what they were saying and they started giving the antivenom they gave it slo to watch for allergic reactions of any kind but every thing went well.They gave me six viles.I was amitted to the hospital at 7:00a.m. and put in a room to be monitored. They drew blood every sis hours and then another Dr. saw me aroud 9:00a.m.
All i did for the next day and a half was ly ther with my leg elavated and draw blood every sis hours. They had me on antibiotics in a drip and fluids. My leg swollen to my thigh by now. But The next day it wasn't swelling anymore it was the same.My foot was hugh.ait felt like a burn and you could touch it it was so sore all around the bite aqt least the size of a baseball.
On July the 14th 2004 I left the hospital around 4:00 p.m. with few instructions on what to do and what not. I was told not to get in a pool or the ocean for few of infection. I asked about the pool and ocean because i was going on vacation the next Day.My plans had been made for sis months and we were going.
I thought that I wopuld be walking in a few days.WRONG!!! I could let my foot down for long let alone walk or let it touch anything.
On July 19th one week after the bite I was still bound to the wheel chair and the bed keeping it elevated and still on vacation. I'm glad I went because I would have gone nuts sitting at home.
On July 26th Two weeks later I still can't put pressure on the foot. swelling gone out of the leg totally and now just in the anlle and the foot.I can move big toe and the one next to it but can't bend the others.
On July the 27th I finally can put some pressure on the foot.Walking with the use of my crutches and appling some pressure.
On July 29th I go to visit the Dr. He says that it looks good and that just do what I was able and keep elavated when the foot starts swelling after I have it down for a while and the I can soak it a little. He preferred I take a shower. Also to put neasporine cream on it.It may also drain some. CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME...That was it.
On August 2nd Three weeks later I'm walking better but still limping on it and its still swollen on the ankle and the top of the foot and the bitten side. I courious to if it will rot or peel or what is it going to do?
On August 8th 2004 tonight I am still wondering when do I get the total use of my foot will I be able to put my boots on in the near future? How are you ? Please tell me somthig? My bite looks good I guess I would love to see some pictures of some that are the same age as mine. Four week old. My calve is very sore but I do stay up on it a good bit but it will tell you when to get off of it also.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by tootough on August 9, 2004
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I forgot to tell that my husband was bushhogging by the barn and killed my Damn Snake. It was a Copperhead and it was 38 inches long and the size of a silver dallor or a little bigger. It doesn't make me feel better because I am almost horrified to get in the grass,the gravel is bad enough. I just find myself looking down all the time. I was not like this before but it makes you be more aware of every little twig and rock and stick. The weather has had a lot to do with more snakes around. It has been so wet around here. If you know what kind of time frame on the bite healing please e-mail. Thanks...
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by tuffdaughter on October 25, 2004
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My 12 year old daughter got bit Thursday Oct. 21. She was going out to feed her rabbits and it luckily just cut her instead of biting her all the way. Her toe & foot are still swollen and the toe is black & blue.
She did not have to have the anti-venom and only stayed in the hospital for about 8 hours. She did not throw up or anything, I guess she was lucky, since it did not completely bite her. I guess she has a while to go before the swelling goes down from what I am reading from all of you.
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Copperhead Bite
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by PeteF on December 3, 2004
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I have added an article titled "My Snakebite" about an
ongoing recovery of a facial copperhead bite.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by dew on December 8, 2004
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I would like to share our story with you to the best of my memory as we are all about at our wits end.
Last July 29 our 14 year old son was bitten by what we believe was a copper head snake. (other venomous snakes in the area are rattle and water moccasin) The local ER stated there was no such thing as antivenin and after an hour sent us home with a script for tylenol 3 for pain as needed. By the time we got home Noah was in excruciating pain and the swelling from the bite was approaching his shoulder. (bite was on pinky) his hand was deep purple. I decided I would rush him up to the Army Hospital an hour away for another opinion. We got an escort from the gates to the ER they immediately started morphine drip for his pain, called poison control to find out the recommended procedure then sent him up to Saint Louis to receive care. At Saint Louis they did a skin fascia upon his immediate arrival then began the first of 2 bags of antivenom that he would receive. He spent 3 days in ICU. It was some 13 hours from bite to antivenin.
Since that time Noah had become progressively ill. He started getting heartburn a lot but we figured it was his diet as he liked to eat a lot of spicy foods. In January he had begun loud and obnoxious long winded belches. I recall because at his sister's birthday dinner in Jan. he excused himself and went outdoors to belch - we were able to hear him IN the restaurant. Somewhere around this time he was prescribed zantac for acid reflux. His belching got worse no matter what he ate and soon his stomach would begin a continuous rumble that was audible across the room and at times sounded like a commode flushing. The peristalses was quite visible. A visit to the doctor put him on some medication to relax a sphincter muscle. Following day the pressure he was having in his chest along with the belching now included vomiting. Ribs very sore. We took him to the ER (military after hours you do not see your primary doctor) either the next day or shortly after (Noah had already altered his diet to exclude most animal fats and spices) where I suggested that he may have pancreatitis the nurse agreed with me. The doctor however laughed and said "the reality is, this boy has a stomach virus" his ribs and chest are sore from all the throwing up. 2 days later, late at night he began with the horrible pressure in his chest, continual throwing up and again long winded belches very forceful, but now a new chant....over and over "my back my back my back my back my back" back to the ER...diagnosis Ideopathic Pancreatitis. Released 2 days later. Enzymes back to normal however symptoms continued. The belching increased to continual however they changed in quality. Now instead of sounding like a belch they sounded more like air being squeeeeeeezed out. His diet now consisted of things such as Boiled potato and Boiled Chicken with no spices or fats, he could also tolerate canned fruits. In March he had a regular doctor appt for this progressive disorder at which he began coughing up large amts of blood. Bright red. The doctor called in another doctor for an opinion. She ordered barium enema to be done which showed nothing significant. She then refered him to "specialists" in Saint Louis who did numerous tests then threw their hands up in the air.
At the time of his Snake Bite Noah weighed around 145 pounds by the start of June he was down to 113 pounds and literally skin and bones. In May he was able to eat frozen yogurt and fresh yogurt (fat free varieties) he could not tolerate canned fruits anymore and jello was difficult. During all these months his chest pressure continues and the throwing up (mostly bile at this point as his diet was so limited) and the continual belching. He was on double doses of prilosec an awful amount of tums and simethicone. I also forgot to mention that he suffered daily headaches and he sometimes complained that his belches tasted like feces.
On June 29th in tears as they refused to see him for the walk in appt which was made the week previous (the doctor allowed for too many of these appts.) I was in near hysterics, this boy who was of good build previously now could barely hold his own frame up, and not straight at that. I asked if I could at least have him weighed to which they agreed. His weight was 108. The doctor then agreed to see him. I told her I was scared and she said she too was and asked what I wanted to do. I asked yet one more time if there was such a thing as a venomologist who may know if this is snake bite related and if there is any treatment. no. I said send him somewhere at least get some nourishment in him or he will die of starvation! She sent him up to Columbia University healthcare where he remains today. He dropped down to 103 after the first couple of days. The only thing he had been able to keep down was italian shaved ice.
A cat scan showed that due to his rapid weight loss he has an artery wrapped around his intestine, this is why he has not been able to eat a thing. They say this is a complication and not the source of his illness. The started a pic line to deliver mega nutrients and fat into his starved body. He quickly gained to 120 poounds and began to lose again. He countinues with the chest pain. The belching has calmed down quite a bit. The pic line became infected and with a 104 degree temp for a couple days and saturated sheets and a feeling of not being able to breathe they discovered the infection spread to his lungs. They started antibiotic therepy. They are going to did surgery to place a Jejunal feeding tube direct into his small intestine.
To every doctor he has seen I ask the question, could this be a residual of his snake bite? perhaps the snake bite caused damage to an organ which is causing the symptoms? the delay in receiving competent care regarding the snake bite etc. I also ask if it could still be pancreatitis - only without the elevated amylase and lipase.
The doctor he has now thinks it may be something called a conversion disorder in which the traumas/anxieties/stress he has had is not being expressed outwardly but is being converted to physical disorders. While I agree that may be possible, I do not want them thinking it may be this and discount other alternatives.
So now, desperately I ask you. Could this be a residual of snake bite poisoning? or the result of the delayed treatment?
I thank you so much for your time and consideration in reading my long letter and anxiously await your reply.
Kindest Regards
dew
December 5,
Noah is at University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia again (for the past 3 weeks) as he has gotten to a point where he can barely tolerate the J-Tube feedings anymore and has been consuming only around 750 calories a day. They are keeping him sedated inorder to deliver the nutrition.
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