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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by sugarsmom on September 4, 2007
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I'm not sure if this is the same for humans and dogs, but my dog was bit on his eyebrow aoubt 8 days ago. I didn't know what it was when he came in. He had a spot of blood on his brow and it looked a little swollen. Over the next 3 days his face continued to swell and it seemed to being itching like crazy. He was rubbing his face on the couch, on the bushes, in the grass and even on me if he was close enough. After the 3th day, the swelling was pretty bad, it looked like his nose was going to split on the sides and his eyes (both) had swollen so much that they were splitting some. On the 4th morning, I noticed that his nose and muzzel and even into his ears was covered with this bumpy rash and starting to scab, the weird thing was right on his nose, it was blistering, like you could see the blister come up and pop and then more form. At that point I figured I better get him to the vet, (before the blistering, I thought he had rubbed on poison oak not knowing that dogs don't really get poison oak). Anyway, the vet thinks that it was an almost miss, that he was able to back up fast enough to really only get hit by one fang nd not for very long, mostly like a poke not a full bite. I just wanted to say that the itching and rash my dog got was insane, he literally had scabs from this crazy rash for 4 days and it wasn't a full on bite. If that is what it is, I think a rash on a human is very possible. I wish your brother well. It's awful, I can't imagine going through that. By the way, we we live in Williamsburg, Va and have a conservation area directly behind our house that he goes out and runs around in. The scary part is so do my 2 boys (7 & 12)
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Copperhead Bite
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by earlymtngirl on February 10, 2008
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Hi: I've read several articles here about the confusion of medical personnel when confronted with snakebite. Though snakebite is something many physicians in North America will never see, it would undoubtedly be useful for for physicians familiar with envenomations to develop and approve a universal flowchart type protocol to be distributed to EMS, hospitals and clinics in the US. Yes, different snakebites require different treatments, but some guidelines would undoubtedly help physicians to "do no harm." This would benefit everyone.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by zeke on May 21, 2008
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Have you had the and resultant damage evaluated by an MD who knows his stuff? I have been bitten by the same species and after several months all symptoms resolved. No anti-venin was admisnistered. Pain was intolerable even with morphone drip. Most pain resolved after several weeks. Swelling lasted a while but no danger to limb. I was bitten on my index finger while trying to capture a very docile looking copperhead. All the time he was docile - even while he sank his fangs in my finger. I flipped out but the snake was calm as hell. It was like he was saying - "oh god, another stupid human wants to play woth me". I made certain the snake got away unharmed as my friends wanted to shoot him. Humans are sure dumb at times. I am 60 and still play with wild snakes BUT i use tools and keep that damn head away from me!
Hope you have a complete recovery by the time you read this.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by exOkie on June 5, 2008
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You're right - many medical personnel are not too knowledgeable about treating copperhead bites. But I think a bite can affect each patient very differently. So, they monitor and observe us like an experiment.
I was in the woods of eastern Oklahoma and was bitten by a copperhead in the ankle, in the late 70s.(A lot of people don't know that eastern Oklahoma is hilly and heavily wooded with a lot of creeks, rivers and lakes.) Great for outdoorsmen and a good hiding place for copperheads and water moccasins.
It was a 20 minute drive to the rural hospital where they keep antivenin. They kept asking me to describe the snake which was hard to do. They said they needed to know if it was a juvenile (with more potent venom) or a mature snake (with weaker venom but more of it.) I was in a hospital for 3 days while they waited to see how I'd react to the antivenin. I remember a lot of doctors stopping by to see me because they had never treated a snake bite. Sure the antivenin is almost as tough as the venom itself but I was a small 11-year-old and they thought this was the best treatment.
An unintended side effect of the antivenin was that(since it was injected into my ovaries) I never had children. Although I didn't fully realize this consequence until 27 years later when I happened to mention it to an expert toxicologist. That is A-OK with me but understand that the antivenin is toxic to the body too.
I am surprised to learn that in more recent times, some snake bite victims do not receive antivenin. I sympathize with many of you at this post who recovered by "waiting it out." That had to be equally tough.
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by grandview3596 on July 15, 2008
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Hi,
I just read your article about your copperhead bite a few years ago. When I read it I felt as though I were writing it. I was bitten July 7, 2008 and am still going through the process. Your are right, no one seems to give you solid answers about what to expect during recovery. I was naive enough to believe that in a week or so I would be back to chasing my grandkids. WRONG..
How long did it take for you to walk again without the aid of crutches or a walker?
I got bit on the upper part of my foot above my little toe.
I am soooo weary. I am a very active person and this just stoped me in my tracks. I can't drive either since it is on my right foot, not that I feel like lowering my leg down. The hot fire you feel when you lower your leg is horrible isn't it.
Do you have any advice for me. What can I expect after a week or so.
Kat
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by chrisb on July 15, 2008
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Answers below GRANDVIEW 3596.... good luck
I just read your article about your copperhead bite a few years ago. When I read it I felt as though I were writing it. I was bitten July 7, 2008 and am still going through the process. Your are right, no one seems to give you solid answers about what to expect during recovery. I was naive enough to believe that in a week or so I would be back to chasing my grandkids. WRONG..
Hi,
How long did it take for you to walk again without the aid of crutches or a walker?
TWO WEEKS AND I STARTED TO WALK ON IT. IT FELT "FUZZY" BUT DIDN'T HURT. THE SIDE AFFECT WAS SWELLING FOR TWO MONTHS AND WEARING SANDALS NOT SHOES OR SOCKS. IF I WORE A SOCK, MY LEG ABOVE THE SOCK WOULD SWELL TO DOUBLE THE SIZE. THE WATER RETENTION IN THE LEG WAS INCREDIBLE.
I got bit on the upper part of my foot above my little toe.
I WAS BITTEN ON MY INSTEP ABOVE BIG TOE. I SWELLED TO JUST BELOW MY CROTCH AND GOT BRIGHT RED IN COLOR - NO BLACKENING LIKE A RATTLESNAKE BITE THANK GOD.
I am soooo weary. I am a very active person and this just stoped me in my tracks. I can't drive either since it is on my right foot, not that I feel like lowering my leg down. The hot fire you feel when you lower your leg is horrible isn't it.
IT WAS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN ADEQUATELY TO OTHERS. FIRE IS THE ONLY COMPARISON I COULD THINK OF.
Do you have any advice for me. What can I expect after a week or so.
TIME IS YOUR ENEMY AND YOUR ALLY. TO PARALLEL WHERE YOU ARE FROM MY EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE IN A PERIOD WHERE NOTHING IS CHANGING - SAME PAIN WHEN YOU DROP YOUR LEG BELOW HORIZONTAL (GRAVITY AIN'T YOUR FRIEND THROUGH THIS PROCESS), SAME COLOR AND SAME SWELLING. YOU HAVE ABOUT 4 MORE DAYS OF IT, THEN I STARTED TO USE THE CRUTCHES AND LOWER MY THIGH A BIT FOR SHORT PERIODS. THE FIRE WOULD COME BACK, BUT AFTER WHILE IT WOULD TAKE LONGER AND LONGER TO RETURN. (THE FUZZY FEELING) PUTTING WEIGHT ON IT IN 12 DAYS, WITH CRUTCHES, THEN LIFTING IT AND EASING BACK INTO IT. GETTING RID OF THE CRUTCHES IN 2 WEEKS AND TAKING YOUR TIME WHEN YOU WALK IF THE PAIN GOES AWAY IS MY OPINION. SWELLING FOR TWO MONTHS, SO WEAR A PAIR OF SANDALS TO MINIMIZE SWELLING, AND KEEP IT ELEVATED WHEN YOU ARE NOT MOVING AROUND.
After 4 months, I had no real affects from it. "Phantom" feeling (not intense but almost like you feel when a cobweb touches you....weird stuff) at the bite mark while driving with my foot in the same position for a long time is about it. My daughter calculated the number of people who get bit in the US every year is about 0.007% of the population. You are rare company - the copperhead club. Best to you in your recovery, and take your time - I know what it feels like.........
Chris
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by grandview3596 on July 29, 2008
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To Chrisb
Hi,
You were right on the money! After 3 weeks I am getting my life back. I have shed the walker (never could do the crutches) and walking on my foot, however it still swells with to much use. I really appreciate your giving me info on what to expect. It really lifted my sprits knowing that recovery was around the corner.
Best to you and thank you!
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by sandi4u2 on September 13, 2009
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to grandview3596 and Chrisb, if anyone knows how to get in touch with either of two please advise
I realize their postings were in 2008 and did not see any for 2009 but I have joined the ranks of the Copperhead club. I was bitten on August 5, 2009 twice on the inside of my left big two and I could have written some of the posting I read. It has been almost 6 weeks and still have swelling and peeling. I was given the serum, but the intense pain and the feeling of "fire" as the blood flows down when I would try to stand would almost make me pass out. Sometime I would simply crawl to the bathroom, but then I would have to pull myself up and that was worse. As i said before did not see any current posting for copperhead bites, please let me hear from you if you are going thru this at present. Sandy
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RE: Copperhead Bite
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by Char on October 26, 2010
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I joined the Copperhead Club on Friday the 13th, July, 2007.
I was getting some things out of the back of my cargo van which I had earlier backed up to some blocks and rocks (which I normally did not do). I was in and out of the van, unloading all kinds of stuff. I was wearing flip flops. While pulling another load out of the van, I felt a scratch on my heel and knew immediately I had been bit by a copperhead even though I had never seen a copperhead out where I live before or since. I live in a very rural area next to a state forest and my neighbors report seeing copperheads regularly. Rattlers are in this area also and I have seen those. After I was bit, I looked down and saw a large, pink snake coiling around the rocks at my feet.
I immediately drove myself to the nearest hospital, 45 minutes away. My foot and ankle were already swelling and painful. I did not take any drugs and the ER doctor did not recommend that I take anything after I told him I am sensitive to drugs and chemicals. They kept me for 3-4 hours for observation and then sent me home. Since I was bit on the left heel, I was still able to drive home ~ but just barely. I crawled into the house and didn't leave for nearly two months.
My foot, ankle, and leg swelled up all the way to my groin. They turned green, black, blue, and purple and were excruciatingly painful. Lowering my leg was even more painful and increased the pressure and swelling in my foot. Eventually, the discoloration of my leg faded but my foot remained puffy, purple, and painful and lowering it made it unbearable. I could not touch my foot to the ground or anything for a month.
I was also extremely tired and have since learned that the venom destroys red blood cells and can cause anemia.
I was on crutches for two months. But mostly I was in bed with my foot elevated. Week after week went by with no change. My foot remained puffy. purple, and painful and I began to wonder when or if it would ever get better. The doctor had told me it would be better in a few days and this was much longer than a few days!
I never took any drugs or painkillers as I was afraid they would interfere with the healing process. Later on, I did see a naturopath who, after some research, recommended a homeopathic, ledum, taken orally. Not sure how much it helped since I was already well on my way to getting better.
I eventually started wrapping my foot in an ace bandage to stop the extreme swelling that occurred whenever I lowered my leg. Wrapping my foot made it possible for me to eventually give up the crutches.
Later, in December, I was in Chicago for several days and walking on the concrete seemed to aggravate my foot and create swelling and limping again. I had to buy an ace bandage and start wrapping again until I returned home. You should have seen the look on the faces of the city dwellers who asked why I was limping and I told them I was bit by a snake!
After the trip to Chicago, I have never had any more problems although now and then I do fancy some tenderness in my foot but that could just be the bad memories. Actually, just writing all this seems to have made it a bit tender!
Good luck to all healing from this really painful experience.
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by ssseteve on April 13, 2011
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I got bit Aug 9 2010.
Stepped on one in my yard while doing some yard work.
Got me 3 times on my foot. 7 vials crofab followed. This incedent sparked some interest and respect towards these animals.
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