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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by captiveherps on October 21, 2004
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You can get an epi-pen at any drug store but you would likely need a script from your doctor. I cant say for sure as I live in Canada. Our drug laws are more relaxed than in the USA and we need a script. They sell for around 95 usd here. If you have a drug plan they would likely cover it as they will think you are allergic to something (snakes will not enter their mind)I would guess that if your immune system becomes hypersensitve, you may react to any foreign protiens, bee stings, spider bites, but that is just a guess.
Follow Dr. Fry's advice he may know more about venoms than anyone else on earth.
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by Phobos on October 21, 2004
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Dr. Fry is correct in that US doc's neglect to set a Snakebite patient up with Prednisone as a post envenomation treatment. Keeps your immune system calm while your body eliminates the remnants of the antivenom. This is a very powerful drug not to be taken lighly but has minimal risks for a short course like Dr. Fry suggested.
Since I know this, I wrote many of these fine points in my emergency plan in case I'm tagged. Keep in mind that a WRITTEN plan is a must for the species you keep! What if Paramedics arrive and you're out of it already? They need information so you can be treated quickly & correctly.
Al
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by pygmybait on October 21, 2004
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I'm in the same boat you are. I have been having progressively worse allergic reaction over the last year or so and the only thing they can tell me is that I'm allergic to rodents. Great. I also break out with hives when I'm away from my animals so I know how frustrating it can be. You just never know when or where it will happen. So...here's my $.02;
1) Get the Epi pen. You wil need a prescription from your doctor. Basically, the Epinepherine (adrenaline) will help prevent any life threatening airway comprimise that is brought on my the allergic reaction. There is nothing more frightening than suddenly not being able to breath. It's happened to me a few times and it sucks. The Epi comes in a pre-loaded syringe at a dose of .3mg. It ios a single use pen which is good enough to keep you alive long anough to call 911 and wait for the ambulance to come scoop you up. They can give you more en route to the hospital if necessary. DO NOT use it just for hives. It would work but that wold be akin to using a 40mm incendiary grenade to kill a roach. It's overkill. Epi is a serious medication and should not be used unless you are having trouble breathing.
2) Keep the fast disolving Benadryl handy at all times. I have ccess to injectable Benadryl and it's the best stuff around for allergic reactions. Most folks will have to rely on the oral variety which is fine. It just takes a few minutes longer to start working.
3) Talk to your doctor about a prescription for Zyrtec. It's good stuff and can help keep some of the allergies under control without haveing to resort to the Beanadryl or Epi.
4) Buy some Tagament and keep it with you at all times. This has been a huge factor in relieving my severe reactions aver the last 8 months. It's OTC and relatively cheap. It's an antacid but it does help with the allergies by a mechanism that totally escapes me at the moment. Who cares anyway...it works! That's all that we need to know.
When I feel the hives coming on (I do have something like an aura, not unlike seizure patients get), I will inject 50mg of Benadryl intramuscularly or take 75mg orally. This is a lot of Benadryl but like I said, these are severe allergies. I'll take four Tagament at the same time as the Benadryl. I'll draw up my Epi and have it ready to go (I keep single use vials of Epi instead of the pen -it's more involved than the pen but it allows me to use a smaller needle. This is important since I use a larger dose than most people and I inject it intramuscularly instead of subcutaneously). I also keep a drug called Solu-Medrol on hand. It is nothing more than IV prednisone. If the reaction is bad enough, and there have been a few BAD reactions, I'll start an IV on myself and take 125mg of the Solu-Medrol.It takes a while for this stuff to start working but once it's on board, it's one less thing I have to worry about and it'll get to work much faster than if I had to wait for the E.R. to get it in me. By the way, I do NOT recommend that the average handler follow this protocol. I'm a medic by trade and I am ok with jabbing myself. I'd prefer that to someone else doing it anyway.
Anyway, I hope you can figure this one out. It does suck.
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by SkyMasterNw on October 22, 2004
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PERSONALY, I'd Say You've Got Issues With Snakes. I've Been bit only once on a Stupid mistake by a Prairie Rattler and Once is all it took. I Would definatly think that you should Get Rid of the snakes all together as your next bite (as was said in a previous post) Could be your last.
Good Luck
Nate
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by Phobos on October 22, 2004
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Wow Matt: You do have a serious allergy! That's a good protocol. If I may add the following:
Epi not only helps with keep your airway open but keep your blood pressure up so you delay the onset of shock. Having an open airway is good but have the pressure to push the oxygenated blood around is also a plus. One of those chicken & the egg questions. Nice that Epi does both.
As alway, consult a doctor, preferably an Allergist to access your personal situation and make a response plan.
Al
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by pygmybait on October 22, 2004
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It's like my chief says - If you ain't got an airway, you ain't got sh_t. Epi is good stuff.
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by BwViper on October 24, 2004
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So do I have to get a prescription to get an epi pen? I am wanting to get one here soon. As for the itching and breaking out in to welps, it seems it is getting worse. Instead of just taking one benadryl a day I am having to take two. So it doesn't seem like it's getting any better. Sucks might I add. If anyone has any further info, please let me know. Thanks,
Bobby
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by Phobos on October 24, 2004
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Bobby:
Yes, you do need to have a doctors prescription to get one BUT you need to get treatment for this problem before it requires epinephrine in an emergency. As Dr. Fry said, you need an oral steroid till your body eliminates whatever antigen you are reacting to.
GO Tomorrow please!! No waiting for your own safety.
Let us know what the doc said.
Good luck,
Al
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by Rabies on October 24, 2004
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Its been 5 days since you where first recommended to see your Dr for possible steroid perscription. Its no good posting "it is getting worse" you have been given some good advice, now go and USE it! The Epi-pen can be mentioned to your Dr while he's examening your arm.
John
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RE: After effects of envenomation... Please read t
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by BwViper on October 27, 2004
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Well, there are really no good doctors here and even if they were, right now I don't have the money to go see a doctor. Which happens to be the main reason I posted on here about the situation. The bite set me back a good bit, so I am playing catch up now. So once I get the money, if this is still going on, then of course I will go see a doctor. But since I couldn't do that, I figured I would see what everyone has to say about it. I got some great info and thanks goes out to everyone. Once I get everything figured out, I will post all the information I have, so if anyone else has problems such as these, then they will have a little heads up on the situation. Thanks everyone.
Bobby
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