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copperhead bite
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by Langaha on August 24, 2002
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I was just curious as to how many users of this forum have been bitten by Agkistrodon contortrix, if any. And if you have, what sub-species, and what was the effects of the venom ie:how far did the swelling spread, nausea, tissue damage ect. Also how big the snake was, and if one or two fangs penetrated. Thanks for any input. ---Anthony
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RE: copperhead bite
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by Viperidaefan on August 24, 2002
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When I was 9, I was bitten by 16-18 inch Agkistrodon c. mokasen, in West Virginia. I was flipping rocks near a very small stream actually looking for herps but found one that I wasn't prepared for...and as I reached for it, I took a hit on left index finger (funny because I'm right handed!! And I had my little stick with a “Y” on the end, which I forgot to use) But I still managed to capture it and proceeded to carry it home which was about 200 yards away, bleeding finger and all. Several family members were there and needless to say, panic set in quickly. And I heard the words “he’ll die!!” from my aunt. My parents wisked me over to our game-warden neighbor who identified the snake and decided to immediately drive me to nearest hospital, which was in Wierton WV about 10 min away...The snake was put in a jar and taken with us. I had minor pain and swelling with slight bleeding and I kept squeezing it to make it bleed (not because I knew anything about envenomation but because thats what you do when your a kid and have a cut). I can still remember the whole event pretty clearly. The hospital staff didn't have a clue. They did do some extraction and cleaning of the wound, I was given I.V. fluids and given a tetness(?) shot while under observation. Some blood work was also done. I don't recall any nausea, although like any kid I was sick about going to the doctors and didnt want to go. I had very slight bruising around the site and swelling and stiffness with some pain for a few days. I was released the same day and after a severe fight (ok, a temper tantrum) I got to keep the snake!!! And take it home!!!…Alas, my first venomous snake. I believe that the bite was very nearly a dry one, otherwise I might have experienced more sever symptoms…to this day at family gatherings when people ask if I’m still into snakes, the story is always retold by my Mother or Aunt, as well as several other stories, which include a WC 4’ black rat snake that surprised my mom in the washing machine (don’t ask!!!) I will say that despite my parents despise of snakes I was always allowed to keep as many as I wanted, and that little copper stayed with me for several years. That was many years ago (about 22) and it has been my only venomous bite, despite some close calls later down the road and I have kept a very extensive collection over the years but I do miss that little copper. Opps, I didnt mean to ramble on..too much info, huh?
Shawn
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RE: copperhead bite
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by Langaha on August 24, 2002
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Not too much info at all, interesting story. It sounds to me like it was near a dry bite too, good thing. You must not have gotten it too mad or scared. ----Anthony
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RE: copperhead bite
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by levi3 on August 25, 2002
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Viperidaefan,
I to am from Wva. Wich part are you from? Or where did you live when you got bit?
Thanks.....just wondering
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RE: copperhead bite
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by levi3 on August 25, 2002
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Langaha,
I have never been bitten,but my older brother has been bitten twice by northern coppers. The first time was the worst. He was working on a vehicle and the copper was laying up in the engine compartment and the snake saw him first!!!! The snake bit him on the right pinkie finger. He was in the hospital for about a week and they thought they were going to have to amputate his finger. They didnt have to. His finger is now bent all the time and he cannnot straighten it out.
The second bite wasnt as bad. Again he was working on an old car taking the gas tank off. He said he thought a bee stung him until he looked back under the car and saw the snake. It only got him with one fang. Maybe thats why it wasnt as bad. He was only in the hospital a couple days and was sent home. It bit him on the thumb and his thumb is fine.
Hope this helps
Ray
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RE: copperhead bite
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by Viperidaefan on August 25, 2002
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I was living between Weirton Wv and Wellsburgh Wv near Brook highschool....I've since moved to Fl and then to Pa, where I now reside near Pittsburgh.
Shawn
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RE: cottonmouth bite
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by jared on August 28, 2002
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Ok, its not the best thing in the world, but since most of ya know anyway, I was envenomated by a SC juvenile eastern cottonmouth on July 27th. I was removing retained eyecaps from an ill juvy that a friend had given to me, and as the saying goes, complacency kills. I was removing the left eyecap when in a blink his left fang entered the tip of my finger, and before i could say a word the buring had kicked in full throttle. The little bugger must have given me all he had, as strangly enough he died the next day, but within 30 seconds my hand was swelling and onfire. Fearing the loss of my index finger, i applied a sawyer extractor while calling my girlfriend(she works less than a mile away) and sucked out three cupfulls of goldenred liquid. approximately 15 min later we were headed for the hospital, but by that time my finger was black all the way to the knuckle and the pain had REALLY kicked up. Upon arrival at the hospital they looked at me like "you can have a seat," and i kindly explained HELL NO i need a damn doctor now! The initial doctor wanted to put ICE on it as soon as i came back, which i refused. Upon noticing i had an envenomation packet for A.piscivorus they started to take what i had to say a little more seriously. No ice, no antivenin not yet, the swelling was in my hand and finger mainly, barely into my arm. I didnt wanna use antivenom until the severity of the envenomation was known. Ok, now 2hrs after envenomation i began to think, i want some @$#%!@ pain killers now! MY hand hurt with an ungodly pressure, my BP was at 85, and when the pressure of my hand was taken with a horse sized 8 gauge seringe it was 75, thus came the fasciotomy (?). My finger was opened tip to knuckle, and i was awake through the whole thing with only local pain killers (demoral and Dilottid). It has only begun to completly heal and scab this week, i have some video footage of it as well. I know its not a copperhead, but as another painful member of the Agkistrodon genus i felt it might have some validity due to the severity of the bite. later,
jared w
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RE: cottonmouth bite
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by sierra on August 29, 2002
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Jared,
One more question abut your bite...did you get the bill yet? If I may ask, how much was it?
Sierra
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RE: cottonmouth bite
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by jared on September 3, 2002
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as i said, no AV and emergency fasciotomy brought me up to 8000. insurance fights the hell out of snake bites (negligance) especially if you have thme at home.
jared
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RE: cottonmouth bite
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by Charper on September 5, 2002
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Jared,
If they had the new antivenom CroFab, you should have asked for it right away. No major risk and it could mean the difference between losing your finger and not.
CH
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