|
1-4 of 4 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Copperheads
|
Reply
|
|
by showofftcb on August 2, 2007
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I got bitten by a 18 inch copperhead and went to ER, they elevated my arm for 6 hrs gave me 2 shots for pain and sent me home. 2 hrs later I was rushed to ER of different hospital where they gave me alot of anti-venom, kept me in ICU for 3 days and even had a surgeon beside me incase swelling wouldnt go down he was going to slice my arm open. All this happened about 10 hrs after I was bitten. They told me I might have problems in the future with my arm because of 1st hospital not giving me anti-venom, as of now, my doctor told me I have nerve damage and it might get worse. How much worse will it get ? can anyone tell me ?
|
| |
|
RE: Copperheads
|
Reply
|
|
by richardduckworth on August 2, 2007
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
sounds like you experienced what a lot of people do; poor medical care associated with snakebite.
if they were sitting by waiting to slice your arm open, then the second place may not have known any more than the first. a lot of copperhead bites are treated without a/v and a lot aren't as bad as what you've went through. the worst thing would be an allergic reaction and maybe you are experiencing that.
there is plenty of info here so you can do a few searches and read up on it.
|
| |
|
RE: Copperheads
|
Reply
|
|
by LarryDFishel on August 2, 2007
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
There's no way anyone can tell you how much worse, if at all, things may get without at least observing you in person, probably for several days. Way too many variables.
If you feel like helping out the next poor slob that stubles in there, after you're through suing or threatening to sue the first hospital, go back to the second one and tell the guy that was going to slice open your arm to please contact someone with a clue before he makes a very expensive mistake...
|
| |
|
RE: Copperheads
|
Reply
|
|
by thedude on August 3, 2007
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This sounds a lot like the previous copperhead bite in that there was a delayed reaction. My cottonmouth bite two years ago was very similiar. Luckily the er doc suggested that I be admitted and observed overnight even though I had little to no swelling and zero pain. Good thing because about 6-7 hours after the ER was done with me my arm EXPLODED! Not really though, just swelled up to comical proportions (along with intense pain that not even narcotic analgesics could cover up). The first dose of Cro-Fab (4 vials)brought the swelling under control and I was released the next day after the swelling went down. Maybe the SOP should be changed to observe patient for 24 hours before release.
As far as long term affects, well my arm does feel different than before. It seems to "fall asleep" more often, my fingers tingle every now and then (especially my pinkie and ring fingers) but that is about it (its tolerable).
Funny story: A few hours after they admitted me to the ICU to administer the Cro-Fab, I was brought a slurpee. Being hooked up to all the ICU gear and getting a brain freeze was a hoot. Alarms will go off and the entire hospital staff will rush in your room ready to do battle. Apparently brain freeze causes a severe drop in BP, enough to set off lights and sirens anyway.
Cheers,
The dude
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
