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copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by challenger on April 6, 2005
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My copperhead escaped it's enclosure last PM due to a latch I left loose. I found it this AM right near the setup. This is kind of a close space so it needed to get it to where I could manage it better and in doing so got stupid and got too close. I was using some large tongs and its a yearling so I thought I had my distance but it was act then or it would have escaped into an inaccessable area. It wasn't in a spot where I could tail it as it is small and hard to tail anyway. It got two fangs in my index finger and it's been about 5 hrs. the finger and hand are swollen but not frighteningly so and there doesn't seem to be much advancing. I know if I went to the ER it would cost me a lot of $ and they would keep me for at least a night and give me pain meds. Any advice?
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by Phobos on April 6, 2005
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Well Howard...I hope you did go to the ER to play it safe. We've been involved in quite a few posts on this site. Discussing your Copperhead and it's caging requirements. Was type of cage did you end up with to house this snake?
Please fill us in on what happened when you can..at least let us know your ok.
Best,
Al
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by challenger on April 6, 2005
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I have it in a precision cage-w-a lock in the center and two tabs on the sides. I didn't put the tab down all the way on one side and he squeezed between the plexiglass and the side of the cage and I suppose fell on the floor. He moved about three feet and hid under a rollerblade.
I realy hate to admit it but this is the way I learn things. That's why I don't have a rattler or Cotton mouth.
I think he only gave me a small dose because it is already starting to shrink and I can type-w-the finger. I marked my wrist at 11:30 where the swelling/pain was and it is moving back. I am hoping I got lucky cause I DO NOT want to waste a bunch of time & $ at the ER. I did speak-w-an ER nurse friend of mine and he examined it and said all the hospital would do is what I said. He has some experience-w-snake bites and said keep a close eye on it. I can really feel the lymph nodes firing in my armpit-glad I have them. I can't beleive I let myself get into strike range. I am still replaying it and remember getting him to where I could tail him and distracting him-w-the tong in my right hand and boom he hit me.
I don't think he likes me cause I put a large frog in-w-him 2 days ago and he dry bit it about five times. I finally put the frog back in the pond. It was too be a meal I'm sure.
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by guttersnacks on April 6, 2005
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Dont kid yourself. The snake didnt hold a grudge against you for the frog episode. You simply convinced yourself "I'll be okay just this one time......"
Now, in your own words of your profile about getting bit......well, I'll be nice and not say it out loud.
Im not trying to give you a hard time, really, it just makes me mad to see another one of us let our guard down.
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by Phobos on April 6, 2005
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Howard.. Glad your ok.
Hard way to learn but I hope you got the "point".
The best cages in the world are useless if you don't secure them correctly. I have several cages including Precisions that are really good for hots but you have to follow a proceedure. When I close the locks I count out loud..1 , 2 , 3 as I close each lock. Then I slide the locking bar across & lock that too. Then as I open the snake room door, I look at every cage and confirm they are closed & locked. If I re-enter the room the next day the first thing I confirm is that everybody is where they should be. It sounds like "overkill" but as you found out today best to be veny anal when working with Hots. If you want to see how I add the locking bar I will be happy to send you some pictures.
Please don't blame the snake or think it's holding a grudge. It's just doing what million of years of evolution programmed it to do. If you want to see a snake with a grudge I have a Mangrove Pit Viper that comes out of hiding to try to bite me, now that's a grudge.
Take care,
Al
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by captiveherps on April 6, 2005
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It will likly get sore all through the lymphatics from your hand to your chest. Might get an bruise that follows the path too.
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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Anonymous post on April 7, 2005
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I really find this post hard to believe. You get tagged by a venomous snake and instead of seeking medical treatment, you get on this site and start asking questions and describing the bite. The whole time you are typing, your extremity is edemous. Any person with common sense would go and get it checked out. I am sorry, not trying to insult anyone, but I dont buy it.
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by challenger on April 7, 2005
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Certainly I deserve the critisism for being lax about leaving an opening for the snake and aknowledge the blame.
As for getting bit let me just say I'm not the first or last on this forum to get bit. To me it is like most things. If your are a "doer" you will make mistakes period. If you sit on the couch you won't screw up.
As for seeking treatment I feel it would have been a mistake to go to the ER for a copperhead bite so long as I was monitoring it and was observing no allergic problems or great distress. They would have admitted me, maybe shot me-w-antivenin. Maybe they would have seen I have good coverage and done unnecessary stuff like a fasciotomy. Kept me at least a night maybe a week?
I feel I was carefull enough by seeing an experienced ER Nurse and was always at the ready in case I felt a need to go to the ER. I know there has never been a recorded death from a copperhead bite to a healthy person and I feel I have enough medical information and resources available to me where the decision to avoid the ER was the proper one.
As for criticizing me for looking to this forum for info-well I don't know what to say other than I feel there are some good and knowledgable and helpfull people here.
I get the sense from one post they don't believe I was bit. To him I say I have pictures but I'm not going to make them available to one-w-such a mentality.
This AM my hand is a little painfull and swollen but much better than yesterday and I would like to say thanks to those that offerred help/advice. To those that just want to crap in my breakfast I'll say, God forbid, if I ever get bit again I will not post the event here.
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RE: copperhead bite this AM-recommendations???
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by earthguy on April 7, 2005
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I was tagged by a contortrix once. I didn't go to the ER, and I survived. Of course at the time I was 18 and STUPID. That was the only Hot that ever tagged me, and I actually wasn't handling it. I was following my uncle through thick brush, he stepped on it, and it tagged me. Next time go to the ER. That is why we have insurance.
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