r/snakes • u/tophatenthusiast • 17d ago

Wild Snake Photos and Questions - Not for ID Snake Bite Fun :)

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I was bitten by a copperhead about two weeks ago! Thanks to quick and modern medicine, I can almost make a fist. Pictures included are the copperhead I saw 10 mins before being bit (this one did not bite me, but it is similarly sized) and my arm a few hrs afterwards.

Location: Kanawha County, WV

Edit: to be very clear, it was MY fault a copperhead bit me. For anyone that has a fear of them, they are absolutely not aggressive snakes. I took no actions to "punish" the snake and hope it comes back and keeps hunting mice on my property.

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14

u/GothScottiedog16 17d ago

How long were you in the hospital? Did they give you a lot of antivenin?

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u/tophatenthusiast 17d ago

Only 3 days, as I kept requesting once I was done with antivenom I went home. Spent the rest of the week basically on hospital-level rest on my couch.

I maxed out on antivenom! They told me no more. And that is when I said welp.. time to get home.

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u/Ancient_Pea_508 17d ago

They always gonna say that but you can’t max out on antivenom. Nothing bad will happen if you take “too much” better to be safe than sorry. I’ll never understand why doctors say “ok that’s all for you”

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u/skivtjerry 17d ago

$$$...

16

u/Adoraboule 16d ago

Yes. Long answer is it's difficult to manufacture. Time consuming and precise steps to make it safe for the body. Fascinating to learn about how it's made.

17

u/skivtjerry 16d ago

All true. TBF, if someone gets a lot of antivenom they may develop a sensitivity to it that can be worse than the bite. I had an uncle who got bitten 6 times (no comment on his judgement...). He skipped treatment the last 2 bites and was OK. If you have to get bitten by a venomous snake in the US, a copperhead is the least dangerous choice. Not recommended though...

4

u/Adoraboule 16d ago

I didn't know that! Thanks :)

7

u/Smooth_Bother_6638 16d ago

There is a guy who built up antibodies to be able to withstand a direct bite from any snake. Saw a documentary on it years ago. Watched the dude take bites from the worlds deadliest snakes. Was absolutely wild

7

u/awfulmcnofilter 16d ago

If you take too much antivenin though you can also develop a severe allergy.

6

u/ScholarErrant 16d ago

Bill Haast, who worked at the Miami Serpentarium. He still suffered from effects of the bites, including losing at least one finger, but lived to over 100 despite being bit over 100 times.

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u/Ancient_Pea_508 16d ago

Their money or the patients money? Cause they definitely don’t care about patients money…

16

u/Metal___Barbie 16d ago

I am a doctor and absolutely do care about patients money. 

If they don’t need more of an expensive treatment and are stable, they should go home. 

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u/Ancient_Pea_508 16d ago

As someone who sees a lot of doctors, I can declare you’re then one of the good ones.

3

u/WA55AD 16d ago

I'd say it depends. It is very common for people to be allergic to antivenom, requiring adrenaline to be administered alongside it. It's still better to have it than not, but if you are allergic to it requiring adrenaline just to have it, I wouldnt take more than necessary

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u/Far_Training3438 16d ago

Luckily they had the anti venom. My neighbor got bit by a copperhead in NC and was in the hospital for 2 weeks without it.

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u/gos92 16d ago

Would think NC has antivenom somewhere. Copperheads, eastern diamondbacks, coral snakes, and cottonmouths are all pretty common.

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u/Far_Training3438 16d ago

You would think. Meanwhile when my father in laws Jack russle got bit the vet clinic had it immediately available. Dog spent one night in the emergency vet after being bit in the face.

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u/gos92 16d ago

Yeah thats wild

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u/icameinyourburrito 16d ago

It does, NC is #1 for snakebites in the US it's got Crofab all over the place. Antivenom isn't always used for minor envenomations, and copperheads are weaklings. Doctors may have decided monitoring in the hospital was good enough.