Hospitalized - Bitten By My RBBS

[Martk]

Very interesting post lovemysnakes, thanks for sharing. I've been catching & keeping vens for well over 20 years and have only been tagged by white lips when i was a kid. God knows how i'm alive today when I recall those early days, there's been many close calls mainly from tigers and browns. Have had to force feed young adders as well which can be a tricky business.

I was on a catching trip About 13 years ago with a dear old friend of mine, no longer with us. He got hit from an adult tiger. It scratched his index finger with one fang, short scratch about 1cm. In any case his symptoms were similar. He stayed in hospital overnight, they left the compression bandage on despite his whole hand being black. He received no anti-venom and I picked him up from hospital the following night. He had no strength in his arm and the entire limb was still very swollen. On closer inspection the red track mark could be seen travelling into his shoulder. We left that town and eventually got him to his own doctor the following day. After testing his urine they rushed him to intensive care where he spent the next three days on a drip being flushed with fluids. The venom was breaking down muscle tissue and the doctor said that if he didn't get that second opinion his kidneys would have failed due to the amount of broken down tissue they were trying to filter. Scary stuff, he had no feeling in the hand for 6 months.

Your story is a very telling reminder to treat all venomous species with the utmost respect, at all times.

 

[Lovemysnakes]

I dont really think welding gloves are the solution, i may be wrong but i havnt ever heard of any reason to use welding gloves to handle snakes. I would imagine they would cause a lack of control and a false sense of security.

It was good of you to tell us about your accident and i hope you recover well.

Hi, yes elapid has PM'd me explaining the correct method to assist/force feed my RB. You are right for sure. I can truthfuly say that you really do not have control whilst using welding gloves. If you did I suppose all snake catchers would be using them! They dont - I suppose that says it all. Elapid has explained the correct method in which to do this - I strongly advise all elapid owners to obtain advice from experienced APS members before attempting anything out of the ordinary with their elapid - I wish I had!

 

[Lovemysnakes]

Very brave and generous of the author of this thread to share their story. To those who think it sounds bad, keep in mind that this bite didn't even need antivenom - it was a mild bite (I'm assuming - given that no mention of antivenom was made. Correct me if I'm wrong). When discussing bites it's usually a case of species, whether or not antivenom was needed and if so, how much (one vial is "relatively" mild as envenomations go, anything more than two or three is fairly serious). When there is a lot of venom, things can get really fun.

Play safe

Hi Sdaji, yep just to confirm that I did not require antivenom. They do not give antivenom to persons who have been tagged by a RBBS unless you have a severe reaction. I'm afraid you just have to wait it out. I've heard that antivenom is $900 a shot - can anyone confirm this? This is not the reason you dont get it though - the reason is that you can get a nasty reaction from the antivenom on top of everything else. As RB bites are not life threatening, saline is the best treatment.

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

Glad to hear you have come out of it ok so far. What dosnt kill you makes you stronger? not in this case but
at least you have learned something and you have opened the eyes of a few more potential bitees with your thread.
Thanks for sharing.
Save the welding gloves for welding i reckon..
Baz

 

[Tatelina]

I strongly advise all elapid owners to obtain advice from experienced people before attempting anything out of the ordinary with their elapid - I wish I had!

*BING BING BING!!*

We have a winner!

 

[Jonno from ERD]

Hey Jonno, weren't you envenomated in a similar situation (minus the offending glove of course)?

Aaron,

You seem to have difficulty understanding the situation you are referring to.

Whilst employed at Venom Supplies, I was milking an adult Colletts Snake. As I was massaging it's venom glands, I felt a prick on my finger. Upon closer inspection, the snake had shed one of it's fangs, which was stuck on the outside of it's lower jaw, near the corner of its mouth. Been that I was working at a facility governed by strict operating procedures, we decided to take the safe option and visit the local hospital. After 4 hours of sitting around and feeling absolutely nothing but boredom, it was decided that I was perfectly fine and was released.

The above situation has little impact on captive keepers, as they will never find themselves needing to milk a venomous snake.

 

[Chris1]

Glad to hear ur ok!
how scary!!

 

[snakes01]

wow lovemysnakes how old was the rbbs?
i would love to get an elapid especially a rbbs i think they have amazing colours but i think ill wait untill im a little more experienced haha

 

[bigguy]

Lovemysnakes, good post but sorry to hear you suffered so much. Rbbs may not have caused a death, but they are still classed as potentially dangerous and any bite, no matter how small, should be treated at a hospital.

The one thing you mention in your post that did concern me was the red rash up your arm, than over your torso. To me, this sounds a lot like an allergic reaction. You may find you are in the group of people who have allergies to venom. If this is the case, a second bite could be disastorious and if I was you, I would give a lot of thought about keeping vens in the future..

As for long term effects to your bodies, well I am a walking billboard for this. I have not been able to drink booze for over 15 years, my liver and kidnies are shot, muscle fatigue, not much taste left, always tied and get sick if anyone breaths on me

 

[the_tsar]

I was mad keen about getting a Rbb, but after this story about fussy feeding and the surprising strength of the Rbb that bit you, I think my keenness has worn away, perhaps for a while longer me thinks. I heard that RBB were the best for biting you (if you had to be bit by an elipid) but this bite seems serious enought to give me a second thought.
Wicked story though, thanks.

 

[Lovemysnakes]

*BING BING BING!!*

We have a winner!

Why the constant aggression? Have I upset you in some way? Does any other APS member get hassle from Tat?

 

[Lovemysnakes]

I was mad keen about getting a Rbb, but after this story about fussy feeding and the surprising strength of the Rbb that bit you, I think my keenness has worn away, perhaps for a while longer me thinks. I heard that RBB were the best for biting you (if you had to be bit by an elipid) but this bite seems serious enought to give me a second thought.
Wicked story though, thanks.

Hey TSAR - dont let my experience put you off getting a RBBS. My little Otis is very gentle and easily handed like most RBBS. Just make sure you get help when undertaking anything unusual like force feeding - I've sure learnt the hard way - it's a lesson learnt. They are such lovable elapids - I still recommend them as a great pet.

 

[Hetty]

Does any other APS member get hassle from Tat?

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Lovemysnakes]

So many people have told me the red bellies are nothing to worry about but this post shows all elapids are to be treated with the utmost respect.quote]

I think all snakes should be treated with utmost respect. Yes an elapid can cause severe damage and pain, or worse. But any snake has the potential to cause harm to us.

I think this thread is a good warning to all keepers, especially future elapid keepers like myself. Just reminds me to stay focused, especially if a situation requires hands on contact. Hope you have a good recovery.

Amen to that

 

[redbellybite]

still wanna rbb ..............and they say that the bite is painful well now you can tell them HELL YEAH!!! but all in all glad you made it and hope your little rbbs is eating ok RBB...

 

[flinders]

Why the constant aggression? Have I upset you in some way? Does any other APS member get hassle from Tat?

Good on you for telling your story and letting your mistake be a learning curve for others. I would'nt worry about comments like that , there is one in every crowd and at a guess does'nt own vens either. I have had vens for a few years now and have'nt been bit but it will happen.If you keep vens it's only a matter of time.A few of the old school people on here will tell you the same.

 

[Tatelina]

Why the constant aggression? Have I upset you in some way? Does any other APS member get hassle from Tat?

Agression? What, a person isn't allowed to have character and make a joke?
Relax buddy.

 

[Lovemysnakes]

Agression? What, a person isn't allowed to have character and make a joke?
Relax buddy.

Sorry Tatelina, I must have mis-understood you - appologies.

 

[Lovemysnakes]

Good on you for telling your story and letting your mistake be a learning curve for others. I would'nt worry about comments like that , there is one in every crowd and at a guess does'nt own vens either. I have had vens for a few years now and have'nt been bit but it will happen.If you keep vens it's only a matter of time.A few of the old school people on here will tell you the same.

Ta for your input Flinders - why Flinders? This puts the fear of god back in me. Another night in Flinders Medical Centre would have just about finished me off!

 

[LizardLady]

Hey Lovemysnakes!
Firstly, many thanks to you for sharing your story with the rest of us - it's definitely an eye-opener, and has been a great input for those keeping elapids (of any sort!)... not that I have any, but I have dealt with wild ones before...!
Secondly, HOW THE HECK DID YOU GET STRAIGHT IN TO FLINDERS??? Totally off-topic, when i dislocated and fractured my knee, I sat in the waiting room for over four hours while listening to the doctors having "smoko"...
Anyway, Kudos to you man, for your efforts in putting the story "out there", and still being around to tell the tale!
Hope your recovery is rapid and totally successful!
Best,
Carolyn