[COham] Fred (WS0TA) has Snake Bite on SOTA

[Paul Signorelli]

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First I want to thank people for so many kind and caring messages, appreciated.



Second:  Take away advice for others...



< MOST U.S. snakes are hemotoxin venom, and are treated with the same anti-venom.  The exception is the Mojave which is neurotoxin and needs to be treated with a different anti-venom.



< the RANGE given for the Mojave is southern edge of NM, TX, southern AZ, and the Mojave desert of CA, and it is WRONG.  The Mojave is rare but is found in desert areas up to 7,000 ft in NM and CO, has been seen as far north as Ft Collins.



< Very few medical facilities can treat snakebite.  The antivenom has a shelf life and is held by only a few regional hospitals.  Treatment is directed by your state Poison Control.  Pujt Poison Control phone number in your phone.  Call them if need help with a bite.  Be prepared to tell them where you are and they will direct you to nearest facility where you can be helped.



Third: brief story.  I was bitten on the tip of the middle finger of my right hand.  Venom migrates by the lymph system.  I put a soft tournakit on it to slow rate of travel, then hiked an hour back to trailhead.  Had no choice in the matter.  John drove, took me to nearest clinic which was at Jemez Pueblo where I have good friends.  They could not help, but they knew who could, and sent us to the nearest facility that had the anti-venom.



It was 2.5 hours from the bite to making Sandoval County Regional hospital ER where I could be treated.  They wont administer antivenom until they have done a blood test (since the anti-venom is toxic if it isn't being balanced against the venom itself).  The venom destroys the bloods ability to clot, destroys platelets, and you bleed to death internally.



Platelet count is apparently typically in the two hundreds.  My count was eleven, the lowest they had ever seen.  They expected me to need a transfusion, and considered me critical at that point (though I felt fine!)



They administered four doses of anti-venom, and did another blood test.  My platelets immediately rose to 187 and doctors appeared much relieved.



After a second round a few hours later platelets were normal.  Note I surely would have died without the  anti-venom.



Venom survives for several DAYS.  Anti-venom survives for several hours during which time it blocks the action of the venom.  I received three more episodes of anti-venom over the next two days, until blood work no longer showed venom activity, so I was i n ICU for constant monitoring during this time.



All during this, my blood pressure was consistently approximately 125/65, and pulse in the 50's (40's when asleep).  I was never excited or elevated.  They say stay calm (to slow rate of spread, so I did).  Two different doctors were over-seeing me.  I was thrilled that both were trail runners, both had done Rim-to-rim-ro-rim of the grand canyon as have I, they liked my vitals, and me, and I liked them ;-)



Poison control, not primary care doctor continues in charge of my treatment.  They will monitor me with blood work for another ten days.  The finger will take months to fully recover, but should.





unnecessary risks:  Life is full of risks.  To some degree we get to choose which ones we take.  I choose the mountains and deserts and hiking.  I do not choose bungie jumping, sky-diving, drugs, fast-food pizza, or mcdonalds hamburgers.  this isn't likely to change.



Celebrate life and take care of one another!



73,  Fred KT5X (aka WS0TA):

via  w0rw