Cobra Bite Naja sputatrix Sunday 25th May 8.40pm Received a call about a cobra in a villa at Seminyak Bit of a panic from callers because kids were present and parents scared Instead of going home to gear up properly, which would have taken too long, I went straight there Only bag was light cotton without a draw string, and I had a torch but no hook Cobra about 1.2metre long behind a statue I tailed it out into the open and bagged it Because there was no draw string I had to tie the bag with a knot. Ist mistake It bit me straight through the bag as I tied it Within about 2 minutes I knew it was a wet bite Stinging pain moving up the finger beside my right thumb. Immediately washed the wound No compression bandage available because I hadn’t geared up before attending the call, 2nd mistake Home owners worried but told them it would be ok and probably dry bite so they didn’t get scared more than they were Rang Shinta to notify Sanglah hospital cobra bite was on the way She rang back to say no ante venon in Bali right now. Rode bike back to Kuta Purchased compression bandage and visited friends in Kuta who had a scalpel Made three cuts and removed a lot of venom Compression bandage really slowing the spread but hand and fingers swelling quickly When hand was straight down beside my body very big increase in pain level. Much more comfortable with hand tucked into shirt Home by 10.30pm with friends waiting Getting increasing pains right up arm, particularly in wrist and elbow joints Bite wound area and blood black colour by this stage probably from haemotoxic part in venom With possibly no access to ante venon decided on trying something else Venom travels just under the skin so basically turned my finger into a pin cushion. Kept increasing pressure gradually all the way down from the shoulder until blood started running red again and clear lymph fluid was steadily leaking Headache slowly growing worse with feelings of nausea but no vomiting and significant pain behind left knee. Vision affected but not too badly. Tried to stay calm, give instructions and teach body to fight back Found out that Siloam hospital has 2 vials of Biofarma polyvalent in stock Went there immediately and discussed things with doctor at about 1.50am No swabs done or reaction to ante venon tests done Put onto saline drip, blood pressure etc recorded 124/77 pulse 65 Did an ecg? Heart test. Huge problems fixing probes to a monkey and two tetanus shots At this stage hand swollen pretty well. High pain level in wrist and 2 finger joints. Nice headache and recurring stomach cramps with same pain behind left knee 2 vials of ante venon added directly into feed from saline drip Given strong pain killers that I would not have taken if I knew what they were, and good antibiotics Within 40 minutes I could feel the ante venon working and was confidant of a good result Slept until 7am. Visit from doctor who was recommending lots of irrelevant testing Basically refused them all because could not see the point Pain killers wore off shortly after this and let my body tell me what what was going on Still uncomfortable behind left knee… significant pain base of right thumb and 3 fingers, mild headache no feeling of nausea. Swelling of hand increased in diameter but lessened in height. No pain in arm elbow or shoulder. Ate breakfast with no feelings of nausea . drank lots of water and sweet tea Refused more painkillers but took anti biotics Blood pressure 115/80 heart 56pm Since I was having to tell the doctors what to do and no more ante venon was available if required, I couldn’t be bothered staying, so I released myself at 12.30pm and went home. Cost of 12hrs treatment 8jt Concentrated on directing my body to fight different areas as required 5am Tuesday 27th May Slight pain behind left knee. Still pain and swelling in three fingers, thumb, and joints with now some pain in wrist joint. . Possible onset of necrosis? no headache nausea or other symptoms. Bite wound bleeds red and flesh around bite has resumed normal colouration for any wounded area. Pain level still increases if hand is let hang straight down 1.50pm Tuesday 27th may Pain behind left knee gone. Same pain in wrist and fingers. No signs of any other pain swelling or nausea. Cannot form a fist because of swelling. Can definitely move fingers more freely. Cannot use hand for many things but could catch and hold head of 3metre wild retic while I removed ticks with left hand. Anything larger would not be an option. Interesting addition. Swapped hands with head of retic now held in left hand. Difficulty removing ticks with right hand. Coordination is great but delicate work not an option yet. Most food tastes the same but some tastes are definitely wrong with food I enjoy tasting pretty foul. Sense of smell affected but not too badly Taking no painkillers so I can feel what is happening. Quite uncomfortable but bearable. Am using medixon 4mg [Methylprednisolone] for swelling twice daily. Taking cefspan 200mg once daily as anti biotic. Played with the cobra for a few minutes to get rid of any potential fear factor and put it in a better box until release on 29th. Very feisty but handling felt ok so will be no dramas. Could use hook but only for a short time I think, and tailed with left hand as per usual
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 09:05:02 +0000
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