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Out of ICU
Out of ICU and hospital and back home. Still pretty incapacitated. Can't stand without great pain.... foot and calf are distended, and when I stand blood pools there and hurts like blazes. I can see black patches on foot where tissue is going to be lost, but they are not large. Blood pressure dropped to 70/30 in the first hours. Blue and blue all over -- anticoagulant in venom causes bleeding upon mere pressure. Dim memories of constant IVs, and blood draws to where they had to search for veins that hadn't already been used (and with the anticoagulant, lots of the punctures bled under the skin).
On the way to the hospital the ambulance crew relayed a radio message that "they found the snake, it was an 18" diamondback." I assume that means they killed it, Pima County Sheriff's Office being a practical lot. Let's see ... he's dead, and I spent four days in the ICU. That means....
I WON!
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God Almighty! I am glad you are recovering. Please take it easy for as long as needed. If they sent you home, you are on your way to full recovery, but don't do anything that will screw it up.
Ouch! Glad to hear you are recovering - sending healing thoughts and prayers your way.
Please, no re-matches.
Supposed to be the ones to be careful about are the small ones, as they are fast, mean and harder to see. The 10-footers are pretty slow, if scarier to look at, maybe.
You won!
"I WON!"
Damn straight.
Congratulations!
Mammals rule, reptiles drool! (albeit they drool venom, but YKWIM, yes?)
Anyway, glad to hear you're recuperating.
Wishing you a full and speedy recovery. OMG!
Phil
Tucson is different from most other areas because it is very dark at night, very little outside lighting. I can surely understand stepping on a snake in one's front yard without seeing it. I'm sorry it happened to you, but it's great that you are out of the hospital and home. Get well soon!
It's worse than an anti-coagulant ... it also contains enzymes to help break down your tissues for easy snake digestion.
Fun stuff.
Maybe you should arrange to have fewer such "victories"?
I see snake chaps in your future.
Here's wishing a swift recovery, Dave.
Get well soon
Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery.
Godspeed.
Holy cow!
We saw one about that size under the bench seat at the pistol range, Phoenix Rod and Gun Club, about a month ago.
Before anyone could do anything, it slithered away into the deep grass.
Since then, the grass has been cut back.
And I'm carrying some buck-shot rounds for my 38 snubbie. (Not supposed to shoot living things on the range but, gee, I might have to break that rule.)
Glad you are recovering.
Epics will be sung about you in ophidian communities throughout time immemorial. "Oh he was the Beast that Crushd Us"
Glad to hear you are doing much better. Surprised they are still active at night as it is getting colder. Please keep all of us who read your blog posted on your progress. Was on TR&G board with you.
Glad to hear you're weathering this. But try not to take the injury so personally!
At age 16 I shot two rattlers in a rock gulley with my father's .38, and gave myself permanent tinnitus. Thirty-plus years later my ears still ring. As with human snakes, they're best avoided, you can "win" but they leave a mark on you one way or another.
Hoping your health issues clear away and you can concentrate on what you love to do,
Heath
David, Glad to hear you are getting better and that you won! But, in Texas they claim you are supposed to "shoot the rattlers and stomp the scorpions". Tell me you didn't have a dyslexic moment...
Get well soon!