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sun burnt, teeth pain, and rattle snakes

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Posted 6/24/2009 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone.

Talk about an interesting week, and it's not even over yet!!! First of all I went to the dentist monday morning and had some cavities worked on that where close to the gum line and the numbing shots didnt work for the bottom part of my mouth and I could feel them drilling, I wanted to scream, but I didnt say anything cause we where going camping (my kids, niece, and my father) as soon as I got back and the dentist was taking forever already. So after that horrible experience we went camping and I got badly sunburned even though I had sunblock on. My arms, feet, and face are as bright as a tomato. Then I scratched my foot really bad on the boat and it's leaking some weird pus now from not being able to clean it right away. So I finally made it home today and took a shower in tepid water, and it was still painful, I slathered on burn lotion that has lidocaine in it, took 800mg of ibprofen. I havent even unpacked yet, I'm too worn out. But I thought I should update everyone.

Well the ibprofen is making me sleepy, even though my teeth and skin still hurts badly, but I'm gonna go and try and take a short nap, and let you guys know what's going on with my pain, but now I'm gonna go lay down and cry.

-hellokitty

ps, I didnt even catch any fish, but my kids caught a baby rattlesnake shocked shocked shocked , I took it to the camp ground host and he let it go way out in the hills not near anything.

Posted 6/25/2009 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
((((((((Kitty)))))))))

I haven't read all the threads yet, but I wanted to at least send you hugs! I hope you get that foot checked out if it keeps oozing!

Sounds like you need to give yourself some TLC - big time!

PaLady
Posted 6/25/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Holy Cow! That is ALOT to do in a week!  shocked   I hope your foot feels better :-)  

*huggs*

dani

P.s. hehehe rattle snakes! Kidds, ahahaha :-)

Posted 6/25/2009 3:22 AM (GMT 0)

Geez Kitty,

You have certainly had your share, hope you get some much needed rest.  

Sending you sunny hugs and hope you feel better soon! 

(((((((((kitty)))))))))))

XXOO
Patti

Posted 6/25/2009 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the replies. I tried to lay down but anything touching my arms hurt like crazy and it's kinda hard to lay down without something touching your arms, and I cant lay while holding my arms in the air, that would just be uncomofrtable. My face is starting to hurt more and more, I keep accidentally rubbing my face and I'm quickly reminded that it's burnt. And I can only eaat on the left side of my mouth and I go in for more teeth work next monday for the left side of my mouth, so hopefully the right side will be healed by then or I wont be able to eat. I cleaned my toe realy good and put neosporin on it, but if it starts to get worse I will defiently get myself to the doctor. Well thank you again for caring, I needed to vent after all the pain I've been through the past few days. But I n eed to go any try and lay down again, I really am sleepy but I feel like I'm fire.

-hellokitty
Posted 6/25/2009 8:01 AM (GMT 0)
Kitty, You left out a very important element of your original post. You had to leave right after the dental work and it was painful. You have been burned on your face, arms and feet, you scratched your foot on the boat and got an infection, your kids caught a rattlesnake but you did not catch a fish. Please tell me that in some way you did have some fun. I read this earlier but did not have the capacity to reply. As I lay here in the motel room tonight with the old friend insomnia, all I can think of is I hope in some way you had some fun. I know the end result has been terrible but please tell us that there was some element of fun and relaxing in this for you. I would hate to think you ended up with all this and the whole camping trip was even worse. I feel for you with the sunburn. I once fell asleep (had been drinking) ona beach in Hawaii while in the Navy. I don't tan at all and when I woke up, I could hardly move. I went back to the ship and my father always made me take a hot shower when I was sunburt as a kid so I tried it. Can't tell you the effect in decent words. I went to sick bay and was told they could admit me to sick bay but they would charge me with destruction of governement property. It was a long week I can tell you that. The worst part of it is I can't remember having fun on the beach at all. Please tell us there was something good in all this. I will pray that you can get some sleep. Blessings! 

Posted 6/25/2009 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
fatherjohn,

Yes, I did have some fun, I absoutly love fishing but I always return the fish lol, I dont like to kill animals. I made my dad return all his fish he caught, he said he didnt know he was bringing an animal rights person lol. I like to camp but it's hard for me to get out with all these health problems I have. But on the way back I stopped at this store out in the middle of nowhere that's very popular for homemade fudge, chocolate, ice cream, and fruits and vegetables, and in october they have a pumpkin patch with hay rides and stuff , but I bought $20 worth of fudge, and it's almost all gone already lol. But it was very fun, I just know next time I will bring a very strong sunblock and reaply it every hour lol and a hat, cause now my nose is leaking that clear fluid, yuck. Well my dad felt bad for me and was happy that I was still a good sport besides all the pain so he just left to the store to buy me my own fishing pole and fishing stuff so I can take the kids fishing this summer. I didnt hardly get any sleep last night, I kept waking up everytime I turned and touched my face or rubbed my hands and arms the wrong way, and taking a hot shower didnt help any lol, I have some of those body wipes they use for very disabled people that cant take baths, so I'm thinking I may use those for a few days instead, I'm scared of water right now lol.

-hellokitty
Posted 6/25/2009 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kitty,
Just a thought - I'd watch using wipes and things with any chemicals on them. Even soaps might irritate. Maybe call your pharmacist and ask what OTC they might recommend to put on your skin right now. If you have any aloe plants you can access, that's the best a you can just cut it open and gentley apply it. It's like a gel and very soothing and all natural.

Your skin needs TLC right now!

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 6/26/2009 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
Kitty, I like that you let some of those fish return. They need grace sometimes to. I spend many, many days fishing and even if the catching was not good, the fishing still was. I had an older mobile home and when I was injured, I had to sell it to pay bills and I have not been out since. I agree with PAlady about the wipes. It would depend what are on the wipes. A pharmisist would be a good place to get free advise about what would be good to keep on the burn. You don't need to extend the healing time. I was so glad that you had some fun. I am sure the kids also enjoyed it. Hope you get more sleep tonight.

Posted 6/26/2009 7:16 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Kitty,

Wow what a time you had. I too love to fish. I am perfectly content just sitting in the boat with a line in the water. I don't even mind the bait grabbers lol.

For the sunburn on your arms and stuff but not the face, my mother always put vinegar on us as kids to take the fire out of the sunburn. It really does work and its cheap and something we usually have in the house. She used Noxema on our faces too. It seemed as kids our first trip to the pool we always got "cooked" sunblock or not.

Keep an eye on the toe, especially if your foot got in lake water after you scratched it. I ended up off work for a week once due to severe infection in a leg from lake water. My leg and foot swelled terrible. However, I had an old country dr that knew compounds and he did all his own mixing. He made a salve that he put on the wound and bandaged it. I had to go to his office every morning for a dressing change. Whatever he mixed up actually drew the infection out. He was quite a dr.

Your kids caught a baby rattle snake. Their venom is much stronger than an adult OMG. They are all cobras to me.

Take care of yourself.

Posted 6/27/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, Kitty, I feel for you!

A month or two ago, I was in the same boat with the sunburn. I had only been burned that badly once before in my life (and I was also wearing sun screen -- it turns out that it was a defective batch!!! And I was in Aruba of all places!). This last time it was my fault (in addition to the amitriptylene that I was on). Sunburns are so awful! I could barely move for about 2 wks. Driving in the car, sitting in a chair, and lying in bed was pure torture! I found that pure aloe gel worked the best for me (straight from the plant is the best, if you have one, if not, you can find aloe gel in the grocery store). The aloe gel with the lidocaine is also good, but I think I like the pure stuff better. I hope you are feeling a little better today!!

Have I mentioned before that I work with snakes? Actually, our animal caretaker was sick this week, so I took care of the lab's colony of 100 or so corn, king, and milk snakes. I have a lovely bite mark on my hand from one of the corn snakes that was not so happy that she was not getting fed. Usually they are good natured though. I ended up taking a young corn snake home as a pet, a few years ago. We have timber rattlesnakes where I live, but I've never seen one. It's a good thing that you handed it over to the park authorities, as the baby snakes actually have more venom than the adults, although they are cute! Actually, a couple copperhead bites almost killed one of our dogs a few years back (and she's not a small dog, either)!

Skeye
Posted 6/27/2009 8:50 AM (GMT 0)
skeye and everyone else,

I actually have a corn snake that's still small right now, I've had it for over 2 years. I actually have too many animals lol, I use to
have a giant millipede that was my favorite but he died of old age. I have a big heart for all animals and creepy crawlies, I freak
out seeing someone hurt an animal. Actually right now I have sitting in my living room with 6 cages filled with 3 degus, 2 rats, 2 guinea
pigs and the snake, I always joke that they're my year food supplies (we mormons beleive in having a year supplies of food at all times).

Well the sunburn on my nose has turned very nasty looking, the skin has turned all brown and peels off, but the skin underneigth is all
very pink, so I have a blotchy pink and brown nose with dried skin flaking all over my nose, and it stings really bad. And to make
matters worse, my wonderful father had me come over and plant vegetables in a garden that he had me dig up, sift the grass out of
the dirt and dig holes and plant the vegetables, so out in the sun again where it burns my skin even worse. And no, I cant tell my
dad no, he has paid so many of my bills and buys me and my kids everything (including cars, car insurance, and lots of very very expensive things) that I basically owe him a life time of chores, so telling him no would make me not be able to sleep at night. So now
my back is also killing me from gardening.

I'm just having a bad week all together, seriously. Like today these cable people came to hook up some new people that moved into my apartment building and they kept messing with my dish, I dont know if they thought they where being funny cause I had another cable company then them or what, but it was making me angry, and I went out there and watched him like a hawk and he finally stopped doing it. I even called my dad and he said to call that cable company and complain, so I may do that but I dont know what that would help. Then I took my friend to the food bank and we had to sit next to "ms. skunk-pants" who smelled so bad I was certain that I was going to vomit. I dont understand how people can live with themselves when they stink so bad, do they not smell themselves?? Ok, well enough of a rant, it's 2am and I cant sleep grrrr....

-hellokitty
Posted 6/27/2009 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
WOW enough talk about snakes I will get nighmares......LOL

HelloKitty but I am glad you got to go enjoy some time with the family. When I get burnt I lay in bed with just a sheet. Anything else hurts to dang much....

Laurie
Posted 6/28/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
     

 

       You are all crazy!! Oh my goodness! Come out to the desert, we got reptiles a' plenty! *shivers*  Our "pest control" consists of 7 types of ants, scorpian burrows, snake holes, and oh! Dont mistake the big round horney toads for a bad guy?!

 

   skull   It a war out there skull

 

*huggs*

dani

Posted 6/28/2009 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
THATS IT!!!!!!!  I will never go where you live DANI!!!!!!!

smhair   smhair smhair smhair

Laurie

Posted 6/29/2009 6:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hello~Kitty:

The worst of the sunburn is probably over, but for future reference, last year my son got horribly sunburned (his skin turned black & blistered and then got all crusty - it was horrible to say the least), and the stuff the doctor prescribed was not working (silvidene cream), so I went and found an aloevera gel with lidocaine in it. That and solarcaine helped him a lot.

I hope you are feeling better.

Lorie
Posted 6/30/2009 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you must have been at a Nebraska lake with the sun, hills, fish and rattlesnake. 

BTW - I never used to hate rattle snakes.  Used to think they were just out doing their little rattlesnake thing until my son's most loveable dog, a Border Collie was bitten in the neck in the hills of Nebraska.  Everyone said "oh dogs can survive rattlesnake bites" including the vet.  Gave him the usual treatment of penicillin and lasix.  Harry died horrible death two days later.  We used to let them go.  Not any more. 3 weeks later thinking about Harry still makes me cry.  Not good for my bi-polar.  The babies can be even more lethal.  Don't take them for granted.

 

Posted 7/1/2009 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Kitty,

Sounds like you are getting there, although the peeling is no fun either, especially since the skin underneath is so sensitive! Hopefully only a few more days of this & you'll be home-free! You've definitely been having a rough time lately.
I love my corn snake. He's 3 yrs old, and still pretty small. I used to have one of his brothers as well, and he was twice the size of my little guy! But I had to give him away, because he started to get food aggressive & I didn't have to resources to keep them separate, so now he lives at a nature sanctuary & teaching facility.
I read in one of the other threads that one of your guinea pigs is about to give birth! That is exciting! I had guinea pigs growing up, and my first one (who we had for about 8 years) gave birth to two babies about a month after we got her! What a surprise! I remember going to pick her up one day & she was in the middle of giving birth, and the placenta was green! I had so much fun with my "piggies" (we did give the babies away though), although I think my favorite pocket pet was our Dwarf rabbit. He was just the sweetest thing. He died of old age after about 8 yrs as well, and I remember being very sad. My sister & I used to build obstacle courses for the rabbit & guinea pigs and then set them loose, or let them crawl all over out chests as we watched a movie! And we'd also walk the rabbit outside on a leash, armed with squirt guns to ward off the cats! Lots of fun! I'm sure your kids love all of the animals too!

Blackdogs,
I'm so, so sorry to hear about the loss of your dog! As I mentioned earlier on the thread, one of my dogs was nearly killed by several bites from a Copperhead. I give all the credit for saving her to my vet, but it was touch & go for several days. He didn't realize the extent of the injury until about 12 hrs later, when she could barely breathe & could not drink because he tongue (where she was bitten) was so swollen & necrotic that it didn't fit in her mouth & obstructed her airway. It was a horrific site, we never thought that she'd make it through the first night & when the vet saw her again the next morning, he didn't know why she was still alive! Fortunately, several years later, she's just fine (minus several black, necrotic sites/bite wounds on her tongue). But even today, she is terrified of my young pet snake. If she sees him, she starts shaking & gets very nervous about me handling him. I think that unless you live somewhere where poisonous snake bites are very common, the vets are not too knowledgeable about the condition, for example, getting anti-venom into the animal, which may not even be available, unless again, you are in a high incidence area. My vet didn't even realize that it was a snake bite at first (even though that's what we thought it was, although we didn't know for sure until a few days later), he thought that she had gotten into some poisonous toads or some kind of chemical (which was impossible) & I respect my vet very, very much, as he is like a father to me & is extremely knowledgeable. And you're right. That hatchlings are absolutely more lethal than the adults because their venom is much more concentrated.

Skeye
Posted 7/1/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
We are hoping to teach the new puppy to not be so curious with snakes and other crawlies. He will attempt to teach Piper to sit and bark when she comes upon a snake. My son has miles and miles of fence to repair every spring and early summer. Breeding and shedding season when they are most grumpy. Harry loved to fence. My son will want to take Piper so there will be a lot of training before that happens. They will come upon snakes in the same area every year as they are quite territorial

BTW - have any of you pain experts had any experience with Carcinoid Tumors. My husband was diagnosed with one due to the tests and problems he was having but they could never find it, not even at Mayo clinic, even though the tests kept saying it is somewhere.
Posted 7/1/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
We are hoping to teach the new puppy to not be so curious with snakes and other crawlies. He will attempt to teach Piper to sit and bark when she comes upon a snake. My son has miles and miles of fence to repair every spring and early summer. Breeding and shedding season when they are most grumpy. Harry loved to fence. My son will want to take Piper so there will be a lot of training before that happens. They will come upon snakes in the same area every year as they are quite territorial

BTW - have any of you pain experts had any experience with Carcinoid Tumors. My husband was diagnosed with one due to the tests and problems he was having but they could never find it, not even at Mayo clinic, even though the tests kept saying it is somewhere.
Posted 7/1/2009 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Kitty!
I couldn't help but to read your post after seeing the title! WOW, that was some camping / fishing trip! Everyone had good suggestions for you about your sunburn & wound but I'm going to add to them if you don't mind? But first, can I ask, were you taking any antibiotics for your dental work? I found out the hard way about how caustic that combo can be on a cruise to the Bahamas a few years ago! Sunscrean just doesn't help at all and tbe burns don't take long to get very serious! I got seroursly ill also> (felt like dying) Anyway, I just thought that may have happened to you???
On the sunburn, I agree w/ everyone about the aloe gell, it's great stuff! I keep some in my cooler on ice when I'm out in my boat, it feels so good after a long day on the water even if I'm not badly burned, it cools my dry hot skin and helps moisterize it. We also keep it in the fridge at home, it just seems to work much better when chilled!!!!
Now I don't want to sound like a know-it-all, but when ever I go out fishing or camping I always take a firstaid kit along! I also learned the hard way when I was out fishing w/ a friend years ago who decided to bring a sting ray in the boat after I told him not to. It fell off the hook and not only stung his leg but cut a 6" gash right down to the bone on his shin! Talking about screaming and yelling in agony! We used both our tee shirts as bandages and both soaked through. The boat was a bloody mess and by the time I got him in and to the hospital, he had to have the whole thing irrogated and cleaned. They couldn't even put stitches in it as it had to drain for about a week. That was the last time I didn't bring a first aid kit w/ me.
I have gotten into all wierd types of ick here while fishing in the tropics when I had no idea what I was dealing with and glad I had good bacterial cleaning things in my F.A. kit. There is some really nasty stuff out there! Sorry to ramble and get dramatic Kitty, I do mean well!
Your Fishin Buddy!
Pete
PS> I let go 99% of the fish I catch, just have to have a fish dinner once in a while!
Posted 7/2/2009 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Wow this is an amazing thread!!  There is so much to it!!!  Kitty, I hope you are feeling better soon.  I am a total baby when it comes to sunburns.  I use zinc based sunscreen.  It has a physical barrier as well as chemical.  It works well as long as you don't wipe it off accidentally.  The only problem is that you can see it....I end up looking somewhat purple when it is on.  Hard to explain.  Again, feel better soon.

Oh and now that my boys are 12 and 15 I can finally keep and eat a few of the fish I catch.  We have video of my younger son petting a trout as I quickly de-hook it for release.  As I remember, he was telling that fish to hang in there and that he was going to be all right. We tease him about that still.  I LOVE to fly fish; complete addict. 

Posted 7/2/2009 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
To everyone

Well my guinea pig hasnt had her babies yet, but we're waiting, my kids are very excited. We literally have a petting zoo in my apartment, but I always make sure their's no babies being born after the trauma I had with my hampster, but when I saw this guinea pig at the pet shop, I just had to get her. She literally looks like a big white fuzz ball with eyes lol, and I didnt even thing about babies til a few days after we got her and I wasnt sure she was even pregnant yet, but we know for sure now. I love to feel her babies move when she lets me, but of course she doesnt like her belly touched. But I have a feeling within the next week or so. If anyone has any tips for me with guinea pig birth, then please let me know, I've been researchng like crazy but I'm still nervous.

Also my sun burn isnt hurting anymore, but I'm shedding like crazy. I seriously look like I have some skin disease. My burnt skin is leathery feeling and looking and peeling and the new skin is pink so it looks weird when normally I have very soft skin. My father who is the post master at the local post office got this huge firs aid kit her gave to me (he prolly stole it lol), it's a big green duffle bad filled with everything you could possibly think of, I could prolly do minor surgery with everything it's got lol. And I carry it with me when I go camping.

The dentist didnt prescribe me anything at all. I just took some ibprofen 800mg I get prescribed for migraines, and it works wonderful for my teeth pain. I went in again this last monday to finish up more work, they numbed my right upper teeth and it numbed up to my right nostril, and then the left bottom side which numbed my whole left side of my face all the way to my ear. I guess they said it's hard to numb me cause I have strong cheek muscles, but I could still feel them drilling. And I told the dentist, but he wouldn't stop. I was literally shaking really bad the whole time, I should of smacked him.... I think, actually I know for sure that it's time for me to find a new dentist. I'm gonna look for one that offers laughing gas, even if I have to pay out of pocket as now I have a new fear of dental work.

-hellokitty
Posted 7/2/2009 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hope your finally done for now with that dentist, he sounded mean
as for the sun burn, ALOE is always best, Aloe Gel, and I've heard that
listerine could help soothe it too...
SunScreen always needs to be reapplied every 2 hours or more frequent if
your sweating as sweating will dissolve it...
and maybe look into getting a wide brim hat for camping...
But other than all these pitfalls sure hope you had some fun...
Lots of soft hugz
and keep us posted as soon as those lil guinea pigs are born...
May you get a low pain day soon!!!
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Hello-Kitty)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/3/2009 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitty,

We didn't do anything special when my guinea pig had babies -- just kept her in a different cage from the other one while she was in labor & for several weeks afterward. I don't really know much more than that. Mom knew what to do. I think those mothering instincts just naturally kick in. The only think that I can really think of is that you might have to break the amniotic sac around the babies after they are born, if mom, etc doesn't do it on her own, but she should. She'll actually probably eat the placentas & everything. Kinda gross, but a lot of animals do it. Best of luck! Let us know when the big day arrives! You & your kids must be very excited!

I hope you're feeling a little better! I've been postponing getting my wisdom teeth out for the last year & a half, because I'm kind of scared about it & don't need any more trauma in my life right now! But I think it'll probably end up happening in August, because they are starting to cause some trouble now.

hugs,
Skeye
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