If you read the heading and your thinking what is this guy on about then just hear me out.
On Sunday we were going to clean the glass of the one Rock Monitor cages. So I wanted to get the little guy (snout to vent around 40cm) out first but he has a heavy feeding response. As I opened the glass he came flying which is always fun and as usual I had to neck and tail him. I then proceeded to place him in a large container but as soon as I let go to remove my hands he was already attached to my right thumb. Yes they can be that fast!
He clamped down hard as can be expected and started thrashing about so I restrained him quickly. I was then in a bit of a panic as the pain was pretty sharp and just as it felt bearable he would chew it a little. I had two of the park volunteers jump in to help using the back of a butter knife as a breaker and the other lifting the front of the snout. In all I think it was under 3 min.
I thought nothing much of it and carried on with the day. Then around 10-15 min I felt a cool sweat come over me, again I didn't think to much of it being a hot day with aircon running. I was listening to a friend who just arrived when I started feeling kind of faint as if I was going to pass out or vomit. It got really intense so I was given 2 allergex and I went to lay down. There was instant relief from the nausea while I was laying down. Then I started feeling a lump in my throat as all the muscles just under my tongue went very stiff so swallowing was not comfortable. The muscle stiffness proceeded all around my neck into my back and arms. I had intense pins and needles in both arms which passed fairly quickly. Even the muscles used to move my eyes hurt. Now at this time my friend is calling a few people to find out about these symptoms. After he explained the situation all I could hear him say on the phone is OH HECTIC x3 ! NO ways.
He was told to give me another allergex and get some other antihistamine but luck would have it you need a prescription. He said if I don't feel any better I may have to go to hospital to be observed. Apparently some people have such severe pain and go as stiff as a board. Throughout their body that is.
I felt very weak and getting up from the floor I felt like I ran a marathon the previous day. After around 2hrs it was closing time so I continued to help guests and close up. I was fine to drive and function at this stage. The only effects that lasted the rest of the evening was the muscle stiffness throughout the body but mainly upper body. Even muscles around my scalp and eyes were sensitive.
Now I have always respected a Rock Monitor but I can't help but respect them even more now. I have been bitten by them a few times and the only other time I had issues was with a hatching that got me on the index finger. In this case I had the lump in the throat and neck stiffness. I haven't experienced any effects by a Nile monitor bite but I have had one good chomp and some nibbles from them.
Over the whole ordeal the scary part was going pale and almost passing out. The rest of the ordeal is very much like a body wrecking flu with the sore throat. The next day I was fine besides my thumb which felt like it was hit with a spiked hammer.
Hope you guys found this an interesting read.