So at some point in Friday when I was "eating spiderwebs" on the way to a geocache in the woods, a spider decided to stick with me. I ended up getting bitten at some point Friday night. It was a big bite, but I just figured one of the skeeters got me good.
Yesterday, the bite was increasing in swelling and beginning to puss. I knew then it wasn't an ordinary bug bite.
I wake up today and one third of my rear thigh is swollen and the bite area is hard and crusty. So being that it's a Sunday, I take off to the Kroger Pharmacy in Garden City (I'm still in SC) to see what's typically good for spider bites.
She said since I already have antihistimines in my system from my Zyrtec allergy prescription, to keep putting cortizone on it. If the swlling doesn't start to subside by tomorrow, head to my doc for a shot of the same.
Just another ailment Geocaching has given to me, sigh.
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Comments: 38
Let us know when you get back how you are!
Please KUP on how you are doing!
Hobo and brown recluse (often blamed for hobo bites), can cause the hard mesquito type bite, with localized swelling around them. They start to get kind of a hollow area where the meat disolves and can become a NASTY situation fast. Some of these bites have taken over a year to be considered as healed, even though you can still see and feel the pit.
I recently studied up on this quite a bit because my 1 year old found a hobo spider and was trying to grab it.
All I know. Is that when I find the spider who bit in you the a**, well . . . HE'S DEAD.
This is why you need me along geocaching. I will do a much better job of biting you back there than any spider. LOL
I never saw the specific spider that bit me, but I did see several in the woods friday afternoon. They're smaller, black and had some yellow and blue on them. I don't know if that's what bit me though. I can only say that I was clearing out webs of those spiders while trekking to the cache.
The pain and discomfort is from the swelling. It itches around the edges of the swollen area, which again is most of the back and side of my left thigh.
I am familiar with brown recluse and also black widows since they are indiginous to Georgia. I do not know what other types of dangerous spiders exist in South Carolina.
I do plan on seeing my doctor tomorrow since it is still inflamed and doesn't appear to be getting any better.
Sharon, if you really want a photo of the bite, I'll email you one :P
I have it iced now and it feels a lot better. I'm still heading to the doc tomorrow to get a shot so I can knock this out quickly.
First off... the swelling is from it being infected (just like a boil), so to make the swelling go down some, try hot/warm compressions. It should make the infection subside some. If infection or swelling increases, you may have to go to the dr to have him/her lance it (cut it open), don't worry. They will numb you first, then they will clean it properly and give you medicine to make infection go down or get out of your system (usually an antibiotic) which is used for 7-10 days and is usually big pills. Then you use some salt (what's it called) from the pharmacy that the dr recommends to make the infection go down as well. The infection should immediately go away, if not, then the dr should be contacted immediately.
Good luck. Let me know if I'm wrong on anything. I hope my advice helps and I think what I'm telling you is pretty accurate. :)
I got the information on web md. It said most spider bites do not require a doctor's visit and to follow these steps above for home treatment. I think I may be able to avoid the doctor afterall. Cool, that's a $40 copay I don't have to spend now ;)
Pamela
I was worried too Joni. We had a geocaching presentation on snakes and spiders in August. I've seen what brown recluse and black widow bites look like after they're treated. It ain't pretty!
I suppose telling you to be more careful wouldn't help? :)