Brown recluse spider bite

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
So guys I wanted to let you know if you happen to see one of these. Do NOT let it bite you!
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These little brown recluse spiders are some nasty juju! I was out weed whacking 3 weeks ago on a Thursday evening. When I was done I came in the house, took a shower and noticed, something had bit me on my left top side of my my stomach.

I didn't think much of it and put a little triple antibiotic ointment on it. Well come Saturday that bite was crazy big swollen and painful as all get up it grew to the shape like a soup laddle. It crossed midway to my stomach, then the handle part started climbing up my chest. Here is the picture I took and sent to my doctor in a email.
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Luckily I have a great doctor, we've became friends. He replied back within a 1/2 hour and told me get to the hospital emergency room. He said he believed that it was a brown recluse spider bite. So I grabbed my wife and I drove myself to the emergency room. Dispute the fact i was feel loopy for lack of a better term and it was very painful. I'm stubborn and drove myself there and home.

The ER doctor visually confirmed yes she also believed it to be a brown recluse spider bite. But only blood tests could confirm. They gave me two shots of something and drew 4 viles of blood. She also called in a prescription of sulfamethoxazole. Which is the most powerful antibiotic I ever took. I had to stay out of the sun or I sick to my stomach and felt like I was going to pass out. The antibiotics also plugged me up something terrible. Tests came back positive that indeed it was a brown recluse spider that bit me.

So it's been 2 weeks and 5 days since I was bitten and 3 days since completing antibiotics. I finally was able to go this afternoon, all I can say is it felt weird to eat something and have it hit an empty stomach. This is what the bite looks like now. I believe it's going to leave a hole. The scab is thick and deep, but thankfully the swelling is gone and so is the pain.
IMG_20200630_212001030.jpg


All I can say is beware, that little brown spider can put a hurting on you. If you get bit, don't play around get medical attention quick. The ER doctor told me the sooner the better to stop the infection spread The internet is chalk full of pictures of people who obviously didn't take the
brown recluse spider bite seriously and the bite became infected, pretty nasty and I'm sure very painful pictures.

Here's a link to more personal accounts of people who have been bitten by brown recluse spiders. I don't know if I have "yellow puss" under the scab or not and will require surgery and a skin graft. We'll cross that bridge when I get to it (hopefully not).
 
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Raymond

Raymond
Staff member
Corporate Member
I had a soldier in my platoon that bit while in the field in Texas. He ignored the symptoms until his squad leader noticed he was not performing as usual. We took him to the hospital and they ended up cauterizing the infected area. He spent 3 days in the hospital and a week on bed rest.

That is one nasty little spider!
 

SabertoothBunny

SabertoothBunny
Corporate Member
Yes, brown recluse bites basically rot out the flesh and turn in the liquid for the spider to eat. In the army when I was stationed at Ft Polk one year we had multiple soldiers get bit. Worst one had to be cut out and packed with gauze as it healed. Really bad juju

Also be aware: the hobo spider looks almost identicle to the brown recluse spider. Difference? The hobo is harmless but always be aware.
 

Jeff

New User
Jeff
Brown recluse spiders can give a pretty nasty bite. The tissue necrosis (rotting) at the bite is usually severe.

 

gritz

New User
Robert
I was bitten about 20 years ago. I searched the internet and found a report of similar spiders in Australia. They recommended, (and I took,) large doses of the supplement MSM, a type of sulfur. After about a week, the red bloom was gone and I felt fine, with a small wound that healed quickly. YMMV.
 

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
I was bitten about 20 years ago. I searched the internet and found a report of similar spiders in Australia. They recommended, (and I took,) large doses of the supplement MSM, a type of sulfur. After about a week, the red bloom was gone and I felt fine, with a small wound that healed quickly. YMMV.

That's back when Al Gore invented the internet. Just kidding of course... Figured you needed a good laugh.
 

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
Brown recluse spiders can give a pretty nasty bite. The tissue necrosis (rotting) at the bite is usually severe.


They are a force to be reckoned with! Many more people are concerned about the black widow. But the brown recluse is nothing to play around with either. See one? Kill it, spray it with lacquer or something...
 

mdbuntyn

Matt
Staff member
Corporate Member
Many moons ago, my Scout Masters always seemed more concerned about brown recluses than black widows. I'm glad everything is okay.
 

Gotcha6

Dennis
Staff member
Corporate Member
They often go into shoes to make their nests, so be careful with your shoes.
Had a relative bitten some years ago and wound up taking hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy to accelerate the healing.
I was told in EMT classes that they like clean places to live, so no worries here....
 

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
Many moons ago, my Scout Masters always seemed more concerned about brown recluses than black widows. I'm glad everything is okay.

So far so good my friend, we'll see what's under the deep scab when it decides to come off. Be wary of brown recluse spiders, they are some serious juju.
 

CrealBilly

New User
Jeff
They often go into shoes to make their nests, so be careful with your shoes.
Had a relative bitten some years ago and wound up taking hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy to accelerate the healing.
I was told in EMT classes that they like clean places to live, so no worries here....

I did not know they like shoes.
 

Sealeveler

Tony
Corporate Member
My wife was bitten and she had to have a weekly scrubbing at the drs office and her leg re wrapped for 3 months. She still has a hole in her leg from it. Like mentioned above the flesh rots.
Tony
 

Gofor

Mark
Corporate Member
I did not know they like shoes.
They prefer dark, dry, undisturbed environments, so can be hiding in any undisturbed nook or cranny. Although that may sound very bad, for a closet, etc fits the bill, but as long as you have the other insects at bay by spraying, etc, the spider won't stay long where there is no food. Probably best to shake out any winter boots before putting them on in the fall.

My dad got bitten by a fiddle back when in bed. After a couple months healing, he was left with two little dimple marks (presumably where the fangs entered) that he carried for the remaining 50 or so years of his life. So, if you have a scar, just tell the great grand-kids its where you got "shot in the war". LOL

The house I grew up in was built in the 1860's, and black widows were our main concern until Dad got bit. After that we were on the lookout for any web in the house and eliminated them immediately when found.
 

Pop Golden

New User
Pop
Oh come on Fred. Every woman needs a few pairs of shoes. Now Imelda Marcos did take a little ways beyond the limit with over 1000 pairs. Yea boy the old girl had 1000+. I don't know what she did with 'em, but she had 'em.

Pop :rolleyes:
 

Gotcha6

Dennis
Staff member
Corporate Member
Oh come on Fred. Every woman needs a few pairs of shoes. Now Imelda Marcos did take a little ways beyond the limit with over 1000 pairs. Yea boy the old girl had 1000+. I don't know what she did with 'em, but she had 'em.

Pop :rolleyes:
Don't have that many shoes myself, but you can never have too many flashlights or routers.........................................
 

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