1 Topic by kaptainkory

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Topic: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

So it's not a snake bite, but still a good reminder of "consequences" of what can happen when we muck with venomous vermin.

And, yes, I know I (unknowingly) disturbed the little critter's hiding place, but did I REALLY deserve THIS???!!!???   sad

http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/wiki/uploads/Nature/Arthropods/brown_recluse_staph_infection.jpg

2010-11-12 = I decide to stay over the weekend at my parents' house. I get a sheet out of a bottom drawer of an armoire to make my bed on the couch. As I am in that twilight stage between being asleep and awake, I feel a tickling on the back of my thigh. I swat a few times (not very efficiently since I am groggy). I hardly awaken and then fall back asleep.

2010-11-13 = I notice a small pimple on the back of my thigh. At this point, I think it's just an ingrown hair or something. I don't immediately link the events together.

2010-11-14 = A very itchy rash about the size of my palm develops in the area of the pimple. I now suspect a spider bite and my Mom begins to tell me all of her recent encounters with Brown Recluse Spiders in the house.

2010-11-15 = The rash pretty well goes away after a day and the surface pimple diminishes to almost nothing.

2010-11-18 = [first picture] A sizable, rock-hard, red knot has developed deep under the skin. It feels like a softball has been embedded into my thigh.

2010-11-19 = Fearing [correctly] that things will take a turn for the worse over the weekend, I swing by the doctor's office after school. The receptionist has to make several calls to find someone available and willing to take a look on such short notice. The doctor puts me on a double-dose of antibiotics for 10 days.

2010-11-21 = The site breaks open and is an absolute mess!

2010-11-22 = I schedule another doctor's appointment. He drains the site, stuffs it with gauze, and orders some culture tests.

2010-11-24 = I revisit the doctor to have the gauze removed. He adds 10 more days of antibiotics.

2010-11-25 = Just a cavernous hole that will take many days to heal.

2010-12-18 = This is a big day for me! It is the first day in a month I have actually been able to go to work without patching the spot over with gauze to deal with the draining. Scabs are a beautiful thing! HA!

2010-12-23 = After a month since the bite, 3 doctor visits, 20 days of antibiotics, and I'm practically healed!

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2 Reply by jthmrules08

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Ooh, that's all too familiar for me! I've been bitten by one 3 times unfortunately, but the worst one definitely was on the nose. Half of my nose had rotting skin falling off.

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3 Reply by russianbaby007

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Cool pics! Looks painful though sad..

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4 Reply by mikemike

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

I know two people that had been bit. I got bit by something right above my knee the other night, and it was itchy and a little swollen, so I was on guard, but it went away within the day.
Glad it healed up okay and didn't happen during herping season!

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5 Reply by prof.dave

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

My wife is has the worst case of arachniphobea I know of. When I bring a sheet to the bedroom she ALWAYS asks, "Did you check it for bugs?"(spiders or whatever-I think she has problems even saying, 'spiders') and I often get annoyed b/c she even asks me to check sheets that are straight from the dryer! roll   I know she'd freak out if she saw this thread, but I feel bad for your painful experience-this could happen to anyone.

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6 Reply by Copperheadman309

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Given the site of your bite I am AMAZED at the lack of necrosis.

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7 Reply by JenSteck

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Oooooo....cool pics Kory.  I'm sorry you had to go through that...ouchie.  I'm glad it healed up so well.  smile

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8 Reply by caro

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Glad you are on the mend!  It coulda been worse, I guess?  The guys who put up my cedar fence said a friend of theirs died from a spider bite!
Amazing how much damage such a tiny bit of venom can do...very sobering!

9 Reply by angus

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

One of the worst times I had was from the thorn of a Honey Locust, four years ago. At the time I thought nothing of it, and in a few days it healed. THEN, months later, my hand suddenly swelled as big as a softball. I had developed a serious case of mycobacterial infection from the thorn, and it had worked its way in between my knuckles. Many Orthodepist visits later, and several thousands of dollars expense, I still do not have full strength in that hand. By the way, the bite of the Lycosa (wolf spider) also sometimes has awful bugs hiding within.

10 Reply by two_crotalus

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

That type of stuff happens to me with tick bites, not as bad, but still pretty bad.

11 Reply by mountainman

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

How big was the bite area? I think I may be experiencing this now. I've got a spot that looks about like your 11-20 photo...

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

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12 Reply by mountainman

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

Well, I just had a friend who is familiar with recluse bites confirm that I do have one and I need to go to the doctor. Oh well, maybe I'll take some daily photos of mine too...

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.

13 Reply by IndigoSean

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

I was working in a nursing home as a Respiratory Therapist back in 1997 when they admitted a very large lady for wound care therapy. She was between 400-500 pounds with a very large belly. She had been bitten in the stomach by a Brown Recluse and you could stick your head inside the wound cavity it was so big. Worst wound i have ever seen.

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14 Reply by amercnwmn

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

oh god..*gag*

I'm about to have an abruptly.

15 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

mountainman wrote:

How big was the bite area? I think I may be experiencing this now. I've got a spot that looks about like your 11-20 photo...

Sorry I didn't respond sooner; been out of town.  The bite opening got to be about quarter size at its worse, but the infection below the surface knotted and ached about the diameter of a softball.

mountainman wrote:

Well, I just had a friend who is familiar with recluse bites confirm that I do have one and I need to go to the doctor. Oh well, maybe I'll take some daily photos of mine too...

Ugh.  Sorry to hear this; I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Better get to the doctor ASAP if you haven't already.

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16 Reply by mountainman

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Re: Brown Recluse Spider Bite and Staph Infection - WARNING: Very Gross!

I don't think mine is as bad as yours was. What you described is what mine did up until the 11-20 photo (I also thought mine may have been an ingrown hair for a little while until it got worse). I seem to have stopped at a point similar to the 11-20 pic. It's been like that for about 3 days now. I'm on a round of antibiotics so hopefully there won't be an infection or, if there is, it won't progress as far as yours did. And there's always the chance that mine is actually something else that produces a similar wound, but not as bad as a brown recluse...

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.