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Slug Toy
07-16-2007, 12:20 AM
ok, you may have noticed that i disappeared for a few days. i went out of town to visit relatives for the weekend, and did some boating. now heres where the "remind me never to do this" part comes in.

i was in kelowna for those of you who know BC. it was very warm, so i was sleeping on my aunt's sundeck with nothing but a sleeping bag. the first night was good and it cooled off alright. the second night was really warm and humid, and thats where trouble began.

around midnight i woke up because my face hurt... and my mouth was feeling really weird. i had to go to the bathroom too, so i snuck inside and went to the bathroom. on the way out i decided to look in the mirror. HOLY CRAP!!! it looked like i had been punched in the face... i had a mosquito bite on my nose and upper lip and my whole face was going red and swollen. there wasnt anything i could do... so i took my sleeping bag and moved inside and went back to bed. in the morning the swelling was gone, but the redness was still there, and something else had popped up.

when i came into the kitchen for breakfast, i notice i couldnt really feel my left hand. well... looks like i got a lovely spider bite right between my thumb and index finger, and it was somewhat swollen. i showed everyone... they didnt seem to care, but it was really annoying me. that was this morning around 8. its now 9 at night, and we're home now, and the swelling is still progressing slowly. at first it was just a nuisance, but now my thumb is immobile, and my index and middle fingers are losing range of motion. it itches... but its tolerable. my biggest worry is work tomorrow because i need both hands or else my productivity goes out the window.

now... dont worry, i think it was only a wolf spider, because they're hunters and have mild neurotoxins and such... harmless to humans but they can still cause this sort of swelling. if it were any other spider, id know because things would be much worse by now. i suspect it was a large one too because i can see the bite marks, and theres a good quarter inch between the fangs.

so... moral of the story? dont sleep on the sundeck when its warm out unless you have something to cover up with really well. you'll get eaten alive by the creepy crawlies.

nil8
07-16-2007, 09:09 AM
I had this happen to me the last day of 4th grade.
I slept in the basement and when I woke I had a bite on my foot and my lips were around 3 times their normal size.
Slowly, throughout the day, the swelling went down.
Still, not fun.

Screened in porch w/ hammock ftw.

Durrthock
07-16-2007, 09:53 AM
Seems like the only safe way to sleep today is on an elevated glass box with the sides covered with Crisco.

Airbozo
07-16-2007, 11:20 AM
Wolf spiders take out chunks of flesh, not just a couple of small holes. AND it hurts like hell! They are mildly toxic, but some people can react badly to them. Where I live they are very common and only mess with you if you persist in messing with them. And where I live they get BIG!

http://www.amonline.net.au/factSheets/wolf_spiders.htm

Slug Toy
07-16-2007, 10:29 PM
Wolf spiders take out chunks of flesh, not just a couple of small holes.

well i think this was a defensive bite... because it happened while i was sleeping so i probably scared it as it was walking over my hand.


They are mildly toxic, but some people can react badly to them

im starting to think im one of those people who have reactions. it got pretty bad last night. shooting pains up my arm, and swelling to the point where my hand was useless. it went away a bit today, but its coming back right now to the point where i had to stop doing the dishes.

at this point ive tried quite a few things to stop the itching, pain, and swelling, but nothing is working. i think im going to have to just ride it out and keep an eye on it. if this keeps up any longer, ill know its probably not a wolf spider, and then ill have to do some research... maybe a yellow sac spider or something...

Omega
07-16-2007, 10:43 PM
Go to the hospital.

Seriously.

The Black Pumpkin
07-16-2007, 11:09 PM
Yeah dude, if you can't use your arm and you have shooting pains, definitely go to the hospital. :eek:

Slug Toy
07-17-2007, 02:30 AM
well its become a little more manageable now. i went to a friend's house and had a few drinks, and since i got my mind off it... it seems to have gotten a bit better. just itchy right now mainly.

dont worry, its not to the point where i need a hospital to take care of it. im keeping an eye on it, but really... i go to a hospital and say "a spider bit me and its swollen and itchy and it hurts" and what are they going to do? i dont know for sure what bit me. maybe they'd give me something for the swelling... maybe something topical for itching. ive already got some good topical stuff, and anti inflammatory drugs thanks to my mom being a pharmacist. the best thing they could do is ice it for me.

things are under control. im a bug guy in general and ive dealt with this stuff before... but i swear to god thats the last time i sleep outside... i dont like the idea of spiders biting me when im asleep.

GT40_GearHead
07-17-2007, 02:45 AM
glad to hear you are OK... almost

if the color of the skin does not turn funny you should be ok

be sure the keep us posted