(no subject)

[noahgibbs]

Last night, while hot-tubbing, we had some tense moments after the girl got a spider bite. We didn't see the spider (it was dark, and she flung it a long way), but it was nasty enough that it seems very reasonable to assume it was a black widow, both because we have those here at times, and because the symptoms were a pretty good match.

Have I given thanks for Google lately? There was a time when finding out the symptoms of a black widow bite would require calling a bunch of people I knew and hoping one of them remembered...

Luckily the girl is feeling much better this morning, and the worse symptoms didn't manifest, so it looks like we're out of the woods.

On a completely unrelated note, a comic about SF.

Comments

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

That ain't good! Have y'all called a doctor? Spider bites are nothing to mess around with, *especially* black widow bites. I'm glad she's feeling better this morning.

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

We're taking parts of the web at their word that she needs to watch out for full-body symptoms (primarily cramping of the chest and abdomen), but that these bites are rarely seriously harmful except for people in poor health, or very young or very old.

So we're still worrying just in case more serious symptoms start, but apparently the vast majority of these bites go away without really serious problems. So far this is looking like a "vast majority" case.

[bayareajenn.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's exactly right. We have tons of black widows here at the zoo, and our vet talked about bites from them in a couple different classes that she teaches here. It's the old, young, and infirm that are most at risk.

Are you sure it was a spider?

[taoflaherty.livejournal.com]

Very few "spider bites" are actually from spiders.

Still, that sounds horrible. I hate bugs.

Re: Are you sure it was a spider?

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

I put my arm through a spider web on the side of our hot tub and then knocked a dark bug (it was night time and I couldn't see well) about the size of a quarter off my arm rather frantically. I don't know completely for certain, but not many venomous insects live in spider webs. :)

Also, given where we live there are not many other venomous insects crawling around. In someplace warmer and drier I would be far less certain.

Re: Are you sure it was a spider?

[spyderella.livejournal.com]

Something the size of a quarter sounds too big to be a black widow. (Which is a good thing. It's the little guys that are the nastiest.) Still, if you have ready health insurance, why not go in, just to put your mind at ease? I know it's inconvenient, but so is worry.

This is the conversation I had with myself last night. But I went to the doctor today--all proud of myself--and I'm relieved and on the mend. (Don't ask about what. It involves my nether regions and recovering from Too Much India.) The doctor's not going to scold you for being concerned and wanting a professional to check it over.

Re: Are you sure it was a spider?

[taoflaherty.livejournal.com]

I agree with that completely. I can unfortunately tell you from experience that it's far better to see the doctor over nothing than to wait until you need emergency care or extreme measures.

[japlady.livejournal.com]

SQUITCH

need I remind you how I feel about spiders?

SQUITCH