My spider bite looks even worse today; what do you think?

[AlienGirl]

I'm already on Keflex but it looks and feels worse (and bigger) today. At what point do I need to get more medical attention? And what are they going to want to do about it?

Tucker

[AX10]

1. What kind of spider was it that gave you such a big wound?

[AlienGirl]

2. I don't know

It wasn't a recluse or a widow; the actual problem here is infection rather than poisoning.

Tucker

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Are you certain it wasn't a recluse?

[MichiganVote]

3. Looks like an ulcer. Better call the witch Doctor

[xmas74]

4. That needs lanced and drained-now!

Mine didn't look anywhere near as bad as that and they lanced and drained it immediately (well, I think that I had it for about a day or so before I could get into the doctor).

[newsguyatl]

5. get to doc now!

i had the exact same thing happen to me several months ago -- looked VERY similar, and it ended up swelling my entire leg up! i could barely walk by the time i got to the doc...

they gave me a shot in my rear and some oral med (sorry, i forget) -- and it cleared it right up...

the longer you wait to get it treated, the more likely a bad scar... i have one as proof... doubt it will ever go away...

i wish you luck!

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Is this where DU is going: Not just asking med advice, but posting pics?

Ugh. When in doubt, go to the doctor.

[AlienGirl]

14. Easier if you know your insurance will cover it...

[iconoclastic cat]

19. Call and ask. Regardless, get that looked at by a professional!

[AlienGirl]

20. If it were still business hours I could

Otherwise I may get an unpleasant surprise in the mail in a few weeks.

Tucker

[iconoclastic cat]

21. Your insurance doesn't have a 24-hr hotline?

That blows.

[BikeWriter]

7. You should get it looked at again. Do so immediately if red streaks...

develop. It may require surgery.

[kikiek]

8. I assume the medical personnel made the circle to mark it and see

if it continued to get larger or not. Even if you did..if it is growing and feeling worse I would go back to the MD. Don't want to mess with infected anything.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. See a doc. Did you see the spider? If not, be sure to see if they can

treat you for brown recluse bites.

[AlienGirl]

13. Brown recluses don't live here, so it's not that

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Spiders can travel in boxes and whatnot. Don't rule it out.

[Texasgal]

10. GO TO THE DOCTOR!

IMMEDIATELY!

I am an RN, this looks very serious. Spider bites are nothing to play with.

If your doctor is not available... Go to the ER.

[AlienGirl]

18. Bear in mind the bite was a few days ago

This is cellulitis secondary to the bite, so I'm not in immediate danger.

Tucker

[obxhead]

12. Yeah it's time for the doc.

My dad went through this kind of thing on his foot. Looked about the same (I'm no doc though). He spent 3 or 4 days in the hospital. Found out he had Diabetes - which seriously complicated the wound. Good luck.

[bridgit]

16. damnit...

i don't see how you can afford to NOT have it looked at further

[progmom]

40. i'm with you, bridgit

this is scaring me.

[In_The_Wind]

17. we treated a similar bite several years ago

the doctor inserted gauze into the bite to allow drainage

[Mr.Green93]

22. A Pascalite poultice

should clear it up. Try a potato poultice until you can get some Pascalite.

[AlienGirl]

25. What's Pascalite? Is it drawing salve?

[Mr.Green93]

32. A special clay

http://www.relfe.com/Pascalite.html

[Blue Diadem]

23. Hobo spider?

They're often mistaken for brown recluses and have a similar effect with their bites.

http://hobospider.com/stories/hobostory.html

I was looking for those fat siding spiders last night and ran across the site. The link is to people's stories..there is more at the website about the spider itself.

edited to add: get yourself to the Dr!

[AlienGirl]

24. That's what I suspect got me

The spider itself isn't the problem; this thing has infected, and that's where the nastiness begins...

Tucker

[sparky_in_ma]

28. Please go to the emergency room.

I also need the mod locking button. :-) (really, go. There aren't enough Democrats, we need you.)

[AlienGirl]

30. See below

I'm in no danger of death; just surgery/meds/missed work/other crap. I can't go anywhere till Xen gets home in about six hours.

Tucker

[sparky_in_ma]

31. K

I saw below after I posted. Infection can do bad things quick sometimes. That looks real nasty. Take care.:hug:

[micrometer_50]

26. Earthling! E.R. will treat you

Please, go now.

:think:

[AlienGirl]

27. E.R. will also cost me a lot!

Plus I can't do anything at all till midnight when Xen gets home with the car.

Tucker

[micrometer_50]

I hope you'll seek professional assistance

Please, maybe next week you'll win the lottery
and will be glad you are able to dance in celebration.

:shrug:

[AlienGirl]

36. I don't play the lottery, but thanks...

[BikeWriter]

39. Spider bites can become very dangerous. :-(

Please be careful!

[architect359]

29. just...GO to the DOCTOR!

x(

[hedgetrimmer]

33. dude the hospital, forget insurance just go... or go to a health food stor

and get something to fught the infection... idf you can't do that soak in salt water and cut a garlic clove and slap it on there under a band aid... just do something or you will be in a hospital.

[sam sarrha]

34. GO TO THE DOCTER, RIGHT NOW..RUN RUN RUN.. i'm not kidding...!!!!

that is bad shit.. REAL BAD SHIT>> GO NOW>>!!!!!!!!!!

[sam sarrha]

37. If that is a recluse spider you are in deep shit.. go to emergancy NOW>

if it started with a Bulls eye mark.. red dot with a ring around it.. it was most likely a Recluse.. it can give you gangrene to the bone and kill you.. you need medical attention NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[AlienGirl]

38. Recluses don't live here; it was not a recluse

[BikeWriter]

42. No guarantee one didn't hitch-hike in on a truck, is there?

:shrug:

[Kraklen]

35. I still think it's a boil.

But I'm not a medical doctor. It's still progressing one. Here's more info, if you're still interested.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=786D66A9-9055-43D7-994E27F8CA58E905&dsection=1

[uppityperson]

41. You ask advice and continue to argue against it? WHY?

I don't understand this. You ask advice about this. You are getting the same advice over and over yet continue to argue why to not follow it. Why are you doing this?

[AlienGirl]

43. I'd rather hear "It'll be better tomorrow."

I am not a fan of hospitals.

Plus I'm afraid I'm making a big deal out of something really trivial.

Tucker

[Kraklen]

45. I personally think it will be.

Or if not tomorrow, the next day. Looks like the same things I've had before. Lasts the same amount of time, progresses the same. The link I posted says they usually last a week or so, go to the doctor if it lasts more than two weeks. That's how I'd handle it, for what it's worth.

[uppityperson]

47. I'd rather hear "Gore is President again". Denial is wonderful.

It'll be better tomorrow. Now, listen to what you are being told otherwise. You are in Seattle, go to one of the 24 hour emergency care clinic places. It doesn't have to be a hospital emergency room. Go. You are also a moderator and should realize that DU is not the place for medical advice, especially when you refuse to listen and continue to argue.

[BikeWriter]

49. Yes, and look at her title: "My spider bite looks even worse today"

:(

[nini]

44. How did you get keflex? wouldn't a call to that doctor be logical?

Personally I wouldn't screw around with it - if you're worried about the cost it will be cheaper to go to a doctor NOW then screw around and end up in the hospital or worse need surgery.

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Get it looked at. You

can't put a price tag on your life. Be well. :hi:

[AlienGirl]

48. -$40000! That's about my net worth...

[uppityperson]

50. It is your choice to get help or not, to die or live.

Just don't come whining back if you die.

Edited to add: I'm a registered nurse who has worked in clinics and the ER and always tell people "if it gets worse, come back." The smart ones do and we would ALWAYS rather have you come back than not. I have also been in the position of having no insurance and a sick baby and didn't go to the ER once but it worked out ok (hey, I'm a nurse who knows everything anyway, right?) but it pissed me off SOOOOOOOOOOO much to have to even consider it that I swore I would not let others pull this same bs.

[MichiganVote]

51. I'm curious. Other people's post have been shut down for seeking

or encouraging medical advice. Why do you get to post this, not once but twice, to both solicit and accept medical commentary? It seems to me that this is both unfair and not allowed. I'd like your comments please.

[uppityperson]

52. I wonder too, and OP is a moderator? Everyone alert on this.

send it through enough times and perhaps it will get locked and OP will perhaps do what needs to be done. Now, will they delete this post because I said to alert on the whole topic? I need a drink.

[AlienGirl]

53. I have asked for it to be locked. Thank you.

[brainshrub]

54. Locking. DU is not a medical-advice site.

DU is not a medical-advice site.

On a separate note: It's sad that the injured in this country have to check with an insurance corporation before they can get the medical attention they need.

In a free and wealthy society, access to healthcare should not be a privilege.