Itsy-Bitsy Spider
Well, I have a new injury to report.
I was bitten by what I now know is a very dangerous spider last
Tuesday, appears to be a Brown Recluse Spider. Initial symptoms were
simply an itchy pimple like bump, nothing special. This would evolve
two days later into a curious but not painful cyst obtrusion about the
size of 3 quarters lined up in a row.
Saturday things began to degenerate at an increasingly worrisome rate.
The groin area of my upper right leg swelled to about the size of an
orange, but the color of a bright red apple. Painful to touch, and
became a problem on the bike. A pin-prick discoloration then appeared
in the center which then grew to the size of a quarter over the course
of a couple of hours. Pain now throbbing and walking uncomfortable.
Thus, I spent 2hrs Saturday night in the emergency room so that I
could have a small chunk of leg tissue carved out of me which was
very inflamed, swollen, and dead. Can't swim, too painful to run,
maybe easy biking by end of week. The enzyme/poison that the spider
injects you with destroys your skin cells and can be very serious if
not caught in time. Hoping that I don't have to go back to have more
tissue removed; not a pleasant procedure despite the anesthetic.
Had I not gone to the hospital that evening the quarter size dead
tissue might have been the size of my fist by the next morning, all
of which has to be removed with some depth requiring skin grafts to
make things look nice again. As it is, I have a pretty good divot in
my leg, although I haven't had the nerve to unbandage it yet today to
look at it. Again, it is not a pretty sight.
Treatment is with antibiotics and carving out dead tissue as it
develops. Apparently this can go on for 1-2 months, especially if it
is not caught in time. Hopefully, I do not have to re-experience a
scalpel carving my groin and I can put this to rest in 1-2 weeks.
Things that make me go hmmm.
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