WARNING! Graphic photos.
If you're squeamish, go back!
In August of 2004, I was bitten by a brown recluse spider, a small, but poisonous spider whose venom's effects are similar to flesh-eating disease. Being the stubborn ass that I am, I didn't seek medical attention until I was sobbing in pain, and oozing a rainbow of colours from a sore on my spine. I had a fever of 103. My mother and boyfriend-at-the-time had to wrestle me into a car to get me to go to the hospital.
The hospital waiting times were ridiculous- since on paper, I was just an "insect bite", I wasn't considered priority, and I spent 9 solid hours in the ER, the effects of the venom getting worse and more painful. Finally, I walked over to the nurse and lifted my shirt to reveal an open, black-and-green pus-filled wound. I said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but this is kinda painful; could I have some ice or something?"
Her eyes bugged out, and I was in surgery within 20 minutes, hahaha. They had to cut out the infected tissue, and ended up digging out a 4-inch hole in my back. I felt a lot of pressure, but no pain during the procedure, and my fever subsided. However, if they stitched the hole shut, it would just fill up with pus again, so they left the hole open, and filled it with gauze. Every day for four weeks following the surgery, a nurse would (without anesthetic!) yank the gauze out of my back, clean the hole with saline solution, probe the hole with a metal to see how deep it was, and then pack more gauze into it. (That was the most pain I'd ever been in, in my life!! I cried like a little girl!)
Today, thanks to a great surgeon, and some vitamin E oil, I have a small scar, but needless to say, I'm terrified of spiders!!
Enough with the yackkity yack...photos!!
The hole in my back, post-surgery (All infected/dead tissue has been removed)
A closer look at the hole. (4 inches deep, 1 inch across)
The hole, after being packed with 13 inches of gauze.
Another pic of the wound, packed with gauze...it's starting to heal now.
I was lucky!! Here's some photos from some more serious Brown Recluse bites:
Want to learn more about brown recluse spiders??? click here
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