Of all things, I was bitten this past weekend by a Black Widow Spider. And
no, I wasn't putting my hands in her home... she climbed inside of my
t-shirt. I presume she had been curled up in the sleeping bag that I had
taken out of the top of a closet. When I awoke Saturday morning I felt a
small lump on my chest. When I flipped her out of my clothes, she bit me
twice on the chest. My husband caught the spider and put it in a ziplock
bag.
I did not feel the bite when it happened but pain and redness set in within
20 minutes.
The VERY WORST PAIN I have endured came a couple of hours later. My body
was wracked with muscle spasms and after taking narcotics, it STILL did not
touch the pain. Valium was my saving grace after hours of suffering.
The bite also caused some paralysis in the muscles of my legs and made me
limp and sway when walking.
Today is Wednesday (4 days later) and I still have weakness and a slight
limp. Ready to be 100% after this AWFUL experience with Madame Widow...
whom I still have in a glass dish. DEAD of course.
Black Widow Spider Bites
Summary: All spider bites contain venom, but some spiders have more powerful venom than others. The Black Widow spider has that reputation.
Okay! First thing, let's clear up a common misconception. The black widow female spider rarely consumes the male after mating. This means that all those jokes you have been telling comparing black widow spiders to your wife have got to stop. That said, let's talk turkey. I mean spiders.
Everyone worries about being bitten by certain types of spiders. But, spider bite reactions differ with every person. The severity of an individual's reaction to a black widow spider bite depends on lots of variables. For example, the area of the body bitten can make a difference.
Bites to areas on the body that provide more direct access to main bloodstreams will naturally cause a faster, more intense reaction. The amount of spider venom injected will certainly be a factor in your reaction. Spiders control the amount of venom they inject and venom volume can vary greatly with each bite.
Of course, an individual's sensitivity to the venom is a major factor. Some people report very intense pain from the bite, while others do not even know they have been bitten. It is not unusual for the black widow spider bite to go unnoticed, but some people report a short stabbing pain. At first, there may be slight swelling on the skin surface and two faint red spots, which are puncture points from the fangs. Pain soon begins and usually progresses from the bite site to the abdomen and back.
Severe cramping or stiffness may occur in the abdominal muscles. Other symptoms may include nausea, profuse perspiration, tremors, labored breathing, restlessness, increased blood pressure, and fever. Symptoms often diminish after a day or so and cease after several days. Serious long-term complications or death is very rare.
- If bitten, remain calm, collect the spider, if possible, for positive identification and get medical attention immediately.
- Clean the site well with soap and wate. Apply a cool compress over the bite location and keep the affected limb elevated to about heart level.
- Contact your physician, hospital and/or Poison Control Center. Application of a mild antiseptic such as iodine or hydrogen peroxide prevents infection. Try to keep the patient quiet and warm.
- The very old, very young, and those with a history of high blood pressure are at greatest risk. Prompt medical treatment can greatly reduce the danger.
- In severe cases, physicians can intravenously inject calcium gluconate to counteract most effects of the toxin. A black widow antiserum also is available.
- Don't try to suck out the poison. It doesn't work.
Now that we've saved your life we can safely ask, why are you putting your hands and/or feet in places where spiders are hiding? Yuck!
Comments
jennifer
12 Nov 2008, 15:21
12 Nov 2008, 15:21
Kimberly
24 Jun 2009, 15:38
24 Jun 2009, 15:38
I was bit twice during June 2008 both times cleaning out my garage, both on
the foot. The pain from the first settled in an hour later, for two days I
felt like I had food piosoning. The second was not as bad. One month later
I started having what they call Innapropriate sinus tackycardia. I have
had this condition ever since. My heart races over 100 BPM when I am tired
or just not feeling well. Most days I do ok but, I can no longer work out
or stand for long periods of time without my heart racing. So much for not
having long term effects!
Ed Smith, Palm Springs, CA
24 Jun 2009, 23:27
24 Jun 2009, 23:27
To Kimberly: The article above does not say there are no long term effects.
The article states "Serious long-term complications or death is very
rare."
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Whenever I come across a black widow spider I carefully apprehend the little creep in a jar and turn it loose in a suitable black widow habitat away from my home. I just transferred 2 from my back patio today. Killing them would accomplish absolutely nothing except satisfy some sick need for a person to kill something just because they can. People who have an uncontrollable fear of spiders are reluctantly excused from exterminating them. Only if it's bad enough to qualify for a clinical diagnosis. Even if it bites me, it would be stupid to kill it to "teach it a lesson", as if it is capable of learning a lesson, alive OR dead. I'm more intelligent than that.
---------------------------
Whenever I come across a black widow spider I carefully apprehend the little creep in a jar and turn it loose in a suitable black widow habitat away from my home. I just transferred 2 from my back patio today. Killing them would accomplish absolutely nothing except satisfy some sick need for a person to kill something just because they can. People who have an uncontrollable fear of spiders are reluctantly excused from exterminating them. Only if it's bad enough to qualify for a clinical diagnosis. Even if it bites me, it would be stupid to kill it to "teach it a lesson", as if it is capable of learning a lesson, alive OR dead. I'm more intelligent than that.
Victoria
21 Jul 2009, 16:57
21 Jul 2009, 16:57
I totally agree with Ed Smith above about killing the spider! I would never
do a such thing myself, we have a black widow spider in the corner of our
front entrance outside on our porch and she is protecting 3 egg sacks, my
husband wants her gone and wants to get the exterminator but I want to take
it upon myself to move her to a different location but how can I move her
eggs with her? I would like to know because it's really bothering me that
she and her eggs could possibly be killed, I can't get that off my mind!
There is no reason for her and her little ones to die, everything has a
purpose in this world!
Ask the Exterminator
21 Jul 2009, 17:21
21 Jul 2009, 17:21
The eggs are tangled in the spider's webbing, so it would be nearly
impossible to successfully move the egg mass. The widow is cannibalistic,
so only a very few of the eggs actually make it to the adult stage.
Kimmi
02 Aug 2009, 21:48
02 Aug 2009, 21:48
I was dragging a bag of mulch to fill in holes in my chicken coop. I broke
my cardinal rule of jeans & boots at all times while working on the farm!!!
I was bit and suffered greatly with intense pain throughout my body. I
nearly flat lined times until the doctors found a pain medication that
would take my pain level down from a 15 to a four. They had to give it to
me every 2 hours!! I now have a new outlook on life and realize that life
is precious and our relationships are of utmost importance. Please do not
wait for a black widow spider to bite you to come to this realization!
Dane
16 Aug 2009, 01:59
16 Aug 2009, 01:59
I just got nailed by a widow about 48 hours ago. It got me on the base of
my spine. I was convulsing all up and down my spine for hours with intense
vommiting sweats chills etc... Im able to walk now and I have to say I have
a totally different outlook on life now.
Natalie
23 Aug 2009, 07:49
23 Aug 2009, 07:49
As a mother I find the widows to be a threat to my unsuspecting toddlers
who get into EVERYTHING. I found one under our patio furniture and without
hesitation I killed it. sorry to the eds and victorias of the world..... I
consider these things pests along with the many other animals mentioned on
this site.
Lynn
02 Sep 2009, 15:20
02 Sep 2009, 15:20
I was bitten 3 days ago and I can only compare the pain to childbirth,
except with the contractions with childbirth you are given an epidural.
I was swimming in my backyard pool where there are a lot of spiders around. I never gave them much thought, just stayed away from them and all of a sudden my legs started hurting. I went upstairs (in denial) to lay down thinking the pain would go away not realizing that I had been bitten. A few hours later I was writhng in pain and could not walk. We decided to wait until morning to go to the hospital and I realized that all of my symptoms had to be a spider bite. It took me three days to be able to function and walk properly and now I feel like I have the flu.
Who knew that such a tiny spider could have such a big impact on a human. I agree with Natalie. If I had been an old woman or a baby I may not have survived. I have two kids. All I kept thinking about was what if this would have happened to one of the kids? I am going to go outside and kill every black widow I can find. This is not a harmless lizard or even a bee which I would never kill. These spiders are a menace and I have no problem protecting my family from them.
I was swimming in my backyard pool where there are a lot of spiders around. I never gave them much thought, just stayed away from them and all of a sudden my legs started hurting. I went upstairs (in denial) to lay down thinking the pain would go away not realizing that I had been bitten. A few hours later I was writhng in pain and could not walk. We decided to wait until morning to go to the hospital and I realized that all of my symptoms had to be a spider bite. It took me three days to be able to function and walk properly and now I feel like I have the flu.
Who knew that such a tiny spider could have such a big impact on a human. I agree with Natalie. If I had been an old woman or a baby I may not have survived. I have two kids. All I kept thinking about was what if this would have happened to one of the kids? I am going to go outside and kill every black widow I can find. This is not a harmless lizard or even a bee which I would never kill. These spiders are a menace and I have no problem protecting my family from them.
Michelle
08 Nov 2009, 20:10
08 Nov 2009, 20:10
I was bitten two months ago by a black widow spider. I now have nerve
damage in my left leg. I didn't even feel the bite, it was slight swelling
and then the convulsions and the need to faint and everything else that had
us rush me to the hospital. For the lady that said she didn't want to kill
the spider that is by her entrance, that is what I thought too, until now!
The stupid thing was a black widow, but I never paid any attention thinking
if I left it alone I wouldn't have to worry. Not anymore if I see one
anywhere in my house or outside my house I kill it. I have a 1 & 2 yr old
to worry about screw the spider
Megan
19 Nov 2009, 00:41
19 Nov 2009, 00:41
i was bit monday morning and it is thursday. the pain i had was terrible,
my stomach and thighs were so cramped i didnt want to move. i was super
cold, and now my arm just keeps swelling!.
i went to the doctor and they said since i made it two days i'd be okay.
but now i'm feeling alot more pain.
i went to the doctor and they said since i made it two days i'd be okay.
but now i'm feeling alot more pain.
Pam
21 Nov 2009, 02:20
21 Nov 2009, 02:20
Does anyone know of a good resource for information on the long term
effects from being bitten by a black widow. I understand that long term
effects and death are rare..but they do happen. But am having a hard time
finding any information on what those problems could be.
Sarah
10 Jan 2010, 23:35
10 Jan 2010, 23:35
I think my 13 year old daughter was bit by a black widow about 2 weeks ago.
She did not feel it when it bit her, but when she was in the shower and
touched the bite she said it tingled down to her spine. She has not been
able to lift her arm for 2 weeks now and our doctor is unsure what to do
for her. He has her having a MRI tomorrow! Any suggestions on what we
should do?
Alida
03 Mar 2010, 01:39
03 Mar 2010, 01:39
I got bit by the creepy critter in early June of 2009. I had no idea I had
gotten bit. I started having drawing in my hands that completely drew hands
stiff and continued into my face and then lower extremeties. I could not
stand, much less walk. I became very short of breath, hypotensive and
tachycardic. I was taken to the ER by the rescue squad that I am an EMT
with and my fellow EMS people were as terrified as I was!
My entire body was drawing and cramping. I have NEVER experienced such pain.....from my hips down and out my toes was like a constant non stop muscle cramp that was EXTREMELY painful. My feet drew inward and downward, my ankles looked like they were dislocated. This lasted for about 4 hours, which I spend laying in the ER screaming, crying and begging for someone to make it stop!
I was given numerous medications that had no effect at all. We had no idea that I had been biten until 2 days later, still in the hospital, I finally became fully awake and alert and found the bite area on the upper part of my left breast. At that time I remembered it feeling like there was something crawling in my bra about 30 minutes after the initial symptoms started.
The ER doctor decided to give my IV Valium because nothing else was helping, and it was a life saver!!!
As far as long term problems, I to have had severe leg pain, esp my right leg ever since. My regular doctor is still trying to get this pain "managed" today.
I never in my entire life had a fear of the creepy crawlers, but let me tell you......that has changed tremendously!! I think that anyone who has experienced the intense pain from a black widow bite, or had to watch a loved one go through it would 100% understand....IF I SEE THEM..THEY WILL BE KILLED..I NEVER EVER WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!!!!
My entire body was drawing and cramping. I have NEVER experienced such pain.....from my hips down and out my toes was like a constant non stop muscle cramp that was EXTREMELY painful. My feet drew inward and downward, my ankles looked like they were dislocated. This lasted for about 4 hours, which I spend laying in the ER screaming, crying and begging for someone to make it stop!
I was given numerous medications that had no effect at all. We had no idea that I had been biten until 2 days later, still in the hospital, I finally became fully awake and alert and found the bite area on the upper part of my left breast. At that time I remembered it feeling like there was something crawling in my bra about 30 minutes after the initial symptoms started.
The ER doctor decided to give my IV Valium because nothing else was helping, and it was a life saver!!!
As far as long term problems, I to have had severe leg pain, esp my right leg ever since. My regular doctor is still trying to get this pain "managed" today.
I never in my entire life had a fear of the creepy crawlers, but let me tell you......that has changed tremendously!! I think that anyone who has experienced the intense pain from a black widow bite, or had to watch a loved one go through it would 100% understand....IF I SEE THEM..THEY WILL BE KILLED..I NEVER EVER WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!!!!
jhonny
06 Mar 2010, 20:18
06 Mar 2010, 20:18
I got bitten by a black widow spider three times yesterday. My leg was
painful. I could walk but it superpainful. I didn't know it was a spider
bite until I saw the darn thing crawling out of my jeans.
Luckily I didn't have any serious symptoms. It's been almost a day and a half and hopefully the venom in my body has made its way out of the important systems in my body.
All the bites are just red dots. But they sting a bit.
I'm taking too medications. Valium is one of them. Hopefully by Monday I'll be ok.
But yeah every time I see one in my room I will kill them. All kinds of spiders. They will die!
Luckily I didn't have any serious symptoms. It's been almost a day and a half and hopefully the venom in my body has made its way out of the important systems in my body.
All the bites are just red dots. But they sting a bit.
I'm taking too medications. Valium is one of them. Hopefully by Monday I'll be ok.
But yeah every time I see one in my room I will kill them. All kinds of spiders. They will die!