Spider Bites

[rodm]

I have never been bothered by spiders and if I see a web I don't even stop to see if there is a spider there or what type. Yeah sure I have copped a few bites over the years but it was only local pain radiating around the bite. Next day a bit itchy but nothing compared to say a wasp sting.

Well all that has changed for me after loosing five days in absolute agony to a multiple spider bite. Don't know what type it was but the spider/s got me six times in the same area. See photo and no comments about the sexy leg.

Went to Hospital after a day and they gave me Panadol Forte and sent me home. I was told there that they do not administer anti venom for spider bites anymore - only snake bites.

Their venom gets to the nerve ending and sends pain signals to the brain. No real pain but your body thinks there is. The pain is so intense is constantly full on and there is no chance of sleep in the first three days for me. Another two days of random attacks every minute or so then it settles to something you can live with.

I will treat spiders with a lot more respect than I have and perhaps this experience might prompt others to do so as well. I have no idea of the species of spider but I can think of a few names I can call it.

[_fly_]

When I got bitten years ago they gave me an alcohol based gel to put on it, cooled it and made the itch/sting go away. Made it all cool, enough to get to sleep. Didn't have pain part with mine so no pain killers.

[rustynail]

Did you see the spider? It looks more like a snake to me.
Are you going to smoke that ham?

[BobL]

Sorry to hear about that Rod. Did you try ice packs?

[robbo37]

Sorry to hear of your mishap. My sister was bitten recently and doctor said they have identified many new types this year over here. (Melbourne)
I don't worry too much about spiders, but the black ba%#ards in the shed get a touch of the butane to discourage them.

[rodm]

Nah the ham stays.

Tried ice packs and cold and warm baths but it is at the nerve endings so no relief and two Panadol Forte every four hours didn't seem to do much either. It's a waiting game but I must say at the end of it I am revived, appreciaiate normality and ready to catch up on the lost days. I had no other symptoms and felt healthy despite the pain.

I can't be sure it was a spider but the most likely given I was standing in a fairly thick web working and live in the metro area. Mind you we had a bobtail in the garden a month or so back that the trusty dog found.

I worked in the same area last night and wore track pants, socks lifted over the track pants and shoes - wasn't a pretty sight and it was a bit hot to be over dressed but I reckon another bite at the moment will set it off again. Was a good excuse to knock off a stubby or two from the Xmas left overs when I finished.

[Milo]

Man! this thread brings back memories!

CHECK UNDER GAS BOTTLES BEFORE PICKING THEM UP!!!!

I picked up a gas bottle that was in the garage and a black widow got me good. Went to the hospital and they just gave me more of the same, said if it got worse come back.

Mate, hope you are feeling better soon!

P.S I got nailed in the ankle by a sting ray whilst fishing the flats. Worst pain EVER!

45 MIN in the hottest water you can handle, dilutes the toxins and Morphine is a beutiful drug!!

[Scott]

Weird bite pattern, not random at all. Looks like the offender was chomping on you at specified intervals.

We're getting a lot of spider bites in ED these days, especially the Black House Spider which your bites look like. Mind you, you'll know it if you get a Red Back bite, excruciatingly painful they are. Plus the affected limb will sweat like crazy below the bite.

Everyone should have a compression bandage in their shed for both bites and to stem bleeding (just in case the table saw bites ).

If you think you've been bitten by a spider then apply the bandage above the bite on the affected limb, past the bite and down to the end of the limb. In Rod's case, you'd start from the knee down to the ankle. Secondly, do not move and call an ambulance.

I might do a basic first aid post one of these days

[munruben]

Looks nasty and sounds worse.. pleased to hear all turned out well for you.

[rodm]

Thanks for the well wishes.

I'm almost as good as ever with only a few needle like twinges every now and then.

Scott I assume ED means Emergency Department so is it correct they don't do anti-venom for spider bites anymore. I have a feeling I was short changed on that and could have been because I didn't make enough fuss for them to take it seriously.

I had profuse sweating on the bite leg below the knee and as the days went by I would have sweating in other limbs the same. Wierd as below the knee was wet but above it was dry and normal. The pain was unbearable but I didn't have stomach cramps or feel nausiated which the hospital staff asked me a few times. Perhaps it was a pussy cat spider but the number of bites increased the effect.

I was standing in the web for five minutes so I gave it/them plenty of opportunity to have a go. Won't be that silly again.

[Scott]

Scott I assume ED means Emergency Department so is it correct they don't do anti-venom for spider bites anymore. I have a feeling I was short changed on that and could have been because I didn't make enough fuss for them to take it seriously.

Yep, Emergency Department.

There is anti-venom available for everything under the sun, including spider bites in every major hospital. The reason it's not given is that the side effects of the anti-venom can often be worse than the bite itself. If the anti-venom is given it can cause heart arrhythmia's etc, etc. It's only given when the situation is clearly diabolical and there are no other options. These days patients are given medications to quell the symptoms and are observed until the danger has passed, usually something for the pain.

Sounds like you've got a redback bite. Redback venom is a neurotoxin hence the pain and sweating (sympathetic nerve response). I think (I'll check it up for you) no one has died from a redback bite for many years (?decades).

[Scott]

A little more information can be found at this website:

Spider facts - Australian Museum

There have been no deaths in Australia from a confirmed spider bite since 1979. An effective antivenom for Redback Spiders was introduced in 1956, and one for funnel-web spiders in 1980. These are the only two spiders that have caused deaths in Australia in the past.

A spider bite is not a notifiable medical emergency, so there are no Australia-wide statistics, but the following figures give an idea of the incidence of reported bites in recent years.

Approximately 2000 people are bitten each year by Redback Spiders

Funnel-web spider antivenom has been given to at least 100 patients since 1980. Antivenom is given only when signs of serious envenomation are observed. Many spider bites are 'blank', which means that no venom has been injected.

[rodm]

Thanks Scott,
Makes sense and they were right as it obviously wasn't life threatening in my situation. Would have been good not to have endured the pain for so long but no point taking risks when not necessary.

[snowyskiesau]

I used to have a heavy infestation of redabcks in my shed in Sydney. Always checked every garden tool I took out just in case.
At some point the daddy longlegs moved in and I never saw a redback after that. I don't know if one is a natural predator of the other or if it was a change in environment.

Not enormously relevant to this thread, but I know which I'd rather have bit/envenomate me.

[Buzza]

The Daddy Long Legs is a spider that can cause a heap of pain, and lay you up in bed for a few days. I know about them first hand. Another is the dreaded "White Tailed" spider. They seem to have become a lot more prevalent over the last 25 years or so. I never saw or heard of them too much before that. However, they bite and the flesh around the bite begins to decay, and keeps on decaying for many months. They are also agressive. I found one late at night in our house, which is very clean and newish. They get in as hatchlings I think. Anyhow, this was a full sized male, and after I sprayed him to make him drop off the curtain rod, he hit the floor and charged at me. He could have gone anywhere, but I played with him, and it was me he wanted to bite. Flesh rotting is not good.