^^^Can't trust this guy with nuthin.


Let me start out by saying I had a wonderful time camping at The Cove- except for the weather. It was too hot. High 80's by day, mid 50's at night.

Too many bugs.

Stinkbugs.

Brown Recluse Spiders.

Flies.

Wait....what about that spider?

Yeah. Most likely that is what bit me on my right elbow. Dr's can't be certain, but the specifics match up.

The day after I arrived home I set about cleaning out the 'Runner. It looked like a mud pit inside and out. Later that night I noticed that my elbow was a little red and had a bump, kinda like an ingrown hair looks. This was Tuesday.

Wednesday I went to work and left after 6 hrs to go to the urgent care center because my elbow basically felt like I had been in a UFC fight and then took a torch to the top layers of skin. It was very hot to the touch and I felt like I was getting sick to boot. Dr said it was definitely an insect bite and put me on antibiotics. "If it gets worse in any way seek medical treatment again."

OKEY DOKEY.

When I got home, I started putting the camping equipment in the garage away. When I moved the vacuum, that I had used on the truck, along came a spider completely different looking than any I had seen before.

I smushed him a little and put him in a baggie (which my wife promptly threw away ). After some research, it appears to be a Brown Recluse(?) I never got a chance to look at the eyes with a magnifying glass- they have 3 sets unlike a "normal" spider's 4 sets. Maybe that's what bit me?
Remember, I stepped on him that's why his legs are all crinkly...








Thursday/Friday no change. Hot to the touch, very red, not quite as swollen.

Today- Saturday (my girl's Birthday party). My elbow hurt noticeably more and developed a small puss sack around the bite mark- gross, eh? This thing was literally getting bigger every hour.
I bumped my elbow on a doorframe and filled the room with expletives much to the chagrin of the family...Time to go to the ER.









The infection had spread beyond the bite and was moving along rapidly.

I.V. antibiotics and then they did wonderful things.

First they stuck 6 needles into the infected area. That was fun. Then they cut out the infection, which wasn't too bad. Then he basically scraped the area clean ( I forget the terminology he used). That pretty much felt like a spike going through my infected arm. I laughed it off for the pretty nurse but I'm fairly certain she didn't miss the tears that formed in my left eye.

Great fun. Here's what it looks like now.







6 hours later I'm home. No work tomorrow and in quite a bit of pain- which is why I'm up typing this waiting for the meds to kick in.

Hopefully the infection will clear up in a week or 2 and all will be good.


Now- back to that camping thing.

No way in friggin' hell will I EVER organize another camping trip when it's still warm out. Late October, early November next year.

No more bugs for me man.



I'll keep this updated!