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Bad Things Come in Threes?

What are the chances of getting bit by a brown recluse, a black widow and fracturing a bone in your foot, all within two days?

While this will sound like a poor, pitiful me post, it is not.  My bestfriend’s daughter was in a terrible auto accident last week and was seriously injured, has had several surgeries and will be in the hospital for weeks and it will be months before she can walk again so I know I’m a lucky girl in so  many ways.  I’ve had a temporary setback.

I knew this was coming.  We’re over run with spiders, scorpions, snakes and who knows what else.

1.  Friday morning I woke up with a bite on my leg.  I was pretty sure it was a spider bite.  It didn’t hurt or sting but it kinda itched and a huge circle was red, hard and felt hot.  We looked up on the internet and felt pretty sure it was a brown recluse bite and we watched it to see if it got any worse or looked like we should go to the doctor.  By Saturday night, it was looking better and wasn’t bothering me much.

2.  This morning (Sunday), when I went to get out of bed . . always so excited to face the day . . I swung my right foot over the bed and banged it hard against the wooden sideboard and the doctor thinks the bone in the side of my foot is fractured.  We’re waiting on x-ray results.  The radiologist isn’t in on Sunday so it will be tomorrow before we know.  If it is cracked, I’ll have to go back tomorrow and get a boot (hopefully, a boot without spiders!).  Not so sure working in the garden or dealing with chickens is going to be easy for the next few weeks but . . it could have been worse but honestly . . how hard is it to fracture a bone before ever putting your foot on the floor in the morning?

3.  Here’s where it gets bad!  My foot was hurting but I knew I had to pick beans and cut okra.  I know to shake out my boots.  What I do is hit them on the back of the heel on the concrete several times, then look inside to see if there’s anything that’s fallen to the back.  I did that and nothing.  I put the boots on, hobbled out to the chickens, played with them for a few minutes, then I’d picked 2 rows of beans.  I felt something stinging my toes on my right foot.  I though  . . there must be something prickly in my boot . . knowing it couldn’t be a spider because I’d shaken my boots out well.  I felt stinging again and decided I’d better take the boot off and investigate.  There it was . . a black widow and I got several bites on my toe.  One thing we read said you didn’t have to go to the E.R.  Another thing said seek immediate medical attention so we went to the E.R.

Vince put the spider in a zipper bag and we took it with us and went to the E.R.

They only give the ante venom if you’re experiencing difficult breathing or severe cramping.  I was not . . I just experienced extreme stinging and as I write this, almost 4 hours later, it still stings just like it did when it first happened.  I was very lucky in that it was a male and the females are way more dangerous than the males.  Some websites say males don’t sting . . I’m telling you they do!

The doctor was more concerned about the bite on my leg from Friday, which they think is a brown recluse bite.  I didn’t see the  spider as it happened  during the night . . in my bed! 

They gave me antibiotics, topical ointment, and pain meds.

I’m trying to stay calm and not let frustration get the best of me but I’m telling you . . the bugs and snakes and spiders . . it’s about more than I can take.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Oh Judy, I can totally commiserate. Brown recluses are very common here. In the summer of 2010 … less than thirty days after being in a bad car accident (compound fracture on the right ankle and non-weight bearing for three months!), I got bit by a brown recluse on the top of my thigh on that same leg. Landed me in the hospital for a tidy five days! Spiders didn’t bother me too much before hand — now I cannot stand the site of them!! Hoping you’re feeling better very, very soon! 🙂

  2. Well, you’ve got me beat….but I can at least relate to some degree…..two weeks ago, my ankle rolled and I fell….resulting a broken left ankle and a broken right wrist. Air cast on the leg, Fiberglas on the wrist. I have to walk with a cane. I’m about to lose my mind…..can’t quilt, knit, stitch or anything. Boo!

    • Becky . . you’re in way worse shape than me. At least I can sit in the recliner with my foot propped up, with ice packs on it and knit or do some hand sewing. Hope you’re better soon!

  3. Oh, you poor girl! (I hate spiders and snakes).
    Hope you’re on the go again soon. Glad you got everything checked out.

    • Thanks Lady B. I was just thinking that maybe tomorrow I can limp over to the sewing room and find an applique project or my hexies . . both of which have been hibernating for years and years.

  4. I’m so glad you had it all checked out. Now you will no exactly what you are dealing with and nothing will slide by to present you will a nasty surprise down the road. Let’s hope that this threesome will be the extent of your negative critter experiences for the rest of your time in TX (even if it is forever).

  5. Oh, you poor thing! I’ve been reading about your trials with all the bugs and snakes, etc. and I’m so very glad I live in a place where I only have to worry about the occasional daddy-long-legs.

    How about putting shower caps over the tops of your boots? It might stop the majority of the spiders and scorpions getting in.

    Hope you are feeling better soon!

  7. No brown recluse spiders here, but my husband has had some garden spider bites that have led to cellulitis. Cellulitis is something that you have to be very careful with. If the redness, warmth etc. gets worse or the area enlarges be sure to get help quick…cellulitis is nothing to play with! Broken bones are not fun either (broke my wrist almost a year ago)…you have had more than your share already. I will be praying that things improve soon. Get your ipod or kindle out along with your knitting needles and enjoy some time off your feet!

  8. that’s it! I’m never even considering moving to texas! scary scary! hope you heal fast and that your foot is NOT broken!!!

  9. Oh my word, This all just sounds awful…I am never working in the yard again..
    I hope your foot is not broken and you recover soon.

  10. Maybe you could seal your boots in a plastic bag with kitty litter in it to absorb any moisture? I hate spiders, don’t know if Texas would suit me at all. Hope things get better soon

  11. This was definitely not your week. If you are looking for a bright spot, the only one I can think of is at least you dealt with all three injuries in one ER visit, rather than 3.

    Take special care of yourself. Hope you are on the mend soon.

  12. Judy, what are you doing to yourself! This is way too much trouble for one person in one day. Slow down, cut back, be safe. But keep writing to let us know how you are doing.

  13. Brown spider bites take forever to heal as the flesh rots. I know you’ll be fine but it will put a damper on your spirits so be prepared for a little depression, don’t let it get the best of you.

  14. I broke my foot, a couple of years ago. Broke my foot chasing after my husband who was chasing after another woman. LOL.

    The other woman was a waitress at a resturant. She moved out and my husband was trying keep up with her. I was trying to keep up with him. And I came down hard on that foot. But if you got to have a break in the foot, let it be like what ballerinas get. And that is what the doctor told me the break I had in my foot was. Exotic.

    Trina

  16. Judy – sending major hugs your way! When I had decided that I was NOT going to live in AZ – it was because of the snakes and the tarantulas. Spiders I do NOT love – in the least!

    On the way back I seriously thought of moving to NMexico – a very pretty little area – but truly fell in love with a place in TX and almost decided to move there – until someone reminded me about the spiders and snakes! Snakes I can sort of tolerate – but NOT poisonous ones which invariably seem to seek me out! And spiders – uh uh – there is NO WAY! Plus I metup with (but wasn’t stung by) a scorpion. Ugh!

    So – at that time I moved back to IL – where I had only copperheads, water moccasins and black widow spiders and brown recluse. NO rattlesnakes (except for the one down along the creek and that was a timber rattler – not a cottonmouth) and NO homegrown tarantulas (just wolf spiders which are huge and scare the you know what out of me!)

    Now I live in MA – there are still the brown recluse and black widow spiders here – and considering how old this place is – probably thrive well). Snakes I THINK are only the non-poisonous kind – but I wouldn’t bank on it. Still we have fewer tornadoes (last year excepting – only was in 3 of them).

    But I DO feel for you – truly I do!

  18. Judy,
    We used to treat around the house for termites every year in Midland. The stuff took care of spiders and scorpions; might be a good investment for you to get the place treated now and then, maybe an ongoing contract. Hope you’re doing better soon.

  19. You certainly have had a rough few days. Here’s hoping it’s the end of your run of bad luck, and things start to look up soon!

  20. Unfortunately we do have nasty bugs here and so far I have been counting us lucky. Our friend and landscaper did get bit by a recluse while working on our hedge in the front. Since he also had health problems he ended up in the hospital for almost a week. We do spray around the foundation, windows, door sills etc and also inside at doors, windows etc several times a year, so we don’t get many things inside. Take care of yourself and start putting your shoes in big ziploc bags when you take them off!

  21. Oh, Judy! I’m sending thoughts your way. I’m so glad the doctor noticed your brown recluse bite! I know someone who ignored a bite like that. She had over a year of serious health issues and ended up on steroids for months and had to have skin grafts. Be very careful with that!

  22. Please be sure to watch the brown recluse spider bite. My husband ended up in the hospital for a week as their venom can rot the flesh. He was on large doses of antibiotics and he was considered fortunate. I think Texas might be nice to visit but too many bugs to live there.

  23. I remember feeling sorry for myself this morning. Now I feel much better. In fact, I can’t even remember what piddly little something happened. Good Grief! Judy take care of yourself.

  24. I am sorry about all that has happened to you. But just remember there are bad things no matter where you live. Soon you will be laughing about all this.

  25. Judy, Judy, Judy….i lived in Texas for 20 years and you have had more things happen to you in a few days than i did in 20 years. hahahahaha i think you need some armor to wear or serious bug deterrant spray. have you thought about having a pest control company come out and spray your house inside and out.. it might help. keep an eye out for those critters and stay safe.

  26. Oh my! A brown recluse and an black widow in just a couple of days? Plus a tarantula and a scorpion? What’s a girl to do if she can’t even go to a safe place to sleep at night? You have had way too much to deal with over the past few days. I was wondering….I know you have said before you don’t do the bug spray chemicals inside of your house due to your little dog but what if you took him somewhere over the weekend (like your mom’s) and have your house sprayed good while you are gone so it will dry well? And yes, good thing you did get antibiotics for the spider bite. I deal with patients on occasion with brown recluse bites and they are no joke.

  27. Hope your feeling better soon. I do not like spiders at all. I’ve been bitten twice but never knew what type it was either times. The last one was a couple of years ago & boy did I have a bad reaction to it. My leg still isn’t the same. The only thing I wish I did different is to go to the doctors. So it’s a good thing the doctor happened to see yours. Now if only the mosquitoes would disappear. Yes, I have allergic reactions to some of those bites too. If it’s not one thing it’s another.

  28. OMG, when I mentioned things happening in threes I certainly wasn’t thinking three things would happen to you. Banging your foot was bad enough. If you do have to wear a boot get some shoes with soles the same thickness as the bottom of the boot….even if you have to buy a pair of platform sandals. Much, much easier on the back. You could probably stick your foot, boot and all, into a plastic bag to go to the garden or feed chickens. Not elegant, but effective. Best wishes for quick healing and no further incidents.

  29. OK, time to talk to you about Texas critters and wiggly things. You’re new here (I’ve been here my whole LONG life) so I’ll give you some advice about surviving Texas creepy things. First off, you have the best exterminators in the world trapped in a chicken run. Bet you won’t find hide nor hair of a bug in their run! Let those beauties out! Hawks RARELY snatch full-grown chickens and we all know how much chicky-poos love to eat bugs. Let ’em at it! Bugs also add protein to chicken eggs, making those yokes dark and rich. To protect the chickens from racoons, foxes, coyotes, etc. and provide them a safe place to lay, put them in the henhouse at night.

    The best way to eliminate snakes is to get several guineas. They WILL end your snake problem. Let them roam free too. They are even more fun to watch than chickens because they’re sillier. Tasty eggs too.

    Hope you’re feeling better soon.

  30. Judy, I can’t imagine having all of that happen to you at the same time! I hope you are feeling better soon!

  31. Oh Judy, so sorry you are suffering right now. Spiders give me the creeps. Can’t stand them. I’ve had a broken ankle before. It was really hard to get around. Hope you feel better soon.

  33. Glad you are doing ok for now. Suggestion. Keep seven dust around your baseboards, etc inside. It wont hurt Speck. Show help some and treat outside with something too. Keep an eye on those spider bites. They ate serious.

  34. Glad you are doing ok for now. Suggestion. Keep seven dust around your baseboards, etc inside. It wont hurt Speck. Show help some and treat outside with something too. Keep an eye on those spider bites. They are serious.

  35. Oh no! Feel better Judy! I think you working on hexys is a great idea!
    Knit too! Just concentrate on you.. Those darn spiders! Why does the earth need them??? I don’t get it!!! I hope you don’t have a broken bone but either way it will still take time to heal 🙁 Maybe it was Gods way of getting you to ER because of that nasty spider bite!!! (multiple bites)

  36. Oh, yikes – in your bed???? Oh my, oh my. I am glad I live in Pennsylvania right now. I hope you feel better soon! And, on a more serious note, I hope your friends’ daughter makes a full recovery Your child being in a horrible accident – one of a mother’s worst nightmares!

  37. Oh, yikes – in your bed???? Oh my, oh my. I am glad I live in Pennsylvania right now. I hope you feel better soon! And, on bit more of a serious note, I hope your friends’ daughter makes a full recovery Your child being in a horrible accident – one of a mother’s worst nightmares!

  38. I fear real -life adventures like yours may have inspired those books “An Unfortunate Series of Events.” I hope you’ll think seriously about getting some of those “chase-the-bugs-away” electronic devices–maybe one for every room.
    I’m so sorry you’ve had this opportunity to learn first hand about things you never would have sought to learn about! Heal fast!

  39. now that you’ve got all the bad things out of the way, hopefully the rest of the year will go as smooth as silk…..

  40. Someone suggested using Sevin dust around your baseboards. Sevin dust is for outdoor use only, according to the instructions. Although it’s good for killing lots of unwanted insects, it’s highly toxic to honey bees. As with all insecticides, it must be used with caution and according to the label on the package.

  41. So glad you got that first bite treated – those are nasty ones and not to be ignored. Hope this is it for the year. You need relief from all this. Sending prayers for you for a speedy recovery.

  42. I can’t even imagine what you are going through. You are way more brave than me! I would be calling a professional to spray inside and outside the house…..every week for the rest of the season, lol. I have the willies right now just thinking about it.

  43. And I thought we had bad varmints here in south Louisiana. Keep a close eye on your leg and take care of yourself….ok????

  44. Okay … I am done complaining. (I did get poisoned by a spider, the day before my 21st b’day. Mom had to take me to the doc because it compromised my heart. Did the brown recluse about three weeks before I finished engineering classes. Hard to do drafting with swollen hand and arm. Eight years between tho, not just a few days!)
    ‘
    Trying to think of the song which mentions spiders and snakes … something like ‘it don’t take spiders and snakes for me to love you’?

    Could you please just take better care of yourself?

  45. Thank goodness I live in the UK, the thought of dealing with snakes and poisonous spiders makes me feel ill. I sympathise about the ankle, I am hobbling about on crutches with a boot on at the moment after tripping on a loose paving slab a few weeks ago. You need to pay the PRICE – protect, rest, ice, compress and elevate. A bit of hand stitching or knitting will keep you occupied and I am sure it won’t be too long before you can find ways of adapting your day to day activities. I hope everything is on the mend soon. Take care.

  46. Good gravy Girl! You have certainly been through your share of country girl orientation! I think you’ve earned your country girl title…and then some! You can bet I’d be shaking out my sheets from now on! Hope you’re on the mend. Those brown recluse spiders are nasty. We’re going to have to wrap you in bubble wrap! I’m glad you went in to have things checked out.

  47. Good gravy Girl! We’re going to have to wrap you in bubble wrap! I’m glad you had things checked out and hope you’re recuperating. Let Vince pamper you for a while!

  48. Oh my gosh! My mom always says things come in threes, so hopefully you are done!

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