John F Dean

The sharp stabbing pain is down.   Comparing pictures, it seems to be getting worse.  I sent the photo to my doctor.  I imagine I will be getting a steroid and possibly another antibiotic.

Can you give us an update?

My main experience with a Brown Recluse was a relative who was bit on the little finger.   The primary discussion with the doctor was how high up the arm the amputation would be.  In the end, amputation was avoided, but the hand remained partially paralyzed.

My feeling is that if I was bit up by a herd of Brown Recluse chomping on my head I wouldn’t be alive.  

Hi Eric,

To be clear, I did notice them.  I have 20/800 vision in my rt eye and had lots of perspiration in both eyes. So, while I noticed  I was encountering something, I could not identify what it was.

Hi Eric,

My thoughts are similar.   I was in my garden, how would the spiders have reached my face?   But, I can’t rule out that I may have brushed against a bush.   I am favoring some kind of fly.  As I write this, I think I will hang up a fly trap in the area I was working in.  It may give me some insight. Iwillneed to check it regularly, I don’t want to trap the wrong creatures.

Hi Pearl,

While I can say with confidence they are not stings …it took about 24 hours to have a noticeable reaction, I really can’t rule out spiders.  

Hi Jordan,

This experience just reinforces what I already knew.  When in the garden, wear hat, gloves, long sleeved shirt, and insect repellant.   As with most accidents I have had, this happened because it was only going to take a minute, so I didn’t take precautions. In the end, it costs more in terms of time and money.

What is strange is that I am not finding any flying critters in the garden with the numbers and ability to do the damage that was done.

Certainly they are bites not stings. Beyond that, we are not sure.