For me-
1) Immediate pain at site of bite preventing sleep and increasing.
2) About 12 hrs. later chills and pain in all joints. By 15 hrs. post-bite, burning at bite site and joint pain was so severe, I went to ER. Treated with Toredol IV to relieve pain. Some improvement from pain of 9.5 out of 10 to 7. Note: comparable to when I had burst appendix. Worse than childbirth. After treatment they planned to release me. Doc said anti-venin had dangerous side effects and did not prescribe. I said pain was still too intense to possibly sleep and was given a Norco pill. Pain persisted.
3) Managed to fall asleep but woke approx. hourly having to pee and lacking bladder control. This iccurred 5-6 times.
4) Day 2 - Joint pain and burning decreased. Then started intense itching from head (as if I had fleas or lice) to bottoms of feet to nipples to stomach and other random sites. Chills continued. Kept taking max recommended doses of Tylenol alternating with ibuprofen for some relief.
5) Day 3 - Itching reduced, and pain only sporadic at bite site. But now starts constant cold sweating of legs which causes more chills.
6) Day 4 - Mild itching, but near constant sweating continues limited to both legs from knee down. ( I was bit on right foot.) Have fever of 100 deg. F and chills at 9:30 p.m. and have to take more Tylenol. But overall better day. Was out of bed for about 3 hrs.
7) Tomorrow- day 5. Who knows? Don't let anyone tell you black widow bites are no big deal. Spider was in my boot and very threatened and likely bit multiple times and/or injected a lot of venom. Venom is nasty.
