Something bit me!

I woke up with a bite on my heel. I know I couldn't have rubbed a blister on my foot because I mostly wear clogs or other open back shoes. Now the place on my heel is red, itchy, painful and swollen. Ugh! I bet a spider got me.

Ugh, no fun at all! A couple months back I had something bite me on my arm. It was red with a tiny white blister in the middle of it, but the REALLY scary thing was that these little "viens" stared to sprout out from it. It didn't hurt but was super itchy. My Mom tried to convince me to have a doc check it out but luckily it looked better the next day and went away completely after a couple days. The only thing I could think of was a spider bite as well and the thought SERIOUSLY freaks me out.

If it's still bothering you tomorrow you might want to have it checked out. While most spider bites themselves are harmless, they can get infected (as can any wound).

DON'T SCRATCH IT!!!!
It sounds like a spider bite I got a couple of years ago. It itched and itched and I have no self control so ended up scratching it. It got infected, and man was it ever gross. You do not want to go through that. Trust me. I still have a big ugly scar on my leg.

how do you feel today Angie?...
I hope are you feel better.......

Thank you all for your kind answers and concern. It has gotten worse. The area was dark red by the time I got off from work today. There are also some little white bumps in the middle of it. I am starting to feel sick on my stomach and I think it's coming from that. (That's not unusual for me, though, I get sick on my stomach almost anytime I get hurt.) I have made an appointment to see my doctor on Friday. I would like to go sooner, but I have to work. Trying not to scratch is the hardest part. It itches terribly.

Do you think you could leave work early or show up a little late and try a walk in clinic or the ER? You don't leave infections to get worse for 5 days. Your cat would likely be at the vet ASAP if they needed medical care, don't neglect yourself.

Originally Posted by nurseangel

I have made an appointment to see my doctor on Friday. I would like to go sooner, but I have to work. Trying not to scratch is the hardest part. It itches terribly.

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Go sooner! You can't leave this for a week! You could very well have poisen running through you. I don't mean to sound dire, actually, yes I do! But you could drop dead by the time Friday comes.

I hope it's nothing serious!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Do you think you could leave work early or show up a little late and try a walk in clinic or the ER? You don't leave infections to get worse for 5 days. Your cat would likely be at the vet ASAP if they needed medical care, don't neglect yourself.

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It's true my cat would be at the vet ASAP. I have been worried that this could be contagious to cats. Or that some dangerous spider is running around loose in my house that could bite my cats.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Go sooner! You can't leave this for a week! You could very well have poisen running through you. I don't mean to sound dire, actually, yes I do! But you could drop dead by the time Friday comes.

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I think it will be okay until Friday. My RN supervisor checks it every day and she said that Friday was a long time off, but it's getting closer. I think once I get an antibiotic it will clear quickly. To me, it almost looks like shingles.

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I hope it's nothing serious!

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Thanks. I think it will be fine.

Originally Posted by nurseangel

It's true my cat would be at the vet ASAP. I have been worried that this could be contagious to cats. Or that some dangerous spider is running around loose in my house that could bite my cats.

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While not impossible, cats seem pretty good at dispatching spiders. I've found many squishes and mangled spider corpses. Even a couple of scorpions that were unlucky enough to have the cats find them before I did.

I don't think there's anything you can give your cats. Just be careful. There are very serious bacteria that naturally live on our skin. All they need is a small wound and for a person to have their immune system a bit low and they can take hold. Keep it clean.


As for spiders around the home. Don't give them anywhere to hide. They like nice dark undisturbed places - organize and vacuum any spiders and egg cases up.

...***Thinking in you angie!*****

Oh I feel for you! I have been bitten by an australian white tail spider - (not dissimilar to the brown recluse) they cause nasty infections, like strange wings said - thanks to opportunistic bacteria on the skin. I won't describe what happened to me after the bite, it was nasty. I had to be put on antibiotics so I hope you went to the doctor!!

Get better soon!

Thank you all. I showed the area to a co-worker who is an infectious disease nurse. She didn't know what to make of it. She said it didn't look like a spider bite or shingles to her. One more day until I see the doctor. Thank goodness!

Without actually seeing the lesion, from what you describe...if it isn't a bite, sounds like it could be one of the following:

Impetigo

You can search for other images as well using Google image search for "Impetigo"

Early herpes lesions Not necessarily shingles.

Scabies But you would normally have it in more than just one isolated spot.

Well I'm glad you're at least been seen by nurses. Do take every care not to scratch, I know it's hard.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Without actually seeing the lesion, from what you describe...if it isn't a bite, sounds like it could be one of the following:

Impetigo

You can search for other images as well using Google image search for "Impetigo"

Early herpes lesions Not necessarily shingles.

Scabies But you would normally have it in more than just one isolated spot.

Click to expand...

I get bullous impetigo from cat bites!! Nasty blisters that itch and hurt!

I saw the doctor this moring. It turns out I have a series of spider bites with underlying cellulitis. He started me on Keflex. But that culprit (the spider) is still at large somewhere in my house.