topic Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite? in Wellness

Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 20:45:26 GMT

My daughter was telling me that my late husband's sister has been hospitalized several times since last summer.

They thought she'd had a heart attack (didn't), thought she'd had a stroke (didn't).

Then just recently my daughter said while she was (once again) hospitalized they found her brain had swelled from a spider bite she'd received this past summer!

I don't know the details just that. Evidently, the bit turned red but went away and that was it. Now it's January and they've told her her brain had swollen up from the spider bite.

She's being given massive amounts of antibiotics to try to get the swelling down.

As far as I know they don't know what kind of spider but I've asked my daughter and she'll find out...I'm just curious.

She lives in North Carolina where it's warmer. Here in Va we've had some very, very cold days which is terrible on my arthritis, but at least it kills some of the "varmits" (i.e. spiders, etc).

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Lilysmom — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 20:49:53 GMT

@Annabellethecat66, that's scary! Nowadays with produce coming from all over the world, many bugs like spiders are showing up hidden in the fruit. It could also be local. I hope she makes a speedy and full recovery. LM

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

cherry — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 20:50:50 GMT

I've heard a lot of stuff about spider bites, and none of it is good. Was it a brown recluse spider that bit her?

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:02:54 GMT

Thanks ladies. I don't talk to her much (her choice). When my husband died, she was upset that he didn't leave her any money (can you believe it) but my daughter visits and talks to her. She isn't a bad person, just has wrong priorities.

Anyway, I'll find out more of what my daughter knows. You are right. I get things all of the time (i.e. oranges and different things in QVC boxes) I usually leave them in the cold garage for a few days (up from the floor) but cold enough to hopefully kill things.

What a lot of people don't know is if you go to New Orleans and places like that, those barges that are sitting in the water comes from other places (countries, etc). The holes are dark and damp just right for bugs.

One of my husband's favorite places to visit was New Orleans. We'd ride the river and see those barges everywhere.

This is different but kinda similar. I have several neighbors who have chickens (most of the time the foxes just eat them), but they give other neighbors some eggs. I won't touch them because (you'd never know it) but I'm a kinda nut on germs.

When I get an egg before I use it I examine it carefully and wash it off before I crack it. I do that with fruit and everything. I'm a slob as far as littering stuff but when it comes to being clean (to me there's a difference) I'm kinda crazy! Ha!

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Jtdmum — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:03:34 GMT

Spider bites are nasty. My mom had one that swelled to the size of a large egg. Took over a year for it to finally go away. It came from a brown spider. Be careful!

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Kachina624 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:17:20 GMT

Apparently Brown Recluse spider bites are not serious but Black Widow bites are very dangerous and have multiple symptoms, none of which are pleasant.

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/black_widow_spider_bite/article_em.htm

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

goldensrbest — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:19:29 GMT

I have heard of that,and it can kill you,as far as germs i am with you .i had to take my computer to best buy this week ,it is old ,well i wore those plastic gloves ,i am scared of this flu.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

SilleeMee — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:41:50 GMT

Venomous bites have neurotoxins which affect nerves, spinal fluid and brain tissue so it makes sense that swelling of the brain can occur.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

NickNack — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 21:53:06 GMT

That's scary. Didn't someone on these boards get bitten by a brown recluse spider last year and almost die? I do remember something happened with a brown recluse. Maybe she just got very sick and had to go to the hospital.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

riley1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 22:50:11 GMT

@NickNack - yes, it was @Still keeper of the koi

- she was hospitalized with quite a nasty spider bite

.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

riley1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 22:52:20 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 - when my son was 7 he started having seizures and went into a coma and was on full life support.

They checked to see if he had been swimming in rivers, ponds, etc. Even if my husband had been to any farms.

They never really found out the cause as to whether or not it was a bug bite, but called it "presumed viral encephalitis". He also had swelling of the brain.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

GingerPeach — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:30:07 GMT

So sorry to hear about your relative.

I don't know about brain issues, but a few years ago I think my little dog and I were bitten by the same spider. I only had a large red welt, but she (at about 10 pound) had two days of vomiting and diarrhea. Poor thing. (Even after vet-recommended Benadryl.)

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Still keeper of the koi — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:36:42 GMT

Forgive my lateness here, but yes I was bitten early last summer by a brown recluse,I ended up in hospital for a few months total.I had sepsis despite antibiotics .First they removed the neurotic flesh. Then a larger area,again.I ended up with the portion of muscle and flesh removed from my lower leg.I still have problems moving at times despite therapy, I often use a cane.I am waiting for next fall,I may be able to have a muscle graft from a cadaver.It needs to be done,but given my problems with my health it may not be an option. Slider bites can inflame the brain I understand ,mimicking menegitis...scary, scary,....MaryAnne

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

NickNack — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:50:12 GMT

@riley1 wrote:
@NickNack@ - yes, it was @Still keeper of the koi
- she was hospitalized with quite a nasty spider bite

.

Thanks @riley1. Now I remember that that's who it was. That was a scary story.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

NickNack — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:53:25 GMT

@riley1 wrote:
@Annabellethecat66 - when my son was 7 he started having seizures and went into a coma and was on full life support.

They checked to see if he had been swimming in rivers, ponds, etc. Even if my husband had been to any farms.

They never really found out the cause as to whether or not it was a bug bite, but called it "presumed viral encephalitis". He also had swelling of the brain.

@riley1 I hope your son recovered fully. That sounds very frightening.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

riley1 — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 03:34:07 GMT

@NickNack - Thank You - No, he was left with brain damage to the temporal lobes (sp?) and a seizure disorder.

It took years to reteach him things (buttons, zippers, alphabet, spelling name, etc).

It has been a long, tough road for him and his sisters as they were so very young when this happened.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

NickNack — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:13:41 GMT

@riley1 wrote:
@NickNack - Thank You - No, he was left with brain damage to the temporal lobes (sp?) and a seizure disorder.

It took years to reteach him things (buttons, zippers, alphabet, spelling name, etc).

It has been a long, tough road for him and his sisters as they were so very young when this happened.

@riley1 I'm so sorry for your family and your son.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 21:21:22 GMT

@Annabellethecat66...when I read the title of the thread I thought of your daughter....you mentioned she was out taking photos the other day...glad it was not her but to bad for your sister in law, hopefully they can bring the swelling down.

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 23:42:01 GMT

I don't remember @Mom2Dogs I bla bla so much on here. Ha! But my daughter does send me lots of pictures of the amazing country side of Colorado. She makes up calendars for everyone every year. Maybe that's it.

But my daughter, this same one did remind me that a few years ago when she was at my house helping me weed (boy that was a while back), she called me and I came out and she'd taken a picture of a bunch of black widow spiders right where she'd been.

It was so gross. That year we'd had a warm winter. I never thought of my husband's sister as out doorsey, but who knows. We always got along fine until he died.

I just chalked it up to her being upset that he died so quickly. It was terrible how she found out. My daughters were driving me back from the hospital where he'd just died and she called his cell phone! I answered it and I was so grief stricken I just blurted it out!

We had a wonderful celebration of his life and I thought all was well then afterward she hit me with how angry she was he didn't leave her any money! I said she'd been watching too much TV. Everything went to me, his wife and one day it will go to our daughters!

I think people see this stuff on TV (wills being read and that's what they expect). I'm glad she's better and my daughter keeps in touch with her but I'm pretty much finished. Just because she was angry with HIM!

Re: Ever Heard Of Brain Swelling From Spider Bite?

maestra — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 00:18:52 GMT

wrote:
Apparently Brown Recluse spider bites are not serious but Black Widow bites are very dangerous and have multiple symptoms, none of which are pleasant.

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/black_widow_spider_bite/article_em.htm

@Kachina624 Brown Recluse are also dangerous, I know from experience as a child.