False widow bite - 7 days on

[Lollywillowes]

Hi all,

Wanted to document the anxiety and confusion I'm going through about this bite...

A false widow crawled into my trousers which were left overnight on the floor last Saturday and bit me twice on the leg. The pain was bloody agony at the time. I killed the spider and kept it.

After about 24hours of pain it went to a dull itch and seemed to settle down.

For no clear reason, a couple of nights ago this ramped up to an infuriating itch that woke me up and redness and swelling. I tried hydrocortisone and piriton and then went to a and e (gp unavailable) where they said I was having an allergic reaction, hit the piriton hard and gave me antibiotics prescription for piece of mind. Oh and hydrocolloid dressings.

I had to sleep with an ice pack last night on my leg because the heat of the duvet was unbearable. Have woken up and the redness is worse.

Anyone had similar story? I don't know why, after a week, an allergic reaction would explode?

This is the bastard.

Ow!

I know nothing but perhaps my comment will bump the thread!

I'd seek more medical attention if it doesn't improve 48 hours after a&e.

I have false widows nesting inside my upc window frame. I think this has inspired me to take action

My son was recently bitten in bed and the pain and itching went on for around a week, blistered, then got better. Nasty little critters

We have had an issue with false widows recently.

Most people's bites have started to heal over within a week.

My eldest DD had one that seemed to heal and then the redness and pain just exploded in the course of one day. It has got infected, dispute isn't all being extra care with cleaning them. Needed antibiotics to clear it up.

I would suggest a GP appointment, 111 can get you an out of hours one.

This is why I keep my windows shut! We have lots of false widows on the outside of out house 😬

Ow. We have one in the covered alley at the side of our house. Think I might kill it! I didn't know their bites could be so bad.

Do any of you live in the northwest of England?

These spiders terrify me. It's like Arachnaphobia in real life.

I've taken the hydrocolloid dressings off as they were doing fa.

Have started antibiotics and am in a right old mood.

Thanks for your responses so far, I'm a single parent and I've felt less alone getting this out there. Remarkable how blasé the doctors are - "oh the internet has made up these stories about false widows". I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Hopefully your body is fighting off the nasties, which is why you feel a bit rough.

The stories in the news are rare. That's why they are news.

Update a week later -

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I took the antibiotics and within a day saw improvement.

I knew something wasn't right. So important to trust your gut.