The Itsy Bitsy Spider...

...bit me.

That's right, folks. I have fallen prey to a human-hungry, ferocious beast of a spider. Actually, I cannot confirm what type of spider bit me, since I didn't see or feel it, but I have the bite to prove it - not to mention the symptoms!

I noticed a little bite when changing into my swimsuit on Friday to take Ava to the Domain Splash Pad (oh yeah, there's the other embarassing thing. It's on my chest!). I noted to watch it, since I was bit by a brown recluse back in July 2007, so I am naturally nervous and overreactive about bites. Thankfully, I am, since sure enough, just like the first time, I was asymptomatic initially, with that dormant period giving way to a major migraine, fatigue, and generally not feeling well by Saturday evening. In fact, I was in bed by 7:30! That's a first!

Anyhow, despite having strange symptoms, the bite was not yet swollen or painful, so I continued to be watchful but uncertain of what was going on, at least until Sunday night when it became painful and swollen almost instantly. Off to the doctor first thing Monday I went...

It's definitely a spider bite, though he couldn't confirm that it was another brown recluse bite. Hopefully it's not, though it has definitely followed a similar trajectory to the experience I had three years ago. Fortunately and unfortunately, the doctor didn't want to beat around the bush, and cut into the bite and drained it in his office, a procedure they did the first time in a hospital emergency room in the middle of the night when my arm started to turn black around the bite site. This time, though not as severe, was still a horrible experience, as I had Ava with me and she was screaming hysterically thinking we were at the doctor for her, and I didn't get the shot of lidocaine I got the last time. For as much as I make myself out to be a giant wuss when it comes to the dentist, I'm apparently a hoss when it comes to grinning and bearing it! I was sent home with antibiotics and pain meds, and that's where we're at now.

I'd love to tell you I'm feeling better, but it looks swollen and green-ish again today, so I'm feeling a bit worried, not to mention sore and tired. Oh, and I'm at work. Duh. Hopefully these antibiotics will kick in soon!