Let's talk hygiene :-P

[Kristie]

i know...you'd think they'd be strong....like bull

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by Kristie

i know...and yet, doug got sick and not me! HAHA

I'll have to remember to wear those sparklies again next year

Yup, sick as a dog.

The worst part is that the captain I was scheduled to fly the trip tomorrow with was a guy who I needed to pick his brains about how he rounds up all the airlines for OBAP career events.

Plus, I guess I don't get a chance to rid Brussels of that pesky Rulles Trippel.

[Firebird2XC]

I think it's funny that with all the jokes about me.. coming down.. with something.. I'm healthy as a horse and everybody else is a mucus factory.

Vodka and OJ, FTW!

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

I think it's funny that with all the jokes about me.. coming down.. with something.. I'm healthy as a horse and everybody else is a mucus factory

Just got back from the hospital. Nicola has been in and out of the ER since the day we got back, probably going in for surgery in the morning. I still feel like crap too.

Not the swine flu though, we both got poisonous spider bites.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

Nicola has been in and out of the ER since the day we got back, probably going in for surgery in the morning.

HOLY COW, are you serious?!

If there's anything I can help with, let me know. You've got my digits, bro!

[ChasenSFO]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

Just got back from the hospital. Nicola has been in and out of the ER since the day we got back, probably going in for surgery in the morning. I still feel like crap too.

Not the swine flu though, we both got poisonous spider bites.

Holy crap! And people laugh when I shake my shoes out for spiders if they've been sitting outside for a while...

Hope you guys are ok.

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

Just got back from the hospital. Nicola has been in and out of the ER since the day we got back, probably going in for surgery in the morning. I still feel like crap too.

Not the swine flu though, we both got poisonous spider bites.

Holy crap, man! Hope the two of you get better!

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Man, keep us posted!! Where did you get the bites?

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

HOLY COW, are you serious?!

If there's anything I can help with, let me know. You've got my digits, bro!

Very serious, on my way back to the hospital now.

She's doing better, but will be in the hospital for a while, at least a few more days.

Be careful out there, poisonous spiders are bad news. The bite I got still hurts, and it feels like having the flu on top of that. But fortunately, mine is not infected.

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

Man, keep us posted!! Where did you get the bites?

One on my arm.

Nicola got three on one arm.

Definitely from a poisonous spider, no way to be sure what type.

[Rocketman99]

Holy crap dude, that sucks. Hope everything turns out ok!

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Rocketman99

Holy crap dude, that sucks. Hope everything turns out ok!

Thanks. I'll take next year's hygiene/safety briefing more seriously

My biggest fear in life? Snakes on a Plane... (checking for snakes is a common glider preflight item). I don't think I could handle an "Indiana Jones" scenario in a floatplane in South America.

[Rocketman99]

Maybe so maybe no. Just remember Russ, you can do anything...once!

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

One on my arm.

Nicola got three on one arm.

Definitely from a poisonous spider, no way to be sure what type.

Dude, THAT SUCKS! I hope you both feel better.

Give Nicola my best and godspeed for a fast recovery.

Bummer!

(On the other hand- when you both get crazy superpowers, we'll still hang out, right?)

[Kristie]

geez, where did you guys stay (so i don't stay there)?

why would she need surgery for spider bites? that's horribly crappy, esp after all she's been through in the past week or so.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by Kristie

geez, where did you guys stay (so i don't stay there)?

why would she need surgery for spider bites? that's horribly crappy, esp after all she's been through in the past week or so.

If the bite caused an abscess it can be very hazardous. Allergic reactions to the bites can be fatal in Black Widow or Brown Recluse bites.

http://www.badspiderbites.com

(Doug, don't look. We all know you're ascared of da spidders..)

[Gonzo]

Brown Recluse bites are bad news, I almost lost a foot to one.

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

If the bite caused an abscess it can be very hazardous. Allergic reactions to the bites can be fatal in Black Widow or Brown Recluse bites.

It caused and abcess. I'm not an MD, so anyone with more knowledge - please correct me here. She had 5 of these bites total, all poisonous.

The problem with poisonous bites isn't that the poision kills you. It kills soft tissue around where the bite happened. It also creates a blister that breaks. When the wound opens, the dead tissue around the opening has little or no blood supply (soft tissue is dead). That means it also has no immune system helping you out.

This is a perfect environment for the bacteria that lives on your skin to move to. MRSA (strep bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics) happens to be pretty common on skin these days, especially people that work for hospitals/military/airlines.

This bacteria easily colonizes in the wound, and common oral antibiotics don't do much to stop it. So even after you see a doctor and get oral antibiotics, it just gets worse. The wound eventually closes, leaving an abcess (pocket of bacterial fluid and pus), which then spreads internally.

The abcess needs to be treated surgically. It also requires very strong IV antibiotics. Untreated, very bad things will happen. (Amputation or death)

When these bites show infection, you can't screw around. You need to go to ER immediately, and go back if it gets any worse.

Any of you medical types here, please correct whatever I got wrong. I'm not a doctor, and don't even pretend to play one on TV.

[Bumblebee]

Man, this is just a drag! Tell Nicola we are thinking of her, and hope she has a quick recovery...be safe y'all

[Stomp16]

If you both got them and it happened inside, it's a really high chance they were brown recluse. Hope you both get well soon.

[Firebird2XC]

Major downer. Once again my best wishes to Russ and Nicola for a full and speedy recovery.

[juxtapilot]

Originally Posted by Firebird2XC

(Doug, don't look. We all know you're ascared of da spidders..)

Seriously appreciate the warning...

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

It caused and abcess. I'm not an MD, so anyone with more knowledge - please correct me here. She had 5 of these bites total, all poisonous.

The problem with poisonous bites isn't that the poision kills you. It kills soft tissue around where the bite happened. It also creates a blister that breaks. When the wound opens, the dead tissue around the opening has little or no blood supply (soft tissue is dead). That means it also has no immune system helping you out.

This is a perfect environment for the bacteria that lives on your skin to move to. MRSA (strep bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics) happens to be pretty common on skin these days, especially people that work for hospitals/military/airlines.

This bacteria easily colonizes in the wound, and common oral antibiotics don't do much to stop it. So even after you see a doctor and get oral antibiotics, it just gets worse. The wound eventually closes, leaving an abcess (pocket of bacterial fluid and pus), which then spreads internally.

The abcess needs to be treated surgically. It also requires very strong IV antibiotics. Untreated, very bad things will happen. (Amputation or death)

When these bites show infection, you can't screw around. You need to go to ER immediately, and go back if it gets any worse.

Any of you medical types here, please correct whatever I got wrong. I'm not a doctor, and don't even pretend to play one on TV.

Oh Dang... That doesn't sound fun. Hope you both get better soon!

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Stomp16

If you both got them and it happened inside, it's a really high chance they were brown recluse. Hope you both get well soon.

It happened in California, where as far as I know, brown recluse spiders don't live. It was in an RV that had just come from Florida, passing through a bunch of states where these spiders do live. Whatever it was from, we know two things - they were spiders, and they were poisonous. They take about a week to make you sick.

Nicola is doing much better. She is in a horrible mood (understandable). Going in for surgery in the morning. She's on some heavy duty painkillers too. Being stuck in a hospital for a week is about the crapiest thing I can imagine though. And, of course, she has someone stopping by to visit every half hour to wish her well (so no sleep and no rest).

I'm fine. I still can't believe a little bug bite made me so sick, but I still managed to knock back some beers and watch some football with the guys today. She will be pissed, cause that was her plan for Sunday too I had a doctor look at my bite, sounds like the worst is over for me.

Thank you to everyone for the kind words. Already planning the trip for next year!

[Stomp16]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

It happened in California, where as far as I know, brown recluse spiders don't live. It was in an RV that had just come from Florida, passing through a bunch of states where these spiders do live. Whatever it was from, we know two things - they were spiders, and they were poisonous. They take about a week to make you sick.

Nicola is doing much better. She is in a horrible mood (understandable). Going in for surgery in the morning. She's on some heavy duty painkillers too. Being stuck in a hospital for a week is about the crapiest thing I can imagine though. And, of course, she has someone stopping by to visit every half hour to wish her well (so no sleep and no rest).

I'm fine. I still can't believe a little bug bite made me so sick, but I still managed to knock back some beers and watch some football with the guys today. She will be pissed, cause that was her plan for Sunday too I had a doctor look at my bite, sounds like the worst is over for me.

Thank you to everyone for the kind words. Already planning the trip for next year!

There are only 4 spiders in the U.S. dangerous to humans and only 2 of those are really problem spiders. If it was in an RV traveling through the south, my money would be on the recluse. I've found those things in my luggage when traveling from states with them to states without. They really have no fear of humans. I feel for you both and yes, beer is the best medicine!

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by Stomp16

There are only 4 spiders in the U.S. dangerous to humans and only 2 of those are really problem spiders. If it was in an RV traveling through the south, my money would be on the recluse.

Hospital was pretty certain it was a brown recluse too, given it was definitely a spider, and definitely poisionous.

Update on Nicola: Moved to isolation because of the infection. Waiting on surgery.

I have a nice round scar, feeling better but tired.