Scorpion sting!!! Am I doomed???

[crosscreeksh]

As I scrubbed the water buckets in the stable tonight I grasped the lip of the water bucket to hold it steady and WHAMMMMM!!!! I had a sudden jolt of pain that felt like the end of my index finger had been shot off!!!! (Not that I've had other digets shot off, but I bet that's how it would feel!!!) If not a bullet, then I was looking at the ground for the attacker, expecting to see a red wasp on steroids, but what I did see was a scorpion about 1.5 inches long. I smooshed him then went to get my finger taken care of. I covered it with Icthamol to draw the poison and bandaged it, finished my chores and now I have it "done up" in an antibiotic wrap. Anyone have experience with these darn beasts??? Any better treatment suggestions?? Since moving to Oklahoma I have discovered - contrary to my previous beliefs - that Tarantullas lived in pet stores or the jungle and scorpions lived in horror movies or the desert. Wrong on both counts...they live in Oklahoma!! I welcome any advice..it still hurts like HE**!!!

[M. O'Connor]

In case you haven't already Googled it:

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec24/ch298/ch298l.html

Hope it feels better soon.

I worked in Arizona one winter. I always thought scorpions were the size of crabs...they are the size of a bumble bee!

That, and tails actually falling off lizzards were the biggest shocks to me.

[crosscreeksh]

Thanks soooo much!! It says I'm not dying!! Shows you my thought process - I come to the folks on COTH - not Google!!

[MistyBlue]

Very few scorpions are dangerously venomous.
An easy rule of thumb to remember with scorpions is the bigger the claws the less toxic the venom. The smaller the claws the more toxin they usually carry.
Rarely is a sting dangerous though, not from scorpions in this country.
But it does hurt like heck.

[bludejavu]

My mother was stung in bed by a scorpion about the same size when I was a teen. She felt it but it didn't totally wake her up. The next morning, she had a very sore, red and swollen place on her calf and found the very much smashed scorpion on the sheet (hope I never find one myself in my very own bed - ick ick ick). At any rate, she got pretty nauseous that day and it continued to really irritate her so she went to the doctor the next day. I can't remember what they prescribed but she definitely lived thru it. I do remember she said it bugged her for a week or so but the nausea passed after the first day.

[crosscreeksh]

My OP was a bit tongue in cheek, but I really do appreciate the responses. The red wasps in this country REALLY pack a wollop, but not as bad as the scorpion!!! I'll start looking at the underside of buckets before I grab!

[MistyBlue]

Crosscreek...everyone will react differently to the venom of stings. Some people can be stung or bit by something and have a red spot and some dicomfort while someone else can have all sorts of pain and swelling and other symptoms.
So you could very well be feeling it more than someone else has.

[bludejavu]

I don't know what area of the country you're in, but here in the south it's the Brown Recluse spiders and the Black Widow spiders that I fear the most. The Black Widows LOVE to put their egg sacs on the bottom of our pasture water tank rims and I have gotten pretty paranoid about dumping them - way too many close encounters. The Black Widows will really hurt you! The Brown Recluse is worse but they are pretty much nocturnal and I never see them thru the day. Either way, as the song says "I don't like spiders and snakes"...and I'll add Scorpions to that list too;).

[AnotherRound]

Made me look. Your title says "Scorpion String". ha ha:cool:

[flea]

I hate those things...feels like a hot poker! Shouldn't kill you unless you are allergic to them. And you would know by now!:)

[jetsmom]

My drama queen German Shep mix dog got stung on the foot by one. (This is the same dog that whacked her tail on the stair bannister when she got a case of the "zoomies" after a bath. She refused to sit down, so was off to the E-Vet at 10:00 at night. 600.00 later, after X rays and pain killers she was fine.). The scorpion got her at about 11:00 at night as I was getting ready for bed. She refused to put her foot down, so off to the E-Vet we went. Waited about 20 min in the waiting rm, and when they called us, she walked in barely limping. 200.00 later, after a Benadryl shot she was fine.

We have lots of scorpions here. I see one about every other night on my patio.

[nightsong]

Many places have an Ask-a-nurse phone service you can call for FREE for medical advice. Especially good for those "local" critters and ailments that not everyone knows about.

[Samotis]

I got stung 3 times on my big toe once. It was in the tip toe of my riding boot. I had been riding all day and I was taking my horse out of the pasture and I got a stinging sensation, then again, and again.

Well I must have shook him loose from his comfortable toe spot. Of course I had hal chaps on and I was laying on the ground trying to rip it off while holding my horse screaming for my friend to come and get him and some damn thing bit me!!!

That was not fun. My toe was numb for a week and from the knee down was numb for a good 2 days.

Nasty little creatures.

[avezan]

Your OP was hysterical. Remind me not to move to Oklahoma! We had little scorpions in Texas. I also thought they were only in movies, and much bigger, and would kill you! The little ones we had (less than 1" long) would sting, but it hurt less than a bee sting. I think you'll live. ;) Hope it heals fast.

[JanM]

Another precaution (from living in really South New Mexico for years). Always shake out boots or shoes before putting on-it's not just scorpions, but roaches, mice, and other creepy crawlies too. And before using outdoor toilets (outhouses, portapotties, and barn toilets) look under the seat before you sit down and get bitten in the butt.

And I've heard that there are different species of scorpions and the venom varies according to the type of scorpion-generally the further south the scorpion is from the more poisonous. Of course, I doubt the scorpion had a label saying it's point of origin.

[EqTrainer]

Thank you for this timely reminder to never move out west.

[strawberry roan]

I'm with you EqTrainer--staying put!!

[Wild Oaks Farm]

DH and I have both been stung by scorpions...and we were both IN BED when we were stung, and it was one two separate occasions!! Yes, I had a scorpion under my freaking pillow. Nice. My finger was numb for a day or two but I survived to tell my tale.

I have also had to shake them off of me, on multiple occasions, in the shower, :eek: One was on my hand and the other was crawling across my foot. I have no idea how the one got on my hand. Terrifying!

[Chall]

Just a thought, but don't be shy about going to your Doctor. You know you would have had the vet out if it had been him who had been stung. Think of it this way, you have to stick around to take care of your horse :)

[Alagirl]

note to self: Stay East.

Spiders are bad enough. (I second the idea of shaking out boots that have been left untended....oh, and do likewise for gloves left outside....)

[TouchstoneAcres]

I'm never moving, not south or west anyway.

[TrueColours]

We have lots of scorpions here. I see one about every other night on my patio.


ugh

Reason enough for me to stay east AND north! I'll deal with whatever bugs and insects we get up here. No thanks to scorpions, Black Widows and Brown recluse spiders ... :no:

[PNWjumper]

I'm with everyone else who's staying put! I'll take my beloved (albeit moist) pacific northwest's aversion to poisonous critters (aside from the alleged brown recluse and very reclusive black widow).

Every time I start thinking that I want to move further south and/or further east a thread like this comes around and reminds me that nope, I'm happy where I am. No big spiders, no lizards, no ticks, no snakes, no scorpions....I rescind my winter incantation that includes, "I'm moving to Arizona, I'm moving to Arizona, I'm moving to Arizona....." :lol:

And BTW, Samotis, your story about getting stung on the toe had me rolling on the floor. That is priceless imagery!

[appychik]

I'm staying NORTH! Forget that. It's bad enough having horrible winters (sub-artic temps) but in exchange, we've only got a few bad spiders (black widows and brown recluses... though both aren't too common) and snakes. Oh, and the obnoxious mosquitos... but least they aren't nasty and bad like scorpions & tarantulas (I do suppose they can kill you though, with all the nasty diseases they transmit).

[mlranchtx]

I'm with everyone else who's staying put! I'll take my beloved (albeit moist) pacific northwest's aversion to poisonous critters (aside from the alleged brown recluse and very reclusive black widow).

Every time I start thinking that I want to move further south and/or further east a thread like this comes around and reminds me that nope, I'm happy where I am. No big spiders, no lizards, no ticks, no snakes, no scorpions....I rescind my winter incantation that includes, "I'm moving to Arizona, I'm moving to Arizona, I'm moving to Arizona....." :lol:

And BTW, Samotis, your story about getting stung on the toe had me rolling on the floor. That is priceless imagery!

It must be a common attitude up there. I grew up near Seattle and my folks still live up there. Every time my mom comes to visit I have to hear about how TX is a "hostile environment" and the state should be evacuated and turned into a prison.:lol: My mom HATES it here and HATES that I live here. Oh well, at least she never overstays her welcome and Hubby and I have a beautiful place to go on vacation. :yes:

[Arizona DQ]

I have to laugh too hard!!!:lol: I grew up in the NE, blizzards, black ice and those darned mosquitoes!!! :no:

Many years ago, I was sent to Alabama (thanks to the US Army) shortly after the movie "Deliverance" came out...I was scared S***less to go there!!! From there I went to Arizona!! - I knew I was a goner by then! :lol:

Needless to say, I have lived here over 25 plus years! I have NEVER seen a scorpion except in the movies or at a zoo....I live out in the desert...Not in a built up area...

When I first came out here, the Army told me, "There is nothing out here that will kill you, it may make you wish you were dead, but it will not kill you"....:winkgrin:

I do not miss the snowy, icy winters (well maybe for Christmas eve), when I cannot ride, but, you guys just enjoy where you are and PLEASE do not come to Arizona!!!:lol: We like being in the boonies .....

Sorry, I could not resist......

Signed a Desert Hermit.....:D

[TrueColours]

I do not miss the snowy, icy winters (well maybe for Christmas eve), when I cannot ride, but, you guys just enjoy where you are and PLEASE do not come to Arizona!!! We like being in the boonies .....

Sorry, I could not resist......

Signed a Desert Hermit.....


Dont you come whining on here when you get stung by a scorpion then ... :no: ... we just wont care at all ... :no: ... as we happily swat at our mosquito's up north ... :lol:

[MistyBlue]

Absolutely zero chance of my moving to AZ or NM or any of those oven states. :winkgrin: One of my cousins moved to AZ and she loves it. I do have to say her photos are gorgeous! She hikes the Grand Canyon often and her surrounding scenery is stunning.
But HOT! She's always saying, "You have to come visit, you'd move here! You can buy a farm here! Yeah, it gets hot but it's a dry heat."
Okay...inside my oven is a "dry heat" but I don't want to live in there either. :lol: 110-120 degrees are cooking temps, not living temps. :eek: :D

Not a big fan of humid heat either. Love some of the southern states...KY, TN, etc look lovely and have very reasonably priced real estate compared to CT where I live. But one August there and I'd be walking back to New England if I had to. I'd be following my horses...who are happy as clams running around in snow and single digit temps and miserable as heck when the temps go over 90. I can't fully speak horse but standing with head hanging, ears pinned, tail slapping back and forth and sweating looks pretty miserable to me.

I like winters...hubby isn't a huge fan but doesn't hate them either. Since he stays inside, I told him he doesn't have too much say in location, LOL! I do all the outside work including snow removal. He'd like to retire somewhere that we can have real acreage with real pasture and not unreal taxes. My laundry list would be the same and include no heat or humidity from Hades, potable plentiful water, no tornados/earthquakes/mudslides/other really pissed off acts of Nature and decent vets/equine community and grocery store within 30-45 minutes away.

Critters don't bother me...although that "no ticks" thing about the PNW sounds loverly. :yes: It would be nice to not get Lyme repeatedly. :) Sounds muddy though. I wouldn;t be thrilled with piranhas or sharks but those are usually easily avoided. :winkgrin:

So far the only "perfect" place I've found so far has been Uruguay. :sigh: But then there's that language barrier thing. I don't speak Uruguayian/Uruguaynese...what do they even speak there?

[harveyhorses]

I am staying right here in good 'ole VA.
OP, everyone reacts differently (?) to bites, I now have a horrible reaction to mosquitos, big welts. yuck. feel better!!

[Beethoven]

Great now I can be paranoid about scorpions again. I have not seen any in FL ever but did see a few while I was growing up in Ga. The spiders we have here in FL freak me out! They are as big as my hand but luckily they seem to only come out at night. Although I am careful touch the undersides of buckets and wheel barrows as they just love to hid there. We have a few snakes too around the property. I try to leave the scary spiders alone in hoping they will leave me alone. Although I did have to kill that one that was in my towel when I pulled it off the rack to use it. It was huge and scary and so I killed it.



I hope your finger is feeling better. Scorpions are one of my biggest fears!

[STNS]

Eek Nova Scotia is looking pretty good right now! I've never encountered anything more serious than a bee. Nasty bugs give me the willies.

[deltawave]

I got stung by an itty bitty yellow one in Cuba once, sat down quietly on a bale of hay and prepared to die. :lol: I *knew* better, but still--scared the bejeebers out of me. About 20 minutes later I figured I was still alive and just went on about my business. :lol:

[Trevelyan96]

I'm with you EqTrainer--staying put!!

Are you kidding... east is just as bad, but here its wasps, yellow jackets, black widows, brown recluse, and copperheads!

We pulled a baby copperhead out of the pool last weekend. After a long, hot, afternoon I just wanted to sit and put my feet in the pool, and there he was. DH and I had to chase him around with the net and kill him.

Needless to say, I lost my desier to put my feet in the pool, and won't be swimming at night until the darn light is fixed!

And I think I've been stung just about every year at Capital Challenge, as that's always when the yellow jackets are out in force. Thise little buggers are as foul tempered as scorpions.

[Arizona DQ]

Dont you come whining on here when you get stung by a scorpion then ... :no: ... we just wont care at all ... :no: ... as we happily swat at our mosquito's up north ... :lol:

If I could just come up to visit for a week and play in snow, I would be happy.....:lol: actually, I can just drive 15 minutes up the road and play in the mountain snow during our winters here....;)

I promise not to whine though.....:winkgrin:

[Mozart]

I got stung by an itty bitty yellow one in Cuba once, sat down quietly on a bale of hay and prepared to die. :lol: I *knew* better, but still--scared the bejeebers out of me. About 20 minutes later I figured I was still alive and just went on about my business. :lol:

Cuba, however, has no poisonous snakes. Yet another reason I like to vacation in Cuba. I once had a Mexican holiday that included spending a few nights in an open air tree house. It was very cool but by the third night, I had a serious case of the willies. One bed was suspended from the ceiling so that scorpions could not crawl into it. The other bed had the legs covered in plastic so they could not crawl up the legs.

The owner was constantly warning us to hang up our bags, zip up our bags, don't put on shoes without shaking them out...medical care was a boat ride away. I asked what would happen if we got stung. She said "just don't get stung".

Oh and then there was the viper issue....

[kookicat]

Absolutely zero chance of my moving to AZ or NM or any of those oven states. :winkgrin: One of my cousins moved to AZ and she loves it. I do have to say her photos are gorgeous! She hikes the Grand Canyon often and her surrounding scenery is stunning.
But HOT! She's always saying, "You have to come visit, you'd move here! You can buy a farm here! Yeah, it gets hot but it's a dry heat."
Okay...inside my oven is a "dry heat" but I don't want to live in there either. :lol: 110-120 degrees are cooking temps, not living temps. :eek: :D

Not a big fan of humid heat either. Love some of the southern states...KY, TN, etc look lovely and have very reasonably priced real estate compared to CT where I live. But one August there and I'd be walking back to New England if I had to. I'd be following my horses...who are happy as clams running around in snow and single digit temps and miserable as heck when the temps go over 90. I can't fully speak horse but standing with head hanging, ears pinned, tail slapping back and forth and sweating looks pretty miserable to me.

I like winters...hubby isn't a huge fan but doesn't hate them either. Since he stays inside, I told him he doesn't have too much say in location, LOL! I do all the outside work including snow removal. He'd like to retire somewhere that we can have real acreage with real pasture and not unreal taxes. My laundry list would be the same and include no heat or humidity from Hades, potable plentiful water, no tornados/earthquakes/mudslides/other really pissed off acts of Nature and decent vets/equine community and grocery store within 30-45 minutes away.

Critters don't bother me...although that "no ticks" thing about the PNW sounds loverly. :yes: It would be nice to not get Lyme repeatedly. :) Sounds muddy though. I wouldn;t be thrilled with piranhas or sharks but those are usually easily avoided. :winkgrin:

So far the only "perfect" place I've found so far has been Uruguay. :sigh: But then there's that language barrier thing. I don't speak Uruguayian/Uruguaynese...what do they even speak there?

What? Move to England! We had no nasty critters lurking, no really nasty weather (Though you'd think so when we get an inch of snow :rolleyes: ), property prices aren't too bad, and lots of decent vets. :)

See?

http://www.ruralscene.co.uk/look/new.asp ;)

[inca]

Yes, I had a scorpion under my freaking pillow. Nice.

I use my blackberry as an alarm and tuck it under my pillow. A couple weeks ago, it went off and I reached under my pillow to get it and had a terrible pain shoot up my arm. I leapt out of bed screaming and somehow realized it was probably a scorpion (I got stung twice last year.) Hubby looks under my pillow and sure enough, it was a scorpion.

I was stung on the wrist and had red streaks and pain up almost to my elbow. Went away within an hour, for the most part.

I stepped on one in the house last year and that pain/numbness lasted several hours. The other sting last year was also in bed but was not nearly as bad - only hurt a bit for a few minutes. I think that one didn't get a full force sting.

I have been stung by wasps also and although they hurt like heck, I think scorpions are worse.

[dressagetraks]

No scorpions here in Mo (that I've seen), but I'm always on the lookout for the brown recluses, and I'm having war this year with the wasps. This season's variety of wasp isn't agreeing with me at all. I've been stung 3 times so far - immediate shooting pain up and down the entire extremity, and it then develops a red spot around 4-5 inches in diameter around the sting and is extremely hot for all of that - will burn fingers to the touch. Painful, hot, red patch lasts about 3 days and then slowly starts to lose heat and fade, which takes a few weeks. I was stung on my thigh 4 weeks ago, and I can still see where the sting was and vaguely the outlines of the huge reaction around it, although not sore or hot any longer.

And the darned wasps are malicious! They come after me with malice aforethought. I'm very much in favor of as few chemicals as possible, but I now have me a can of Raid Flying Insect which shoots a 12-foot stream. Kills 'em dead. :yes:

[fivehorses]

Ok, so do you folks who have scorpions, black widows and brown recluse get pest control treatments?
I have been told that doing the pest control treatments I should not have spiders, etc

MistyBlue, how do you know about Uruguay? Friends of mine just moved there!

[thatmoody]

I grew up in Florida, which is possibly the most bug-riddled, snake stompin' state in the continental US. If it's poisonous or venomous, we probably have it in droves! I grew up learning not to put my hands or feet where I couldn't see them; it's second nature to me now. My trainer, who just moved here from Nebraska, keeps threatening to move back when she sees a snake, and I just laugh at her and tell her that at least she SAW that one!

I spent my summers up in Maine, and truthfully, I mostly remember those times as a break from the critters. I could lie in the grass without worrying about fire ants, and except for the mosquitoes which would carry you away and the black flies, it was heaven!