Yes, I did have a weird experience. I don't know where it came from. My belly mysteriously had three long thick purple lines almost like large tenticles or plant leaves left an imprint. It was sore and hot. It slowly faded almost peeled a bit, like a burn, but now 6 months later you can still see where it was. I searched the internet trying to find out what it could have been, but came up nothing.

I am a Brit who moved to Canada many years ago. In those early years of living in Canada I would often get a mosquito bite that would reek havoc - similar to what you describe with the swelling and I ended up at the Emergency room more than once. Luckily I got antibiotics and antihistime before it got worse. It could cause a serious infection which is what it sounds like in your case. Now I'm not saying it was a mosquito - could have been a spider or some other bug, but the point is it could have been anything and you had a bad reaction to it. I *always* have antihistime on me, especially in the summer time and when on vaction. Although I haven't had a serious reaction in a long time, I'm always cautious. Sounds like you were lucky.

S.

Yep, I do feel lucky my leg didn't fall off!!!!!

It sounds like a Brown Recluse spider bite. My mother-in-law had a very similar experience and was in such pain that she had difficulty walking. She sought immediate care in Mexico. Care in foreign countries is sometimes better, as the local doctors are familiar with the types of diseases/insects in their area and know how to treat them. You were very lucky.

And Shoney, yours sounds like a jellyfish sting to me.

I thought that Brown Recluse spiders weren't in that region though. I had thought of that...