I'm sure there's a spider stalking me right now.
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
July 17, 2012 10:54pm CST
I'm sitting here on my bed with my netbook, doing this and that, minding my own business when, out of nowhere a spider floats down almost on my face.
To give you an idea of my relationship with spiders, I was bitten once by a poisonous spider and ended up in the hospital, almost dying, with blood poisoning. Not only that but I found out at that time that I am also allergic to the tetanus vaccine. So, it was not a pleasant experience and, needless to say, I am DEATHLY afraid of spiders now.
So, this fella floats down from the ceiling. My ONLY choice at that moment was to blow real hard and make him go away; at least farther away from me so I could get up and BOLT out the door! 
He started crawling back up his webbing (whatever that stuff is) so I grabbed a flyswatter and watched, waiting for him to get to the ceiling. I stand up on my bed, aim and swing! AND MISSED!!! He came down again REALLY FAST so I just started swinging all over the place, jumped off the bed and went running out into the hall.
I don't know about you but I'm POSITIVE he's alive and biding his time, plotting his revenge. Have you ever felt like that about a bug you tried to kill and missed? Would you have the same reaction to a spider? Do you think I should pack up and move, like NOW??? 
He started crawling back up his webbing (whatever that stuff is) so I grabbed a flyswatter and watched, waiting for him to get to the ceiling. I stand up on my bed, aim and swing! AND MISSED!!! He came down again REALLY FAST so I just started swinging all over the place, jumped off the bed and went running out into the hall.
I don't know about you but I'm POSITIVE he's alive and biding his time, plotting his revenge. Have you ever felt like that about a bug you tried to kill and missed? Would you have the same reaction to a spider? Do you think I should pack up and move, like NOW??? 4 people like this
20 responses
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
18 Jul 12
Ack that sounds absolutely horrible! I'm not a fan of spiders either but your story is absolutely horrifying. Lucky for us we don't get too many on our house but in the hotter months we get white tails which are poisonous as well. I've been fortunate but eeverytime we see one we know for a fact there is a 2nd one lurking somewhere so it's really unnerving. It's worse when you find them in your bedroom as you don't want ot sleep in there for days it's ridiculous 
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
I know! I can handle spiders just about anywhere else in my house but not in the bedroom. When I was bitten by the poisonous spider, I was in bed, asleep. When I woke up, I noticed the bite and there was already a red streak going up my arm. (The spider bit me on my wrist.) That might have a lot to do with why I do NOT want to see a spider in my bedroom.
I still haven't found it so maybe I really scared it into leaving when I was swinging that flyswatter all over the place.
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
19 Jul 12
Ouch that's horrible! I hope the spider took the hint and is long gone from you now!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Ah, thank you. Now I have a NEW nightmare to think about. Flying spiders!
Well, they do crawl on the ceiling and slowly come down on their web whenever and wherever they want, like a few inches from your face. My son told me that he woke up once to find a spider directly above his face only about three inches away. If they just couldn't do that, I doubt I'd have as much of a problem with them.
Well, they do crawl on the ceiling and slowly come down on their web whenever and wherever they want, like a few inches from your face. My son told me that he woke up once to find a spider directly above his face only about three inches away. If they just couldn't do that, I doubt I'd have as much of a problem with them.
@AmbiePam (92787)
• United States
18 Jul 12
You're funny. I know how you feel though. When I was fifteen (funny how I remember the exact age) I woke up one morning and saw something on my hand. I didn't have my glasses or contacts on, so I squinted to see what it was. It was a spider! Now snakes don't bother me, but spiders do! I freaked out and brushed it off. I got up and ran out, and only went back in briefly to get my clothes for the day. I did NOT want to go back in there that night because I didn't know where the spider was. I actually slept on the couch that night because I just got the creeps too badly.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Oh, wow, AP! I never thought of sleeping on the couch!!! 
It took me hours to get to sleep and, of course, I kept "feeling" that spider crawling on me and KNEW he was just out of sight, waiting. So, yeah, it took forever to get to sleep, at least it seemed that way. The couch! Boy, do I feel stupid right now.
I haven't seen it since so many I did get it or it thought I was insane enough to want to leave.
It took me hours to get to sleep and, of course, I kept "feeling" that spider crawling on me and KNEW he was just out of sight, waiting. So, yeah, it took forever to get to sleep, at least it seemed that way. The couch! Boy, do I feel stupid right now.
I haven't seen it since so many I did get it or it thought I was insane enough to want to leave.@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Oops, I meant I haven't seen it since so MAYBE I did get it. Guess I'm tired. Didn't get a lot of sleep last night. lol
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
18 Jul 12
I never saw any poisonous spider here in my area, only spider on my ceiling that got messy on their web. But sometimes it made me realize that It is also helpful for some insects got trap on their web.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
I don't usually want to kill spiders when they're in my house because I know that they kill other insects but, when they get too close to me, I'm either going to run and try to find someone else to kill them for me or I'll try to kill them myself. I probably wouldn't be this way if I had not been bitten before but that was such a traumatic experience that it has left an intense fear of spiders now.
1 person likes this
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
19 Jul 12
I understand you even me I killed red ants that bites me
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
20 Jul 12
Uggg, I hate spiders. I don't mind them as long as I can see them, it's when they disappear or I start to feel this creepy crawly feeling somewhere that I can't turn and look just to make sure it's not a spider. Really, anything that can bite and kill me I have a problem with. Yuck!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
Definitely! This spider may have been completely innocent and not poisonous but I don't know that. I will leave spiders alone when they're outside and even if they're inside, maybe high up on the ceiling in the corner where they've built a little web to catch whatever bad bugs might come in but, when they come toward me, I go into combat mode.
@Rick1950 (1576)
• Lima, Peru
18 Jul 12
Yes, I think you should move far away to other city. . Actually I don't like spiders too, specialy when they look black and jump around the room. Honestly, I feel also a little afraid. When the weather is hot then the spiders appear. You should buy a good spray-killer-spider, e.g. from Bayer, and then spray your whole room. After that close the windows and doors for a while. I think that the spiders will disappear. Take care.
. Actually I don't like spiders too, specialy when they look black and jump around the room. Honestly, I feel also a little afraid. When the weather is hot then the spiders appear. You should buy a good spray-killer-spider, e.g. from Bayer, and then spray your whole room. After that close the windows and doors for a while. I think that the spiders will disappear. Take care.@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
Thanks, Rick. I did buy some bug bombs but have been unable to use them yet. I'll need to leave the house for a few hours once I set them off and I'll have to take my dogs with me. The problem is that I've been having car problems ever since this spider thing happened. My car might just stop running quite suddenly because I'm having trouble with my serpentine belt (which is the only belt on this car, it runs everything). I've had a mechanic look at it but he couldn't find anything but a friend of mine said it sounds like a pulley so, hopefully, I can get that checked and repaired so I can take a drive for a few hours while the bug bombs do their thing and kill every spider in that house.
Sorry it took me so long to respond to your comment but my computer got a trojan virus and it took me a few days to get THAT fixed. 
I'll tell you, if it's not one thing, it's another.
I'll tell you, if it's not one thing, it's another. 
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Jul 12
No I never had that reaction but then I was never bit by any spider. Was there no one in the house to kill it for you?
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
20 Jul 12
My son and husband were here but they were both asleep.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
18 Jul 12
With your experiences that must have been terrifying! I would definitely get a bug bomb and bomb the room then do it every 10 days to kill any babies that may have hatched out of eggs. In fact, do the whole house!
Spiders don't bother me, I've never been bitten although I've had them crawling on me occasionally during my life. I would just get close to the ground and brush them off so they wouldn't have a big fall. If there is one in my house I put him outside without hurting him/her.
Here is something bizarre to add to our list of coincidences--I am allergic to that old tetanus vaccine, too! 
I could only take it when they changed it in the 70s or so from something extracted from horses to something else.
I could only take it when they changed it in the 70s or so from something extracted from horses to something else. @mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Wow, dragon! This is really getting kinda spooky! Separated at birth? LOL Actually, I might start to think that way if you were two years older or I were two years younger!
I had no idea they changed the, umm, formula (?) for the tetanus vaccine! No one has ever mentioned that to me even though I've mentioned to every new doctor that I was allergic and found out about it in 1971. Geez, now that I know this, I should discuss it with my new doctor since I haven't had a booster since that day in the hospital with the spider bite.
I try to leave spiders alone and TRY to tolerate them in my house. It's only when they seem to be coming right AT me that I panic and go into "KILL!" mode.
Bug bombs are definitely on the agenda. We had rain today and it looks like we'll have rain for the next couple of days, then I'm going to my other house (3 1/2 hours away) this weekend so I'll have to plan it for next week sometime. I'm going to do the entire house since we do have an issue with great big hairy spiders (not tarantulas, just mean looking dudes) in the basement.
@celticeagle (167025)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Jul 12
OMG! So sorry to hear of you being bitten and having to go to the hospital. And allergic to the tetanus vaccine. Ugh! You really have the luck. I am afraid of spiders but I doubt I am as bad as you probably are with your experience. It gives me the chills just thinking about it. I had an experience afew months back with a spider. I find one in the corner of my ceiling near my bed sometimes. This particular time the spider started to go out of the corner and I could see his legs stretched out and he looked so much bigger than he had in the corner. I was freakign out and had even spent part of the night with one eye open watching him. My granddaughter came over and she is so adventurous I asked her to get something and kill it. She tried, freaked also and finally called her male friend to come and get it. He did and he was our hero.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
I'm wondering if these guys are just as scared of spiders as we are but simply refuse to admit it. 
It really does help to have a male around... sometimes. 
My son was asleep when this happened to me and my husband, well, he did ask me what was going on, once I ran into the hall but, when I told him, he just went back to bed.
That's what I need in my life, a hero!
It really does help to have a male around... sometimes. My son was asleep when this happened to me and my husband, well, he did ask me what was going on, once I ran into the hall but, when I told him, he just went back to bed.
That's what I need in my life, a hero!
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Hi MW! Sorry to lol, but I am exactly the same as you! Your
description of "the attepted spider kill" sounded just like me. I have
tried to kill a spider or other various insects, all of which I am
"deathly" afraid of and have done the "swat/stomp and run".
And when I do miss, which happens most of the time, I am scared that
the "creature" is plotting some sort of revenge. But, the
funniest thing that you said is exactly what I'm always thinking-
should I just move??
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one! I wonder if those spiders are just out of sight but watching us make fools out of ourselves. 
Maybe that's how they get their laughs.
Yeah, moving sounds a lot easier than trying to find that bug once it decides to hide. 
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
19 Jul 12
I bet you are afraid of spiders after all that...goodness. My mother once got a beetle in her ear and it was quite painful and maddening before they finally removed it. I, of course, wasn't actually there because I lived with my grandparents but when I would visit her, she better not see a black spot or shadow in the wall.
I have went after a spider before and when it escaped the thought that it might come back for revenge did actually cross my mind for a moment. Maybe you should arm yourself and go on a spider hunt.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
Believe me, Jen, I've been armed. LOL I've been planning to bomb the house with bug bombs but, with the car troubles I've been having, I've had to put that off so I keep my eyes peeled for any movement and, naturally, spiders are always caught in our peripheral vision and aren't there when we turn our head.
But, so far, I haven't seen it. MAYBE I did kill it in my frantic and maniacal swatter swinging. 
But, so far, I haven't seen it. MAYBE I did kill it in my frantic and maniacal swatter swinging. 
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
18 Jul 12
I don't think there is anywhere you could move that wouldn't have spiders! At least they seem to be all over the place here. They are usually faster than I am, so if I don't get them the first time, they usually scurry away only to come back and torture me. In the spring, I run the shopvac in the cellar and disturb all of their webs. That night or the next few days, they come upstairs to get revenge on me. I have been bitten by them, but nothing poisonous. The only one that we have in this area that causes problems are the recluse spiders, and I haven't seen any of them yet!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
20 Jul 12
I sure am glad I don't live in your house! Not with all those spiders wanting revenge!
We have brown recluse spiders here and the doctor I saw the day I was bitten said it looked like a brown recluse spider bite. It had started eating away at my flesh but, luckily, didn't get very far by the time I was in the hospital with the blood poisoning. Was that really lucky???
We have brown recluse spiders here and the doctor I saw the day I was bitten said it looked like a brown recluse spider bite. It had started eating away at my flesh but, luckily, didn't get very far by the time I was in the hospital with the blood poisoning. Was that really lucky??? 
@ForSouls1234 (720)
• United States
19 Jul 12
I like spiders. I like to watch them, they're fascinating. It's not really good to go spreading false fear. Poisonous spiders aren't everywhere and the tiny little thing that came down from the ceiling was doubtfully the type that bit you.
How Femme fatale, jeez. I could say something else but I guarantee it would get taken off. I think you know what it is. Anyway, ever hear the saying, if you wish to live and thrive let the spider walk alive? Ha ha.
@aejey322 (1004)
• Philippines
20 Jul 12
ahahahaha! it made me laugh! me, i'm not really afraid of spiders. maybe only if it's a tarantula. but it's not common here in our country. house spiders here are calm and simply minding their own. i'm more afraid of cockroaches! it really makes my hair stand to see them flying!!! my mom always tells me maybe it runs in the genes, as we all members of the family are afraid of cockroaches, even my brothers! my father is the only one who is not. everytime there's a cockroach flying, all of us would run for our lives!!!
Just be cautious and be alert. The spider might have sought for help from Spiderman! lol.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
26 Jul 12
Hahahaha! I sure hope my spider hasn't called for help by Spiderman unless Spiderman wants to be MY hero and kill the spider but I doubt he'd do that.
I can't stand any flying bugs! I had some very strange kind of beetle fly right toward my head last week while I was outside. I had to swat at it or it would have landed on my face! I've never seen a beetle quite like this one before. It was about 1 1/2 inches long and UGLY! I very quickly went inside the house after that.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
18 Jul 12
We don't have any poisonous spiders here,but we do get one called giganta-this critter's big enough you can HEAR it scuttling across a wooden floor...they're not welcome! I was reading about somebody in france,a writer,I think,who NAMED the ones in his apartment...
...You're probably not interested in the statistic about people maybe eating a spider in their sleep...
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Oh, umm, no, thank you.
You can keep that kind of thing to yourself. I won't mind. 
The western part of our conntry has tarantulas and I'm SO thankful we don't have them here in the eastern part! Nah, we just have four different kinds of poisonous spiders. But, then, when you see a tarantula, you KNOW it's there. Our spiders tend to be much smaller and, therefore, are much easier to hide themselves.
You can keep that kind of thing to yourself. I won't mind.
The western part of our conntry has tarantulas and I'm SO thankful we don't have them here in the eastern part! Nah, we just have four different kinds of poisonous spiders. But, then, when you see a tarantula, you KNOW it's there. Our spiders tend to be much smaller and, therefore, are much easier to hide themselves.
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
18 Jul 12
To the best of my knowledge, I've never been bitten by a spider.
However, I have a number of friends who pretty much react like you do.
I will say that I DON'T want them ON me, and this one would've been close enough to be considered ON, so I may well have done what you did.
I will, however, bide my time, get them to crawl up their web and then deal with them. Since I'm not likely to panic, because I'm not especially afraid of them, I can often get them outside where they can grow up (if babies) and catch mosquitoes... or catch them if they are grown.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
18 Jul 12
Yeah, I don't normally try to kill them when they're in the house but this one was just too close for comfort AND it seemed to be heading dirctly for my face. If I had been asleep, it would have landed right on me. I didn't spot it until it was maybe six inches from my face which is why I panicked.
You probably would have laughed at me if you could have seen me, swatting every which way as I jumped off the bed and out into the hall, after missing him and seeing him fall quickly. LOL I know I'd laugh if that had been videotaped! Normally, my husband doesn't concern himself with anything I do but I actually got him to poke his head out of his bedroom and ask me what was wrong! Yeah, I freaked.
1 person likes this
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
18 Jul 12
I hate spiders and I feel like spiders are stalking me during the summer! They like to show up in my apartment! Sometimes out of the blue! Like the time a big spider was racing up the wall next to me computer! I tried to smash it with my hand but it fell on the floor. Not sure if I got it! I grabed my raid can and sprsyed the area where it might of fell! I think I might of gottan bit by one sunday night while I slept! If not it was another insect! Not sure! My bit mark is on my right arm. The bit is about the size of a penny and there is red like bite mark in the middle of buising! Yesterday it was a bit swollen but it doesn't hurt at all! Never have had a bite mark like this before! Had bee stings,bitten by deer flies and of course mosquites! Whatever it was I am creeped out by it! Just knowing something was crawling on my body,spider or something else,makes me uneasy!
@shibham (16977)
• India
18 Jul 12
Hi...
I am not afraid of any insects. My great fear goes to human. Still today, i am highly attached with all living beings. I never killed any animal or insect regardless how much that is poisonous or not? I never suggest you to leave your home nor kill that spider. Better you should call an expert for greater solution.
have a nice time.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Jul 12
Thank you, shibham. I'm just so terrified of spiders since that time I was in the hospital from the bite I got when I was 19. I NEVER want that to happen again. The doctor I saw then told me that I could die within minutes if I ever get a bite from this particular kind of poisonous spider again. I don't think I'd want to die that way, I'm sure it's pretty horrible.
But, you're right, and I should call an expert.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
28 Jul 12
hi dear mentalward, with having got bitten and been seriously ill its totally understandable that you run from spiders. We only have the harmless ones here and they have taken up residence under the heater and in the bathroom. I dont mind as long as its these small ones with the very long legs, they look cute and we let them live here in peace. Didnt have real nasty ones though so far and I am glad about that.
@haopee (493)
• Philippines
18 Jul 12
Run for your lives! Having a very horrible experience when it comes to insects is bad. I was once bitten by a cockroach and from then on, I never wanted to come close to them. And that's not even a poisonous one.
I do hope you've prepared your arsenal of flyswatters. Hell hath no fury like a spider scorned.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
18 Jul 12
Oh, man, I'm packing right this minute and moving to another state!
I've never been bitten by a cockroach but I've lived in a place that had them and have always been creeped out by them. That's one bug I hope I never see again! Well, along with spiders.
Yep, I have a flyswatter on each side of the bed, within easy reach. However, I'm not so sure I'll be turning the lights off tonight. And, I doubt I'll get much sleep, either, at least not for awhile. Creepy little bugs!
I've never been bitten by a cockroach but I've lived in a place that had them and have always been creeped out by them. That's one bug I hope I never see again! Well, along with spiders.
Yep, I have a flyswatter on each side of the bed, within easy reach. However, I'm not so sure I'll be turning the lights off tonight. And, I doubt I'll get much sleep, either, at least not for awhile. Creepy little bugs!
