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This morning, at work, I leaned against a concrete wall and felt like I hit my funny bone in my arm. Did the usual rub and "ouch". But it wasn't going away. It got worse and worse over the course of an hour. The pain got so bad I couldn't stand it. I couldn't see a definitive sting mark, but I had these weird Goosebumps on the back of my arm and they were oozing clear fluid. Almost looked like just that 5 inch part of my arm was sweating. After declining an ambulance ride to the hospital, a co-worker drove me to urgent care, where a spider bite was diagnosed. I got all kinds of fun drugs and a tetanus shot.

Hours later, still in agony, painkillers not working. The center of the patch now looks like a dark purple checkerboard. WTH? So I take a photo and throw it up on the local mom's Facebook page. Within minutes I had five responses:. Southern flannel moth caterpillar sting. Sure enough I googled, and that's exactly what it looks like. Many relayed personal experiences. Umm, caterpillars are venomous? Who knew? And apparently the one that got me is the most venomous in North America! The Sting is worse than a jellyfish, any bee, or a scorpion. Feels like a blowtorch on the skin, check. Pain radiating up and down the arm all the way from the fingertips to the shoulder, check. Feels like the venom is in my bones, check.

It's been 13 hours and I am still in so much pain, and I took a narcotic 2 hours ago that should have knocked me on my ass. And a toradol injection at urgent Care that did absolutely nothing for the pain. I had a toradol injection when I broke my leg and it worked like a charm. This bleeping caterpillar trumped a broken leg!

Anyway, anyone ever experienced this? Just be on the lookout. Google photos. They are super cute and furry and your kids might be tempted to pick them up. DO NOT DO THIS. I wanted to cut my arm off a little while ago. It would have hurt less I think.

[This message edited by WhoTheBleep at 8:36 PM, July 26th (Monday)]

Oh no so sorry this happenws6.

These stinging moths can leave the singers in your skin which will aggravate it. Did they make sure nothing was IN the sting?

Also i got this online:

Both physicians advise that a person stung should apply an ice pack, then a paste of baking soda and water, followed by hydrocortisone cream. “I also recommend an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl if the sting is severe, and Ibuprofen can be given orally if it is needed for pain,” says Dr. Kerut.

Note it says if the baking soda and water paste doesn't help then wash off and apply the hydrocortisone cream . Also said to ice it.

I have the baking soda paste on it, covered with a bandage. I put Scotch tape over the skin beforehand and peeled it off to make sure no hairs / venom were left. Just cut two different painkillers in half and took half of each. In pain but sleepy, hopefully it's enough to get me through the night. Thanks, Dragn.

I hope you were able to sleep.

There was a notice sent out before the pandemic from the school about a caterpillar that had caused a child to have an allergic reaction. Cant recall the name of it though. My kids know not to touch caterpillars.

Good morning! This particular caterpillar results in several hundred calls to poison control every year, and I think that's just in Florida. And I believe it causes severe reactions in 10% of the people who are exposed. I'm not surprised. My reaction was considered standard, and I've never felt pain like that in my life.

Thanks to the painkillers, I was able to sleep. I feel 85% better. The pain is just about gone, but the skin on my arm is super sensitive to touch. I will continue and finish the medications the doctor put me on, minus the painkillers.

I work at a school, so I will notify the staff to let all of the kiddos know never to touch a caterpillar if they see one. I think there are more dangerous to children because their bodies are so much smaller.

It breaks my heart to think of a little one having to tolerate 14 hours of pain like that. It wiped me out for sure. Thanks for checking in, Drag.

Glad you're feeling better.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have never heard of that type of caterpillar and had no idea that could happen.

WOW. Sorry you had to go through that.

Make sure the kiddos know what they look like, as they are probably attracted to them because they are so furry looking.

Keep an eye on your skin where you were stung too, to make sure it doesn't get infected.

Glad the worst of it is over.

((bleep))

So sorry this happened to you.

Aweful!