BajaNomad - Finally got nailed in Baja

Finally got nailed in Baja

Santiago - 3-29-2011 at 07:15 AM

Last week while at our cabin in Baja I finally got tagged by a scorpion.
Went something like this:
Got up at 5:00am, pulled on my shorts and went to the WC for my morning constitutional. After doing my bidness, I rise from the throne, pull up my shorts, turn to the lav to wash up and bingo, my outer right thigh starts hurting like a bad bee sting. I realize that something small is in my shorts and it's biting me so I slap my thigh hard. Out drops a small scorpion which I quickly dispatch.
(Note to jeans: maybe you can just ignore the 'something small in my shorts' retort that surely is coming, OK?

)
I had always heard that the little guys were way worse than the big ones but this was really no big deal: The sting location was just a small red spot, no swelling. About 30 minutes later my right groin was a little sore. About an hour later my tongue had a metallic taste and maybe a little swollen. This lasted most of the day and by the evening it was gone. One thing I noticed was that if I sat down to rest, my leg would hurt much more than if I was walking around.
Some people in camp said the little ones were mild and some said the big ones were mild, anyone know the facts?

Skipjack Joe - 3-29-2011 at 07:24 AM

I believe the smaller ones are more venomous.

David K - 3-29-2011 at 07:36 AM

Read Graham's first book ('Into a Desert Place') where after a couple of stings, he was getting to look forward to more :lol:

... and that was after thinking it was Death calling from what he read before starting his trip.

Glad you survived Santiago!

shari - 3-29-2011 at 08:17 AM

coulda been worse amigo...a little up and to the left!!! jejejee

SteveD - 3-29-2011 at 08:22 AM

During my first trip to Baja I was nailed twice. The first night one had crawled into my sleeping bag. A few days later I was nailed again by one that had got into our fishing tackel box. That was in 1958 and I'm still here to talk about it.

Sweetwater - 3-29-2011 at 08:25 AM

When I was a kiddo in Wyo........a buddy got stung..........said he never grew taller after that day......we were 16 years old and he was stuck at 5'8"....... :lol:

DENNIS - 3-29-2011 at 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
I believe the smaller ones are more venomous.

I think that varies with the type. The small grayish brown guys are common here and pose no real threat. I had one in my shoe once and he got me good. Then.....I got him good.
Point is, the sting was more hot than painful and only lasted for no more than an hour.
It did, however, call for mass quantities of Pacifico Pain Killer.

Skipjack Joe - 3-29-2011 at 09:12 AM

"Internal and external applications of alcohol." :lol:

fishabductor - 3-29-2011 at 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
coulda been worse amigo...a little up and to the left!!! jejejee

I got nailed by a centipede in that location once while digging out a stuck truck outside GN...it was not fun!

I am not into S&M, especially with a critter w/100 legs :lol:

sanquintinsince73 - 3-29-2011 at 11:04 AM

My wife is from Sinaloa and she's been bit several times by "alacranes" and she's even had dengue fever, but she refuses to die. Still here causing me grief.

The bad scorpions are the black ones from Durango.

[Edited on 3-29-2011 by sanquintinsince73]

baronvonbob - 3-29-2011 at 11:27 AM

Reminds me of the Time I got stung, when my Ex caught me at the Hotel Serindad.

fishabductor - 3-29-2011 at 12:11 PM

The first time I got hit by a scorpion, I got hit 3x in the right arm. My whole arm went numb with the effects lingering for 3 days.

I thought I was going to die when it happened, I was a newby from the NW and didn't have a clue about Scorpions. Thank god I had internet access, so I could put away the fear of dying and concentrate on drinking tequilla to ease the pain.

We now collect all the scorpions we find and put them in a jar of alcohol and guaco branches. When you get stung by anything, you rub this coctail on the sting location and it eases the pain.

mulegemichael - 3-29-2011 at 01:04 PM

so what's a guaco bush look like?...in 25 years down here, i haven't been stung yet but i might as well be ready when the time comes...our palm trimmer, chuy, has been stung dozens of times and i think those palm alacrans are the bad ones.

fishabductor - 3-29-2011 at 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
so what's a guaco bush look like?...in 25 years down here, i haven't been stung yet but i might as well be ready when the time comes...our palm trimmer, chuy, has been stung dozens of times and i think those palm alacrans are the bad ones.

good question...I got it dried in stick form from my mother-in-law. I'll se what I can find out.

elbeau - 3-29-2011 at 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
I believe the smaller ones are more venomous.

My understanding is that young scorpions do not have control to meter how much venom they inject so you basically get everything it's got, while the larger ones technically have more venom, but they sting you in doses that are smaller than the young ones. The venom itself is exactly the same in the juveniles and adults.

Chlorine

sanquintinsince73 - 3-29-2011 at 02:03 PM

Another thing to do when you get hammered by a scorpion is to pour chlorine over the wound. This will lessen, if not eliminate the effect of the venom.

DENNIS - 3-29-2011 at 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elbeau
My understanding is that young scorpions do not have control to meter how much venom they inject so you basically get everything it's got, while the larger ones technically have more venom, but they sting you in doses that are smaller than the young ones.

I've heard that about Rattlers as well. Don't know if it's true, but I've heard it.
Yep....that's what I heard.

fishabductor - 3-29-2011 at 03:03 PM

Quote:

here is what I found about Guaco. My wife didn't know what it looked like either. my mother-in-law is the one, I asked my wife to spend some time with her and start writing all the natural medicines down. Her mother knows all the medicinal uses of the local plants of baja. I want a record of this for the family.

http://www.rain-tree.com/guaco.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaco
http://www.yourmedicinalplants.com/mikania/

the 1st link is the best by far, it is very amazing what Guaco does. I am glad we have a bag of dried sticks in the cupboard!

WORLDWIDE ETHNOMEDICAL USES
Brazil for albuminuria, analgesic, appetite stimulation, arthritis, asthma, blood cleansing, bronchitis, bronchial constriction, cancer, cholera, colds, coughs, fever, gout, infections, influenza, intestinal problems, laryngitis, neuralgia, pain, pleurisy, pruritus, respiratory problems, rheumatism, snakebite, sore throat, syphilis, tonsillitis, wounds, and as an expectorant
Dominican
Republic for cholera, fever, flu
Guyana for itch, insect bite, snakebite, skin eruptions
Haiti for fever, malaria, syphilis
Mexico for asthma, bites(dog), fever, malaria, menstrual irregularities, rheumatism, scorpion stings, sores, snakebite, spasm, stomach problems, tetanus, worms
Venezuela for fever, snakebite, tumor
Elsewhere for cholera, snakebite

David K - 3-29-2011 at 03:26 PM

If you have a bottle of Tea Tree Oil (100% Melaleuca alternifolia), do try it... as it has venom neutralizing sucess with poison spiders and other skin irritants. While never personally tested on scorpion, I have used it for bee stings with success on myself and my kids...

It has been reported to save the life of Australians hit by the funnel web spider, who otherwise would have died before reaching the hospital. Aboriginies brewed tea from the leaves of this variety of melaleuca, thus the source of the common English name.

Marc - 3-29-2011 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

It's taken as a suppository. :wow:

fishabductor - 3-29-2011 at 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
It's taken as a suppository. :wow:

yeah, stop by... we'll save the big chunk for you.

Bob H - 3-29-2011 at 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
coulda been worse amigo...a little up and to the left!!! jejejee

Oh Yes... you are right on about that Shari.

I was surfing in Miami back in the mid 60's and a Manowar jellyfish washed up on my surfboard and wrapped itself around my groin area! Wow, you cannot belive the pain I had. It was just a bad scene man! Very bad. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I was 16 years old at the time!

[Edited on 3-30-2011 by Bob H]

Marc - 3-30-2011 at 06:36 PM

I always like to sleep of of the ground. In my van or truck or if in a tent , on a cot. So my Bud sleeps outside for a week. This was at BOLA. He leaves his bag out all day. Guess what!!

Bugman - 4-1-2011 at 01:30 PM

The little vs big is not really the best rule to follow. You could get hit by a juvenile of a larger species that is not all that toxic. A better but by no means perfect rule is to go by the size of the claws. The species with larger more muscular claws can rely more on their size/strength to subdue their prey. The more delicate small clawed varieties are relying more on their venom to do the dirty work so it tends to pack more of an unwelcome punch. Regardless, it's gonna hurt so do your best to avoid contact. By the way, the rumors about younger ones packing more of a punch due to lack of control are just that......rumors. That is not true for scorpions.

Bugman

msteve1014 - 4-1-2011 at 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

I've heard that about Rattlers as well. Don't know if it's true, but I've heard it.
Yep....that's what I heard.

Well now you have seen it on the internet, so it MUST be true.

jeans - 4-1-2011 at 10:28 PM

Quote:

Got up at 5:00am, pulled on my shorts and went to the WC for my morning constitutional. After doing my bidness, I rise from the throne, pull up my shorts, turn to the lav to wash up and bingo, my outer right thigh starts hurting like a bad bee sting.

TMI

Quote:

I realize that something small is in my shorts and it's biting me. (Note to jeans: maybe you can just ignore the 'something small in my shorts' retort that surely is coming, OK?

)

OK....this time

surfdoc - 4-1-2011 at 11:34 PM

You were hit by a Centroides ... they have a neuro toxin which you listed just about all the Sx's of.

You can ID them by they're pale coloring, Very small P-nchers and the tail circles to the left.

For the most part no Tx is indicated, you can take a benadryl and of course Pacifico/Tecate in copious amounts.

Healthy folks as you stated will be fine in 12-24 hours.

Bajatripper - 4-2-2011 at 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob H

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
coulda been worse amigo...a little up and to the left!!! jejejee

Something I once read in a survival book was that in olden days the most common place for a man to be bitten by a black widow spider was in the scrotum, since these hung down in the old outhouses, into the spider's neck of the woods, so to speak.

In reference to scorpion seriousness/size relationship, I've always understood it to refer to the size of the scorpion species, not the size of maturity.

1bobo - 4-3-2011 at 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfdoc
You were hit by a Centroides ... they have a neuro toxin which you listed just about all the Sx's of.

You can ID them by they're pale coloring, Very small P-nchers and the tail circles to the left.

For the most part no Tx is indicated, you can take a benadryl and of course Pacifico/Tecate in copious amounts.

Healthy folks as you stated will be fine in 12-24 hours.

It's hard to tell which way the tail circles after a smack from my slipper. I just got nailed in my bed an hour ago, but so far nothing more than a bee sting. A couple of 85 degree days & they get real active. Killed a big one on the patio this afternoon.

redhilltown - 4-3-2011 at 11:52 PM

Glad everyone is alive to talk about their bites on here! I 've never tried it, but a friend was with a group and someone brought along a black light (insert posters, long hair, and dirt weed here ) and said you'd be stunned at the amount of scorpions that were revealed in the dark of night when you turned it on. I just always forget to add "black light" to my camping list and therefore never have one to try this out.

4baja - 4-4-2011 at 06:38 AM

took you that long to realize theres something small in your shorts jim? we all werent laughing at you down there jim. honest.

CortezBlue - 4-4-2011 at 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
coulda been worse amigo...a little up and to the left!!! jejejee

Living in AZ that happened to me, in THAT spot you are describing.

I went to the doctor and I asked him if he could keep the swell but remove the pain!!!

CortezBlue - 4-4-2011 at 09:58 AM

One other point

After being stung many times, you mentioned no big deal regarding the aftermath.

However, it really does depend on where you are stung.

I was stung on the very lower left corner of my thumb nail in the skin on a Thursday late at night while I was sleeping. I killed the little bugger with the remote control from my TV.

However, by morning my right arm was numb up to my shoulder. It felt as if my arm was asleep. By Friday afternoon, the numbness went to my elbow. It wasn't til Sunday morning until my arm was back to normal.

So I think it depends on where you get stung. I was stung on my back near my waste line, and had no issues other than a bee sting type of pain.

mcfez - 4-4-2011 at 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiago
Last week while at our cabin in Baja I finally got tagged by a scorpion.
Went something like this:
Got up at 5:00am, pulled on my shorts and went to the WC for my morning constitutional. After doing my bidness, I rise from the throne, pull up my shorts, turn to the lav to wash up and bingo, my outer right thigh starts hurting like a bad bee sting. I realize that something small is in my shorts and it's biting me so I slap my thigh hard. Out drops a small scorpion which I quickly dispatch.
(Note to jeans: maybe you can just ignore the 'something small in my shorts' retort that surely is coming, OK?

".....Of above thousand species of scorpions some twenty have the poison enough in their venom to affect the humans. So if unfortunately you got a scorpion sting, stay cool as the chances of being getting poisoned is only 2%.On a regional basis most poisonous scorpions are the one from México, South of Americas, Africa’s(Arizona),and some Middle East countries".

Maybe you should get a place in the Middle East :-)

Glad you are okay! The kids found one of these buggers on the floor of our bathroom last week. I was thinking.....wow, that be a hell of a dance to walk on that little feller at 2 in the A.M.!

So I guess we should check the floors, racks, .....whatever... before settling in at our vacation homes.

fishabductor - 4-4-2011 at 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez

On a regional basis most poisonous scorpions are the one from México, South of Americas, Africa’s(Arizona),and some Middle East countries".

The bad scorpion in mexico is reportedly in the state of Durango, or so I am told.

DavidE - 4-4-2011 at 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez

On a regional basis most poisonous scorpions are the one from México, South of Americas, Africa’s(Arizona),and some Middle East countries".

The bad scorpion in mexico is reportedly in the state of Durango, or so I am told.

DavidE - 4-4-2011 at 05:26 PM

Mexico has hundreds of different types of scorpions. Some are extremely micro located. Some of which are more hazardous than others. A generally recognized and accepted nasty alacran is the red bark scorpion which you can google and read all about.

A bad scorpion string may cause the eyes to jerk around involuntarily and also cause foaming at the mouth. If this happens, don't wait, get to a doctor --- this is a medical emergency. An anaphalactic shock reaction can close off an airway and demand a tracheatomy. See antihistimine below.

A better-than-nothing prophylactic is to swallow three benedryl tablets as soon as you can after the sting. The antihistamine will work anywhere from around "somewhat" to "very effective". Mexican doctors are experts when dealing with antivenin and they administer a skin pop reactance test to see if the victim would have a bad reaction to antivenin. The antivenin does reduce pain and swelling, usually in a dramatic fashion.

Iflyfish - 4-4-2011 at 05:28 PM

Bob:

"Oh Yes... you are right on about that Shari.

I was surfing in Miami back in the mid 60's and a Manowar jellyfish washed up on my surfboard and wrapped itself around my groin area! Wow, you cannot belive the pain I had. It was just a bad scene man! Very bad. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I was 16 years old at the time!"

As an analyst I could comment, but will refrain this time, just this once Bob!

Iflyfishbitingmytonguesometimes

fishabductor - 4-4-2011 at 06:22 PM

for jellyfish...the best cure is pee. pee in a cup and pour it on the affected area...or have a friend or to give you a "golden Shower" it beats a bad jellyfish sting anyday.

anything with ammonia works, but pee is usually readily available. Windex also works good, but is not usually found on the beach.

For scorpion bites, soaking the bite area in extremely hot water for a 30 min kills the venom. this also works good for Stingray stings.

I have used all the above remedies for the above bites/stings and they all work. I drew the line at having my friends pee on me, as I had a suffienct supply of my own and it is immediate relief.

[Edited on 4-5-2011 by fishabductor]

Skipjack Joe - 4-4-2011 at 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfdoc

You can ID them by they're pale coloring, Very small P-nchers and the tail circles to the left.

Unfortunately, now, it's not the only thing that circles to the left.

mcfez - 4-4-2011 at 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
for jellyfish...the best cure is pee. pee in a cup and pour it on the affected area...or have a friend or to give you a "golden Shower" it beats a bad jellyfish sting anyday.

anything with ammonia works, but pee is usually readily available. Windex also works good, but is not usually found on the beach.

For scorpion bites, soaking the bite area in extremely hot water for a 30 min kills the venom. this also works good for Stingray stings.

I have used all the above remedies for the above bites/stings and they all work. I drew the line at having my friends pee on me, as I had a suffienct supply of my own and it is immediate relief.

[Edited on 4-5-2011 by fishabductor]

I dont need a cup, can reach everywhere :lol:

surfdoc - 4-4-2011 at 09:58 PM

Scorpion sting do not a heat liable toxin.. so soaking the area in hot water will have NO effect for a scorpion sting.

If your allergic to bees, then there is a very good chance you may have a reaction to scorpions.. best advice is if in doubt carry a bee sting kit.. epinephrine or a epi pen is the enmergency treatment for a severe anaphylatic reaction. For miler reactions chewable benadryl 25 mg x 3 will work.

A sting eze pen (contains topical lidocaine) also is of benefit.
As is a lotion called bikini cream... this is used for chicks that shave they're bikini line..contains 2% topical lidocaine.
Isopropyl alchol swapped on the area or ice on 10 min's off 5. Can also provide relief for the normal scorpion or bee/wasp sting.

HOT water is indicated for Sculpin/sting rays or rock fish stings.

You do not have enough Ammonia or uric acid in your urine to counteract the nemocyst of the jellyfish, a mixture of alcohol/ammonia sprayed on the site can help. Do not use fresh water on a jellyfish, to remove the jelly... gently rub wet sand from the beach and rinse in the salt water.. then use ammonia or isopropyl alcohol ... followed by hydrocorticone cream as needed..

These are Not all inclusive instructions.. if ya have questions
no problem

With any wound that penatrates the skin, infection is always something to watch for.

[Edited on 4-5-2011 by surfdoc]

Bob H - 4-4-2011 at 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
Bob:

"Oh Yes... you are right on about that Shari.

I was surfing in Miami back in the mid 60's and a Manowar jellyfish washed up on my surfboard and wrapped itself around my groin area! Wow, you cannot belive the pain I had. It was just a bad scene man! Very bad. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I was 16 years old at the time!"

As an analyst I could comment, but will refrain this time, just this once Bob!

Iflyfishbitingmytonguesometimes

Please elaborate!

David K - 4-4-2011 at 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by surfdoc
Scorpion sting do not a heat liable toxin.. so soaking the area in hot water will have NO effect for a scorpion sting.

If your allergic to bees, then there is a very good chance you may have a reaction to scorpions.. best advice is if in doubt carry a bee sting kit.. epinephrine or a epi pen is the enmergency treatment for a severe anaphylatic reaction. For miler reactions chewable benadryl 25 mg x 3 will work.

A sting eze pen (contains topical lidocaine) also is of benefit.
As is a lotion called bikini cream... this is used for chicks that shave they're bikini line..contains 2% topical lidocaine.
Isopropyl alchol swapped on the area or ice on 10 min's off 5. Can also provide relief for the normal scorpion or bee/wasp sting.

HOT water is indicated for Sculpin/sting rays or rock fish stings.

You do not have enough Ammonia or uric acid in your urine to counteract the nemocyst of the jellyfish, a mixture of alcohol/ammonia sprayed on the site can help. Do not use fresh water on a jellyfish, to remove the jelly... gently rub wet sand from the beach and rinse in the salt water.. then use ammonia or isopropyl alcohol ... followed by hydrocorticone cream as needed..

These are Not all inclusive instructions.. if ya have questions
no problem

With any wound that penatrates the skin, infection is always something to watch for.

[Edited on 4-5-2011 by surfdoc]

Thank you for clearing that up!