Kicking loose hay out of hay shed, wearing tennis shoes with dime sized hole over small toe left foot. Felt no bite, first symtom was that my small toe nail was catching on my sock, so took my sock off to trim my toe nail. Toe was red, so I thought "infection" and soaked it (probably a BIG mistake.) Began to blister, popped blister and drained it as had begun to suspect bite. Nausea and severe abdominal pain that night, so thought "black widow" but live thirty miles out of town so didn't go see MD until morning, given tetnus booster and anti-nausea drug. Spent day throwing up, having diarrhea, and trying to sleep. Following day by late afternoon was completely out of my mind, halucinating and babbling, not recognizing people I had known for years. Taken to E.R. of lacal hospital, flown to closest trauma center by helicopter. By the time I got there, I was still nuts (in fact worse), lobster red from head to toe, in acute kidney failure, liver in trouble, not much blood pressure, am told by M.d. s I was "touch and go" for a while. Three days in ICu, then seven more days in hospital. BUllet shaped lesion on toe turned into necrosis, then bone infection in toe , amputation considered but sent home for six weeks of at home antibiotics with 1 gram Ancef every eight hours. Toe looks better for a while, then sloughs more skin. Pain mostly in shoulders, knees now. Hands are numb and painful. Still nauseated at times. Skin sloughed ff palms and bottoms of feet. Discharge diagnoses 1) recluse bite 2) osteomyelitis 3) toxic shock syndome ( the spiders often carry Staph) No pics at moment hospital has them more later