[Carolyn (OP)]

A little over an hour ago a black widow bit me on the foot.

My foot's swollen and my leg aches and my head hurts.  What else do I have to look forward to?

Also, did I make it worse by slapping & "smooshing" the spider while it bit me?

[JimBob]

Call poison control. Your reaction may get violent or VERY unpleasant and it is much better to be safe than sorry.

[kdlynn]

carolyn... speaking as a victim of a poisonous spider bite, i would advise you to go to the doctor TOMORROW or the hospital tonight if your symptoms worsen. mine was a brown recluse not a black widow, but neither are anything to mess around with

[Carolyn (OP)]

Thanks JimBob, Kadie & George. 

My reaction was indeed violent and unpleasant. 

The first hour after the bite was unpleasant, the second hour I was having trouble breathing and thinking straight, and by the third hour the pain of all the muscles going crazy was excrutiating. 

After being given antihistimines, muscle relaxers and pain medicine I started to feel some relief.  I'm home now, and feeling very sore, but much better.

[neilep]

Phew !!......soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo pleased you're OK !!

[Carolyn (OP)]

I know a man who's been bitten so many times by rattlesnakes that they don't even make him sick anymore...or at least that's what he says.

Is this true for spider bites?  If you're bitten once does your body build up an immunity to them?