It was totally bizarre. I noticed a small red circle on my leg around Christmas of 2005. It started itching and swelling. Within a week the area had started to turn black and I couldn't walk. They misdiagnosed it - common with the brown recluse - and they gave me a moderate dose of antibiotics. Had to go back a day later because of the pain and it was, well, not looking good. They upped the antibiotics big time and the swelling started to subside to the point I could walk. It wasn't until 3 months later when I had a hole the size of a tennis ball in my calf that wouldn't heal that the decided it was the spider bite. Too late though. It is now the size of a golf ball and doesn't hurt as much, but from what I can tell online, I was extremely lucky not to have lost my leg. Anyone lurking with a strong stomach, just type "brown recluse bite" into Google images and you will have an idea. I have the most odd health things happen to me, but I've lived a hard health life (but really fun!) so it doesn't surprise me a whole bunch.

>A friend of mine got bit by a brown recluse on the back while he was sleeping. It was years ago and he still has a hole in his back where the tissue died.
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>>>"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Fight Night at the UT! On the undercard, Jay vs. Peter, and in the main event, Kevin vs. John. Let's get ready to rummmmmmmble!"
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>>I'm old, have diabetes, have nerve pain in my legs most of the time, can't see well anymore, can't breathe normally because of heart issues, have two arterial stents, lost a portion of my leg to a brown recluse spider almost two years ago that still hasn't healed, and nerve damage in my face. I can't beat-up a sick 7 year-old school girl!
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>>UPDATE: Um, if anyone from my health care provider is reading this... Just kidding! Ha ha...