A story about health by Angler Ron Howe

I am writing this true story about a current health issue I’m dealing with in hopes to educate other Anglers about a common health problem that can arise that most people have never heard of including me. If you have a weak stomach do not carry on as the pictures are very graphic.

On a warm Halloween night I was getting ready for my doorbell to ring as I been nominated to be the one to pass out candy to the local kids that are dressed up and ready for some goodies! I noticed I felt a bit warmer than usual but figure it’s just from the kids keeping me busy answering the door and the warm weather outside. My friends come by to show off there kids in there costumes and make my house the last stop of the night. As I got out of my chair to greet them I noticed a little pain in my leg very small, but enough to alert me. I reached down to feel the area and notice a little swollen bump with a little soreness give it a rub and on I went! I wished my friends and there kids a good night. Time to shut down the trick or treaters and off to bed.

The Next Day I wake up and I feel great! Iv’e already forgotten about feeling hot and what bump on my leg? As the work day goes on I got really cold and my teeth begin to chatter. I noticed while making a sales call my left leg is cramping up on me in a strange fashion, I stretched it out and carried on. As the day moved on it was a Sunny 72 deg with no wind in the sky yet Im freezing now. “You think to yourself I’m getting the FLU…” I went home dressed warm and worked on getting rid of the shivers. The next 3 days I missed work as my body takes on what I think is a full blown nasty flu. Aches, pains, hot ,cold, loss of appetite and just very lethargic.  By Friday morning days later the smoke has cleared and Im feeling better but the house is a bit cold still  so I put on my base layer thermals and notice my leg is a bit red in skin color but Im cold so I got dressed up. As the day goes on my leg becomes very sore and painful and just difficult to move. The rest of me feels good and is glad to be past the flu but the leg is killing me.  I take the base layer off and my leg is swollen and has a bad rash all over it below my knee and the pains have increased. I went to bed thinking its a heat rash from all the fevers and the base layers I was wearing. The next day the pain in my leg when trying to stand is unbearable and that rash is now big blisters and very ugly looking! This happens quickly. Off the Urgent Care I go to have a Doctor look at it.

Day 1 rash back of leg notice small round discolored circle at top of discolored area this was what started it all a bug bite!

Day 1 rash front of leg

Day 2 rash quickly spreads with swelling and blisters

After a shot of Antibiotics and a cleaning of the infected area I get sent to get my medications, 2 kinds of Antibiotics. Im diagnosed with Cellulites. Never hearing of this condition before I go home and look it up online and print all the information about it. Cellulites can be caused from a cut, scratch, bruise, or bug bite. Simple things and they can turn real ugly on your real fast! The next time you get a cut clean it, a scratch clean it and wrap it up. If you get a bug bite with swelling go see a doctor fast. This is what I had. I’ve been 0ff work 9 days now with 3 more to go per doctors recommendations and I’m not sure that’s going to be enough to heel me. I had never heard of Cellulites before this and may bee you haven’t either, but my hopes are that my experience can help you make good decisions if you notice your not feeling well. Go see a Doctor. If you get soarness or redness in your legs feet or hands quickly see a Doctor. Wrap your infected area up to protect from infections.

I missed my first tournament in over 20 years from this. Health is more important.

Wishing you all never have to deal with this.

Ron Howe Angler