I don’t write too many personal posts. However, every now and then something crazy happens and it warrants a post about my experience. Yes, the title is dramatic but I got a scorpion sting in Guatemala, it was dramatic! I honestly did think I was going to die in a dorm room in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
So what happened how did I get a scorpion sting in Guatemala?
I decided to take a little break and visit Lake Atitlan from my temporary home in Antigua. It’s only a f
I needed a mini-break and I also wanted to get some treatment after a car accident in the UK a few weeks before had left me with quite a bit of back and neck pain.
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Things that go STING in the night…
After having a wonderful weekend I went to bed in my wooden hut on the lake feeling blissed out…until at about 1 am I woke up with excruciating pain in my neck/ shoulder area. I rolled slightly and felt this burning pain again. I then went to touch the spot that hurt in a bit of a blind/ still half asleep panic to then experience this pain in my wrist.
This third wave of agony caused me to shoot up and start flapping around like a crazy person as I realized I was under attack from something that had a nasty bite/ sting.
WTF… Did I just get a scorpion sting in Guatemala?
In my haze, I had no idea what happened. I think I may have managed to throw whatever it was from me. And I have a vague memory of crushing something. But the pain was so intense that was all I could focus on. So I grabbed my phone and checked my bed but I couldn’t find anything. I was safe, although I felt anything BUT!
But what happened next was even more terrifying.
Once the initial shock started to subside the pain continued to get worse and my fear and panic started to really kick in. At this point, I had no idea what had attacked me and therefore what my reaction was going to be. It was 1 am and everyone was asleep.
I was in a remote part of Lake Atitlan with no idea where I would find a Dr or medical professional. There was no pharmacy in the area, no hospital for miles, and the main form of transport is a boat. Which at 1 am isn’t going to be running. I was also staying in accommodation which had a lot of steps to get up to the main road for a Tuk Tuk or down to the lake for a boat.
My mother always told me…
After thinking all of this through I realized I didn’t have very many options here. But having a nurse for a mother (all you children of nurses know what I’m talking about) I’m also conditioned to know you are fine so long as your airway doesn’t start to close. And to never leave home without ibuprofen and antihistamines. Unfortunately, I had neither, the ONE TIME I left home without my mini first aid kit!
Anyway, I tried to keep calm despite the realization that if my airway did start to close, I had no antihistamine and no way of getting any medical help. There were 4 other people around, so I bargained with myself that if it did start to close I’d wake them up and one of them would surely have some antihistamine right?
Deciding that I shouldn’t go back to sleep because I might not wake up was easy as I was in too much pain to sleep anyway. If you have ever been stung by a bee or a wasp, times that by 20 and then again 3 stings. That’s how much this hurt.
The pain I can cope with, it was when I realized my lips and tongue were tingling that a new wave of panic set in. It didn’t stop there, the tingling quickly spread to my whole body and I realized this was probably pretty serious. That’s when the googling began.
You can also read about: My Personal Journey With Ayahuasca Mexico
The struggle of being British and getting stung by a scorpion…
For the next few hours, I split my time between googling what kind of things can bite/ sting you in Guatemala, and can any of them kill you and watching Netflix on my phone to try and take my mind off my looming death. But also reminded myself that I could still breathe, and therefore I was probably going to live.
After 2-3 hours of still being alive, I decided I probably wasn’t going to die because I would already be dead. Although I still didn’t know what it was that had bit/ stung me by about 5 am I decided I needed to go to the bathroom. I tried to stand but my legs completely gave out and then my whole body started to do weird things. My muscles all contracted and I had no control over my movements.
That was it, the final straw, it was too much and I started shouting to wake up the room (it only took me 4 hours haha).
I did so in the most British way possibly being awfully polite and apologizing profusely for waking everyone up but that something had bit/ stung me 3 times and now I couldn’t walk. They were all very lovely about the situation and even carried me to the bathroom haha. After calming me down they told me they would get me some help as soon as they could, but it was 5 am, so that wouldn’t be for another few hours.
That was enough to calm me down, just knowing help was there.
Scorpiongate… Does Guatemala have scorpions? And did a scorpion sting me?
By this point, my google searching had told me what I was experiencing was the effects of being stung (3 TIMES) by a scorpion, IN MY SLEEP. That’s right I was stung 3 times in my sleep by a scorpion in Guatemala.
People can react in 2 way to a scorpion sting:
Localized pain and swelling
or
Total body reaction to the neurotoxin
This can cause temporary paralysis and your body to do some pretty crazy things. Plus the localized pain. BUT you hardly have a mark on you when the sting happened.
This second was what happened to me.
I hardly have a mark on me where I was stuck but my reaction was terrifying. The effects normally last for 12 hours. For me, it was more like 24 hours. By the following day, I just had one leg that had a mind of its own and a burning right hand (the site of the third sting) plus my lips and tongue were still pretty numb.
There are scorpions in Guatemala?
I found out after this happened that scorpions are really common at the lake and that most local people hardly have any reaction to the stings, so you are unlikely to get much sympathy! So, yes there are scorpions in Guatemala and yes you can get a scorpion sting in Guatemala.
How do you deal with a scorpion sting?
If this happens to you there really isn’t a lot you can do. You just have to wait it out. It’s a good idea to take some antihistamines just in case you have an allergic reaction to the neurotoxin, which is what would cause your airway to close.
- Try not to move about too much (you will likely not be able to anyway) as this will move the toxin through your body. I found every time I moved all of my muscles contracted in a weird way and it felt awful, so I tried to stay as still as possible.
- Drink a lot of water. Drinking wasn’t pleasant for me as the muscle in my throat contracted every time I swallowed which terrified me as I struggled to take a breath. I had to sip the water slowly. Water is really important to flush out the neurotoxin though.
- I also took activated charcoal. Don’t take this with the antihistamine as it will cancel it out. But activated charcoal helps get rid of poisons in the body. I’m not sure who well it worked but it made me feel better! It’s also great for a hangover apparently.
How to avoid getting a scorpion sting in Guatemala
What did I learn from this experience?
- Guatemala has scorpions and I do not react well to their neurotoxin
- Next time I think I’m dying I should probably wake people up sooner
- Never ever leave home without antihistamines
- Make sure you have activated charcoal in your first aid kit
- ALWAYS check your bed and drop some tea tree oil around it
- I’m pretty tough, getting stung 3 times by a scorpion and not completely losing my mind, crying and booking the next flight home is proof of that.
You might also want to read about:
My Birth Story
My Kambo Experience
The Beginners Guide to Ayurveda for Travelers
Map of Accommodation in Guatemala
Guatemala Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Guatemala?
Yes! I have created a packing list for Guatemala on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Guatemala?
I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Guatemala?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options available!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat.
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
Kiwi offers you affordable flights. You can book service for flight, train, and bus tickets.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
You can also opt to use Solis Wifi for their Wifi plan.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
