Seeking medical help at the right time can be life-saving — but many people still hesitate, often brushing off serious symptoms until things take a turn for the worse. In today’s digital world, some are even turning to AI for a second opinion before deciding to go to the doctor. One such case from Texas recently made waves after a woman credited ChatGPT with convincing her to visit the ER following a severe spider bite.

Holli, who goes by @hair.queen.holli on TikTok, shared her experience in a now-viral video. She explained that she had been bitten by a spider more than a week earlier, and over time, things got worse. She became violently ill, couldn’t keep food or water down, and eventually woke up one morning to find her arm completely numb.

Holli turned to ChatGPT for guidance. “It told me to immediately go to the ER,” she said in her video, explaining that the AI flagged her symptoms as serious warning signs.

Taking the advice seriously, she headed to the hospital — and she’s glad she did. “They looked at it and said, ‘Yeah, you should be here,’” Holli recalled. Doctors told her that the skin around the bite was either already dead or beginning to die, making it a genuine medical emergency.

While she initially felt a bit awkward walking into the ER because of advice from an AI, Holli said she was ultimately thankful. “It’s not good, but I’m thankful I came in when I did,” she told her followers.

Many viewers suggested that the bite may have come from a brown recluse spider — a venomous species found across the southern and central U.S. While not every brown recluse bite causes a severe reaction, some can lead to tissue damage and serious complications if left untreated. These spiders tend to hide in dark, quiet places like closets, basements, and woodpiles.