Bite me

[Rhona]

Back from hols last night after blissful lovely time in Provence, which was only marred the teeniest bit by a couple of bites which I assumed were mozzies or something.

I usually have a fairly dramatic response to bites - by way of example, if bitten near knee, then half lower leg might become swollen/red/painful; and I have noticed that my reactions are becoming worse over the years. This time I felt sicky-poorly, and leg ached like mad etc.

I've always been fairly untroubled by this and just thought it was one of those things, but we happened to pop into a pharmacy on hols for something for DH (who also is starting to react to bites following ivy poisoning!) and the pharmacist saw my leg and told me go to the doctor in the village straight away.

Now, call me silly, but I didn't follow her advice as we had some ice cream in the car and it was melting (priorities eh?), plus i hardly ever bother going to drs for anything. Today, DH happened to be chatting to someone today who had been told by some medical person that if you DO have severe reactions to bites and they are getting worse then there's a real risk that you're building up to a big One-sting-from-a-bee-and-you're-history type reaction.

Is this tosh or should I rouse myself from my usual state of lethargy and seek advice? Anyone know anything?

[rustylady]

[QUOTE=Rhona;27 Today, DH happened to be chatting to someone today who had been told by some medical person that if you DO have severe reactions to bites and they are getting worse then there's a real risk that you're building up to a big One-sting-from-a-bee-and-you're-history type reaction.

Is this tosh or should I rouse myself from my usual state of lethargy and seek advice? Anyone know anything?[/QUOTE] The "one sting from a bee & you're history" is a real possibility as allergic reactions can become worse with time. The condition they're talking about is anaphylactic shock which is definitely life-threatening. It causes severe swelling around face, lips, & mouth and can cause airways to close completely. Look it up on NHS Direct.

[lynda66]

over the years i've had quite a few wasp stings, i always had a bad reaction, but each time the swelling has been worse and lasted longer ....... last time, i was stung on my neck, and by the time i'd got home i couldn't move my neck it was that swollen, so yes you can build up an intolerance to them, go to the doctors, to get checked out, is it really worth taking the risk???

[Rhona]

Had no clue I was taking a risk until now!!! Eek!

(Creaking sound is me raising myself from usual state of medical lethargy...)

[lynda66]

it may not be anything to worry about, but with stuff like this its definitely best to be cautious, if you had been bitten or stung in your throat instead of your leg, things would be a lot different.

[di]

I'd pop to the docs Rhona,(s)he'll be able to sort out how you're feeling this time round & offer advice for the future~try not to get yourself into a major panic~there's preventitive medication out there that if you get bitten or stung you can self administer immediately~if the doc considers your reactions severe enough then (s)he'll prob give you an epipen which sets to work immediately~otherwise don't leave the house without your antihistamines!!
Andi has bad reactions to mozzie & wasp stings~can I get him to the docs?!
Hope your leg feels better soon~which it will as you're getting yourself off to the docs!!!
Take care.x

[bluemoon]

Rhona, tut-tut. No excuses. You live in Sheffield so nip to the drop in centre at the Hallamshire, talk to one of the nice nurses and they'll have a look and tell you what's what. No waiting, no appointments, in and out in ten minutes. Sorted......well, ok then you'll have to spend three hours looking for a parking space first, but nothings perfect. Seriously though, it's quite a good service, sort of like NHS direct but they can see what the problem is and help. They managed to convince me that I wasn't having a stroke one very hot summer - not this year, obviously - when my daughter was in for surgery and I had allowed myself to dehydrate. - Ok, I admit I was visiting, so I'd already parked.

[Mikey]

Now this maybe completely wrong, but I am sure I have read somewhere about increased vitamin b and c being good at repelling stinging creatures like mosquitos.

I would defo go see the doc though rhona.

[di]

There was something on telly recently~can't remember programme but someone ate loads of marmite & it seemed to put the mozzies off eating their blood.

[Mikey]

There was something on telly recently~can't remember programme but someone ate loads of marmite & it seemed to put the mozzies off eating their blood.

Yuck, I would rather eat the mossies.

[di]

Yuck, I would rather eat the mossies.

As I don't react to their bites I'd rather eat neither!Garlic consumption used to work but there seems to be a whole new breed of garlic loving mozzies out there!!

[Mikey]

As I don't react to their bites I'd rather eat neither!Garlic consumption used to work but there seems to be a whole new breed of garlic loving mozzies out there!!

Ooh lala they must be french mossies.

[jaykay]

Hi Rhona, I've also had large swellings on legs following a nip from a mossie, plus the sicky/dizzy almost flu like feeling and have needed antibiotics to cure it once infection got into the bite. Now I take a natural antihistamine from Holland and Barrett called Quercetin (with vitamin C) for a couple of weeks before I go to France and have not reacted badly to bites since. I also spray liberally with tropical strength insect repellant after every shower and after washing hands and face. This stuff stinks and makes you cough like made if you breathe it in but its worth it.
I would speak to your local gp surgery though, just to be on the safe side.

[di]

How are you Rhona?Did you get to the doc?Hope you're feeling better!

[Rhona]

Thanks lovelies! Nope...haven't been yet... feel ok really now but AM going to take your advice and go to be on safe side. Probably to the Hallamshire (thank you Bluemoon - never thought of that! - we live just by the Botanical Gardens so just a short stroll anyway. Whereabouts are you?).

I love marmite so happy to eat tons of that, and will pop to Holland and Barrett too! Those mozzies won't stand a chance!

Thanks again all.