Same damned thing that bit me on the hand and my whole hand puffed up, but
this time it's bitten me right in the middle of my shin. :-(
A 2mm initial bite spot (actually, there are 2 of them, only one has reacted
/very/ badly) has turned into a dark red patch about 2cm across, a raised
bump about 6cm x 10cm. And it aches.

On 09/08/2011 23:00, wrote:
Same damned thing that bit me on the hand and my whole hand puffed up, but
this time it's bitten me right in the middle of my shin. :-(
A 2mm initial bite spot (actually, there are 2 of them, only one has reacted
/very/ badly) has turned into a dark red patch about 2cm across, a raised
bump about 6cm x 10cm. And it aches.

Go to your local pharmacy and get some loratidine or cetirizine
antihistamine tablets (these are "non-drowsy"). This will help dampen
the response to the bite. Also get some hydrocortisone-based cream to
rub on the bite.

As you react so badly, you might want to consider using insect-repellent
spray or cream before venturing into the garden for any length of time.

--

Jeff

Jeff Layman wrote:
Go to your local pharmacy and get some loratidine or cetirizine
antihistamine tablets (these are "non-drowsy"). This will help dampen
the response to the bite. Also get some hydrocortisone-based cream to
rub on the bite.

It took a few days before realising what it was. It felt like I'd walked
into something and it had bruised and swollen. I've been putting anti
histamine cream on it the last 2 nights, I would have taken an AH tablet but
I think they have accidentally gone to visit my mum in the boys' suitcase.

As you react so badly, you might want to consider using insect-repellent
spray or cream before venturing into the garden for any length of time.

It only happens once or twice a year, and tbh, I don't think about it until
it occurs. Mosquitoes are annoying, but don't cause anything like that
problem (they did when I was pregnant and in Italy, though!)

From previous suggestions, the most likely culprit to my mind is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_fly

My next door neighbour suggested red ants, Nick thinks it's a spider (but he
would, he's a little spider-phobic)

wrote in message
...
Jeff Layman wrote:
Go to your local pharmacy and get some loratidine or cetirizine
antihistamine tablets (these are "non-drowsy"). This will help dampen
the response to the bite. Also get some hydrocortisone-based cream to
rub on the bite.

It took a few days before realising what it was. It felt like I'd walked
into something and it had bruised and swollen. I've been putting anti
histamine cream on it the last 2 nights, I would have taken an AH tablet
but
I think they have accidentally gone to visit my mum in the boys' suitcase.

As you react so badly, you might want to consider using insect-repellent
spray or cream before venturing into the garden for any length of time.

It only happens once or twice a year, and tbh, I don't think about it
until
it occurs. Mosquitoes are annoying, but don't cause anything like that
problem (they did when I was pregnant and in Italy, though!)

From previous suggestions, the most likely culprit to my mind is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_fly

They are nasty little buggers, and certainly produce a reaction like you
describe. I thought they sprayed the area between Blandford and Wimborne
each year now ? Certainly started to when I was down that way.

My next door neighbour suggested red ants, Nick thinks it's a spider (but
he
would, he's a little spider-phobic)

--
Kathy

On 10/08/2011 09:43, in article , "Jeff
Layman" wrote:


Go to your local pharmacy and get some loratidine or cetirizine
antihistamine tablets (these are "non-drowsy"). This will help dampen
the response to the bite. Also get some hydrocortisone-based cream to
rub on the bite.

As you react so badly, you might want to consider using insect-repellent
spray or cream before venturing into the garden for any length of time.

Two other thoughts. I find Savlon works quite well in the absence of
anything else - I believe it has a low level anaesthetic effect (same stuff
as teething gel I believe) so it relieves local irritation quite well.

Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple (presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

On 10/08/2011 15:27, in article ,
" wrote:

Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple (presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

No, I wasn't suggesting it was. But since some of the symptoms were the same
- the raised patch, warmth to the touch - I thought it was worth mentioning.
Might be helpful to someone else reading the thread if not to you.

Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple (presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

No, I wasn't suggesting it was. But since some of the symptoms were the same
- the raised patch, warmth to the touch - I thought it was worth mentioning.
Might be helpful to someone else reading the thread if not to you.

okeydoke. Just jumped in since you mentioned the OP, who is me. :-D

On 10 Aug 2011 14:27:01 GMT, wrote:

Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple (presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

A warm raised swelling patch is probably a spider bite rather than an
insect. Most spider bites hurt immediately but false widows get away
before any pain or swelling is noticed. They usually get better in a
day or two.

Steve

--
Neural network applications, help and support.

Neural Network Software. www.npsl1.com
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. www.justnn.com

In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On 10 Aug 2011 14:27:01 GMT, wrote:
Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple (presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

A warm raised swelling patch is probably a spider bite rather than an
insect. Most spider bites hurt immediately but false widows get away
before any pain or swelling is noticed. They usually get better in a
day or two.

Not in the UK, it isn't. There are damn few British spiders that
can bite through the skin on most areas of most people, and those
symptoms are common in reaction to insect bites.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

wrote in message
...
Kay wrote:
Afterbite and similar sticks contain some sort of ammonia compound, and
again relieve itching afterwards. I've found that they also seem to
reduce
the swelling and blistering that I usually get from mozzie bites (I
usually
get swelling as described by the OP, and a central area up to 1cm across
of
yellow fluid-fillied blisters).

Definitely wasn't a mosquito - no itching, just a central dimple
(presumably
where the bite started), a widening dark red patch, and a widening (but
shrinking again now, fortunately) raised swollen patch, which was very
warm
to the touch when it was at it's peak.

Did you ask your doctor for a suitable treatment??

By the way, it is said that you should take an Antihistamine tablet half an
hour before you get bitten

Bill

Bill Grey wrote:
Did you ask your doctor for a suitable treatment??

I'm not going to a doctor on an emergency appointment (only way to get one
without a 2 week wait) for an insect bite! They'd laugh me out of the
place!

By the way, it is said that you should take an Antihistamine tablet half an
hour before you get bitten

I'll try to remember in future.

On 9 Aug 2011 22:00:57 GMT, wrote:


Same damned thing that bit me on the hand and my whole hand puffed up, but
this time it's bitten me right in the middle of my shin. :-(
A 2mm initial bite spot (actually, there are 2 of them, only one has reacted
/very/ badly) has turned into a dark red patch about 2cm across, a raised
bump about 6cm x 10cm. And it aches.


ow!

The bite on my leg was itchy so I scratched it over the weekend... (It
hadn't hurt at the time) and then it went all red and sore and hot.
Trip to the pharmacy got me some hydrocortisone cream.

By Tuesday morning it was red hot and spreading out so I went to the
walk in centre where they gave me antibiotics.

--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

Vicky wrote


Same damned thing that bit me on the hand and my whole hand puffed up, but
this time it's bitten me right in the middle of my shin. :-(
A 2mm initial bite spot (actually, there are 2 of them, only one has
reacted
/very/ badly) has turned into a dark red patch about 2cm across, a raised
bump about 6cm x 10cm. And it aches.

I've always assumed they were Horse Flies, get bitten a couple of times
every year. Always a hard lump/swelling and some discomfort for a couple of
days and then if I'm unlucky it opens up to a weepy scabby sore.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2011-08-10 17:14:20 +0100, "Bob Hobden" said:

Vicky wrote


Same damned thing that bit me on the hand and my whole hand puffed up,
but
this time it's bitten me right in the middle of my shin. :-(
A 2mm initial bite spot (actually, there are 2 of them, only one has
reacted
/very/ badly) has turned into a dark red patch about 2cm across, a
raised
bump about 6cm x 10cm. And it aches.

I've always assumed they were Horse Flies, get bitten a couple of times
every year. Always a hard lump/swelling and some discomfort for a couple
of days and then if I'm unlucky it opens up to a weepy scabby sore.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

But don't those hurt a lot while they're happening because of the way the
mandibles of a horse fly work? It is a bite, not a 'sting'.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

From my experience of being bitten/stung by a horsefly, I found that the
blighter will have stung you before you realise it, then if you immediately
gently squeeze the site of the bite, a small drop of clear liquid is
expressed. From then on you should'nt suffer any further ill effects.

I was a surveyor frequently working on farmland and have been stung by
horesflies many times.

Bill