Insect Bites In The Garden

[cat woman]

Hi Peeps, over the last few days/weeks I have been hard at work redesigning my back garden. I have been moving plants and adding new ones, (mostly Roses) So I have been getting out roots of Ivy & Brambles in my boarders. It's been hard but worth the effort I've put in. Last week as per usual as I cleaned myself up and sat down in the evening I was aware of a stinging/inching sensation on my ankle/calf and knee. I thought here we go again something in the garden has munched on me,(I have a few bite marks on both legs over the time spent in the garden) I grabbed my Insect Spray and gave my leg a good blast, the next Morning Friday 7th I woke to find three blisters on my leg, my ankle was the worst the blister was huge, the other two were smaller. I called into a Chemist and spoke to the Pharmacist, he had a look and told me to take Antihistamines. I have been taking them for a week now and the big blister is still present, the other two have gone down. Yesterday while I was out in the garden ,I now have bite marks on both arms as I covered my legs up, arms and wrists are itchy and there is a swelling on both arms. I'm at a loss as I've got Insect bite Cream/Spray and Tablets buy nothing is helping, I've even put undiluted Dettol, TCP, Vinegar (a friend suggested) and.....VICK (someone else suggested) I'm at the end of my tether of what to do......HELP!!...

[Old_Geezer]

I've got more than my share of bites too. I think the mild winter must've brought a bumper crop of biters. Suggest staying indoors to minimise bring preyed on.

[murraymints]

me too.. covered wi' bites... avon oil spray helps a bit

[Old_Geezer]

... BEING ...
>:-(

[gingejbee]

I think that the sprays work as a preventative (use before going out) and anti-histamine (topical cream or pills)has to be used as soon as you're bitten....at the "blister stage" not much is going to help.

[jennyjoan]

I had quite big bites on my ankles too - somebody here suggested they were flea bites but they were far too big. I tried everything and thought the tea tree oil helped. Looking down at my ankles now the scars of the bites are still there.

[bunkmoreland]

For the bites and blisters to fully die down you're gonna have to give them a break from soaps etc , as they will continue to irritate the skin. Had a round bite that continually appeared until I stopped "cleaning" that area!

[Old_Geezer]

Yay ! No more showers until October !

[gness]

Hi, Cat woman......the same happened to me for the first time ever a few months ago in Portugal....bites which blistered....and of course you don't want to be scratching an itchy blister!

The only thing that worked.....and like you I tried lots first, was an antibiotic cream which the pharmacist there was able to prescribe ......he had suggested antihistamine until he saw the blisters.....

I'd suggest you do this even if you have to see your doctor......the first bite and blister I had became so bad that I'm left with a red circle on my calf which I can't see ever going.....x

[cat woman]

Thank you everyone for your comments and advice,gness I will make an appointment with my GP as I still have the blister on my Ankle, I think that was the first call of contact and got the most venom although I don't have a clue what bit me. I haven't scratched any of my bites,(but love to) as I know it would only make my leg worse. Many Thanks again x x x

[gness]

Thank you for BA, Cat woman.....hope you've got sorted now and the blisters have gone.......but they take a good while....x