Help cure my itchies!

[ammayernyc]

I know that there are lots of posters out there in the medical profession, and I need some advice...

I was attacked (without me knowing, which is odd) by bugs this weekend and now I have lots of bug bites. They are primarily on my legs, but I have a huge one on my back... it''s seriously as thick and long as my thumb... very attractive.

I don''t want to take an anti-hystamine since I take a sleeping pill at night and I don''t want them to mix. Any advice on how I can stop from going crazy with these itchies??!!

Thanks!

 

[moremoremore]

Get thee to a derm asap!

 

[MissAva]

Oh my if it is really the size of your thumb you need to go and see a DR. You might be having something way worse then allergies or contact dermatitis. Also you could skip the sleeping pill and just take Benedryl that is what they put in tylenolpm to make you sleep. Go see a DR ASAP.

 

[coconut]

I got bitten by a mosquito and I think I had an allergic reaction it swell up like a hugh lump...

(1) Make an appointment with a dermatologist/primary care physician as soon as possible....
(2) Meanwhile, go and buy a 1% hydrocortizone cream (you can get them over the counter now) They will reduce the swelling.
(3) Keep the area cool... it''ll itch less if you can put some ice packs on the are...

Hope it helps... I''m not a medical professional, but it sounds like the resonable step to take,

 

[ammayernyc]

Wow. I''m surprised that everyone is suggesting that I see a doctor... I was sort of looking for an alternative to Calamine lotion.

 

[Mara]

just don't itch!

i got bitten alot last year in hawaii around the wedding (lovely) and a few on my legs swelled up and it seemed i had some sort of allergic thing to them (even though that has never happened before) and 2 of them left small brown scars.

so if you are worried about any scarring on the one that is very large...see a doctor or at least call the advice nurse or whatever your doctor/hospital offers.

otherwise i like alcohol for making them stop itch, calamine never works on me. or there is some sort of herbal remedy paste thing you can probably find a recipe for online which you mix together, put on the bites and is supposed to help with itching AND swelling.

i always get bitten by anything in the vicinity, bugs love me. my mom says i have 'sweet blood'.

 

[ammayernyc]

style="WIDTH: 96.01%; HEIGHT: 133px">Date: 8/9/2005 6:11:44 PM
Author: Mara
just don''t itch!

otherwise i like alcohol for making them stop itch, calamine never works on me. or there is some sort of herbal remedy paste thing you can probably find a recipe for online which you mix together, put on the bites and is supposed to help with itching AND swelling.

Drinking alcohol or applying it to the bites?

 

[MissAva]

Oh Mara is right! Sorry I didnt even think of this but my mother always but baking soda and water in a paste on our fire ant bites when we lived in Texas. It kept them from itching.

 

[movie zombie]

camphophenque [spelling?]

i am very very allergic to insect bites and/or stings and this helps, especially if applied immediately after being stung/bitten.

also, witch hazel in some instances.

peace, movie zombie

 

[Mara]

Date: 8/9/2005 6:17:44 PM
Author: AmandaPanda

style="WIDTH: 96.01%; HEIGHT: 133px">Date: 8/9/2005 6:11:44 PM
Author: Mara
just don''t itch!

otherwise i like alcohol for making them stop itch, calamine never works on me. or there is some sort of herbal remedy paste thing you can probably find a recipe for online which you mix together, put on the bites and is supposed to help with itching AND swelling.

Drinking alcohol or applying it to the bites?

Both?

 

[icekid]

Amanda-

I have become hypersensitive to mosquito bites and I will have literally my whole hand or arm swell up if I get a bite . Totally sucks! But probably not dangerous either. Very few people will develop anaphylactic shock from a mosquito bite. I''m not much help with the itching personally, because mine hurt badly from the swelling rather than itch. I''ve heard that putting clear nail polish on the bites might help though.

and no, I don''t see a doctor. c''mon, I''m a med student. That means I diagnose myself and hope I am right

I did ask one of the anesthesiologists whom I do research with though, and he said not to worry unless they continue to get worse.

 

[belle]

is the bite on your back getting any worse?

as far as topical medications, you can try hydrocortisone or benadryl creme. i''m allergic to mosquito bites

and have found that the topicals don''t work nearly as well as oral medication. it reduces the itching and swelling much faster and it seems to last longer. of course the side effect of oral antihistamines is drowsiness. a good dose could even take the place of your sleeping pill at night. you may also want to take some advil (ibuprofin) as well. it can help reduce the swelling of the bite. and last but not least, you can use ice.

keep an eye on that bite!

 

[MissAva]

Do you know for sure what type of bug bit you?

 

[jellybean]

1% hydrocortisone cream is the strongest steroid cream you can get over the counter, but it usually isn't enough for really itchy itches. You can try ice packs on it to reduce the swelling, and that will in turn take some of the histamine away from the area. I'm not a huge fan of the Benadryl cream b/c it's really hard to judge how much you're getting. You can take an oral Benadryl tablet/capsule and skip your sleep aid dose.

If you have a primary care doctor, you don't necessarily need to see him/her, you can call the office and ask if they will prescribe a stronger steroid cream over the phone. I personally like Elocon (mometasone). It's a medium potency steroid - stronger than hydrocortisone, which is a low potency steroid. The reason why nothing stronger than hydrocortisone is sold over the counter is because of the side effects -- it can actually cause skin breakdown and there are issues about systemtic absorbtion (although that is rare). If the Elocon isn't enough there is a stronger one called Diprolene (betamethasone) that is also available by prescription.

You can also try soaking in an Aveeno oatmeal bath. We always recommend that for people with poison ivy or eczema.

 

[ammayernyc]

Thanks for the advice all!

I don''t know for sure what type of bug bit me. I don''t remember any mosquitos around, but lots of little bugs that I thought were knats (sp?). Guess not! I don''t even remember getting bitten!

The bites don''t seem to be getting worse, but are just very annoying as some of them are where my clothes hit... my skirt brushes against one every step I take and my bra strap lies over the one on my back. Itch, itch, itch!!!

 

[teebee]

Date: 8/9/2005 7:02:49 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
Thanks for the advice all!

I don''t know for sure what type of bug bit me. I don''t remember any mosquitos around, but lots of little bugs that I thought were knats (sp?). Guess not! I don''t even remember getting bitten!

The bites don''t seem to be getting worse, but are just very annoying as some of them are where my clothes hit... my skirt brushes against one every step I take and my bra strap lies over the one on my back. Itch, itch, itch!!!

Chiggers perhaps? They are teeny tiny - almost invisible - but man, their bites are awful! My great grandmother used to prepare some sort of home remedy for chigger bites - had aloe vera in it is about all I can remember... sorry I''m not of more help!

 

[sjz]

I think Jellybean gave you the best advice. I can''t think of anything to add, other than I hope it stops itching!

 

[cnspotts]

Tea Tree oil, or Lavender oil. Just dab it on a few times a day.

 

[Jennifer5973]

See a MD. Sounds like an allergic reaction to the bites.

 

[sjz]

Date: 8/9/2005 11:35:39 PM
Author: Jennifer5973
See a MD. Sounds like an allergic reaction to the bites.

An MD is just going to tell her the same thing Jellybean did...I know, cuz I already asked one...

 

[ammayernyc]

Thanks all.
The swelling has reduced slightly. I discovered that the monsterous one on my back is actually two bites, right next to each other. Still itches a lot though!

I think the worst part is that I now have psychosomatic itching... no bites, just itching. Such a pain!

 

[MelissaSue]

hey amanda... I also have a giant bug bite right now.. on my ELBOW.. its big and swollen. What I like to use is Solarcaine. Its primarily for sunburns, but it can also be used for insect bites, and rashes etc.. You just spray it on and it comes out all foamy and then you are just supposed to let it dry on the skin (not rub in or anything) and it really helps!

 

[Scintillating]

Benadryl sells an anti-itch lotion that works VERY well.
- And it''s CLEAR
Give that a try.

Scintillating.