How the hell do I deal with these these bites?

[listsandbudgets]

Some kind of nasty insect managed to bite me yesterday on BOTH of my upper thighs. They're like mirror images of each other, really big, really itchy and growing.

Scratching your arm or your legs is one thing... but inner thigh?

I've taken an antihistime and covered them in cream and tried the electric clicker thingy and they are still itching like crazy.

Have a meeting this afternoon and I'm going to be desperately trying not to squirm all over the place... I'd show you a photo but I'd probably get banned from mumsnet for gross indecency

That doesn't sound good OP...
That sort of bite/reaction usually screams horsefly to me. They're evil critters, but I've no idea how they'd get to your upper thigh!
If the lotions and potions aren't working, wash them off and try smothering them in the strongest minty-ist toothpaste you have. It works for me, old scout/guideleader trick
Good luck!

Toothpaste? I'll try anything

Yes I think its horsefly. The oddest thing is I was wearing trousers all day yesterday so no idea how they managed it let alone mirror image ones.

Wonder how people in meeting are going to react to a squirmy woman who emanates a strong smell of mint from her knicker region and is a bit dozy from antihistamine... they've never met me before. I suppose at least they'll remember me.

Have you tried the hot teaspoon method? Place a teaspoon in freshly boiled water for a few seconds and then press the back of the spoon onto your bite. Yes it will hurt like fuck but it stops the itching.

I've just got over a massive bite. It was so swollen it's left me bruised! I always react to bites, skeeter syndrome style, but this was something else.

Things that helped:
Hydrocortisone cream
Ice packs
Strong antihistamine
Chamomile tea. Steep a Co ole fo bags and chill down the jug with the tea bags in. Like, fridge cold. And apply the tea bags directly to the bites and use the water on a flannel like a cold compress.

Things that made it worse:
Getting too hot
Scratching

Things that did nothing
Antishan cream
Toothpaste
Crying

I'd speak to a pharmacist. You might need some Hydrocortisone cream.

Take pics and show them.

Don't put toothpaste on.

hot hot hot compress...or use the shower spray that kills the itching for a few hours, anti histamines tablets and anthisan applied

I had three, dead centre on my knee the other week, it was purple to under my kneecap and up over the top as well and glowing red about two inches round the bites... dh was horrified, but it is just how I react.

I recently abandoned antihistamines for hayfevery stuff as beconase, and eye sprays were working just as well, but ditching the tablets has allowed any bites I get to just go completely crazy

I am an itchy little allergic person on the whole....I tend to hives anyway which loratidine generally keeps in check and cetirizine seems to be extra helpful for any specific bitey type issues.

oh...for the anthisan, apply thickly and don't rub it in too much...I sort of dab it on in a layer direct from the tube, rubbing it in really seemed to provoke the itching.

Soda bic made into a paste works. I react hugely to horse flies (aka stoat fly), I completely empathise with anyone bitten by one ☹️

I get bitten all the time (not in UK) and have gradually become resistant to all the creams and potions.

Recently, after a particularly savage day I resorted to the only cream I had available - Boots, own brand pain relief gel. Bliss, total bliss - but remember to wash your hands thoroughly before touching anything else especially a small toddler wearing only a nappy

Hairdryer them for 30 seconds or as long as you can bear it

Horse fly's will bite through clothes, and chase you if you upset them...
How did your meeting go OP?

*flies

The insect cream from pharmacies. I'm in mosquito land and it really soothes the itching.

Dab deodorant on them, the aluminium it acts as an astringent. My chemistry lecturer in Australia taught me that.

Hydrocortisone cream!

Thank you all. Heat and hydrocortisone seems to have helped.

Still squirmed in the meeting though but I what I needed thankfully.

Sitting with a comforting hot water bottle between my thighs