To pester the GP for this horse fly (I think) bite?

[loopyapp]

Just that really.

Painful. Like a deep tooth ache. Making it painful to bare full weight on that leg.

I dont have a fever and I don't feel sick.

[TutiFrutti]

My ds had a rash following a tick bite that was tracking like that, had 3 weeks of oral antibiotics. Best bother the gp sooner rather than risk it escalating into a serious infection. The gp won't mind, it's literally why they're there.

[Ivy48]

My sister had this a fe years back. Needs to be seen ASAP and possible antibiotics and this can break down and leave a deep wound. She had 2, went down within a few days following meds but was left with a big wound to heal and took many months. Get the the GP or minor injuries

[QuarantineQueen]

I react badly to horsefly bites and wouldn't be too worried about the large hard swollen area, the darker red centre or the blister. I've always been told by the pharmacist (and GP once when I went because I had several) just to take antihistamines and use antihistamine cream. If it blisters cover it so it doesnt get knocked.
I would, however, be worried about tracking as that is a sign of infection rather than a histamine reaction and suggests you need to see a doctor. Hope you have got it seen to by now.

[buildernewbie]

@tiredanddangerous

I would show it to a pharmacist in the first instance op. Horsefly bites look awful but it'll feel a lot better once the blister pops!

I'd protect that blister to be honest. It's there to protect the damaged skin underneath. One popped on my leg years ago and it left a deep crater. Scar still visible.

[loopyapp]

Right. My GP practice still aren't doing face to face appointments so I was askes to send photos and a nurse practitioner called me back.

Said she felt sorry for me and to keep an eye on the redness. If it spreads call back.

I wouldn't say she was dismissive .. Rather I felt humored. I'll keep going with antihistamine and pain meds and hope it gets better.

For context though this isn't how I react to horse fly bites. The pics attached are of my.other bites.

[MumofBoys79]

I previously attended A&E following a horse fly bite, which was really bad.

Firstly, have taken you anti-histamines? That's what I was given and it did help.

[Emmelina]

That does feel dismissive. Are you able to get to a pharmacist? It looks very angry still.

[Bootikin]

Dismissed by the GP nurse, how patronising of them, bloody hell.

I would go to a walk in centre. It’s also bloody ridiculous the GP isn’t doing appointments, huge sympathy.

We have had to use our walk in centre as GP is impossible to get appointments, the walk in centre has been fantastic with referrals etc.

[chouchoutan]

I get a similar extreme horrific reaction to horseflies with swelling, yellow pus, itching/pain, etc. I recently discovered the 'hot spoon' remedy which, no exaggeration, has revolutionised summertime for me!

Google 'hot spoon insect bite' for the science but basically you put an inch or so boiling water in a cup with a teaspoon in it for a few seconds. Then wipe off the water and hold the spoon to the bite for as long as you can stand. I tend to start with quick 'dabs' until I can hold it there while the spoon cools down. I would do once or twice on each bit depending on how big/advanced it is. Then apply a bit of Hydrocortisone/Hc45 cream for luck.

I then repeat a couple of times a day (maybe before bed) depending on whether it start itching again.

If I notice the bite as it happens and get the spoon on in the first 30 mins or so I get pretty much zero reaction or itching.

Obviously need to use a bit of common sense to avoid scalding/burning yourself but it absolutely 100% works miracles.

[elprup]

I had a very similar bite from a horsefly and had the same thing as you OP - it looked very angry and it was painful to bear weight on the leg, to the point where I was having trouble walking. I was given antibiotics straightaway after seeing the GP and I think that’s what you need too OP. I would call back and insist on medication - good luck x

[chouchoutan]

Sorry, should add probably best not to try this on your bite now OP as it looks pretty sore and angry at the moment but for future reference...

[Lunde]

My horsefly bites look like that - the worst was 12cm across with a 1cm head. Have you tried putting a mild steroid cream such as hydrocortisone on it?

[GeidiPrimes]

I feel the GP should be more concerned re. pain in heel when bearing weight on it.

Holding a lit cigarette close as you can bear to the bite for several seconds helps with itching very efficiently. Or a hot teaspoon.

Horseflies have the equivalent of 6 knives in their mouths. That's why they fucking hurt so much. One got me on the ankle the other day and left me pissing with blood. Weirdly though, I don't get a reaction immediately after I've been bit. Then a couple of days later swelling, blisters itching etc.

[Jent13c]

The same happened to me recently, interesting to see the same scratch marks around it. I marked it and took an antihistamine and ibuprofen. I bought eurax cream which helped a little and aloe vera gel. The redness didn't really spread from the initial mark which happened within 20 mins. I didn't want to go to out of hours as it was a Saturday night and I didn't want to be admitted. To be honest almost a fortnight later and its still v itchy and a little swollen but the redness has gone.

[loopyapp]

Hot spoon is brilliant - just googled it!! Agreed too late for this one but future bites will get spooned !!

Is it spreading ?? Or is it me?

[makingmyway10]

That looks sore! Are you sure it was a horsefly? I was bitten by a false widow spider a few weeks ago and it looked just like that. Not wishing to alarm you, I was brushed off by my dr surgery on the phone and after I could hardly move my arm and the pain was unbearable I went to A & E . They were wonderful and very cross that my dr had brushed me off over the phone and would not see me. I had to have it drained! I think you should get more medical advice. I was brushed off three times before I went to A & E and the dr there told me it can sometimes cause sepsis so you should always get it checked. He pointedly says that should not be over the phone!

[ChaToilLeam]

I’ve reacted like that in the past, the swelling ended up right round my leg. Doc gave antibiotics. Nasty things, these cleg bites - it left a huge bruise once it went down.

[Berkeys]

I’ve got three like that right now. Horseflies are evil. One on each leg and one on my shoulder. Big hot, hard, swollen and with that fuzzy red bit in the middle and a nice wee blister. I literally feel your pain!

Doing all the usual stuff - anti-histamines, histan, hydrocortisone, plus buckets of lavender oil, tea tree oil and arnica cream. Regular cleaning. Raised legs. Oil of oregano is all I have for for now but will try and get antibiotics if still bad tomorrow. Not at home rn so bit hard to obtain. No tracking yet so we shall see. I get this with mozzie and wasp bites too so more frequently than I’d like.

Bought some avon skin so soft to try and full length pale top and trousers for less perilous gardening in future…

[unsync]

I second the hot spoon, works a treat on mossie bites and duck lice too.

[Rassy]

How is your bite today OP? Hope it is now on the mend

[loopyapp]

@Rassy

How is your bite today OP? Hope it is now on the mend

Still very painful. However it doesn't seem to be worsening thankfully.

Thank you for asking :)

[bestbefore]

Please buy piriton tablets for this and keep them at home in case you get bitten again, they are the ones to take.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

You should take the liquid rather than the tablets.

[2bazookas]

Get a waterproof felt tip pen and draw a line round the outer margin of the red area.
Then you can monitor if there's a spreading infection.

Otherwise just try a hot bath (deep enough to reach the bite) with a couple of cups of kitchen salt dissolved in it. Sitting in it might draw out that pus head.

[Drivingmeupthewall]

@IrishCharm

That should be bepanthen which is the new name for germolene x

Worries me when I see total misinformation on here like this. 😨

I had to have a topical antibiotic for a series of four bites I got. I also had to have a course of flucloxacillin when it didn’t settle down.