To ask you WTF bit me?!

[HighDudgeonAtBerks]

I shall set the scene; ‘twas a bank holiday Sunday and I (innocent mother of three) was wandering around the nearby woods with gay abandon. The sun was shining its dappled light as we made our way along the path that we’d walked many times before.

Then I felt a sharp pain on my right ankle. I waved a hand at it but saw nothing and assumed it was a bramble - as I had been daintily —scoffing— partaking of the forest fruits. It didn’t hurt much and I pretty much forgot about it.

Then yesterday - exhibit A - two red patches about the size of a 5p piece each, one of which is a weird bubbly mess of fluid-filled grossness and both of which itch like hell. I haven’t had anything like this before despite having been bitten and stung by most things.

Which brings us to today and exhibit B. I thought it seemed to be healing (mainly because I’ve been distracted by work all day) but just took a look and now it’s one blister and the skin around it looks bruised.

The things I did see and things I do know:-
-There are grass snakes and adders in the area but I’m pretty sure I would have seen that
-there were wasps, red ants, horse flies, mosquitos (all the good stuff), but I’ve never reacted to any of these like this before

Am I doomed? Will I have to amputate? Should I just bite down on a stick and get it over with?

What bit me?!

Yes, I'd say a clegg too. Horrible things.

I had similar from a spider bite but I reckon either horse fly or spider. You don't always react the same way with bites, it will depend on the level of your immune response at the time

Unless you saw a flying horse, then it was a horse fly.

Adding (unhelpfully) to the cleg/horsefly vote. Big fluid filled spot and, oh - the louping pain. Lasts an age too (sorry).

So either a horsefly or a Pegasus is looking most likely. Possible spider.

I promise I’ll keep an eye out for infection and only amputate if strictly necessary.

I really hate horseflies.

Horsefly. I had blisters exactly like that

I am obviously a delicacy to Clegs, they love a bit of me.

I’d put money on that being a spider bite though.

Antihistamines have been taken, anthisan has been liberally applied and I am grinding my fingernails to stubs to avoid scratching.

Spider bite feels a lot more exotic and interesting

I think spider, evil little fuckers they are

Though just as itchy

Horsefly

Horse fly. Fuckers. I always end up on antibiotics.

Unanimous horsefly.

DH has had 4 terrible horsefly bites this Summer. When we all go out for a walk he's the only one that's ever bitten so he's invested in some garlic capsules to make his blood smell less enticing. His bites were pretty bad, pharmacist gave him hydrocortisone cream which worked wonders.

I had similar last summer - looked like a barley sugar stuck to my leg!
It wasn't itchy, but it was painful if I touched the blister. Ended up buying new floaty trousers so I could cover up the blister, without touching it!
I have no idea what bit me, but if you Google, loads of insects can cause the same reaction.
Get some hydrocolloid dressings (like compeed) to cover it if it bursts

I'd still agree horse fly tbh. I get bitten by the little bastards fairly regularly and have had one (and only one) come up like you have had. I think (gross) might depend on what its last meal was and how recently it ate it as to how you react.

Advice given above is good for all creature bites though!

Draw around it. If it keeps tracking, go to doctor. You'll need antibiotics. I had one so bad that when I went to hospital the people in the waiting room thought it was a gunshot wound !

I ended up on two lots of heavy antibiotics and nearly got admitted for IV. Horseflies are evil

🐎🐝

Am making notes of all sage advice. It is much appreciated.

I shall try not to think about what it feasted on before me (not envy)

I don't think I've been bitten by a horse fly. But those photos are exactly what my mosquito bites go like when I'm abroad. They blister up, pop and are itchy as hell 😕

Sandfly. Son got bitten nowhere near any bloody sand, his upper arm swelled up to twice normal size. We've battled horsefly and it wasn't that.

Antihistamines prescribed.

I react just the same to mozzie bites, horrible things

As there’s 2 marks I actually think it’s a snake bite rather than horse fly.

Why are people saying spiders?? Spiders don't bite in the UK??

(I know the can, but for the sake of my sanity can we continue to pretend they don't please??)

😭😭😭😭😭

I get reactions like this to bites regularly. I've seen what it was biting me more than once and its small and black. My googling tells me it's a Blandford fly. The bites are very itchy and I get the blisters like you, once one was about half an inch in diameter. I have a supply of iodine patches and big plasters in preparation for these bites as they seem to help stop them getting infected and stop me scratching.