AIBU to feign illness to avoid a foreign holiday gift??

[BiteyLittleFuckers]

I'm quite possibly the most ungrateful old baggage ever and I'll happily admit to being so.

I turned 50 this summer and my family have taken me for a week to a lovely warm, sunny, all expenses paid luxury trip to a fabulous European country. I'm completely skint so the gift was huge for me.

I'm hating it. As well as being too hot, I've also been bitten every night I've been here (5th night coming up). I have in excess of 35 mosquito bites that hurt and itch and I'm a nervous wreck at night. I can barely sleep and I just itch all over.

My loveliest, nearest and dearest of friends have both paid for us all to go to a lovely part of Mallorca for a week, starting September. It's not a cheap holiday. I'm absolutely dreading it and truly feel I'll at the thought of going.

I've bought and tried Avon Skin so Soft, Citronella, lavender oil, Deet (that's melted my nail varnish off my toes), I swallow antihistamines and paracetamol like there's no tomorrow, burn coils and surround myself with 5 basil plants and STILL, I'm savaged every night. It's affecting my head and I'm a psychological cat on hot coals. I can't even sleep at night.

I'm tempted to feign covid/shingles/something contagious to get out of the holiday. I'm feeling like a right cow-bag because they aren't wealthy people and saving for this holiday has been a big deal. AIBU to try and avoid going?

Not sure if anyone has already mentioned this as not read all the replies, but if you feign illness as a reason for not being able to go, and your friends then look to claim on any travel insurance, you would need medical evidence which could be awkward

Buy new DEET. The proper tropical strength spray. Works like a charm. Is yours an old bottle by any chance?

You also want hydrocortisone cream or Anthisan cream for the bites.

Also consider buying a mosquito net for the bed?

I'd also check your bed for bugs - if you're under a sheet at night, how are you getting bitten for example?

Trousers and long sleeves or at least a pashmina in the evenings.

I survived Sri Lanka with proper DEET, a bed net, long trousers and long sleeved shirts (all linen) for 6 weeks and got away with far fewer bites than you have now.

At home I have two blue light plug ins from Lidl, one in the kitchen and one at the top of the stairs. I've not had a single bit indoors on the nights I use them.

The photo is my foot 6 days after a mozzie bite in the UK, whilst walking the damn dog in shorts. The swelling has gone down but the mark is still livid!

@Noitisntgettinguptime said People that don't experience it to this extent seem to think it is just a mid irritation and it drives me mad.

I agree with this too @BiteyLittleFuckers And most of the suggested remedies like Skin-so-soft, citronella oil, vitamin B12, Brewer's Yeast, anti-histamine's etc etc absolutely do not work for me AT ALL. Like you they come up in huge, red, angry lumps, so maybe I'm allergic too. I never thought about it to be honest.

Only once in my life, on holiday in Rhodes, I was the only one not getting bitten around a dinner table (outside), but no idea why not! I've been on other Greek Islands and still been bitten.........

Has the biting turned you into a Moaning Minnie, or were you one anyway?
I suspect you were.
Just go and don't be rude. A feigned illness will lead to more and more lies, for possibly years!

That's not a nice post @Daphnis156

But you've just confirmed what was said above - most people simply don't get how badly some people are affected by Mosquito bites. Did you see @PinkFootstool 's photo of her leg? I had one around 4 times that size ( as in the rash) and it was not only, very itchy and sore, but as it was going around my leg was also initially very scary

I use a few plug in things that keep them away. No idea how they work but they do work.

I've been bitten to pieces on some holidays and not touched on others, just because you've been bitten this time doesn't mean you'll be affected in Mallorca.

I suggest some hareem trousers, they'll keep you cool and the elasticated cuffs will stop the mozzies getting further than your ankles. ~When your in the hotel, windows shut and a mozzie repellent plug in.

Problem solved and enjoy your holiday!

To stop the itching blast a hot hairdryer on the bites until you can't stand it any more. It really works.

https://www.thesmokinmidge.com/

Midges are attracted to the CO2 in your breath. So are mossies.

This

This mosquito spray is brilliant and deet free so doesn't melt nail varnish etc. I haven't been bitten in a while but used to get horrific reactions so I understand why you would want to claim an illness. It would be a shame for the fear of bites and heat to ruin a potentially lovely trip though. Cotton or linen clothing is best for heat, light colours, sub hat and try being in doors lunch time. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pyramid-Sensitive-Mosquito-Repellent-Saltidin/dp/B01N5HOQAI/ref=asc_df_B01N5HOQAI/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309036679350&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6571704754577228219&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045102&hvtargid=pla-784420120500&psc=1

Try Smidge https://www.smidgeup.com/
and permethrin infused clothing https://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwivemBhBhEiwAJxNWNwZJywTGHa894B1IjL5TQWlnQMzcSfdJ8IJBBK40TWQ3snMsRiaACRoClmoQAvD_BwE

Do you have any health issues OP? Just thought I’d ask as I went to Cuba some years ago & they bit the shit out of me because my immune was low after chemo. I had the same problem in Mexico, & Florida.

I tried everything, & some of it was quite brutal, & I still got bitten. I’ve travelled a lot since & had the odd bite, but no where near as bad as before. The best relief I had was rolling a cold can from the fridge over my body.

I understand how you feel OP. I react very badly to any insect bites (very itchy and hot for at least a week with a huge swelling for each bite) and I know that people who don't react the same way (ie. those who just get a small spot that goes after a day or so) think I'm making a fuss over nothing. However, I'm not sure you can get out of the holiday without causing a great deal of upset.

I find that no creams do any good but if I can put a very hot spoon on the bite soon after it happens it really does make a difference (I didn't really believe it would but was willing to try anything!). Also, the usual one a day antihistamine tablets I take for hayfever do nothing for my bites but chlorophenamine maleate (eg. the original piriton) really helps it to clear more quickly, itch less and swell less. They do make me fairly drowsy though so word of warning (although this is welcome at night when I am itchy and trying to sleep). You can get them over the counter and I would really recommend taking some away with you. I also find ibuprofen helps with the swelling and pain.

On a more positive note, I've found that good air conditioning really helps and I don't get bitten in all resorts/hotels (I believe that some bigger hotels spray their gardens to keep them at bay).

This is the easy portable equivalent of hot teaspoon to stop the itch. If used quickly after the bite, it can help reduce the reaction. My DH usually has a very bad reaction to the bites but this time, using this frequently really made a difference. At the very least it stops the itch and you can reuse it frequently. It does feel like you are stubbing out a cigarette on your skin but bearable! https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/beurer-insect-bite-healer-br60-60048304
Also those plug in repellents with the replaceable ‘tablets’ are essential in the bedroom/house - replace the tablet every night.

I feel your pain! Came back from Mallorca last week and the first couple of days I was attacked by mosquitoes. I had about 20 bites the size of a coke can lid, and they bit my eyelid, my lip and in-between my fingers as well as my arms and legs.

The pharmacy suggested I try this
It worked really well and I only got another couple of bites over the next week. It smells nice too.

I found that I started getting bitten from 5pm, they even bit me through clothing. I didn't get bitten at all in my hotel room.

Citronella, lavender oil and Avon are all completely useless so don’t give up hope just yet, you’ve basically been managing with no repellent on the days you r had those so there should be plenty more to try.
you still away? Get to a pharmacy and buy whatever they can recommend. And cover up!

also yes, could be bed bugs…

One of these can help. Also a vitamin B complex will help if you start taking them now

September really won't be as bad for mosquitos. You should go.

And try another type of antihistamine.

My last pre pandemic trip (January 2020) was to a tropical island in the middle of the atlantic. I was never as bitten as I was there, counting 20+ bites in each leg. I eventually mentioned to a pharmacist there how not even DEET was helping, and she laughed. "Deet? Oh, no, the only thing that stops them here is Johnson's Baby Oil". I was desperate enough to try, and somehow, it worked! The remaining of my week there went fine. Worth a try?

As someone who suffers dreadfully from both mosquito and midfield bites I recommend

Midge heat net (link below) (it's not glamorous but it bloody works)
Long sleeves and full length trousers for the evenings
Strong DEET repellent

Smidge Midge and Mosquito-Proof Super Lightweight Head Net - Green, One Size amzn.eu/d/1RYyPP9

Get a couple of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultrasonic-Repeller-Upgraded-Repellent-Electronic/dp/B0BW3SQLZ3/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=R2GURQFUOAE1&keywords=mosquito%2Brepellent%2Bplug%2Bin&qid=1692290642&sprefix=mosquito%2B%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
ALSO, buy a tin of fly spray and zap any you see - or zap the bedroom before you go to dinner.

Get this before you go, you have time. Honestly, it is brilliant. It won’t stop you being bitten but it will stop itching and the bites go down a lot quicker.

Mopi Dick

It saved my sanity when we lived in Hong Kong as the no-see-ums loved me! Do not be out off by the name 😂

Oh poor you - it must be beyond miserable.

You're not going to like this.....mosquitos are having a field day in Mallorca this year. We spend about 3 months of the year out there and never have I been so assaulted as I was during our trip in June. The municipal powers that be monitor and treat the largest mozzie breeding areas/sites during breeding seasons to keep numbers down. It is common knowledge that since Covid, this has not been kept up as vigilantly as previous years. Worryingly, cases of Dengue fever are now being reported across the island.

I too have tried pretty much everything over the years. However, having spent a fortune on potions, lotions, sprays and devices, I have finally found something that seems to help. Vicks Vaporub! I apply a dab on my pulse points, ears and tops of my feet and definitely get nibbled less than usual.

The other thing worth investing in is (obviously won't prevent you being bitten though) is one of the clicker zappers that delivers an electric current to the bite. As long as you use it at the very first tingle, it really does reduce the longevity of the itch by a couple of days.

Put off by the name even!

Edit button please MN.