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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What are these

28 replies

Sweetus · 05/09/2023 08:17

Bites from? I'm not even sure you can identify what kind of bug is biting me but it is driving me mad and one in particular is so painful it feels bruised and is rock solid, the surrounding skin is just hard. I have never reacted like this to a bite. Anyone experiencing/experienced similar? I can attach a photo

What are these
OP posts:
StaySpicy · 05/09/2023 08:22

I generally react to bites in this way. Lots of anti-histamine is the only thing I can do to help reduce them.

FineganFineagain · 05/09/2023 08:24

Looks like me after any mosquito bite. Antihistamine and try not to touch it!

Notimeforaname · 05/09/2023 08:36

Mosquitoes do that to me too. Then they bruise after the swelling goes down. I've had a horse fly bite that looked the same too.

Original poster
Sweetus · 05/09/2023 09:05

Should I worry it the surrounding skin is swollen?

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 05/09/2023 09:35

No, that’s normal. Give it a week and if it hasn’t improved, then you can worry.

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/09/2023 09:37

I’m covered in the bloody things at the moment. I think mine are horsefly. 12 on one leg alone.

TCP then germolene and antihistamine tablet are helping.

bridgetreilly · 05/09/2023 11:02

If I get a horseflybite, it looks way worse than that.

Original poster
Sweetus · 05/09/2023 18:51

bridgetreilly · 05/09/2023 11:02

If I get a horseflybite, it looks way worse than that.

You win 😅

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweetus · 05/09/2023 18:52

This is it since this morning. Painful to walk

What are these
OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 06/09/2023 09:53

Go to the pharmacy, they’ll advise. Looks infected.

Original poster
Sweetus · 06/09/2023 13:00

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/09/2023 09:53

Go to the pharmacy, they’ll advise. Looks infected.

I got antibiotics yesterday. The rash is still spreading, but It will take a day or two for the antibiotics to kick in

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweetus · 06/09/2023 20:46

How long does it take for flucloxacillin to work? The rash has spread rapidly again today. It's covering a large portion of my calf at this point. I've been taking antibiotics since 8.30pm last night, I've had 4 in total.

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 06/09/2023 20:55

We are not your doctor.

LauderSyme · 06/09/2023 20:56

How many mg of flucloxacillim is each dose? Did you take them on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours afterwards? As eating can slow the absorption rate and thus effectiveness.

I think health care workers would say you should expect to see some improvement within 2 to 3 days.

I've often reacted badly to insect bites so you have my sympathy.

Original poster
Sweetus · 06/09/2023 21:11

bridgetreilly · 06/09/2023 20:55

We are not your doctor.

But this is a place where people come for advice on all sorts of issues?
People who can relate and give me some reassurance?
Apart from you, what a pity.

OP posts:
areyouhavinglaugh · 06/09/2023 21:12

Horse flies or saw flies , same thing! Got bitten 3 times this week and now I have 1 cankle 😬

Original poster
Sweetus · 06/09/2023 21:13

LauderSyme · 06/09/2023 20:56

How many mg of flucloxacillim is each dose? Did you take them on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before food or 2 hours afterwards? As eating can slow the absorption rate and thus effectiveness.

I think health care workers would say you should expect to see some improvement within 2 to 3 days.

I've often reacted badly to insect bites so you have my sympathy.

Thank you for your reply
I took one last night at about 8.30pm and had food around 6, then had a snack about 1 hour after. Today, I had not eaten anything at all, so that should be fine. And they are 500mg

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areyouhavinglaugh · 06/09/2023 21:15

Had no idea there were drugs we could take! Mine bruised and itched and swelled up, then I felt v unwell. 😬😬

Original poster
Sweetus · 06/09/2023 21:20

areyouhavinglaugh · 06/09/2023 21:15

Had no idea there were drugs we could take! Mine bruised and itched and swelled up, then I felt v unwell. 😬😬

I had one 2 weeks ago that presented the same symptoms as this current one, but that one got better in a couple of days, whereas this one has gotten worse pretty fast and no signs of healing, that's why the reason for antibiotics because it's not improving and there's a risk of cellulitis 😬

OP posts:
LauderSyme · 06/09/2023 22:36

It's still quite early days re the antibiotics having their chance to work so don't worry yourself too much yet. 500mg is a good dose per pill. How many days long is your course?

A particularly bad horsefly bite I once had took two weeks to begin to heal, but I think I was very unlucky and mine was much more swollen than yours at the same stage yours is at, iyswim?

AnneWhittle · 06/09/2023 22:55

just to throw a spanner in the works, I had a bad reaction to a wasp sting a few years back, such that the nurse practitioner thought it was cellulitis and prescribed some heavy duty abs (Can't remember what they were)- i took a few doses with no improvement, begged GP to see me and he said- do you have a temp?- which I didn't- he said, this isn't an infection, its an allergic reaction- I said, but I tried anti histamines and they made no difference. He said you need to take more!= I can't remember exactly how many but I think it was 4 of the 1 a day ones. So I did that and it worked.

JimnJoyce · 06/09/2023 23:51

Hi op my bites look like that a few hours after i've been bitten them over a week or so they become hard bright red lumps then go dark purple like a bruise before fading away. Usually takes 3-4 weeks from start to finish. You have my sympathy.

What are these
What are these
TheNightTroll · 06/09/2023 23:52

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Sweetus · 07/09/2023 11:35

It's much better today. Swelling is going down, and the rash has stopped spreading. It now looks like a huge bruise! Thanks so much for all of the replies!

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Original poster
Sweetus · 07/09/2023 11:41

This is it now. My legs are a mess!

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