Massive, painful hives/bites/spots - WTF???

[IHeartKingThistle]

Seriously, help!

2 days ago I started coming up in what looked like bites. Some on my legs, arms but stomach but mostly (sorry, TMI) all over my bum. Today I've got quite a few more and they are MASSIVE and they hurt like fuck. They feel hard inside with a red dot in the middle and a red area around them.

Possible suspects:

We just got a hot tub last week. It's brand new and I've only been in it twice. I know about hot tub folliculitis but surely not from a brand new tub with all the right chemicals in?

My nephew was in my hot tub at the weekend. He had a weird spot on his back but my mum said it was a bite. Now found out it's shingles.

I can't have shingles because it's not just on one side and I don't think you can catch shingles from shingles? Could I have chicken pox for a second time?

I don't think it's insect bites as DH doesn't have any. De-fleaing the cat tomorrow just in case.

WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!?! I will contact the GP tomorrow but I started a very big new job today and I don't have time for this!!!

Anyone got any wisdom???

buggeroffvirus how long did it take for your rash to disappear completely?

OP - that rash looks like how mine did when it started. Is it hot too?

Yes! Oh man...

I would be wanting that checked over if it was me and in the meantime try an antihistimine tablet like piriton. If its allergy or bite related that will really help althougj may make you feel drowsy.

@IHeartKingThistle probably about a month... when mine started they looked a bit like yours.
I hope you get some answers OP.

They look like midge bites to me. The
midges are really bad this year and are so small it’s easy not to spot them. They could have gotten you whilst in and out of the hot tub maybe? Hot tub rash is a possibility if you haven’t had the balance of chemicals right before using the tub- you can get test strips that test for the bacteria that causes the rash to know for sure. I’ve had a few similar bites which I think are midges and they’ve gone away after a few days with germolene. You could try a hydrocortisone cream from the pharmacist and some antihistamines for the itching?

If your hot tub is outdoors and you were in there at night I’m guessing mosquitos while you were towelling off

Thanks @NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

I just don't see how it could be bugs when more have come up today in areas covered by clothes. Very confusing!

Right, have taken paracetamol and piriton and have come to bed to lie on my least affected side. Everything crossed there's even a slight improvement by the morning. I really appreciate all the responses!

Oh and on the subject of hot tub rash - if it was that, caused by whatever bacteria causes that, would it have affected everyone? 6 of us have been in this week and only I have spots (except nephew with shingles!)

DH has drained and wiped and refilled the tub just to be sure anyway.

www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi/rashes.html#:~:text=If%20contaminated%20water%20stays%20on,%2C%20in%20water%20or%20soil).
Signs and symptoms
Hot tub rash can affect people of all ages. It is often worse in areas where a swimsuit held water up against the skin. Symptoms include:

Itchy, red, and bumpy rash
Pus-filled blisters around hair follicles
Mild rashes clear up in a few days without medical treatment. Check with your healthcare provider if a rash gets worse or if you get it more than once.

Did you sit around in wet bottoms when you got out the hot tub?possibly aquatic larvae reaction. So your body is reacting to water lavae and your DH isn't - as you're getting a sensitivity to it. I've no idea really but that's what happened to me when I swam in a pool/pond. It went away after 2 or 3 days.

Oh I hope mine will! But no, cossie straight off.

And it is worse in the 'swimsuit' areas but like I say, we've literally had the hot tub for one week and followed all the instructions!

Op could they be any bites? I had bites that looked like that on my bum and it was ant bites.

Ant not any!

Ants? I don't think so, not been sitting on the grass or anything...

Hi, sorry I missed the message... The rash and hives disappeared within hours of the drip and my body calmed down with it.

Well if anyone's interested GP says bacterial skin infection. Could be triggered by anything but my body has massively overreacted. Spots still coming up. Been given antibiotics, antihistamines and steroids. Great way to deal with the first week in a new job eh?

Glad you got it sorted, you will quickly improve when the antibiotics kick in.

Thanks - fingers crossed!

Thats exactly what I was given for mine. But intravenously. In A and E.
The spots are taking a long long time to fade though.

Hope it works and quick!!!

Nothing worse than an actual pain in the arse!

I just want to sit down without wincing!

Hi OP how are the hives/bites?!

Have you got to the bottom of them?!

I have the same op, it was midges, I was at a lake and I remember being attacked. They are so itchy they are driving me nuts,my son has some in his bum too.