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Original poster

Something has been biting me over the last few weeks. I am sooo itchy, Can't take much more.

33 replies

tortoise · 13/04/2008 19:47

All the bites are up my lower legs and around ankles. Really intense inchiness. 1st ones got scratched so now scabby. Trying not to scratch but i can't take the itchiness.

No idea what is feasting on me. No sign of fleas on the dog plus i though fleas prefer the dogs blood and only feast on humans if there is no animal to feed off.

What can i do? Really is driving me mad.

OP posts:
scorpio1 · 13/04/2008 19:48

sounds like flea bites. They can live in carpets etc and jump on you as you potter around. You need to de-flea dog and house.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 19:59

I would of thought i would see some sign of fleas on the dog though. He isn't scratching at all.

OP posts:
alkar · 13/04/2008 20:05

I had this too last year, the cat was fine but it was definately fleas. Go to the vets for some spray for your house before it gets worse. Good luck!

avenanap · 13/04/2008 20:07

They bite anyone around, not just animals. It's better to de flea, just incase. Antihistamine should help with the itching.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:07

Thanks .Will do.

OP posts:
iloatheironing · 13/04/2008 20:10

Vet told me that if you have a pet in the house then you will most definately have fleas. I suffered terribly in the past with bites just as you describe but now have our cat treated with program injections. No idea how they work and they are quite pricey...about £45 every 6 months. But they do work. Before I was always spraying the carpets with flea spray and treating the poor cat. Incidently no one else in our family suffered like me. Vet said I was probably just sensitive to the flea bites. Fleas live in carpets and soft furnishings only jump on you or pet to feed.

CrackerOfNuts · 13/04/2008 20:19

I have just had the same problem, and i'm still not sure what it was that bit me, it could have been fleas as we have a cat, but no one else in the house was bitten, and after I got about 10 bites they stopped.

I got something from the chemist called AfterBite and put that on everytime they started itching and after 2 days they stopped itching at all and have started to go.

Oh, it does sting though, much to my friends amusement.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:19

Yes i am very sensitive to bites. Still have the scars fron years ago so am trying not to do that again!
I just want to attack the bites with a scourer!

OP posts:
Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:22

Thanks Nutty. I have heard of that. Will get some when i have some money next week. DS1 had a few about 3wks ago and DD1 had a patch of bites up her leg.

Could it be something in the grass? It has got a bit long(grasps at straws hoping not fleas!)

OP posts:
southeastastra · 13/04/2008 20:25

i've been itchy too lately, not alot but annoying

turquoise · 13/04/2008 20:34

I've had this for weeks now, it's really bothering me because we only have rabbits, whose fleas apparently don't bite humans, and they don't live in the house anyway!

Delighted to hear about Afterbite, will be getting some immediately, as they are guzzling me like their last meal on earth, but not touching anyone else. It's WEIRD!

Am also highly allergic, the bites are coming up like boils.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:38

turquoise I feel your pain (well, itch).
A few years ago before we has a dog we found fleas in the garden. Vet confirmed fleas. Most likely rabbit.

AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH Soooo itchy!

OP posts:
turquoise · 13/04/2008 20:42

I'm dreading the summer - my legs look like I've had the pox. Some of the scabs even show through 40 denier opaque tights!

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:44

I am so glad i have had chicken pox. i would never cope with all that itchyness!
I have scabs too. I have to scratch!

OP posts:
CrackerOfNuts · 13/04/2008 20:55

I went to bed one night with plasters all up my legs to stop me scratching, I looked a right sight.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 20:59

lol! That sounds a good plan but i would still scratch!
Have a bite on my bum now.

This is interesting-
by sambella... Member since:
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First of all, what most people don't realize is that fleas tend to chose a "host" and often only feed of that one person in a house. I will give you two tests. The first to test for fleas: Take a lid to a container (like the lid to a coffee can), place a votive candle in the middle and pour a thick dish detergent (Dawn) around the candle. The fleas will be drawn to the heat of the burning candle and will get stuck in the detergent. To test for bed bugs: Take a few strips of double sided tape and stick to areas at the foot and sides of the beds, leave for a day or so. (They usually feed at night). And most infestations of bed bugs is due to motels, etc.

One other thing, flea bites are usually random places on the legs. With bed bugs, there is sometimes (not always) a cluster of bites, as they are disturbed while feeding.

OP posts:
Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 21:00

Oops. Didn;t realise i had copied so much lol!

OP posts:
pointydog · 13/04/2008 21:08

This is eerie. dh has been bothering us all wekk with his bitten legs, going on endlessly about fleas while we try to ignore him.

Thansk tort.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 21:14

Well, candle has produced nothing. Will check for bed bugs but i don't know where they could hav come from if it is tht!

OP posts:
Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 21:15

pointydog That is eerie. At least i am not the only one suffering!

OP posts:
Wallace · 13/04/2008 21:31

This is beginning to seem rather weird. I have also had the same problem recently. First a couple of "bites" on one arm, then several days later 5 or 6 on the other and still the occasional one or two on an arm or leg

ds1 has lso had 6 on his leg. Both of us seemd to have them in a line. They are very itchy and come up in quite a big bump. The more you scratch the more they itch.

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 21:37

Yes wallace. Very big bump and the itch gets worse when scratched. But the ones that are scabbed aren't bothering me at all.
My ankles are the worst bit at the moment.

OP posts:
Wallace · 13/04/2008 21:48

How odd. We don't even have a dog at the moment (do hamsters have fleas?)

Original poster
tortoise · 13/04/2008 21:51

I guess any animal could get fleas but haven't heard of hamster fleas!

OP posts:
avenanap · 13/04/2008 22:14

I get bit by anything with teeth, it has something to do with the scent I give off apparently . I have read somewhere that eating marmite stops the little buggers biting you because they can smell it on you??? You could give it a try???