Tell me honestly, is my leg going to drop off?

[PiggyPenguin]

I got bitten by something on a nature reserve on friday. I am presuming it was an insect, not an adder as was just sitting on a bench looking at birds.

Anyway, now I have an ugly dark red circular blotch about 1 cm across where the actual bite is, and a sore, red, raised blotchy swelling about 3 cm wide all around it.

Is this normal? I am a bit worried although dh seems to think I am making a mountain out of a mole hill. Thoughts?

Draw round it with a biro now and then you can easily tell if it is getting bigger, sounds insane but it's what they do in a&e. It will be helpful to the GP tomorrow. And get some antihistamine down you neck for starters.

Personally, I think it would be worse than described after over 2 days if it were something other than an allergic reaction.

DS2 had cellulitis and after 2 days looked like he'd been beaten up he was so swollen.

Take antihistamine and contact your gp if it's not showing signs of improvement tomorrow.

Cor I feel abit harsh now, I will check out DHs hurty wurty when he gets in from work incase I have sent him off with the very same -itis as what you may have I didn't think of ticks, and adders and cellulits and what not. I also told him his shoulder pain was because he is a fat man finally doing some exercise [no sympathy]

I have taken some antihistamine (well, ds1's liquid piriton anyway), and I have drawn around it with biro. Will look very colourful for gp tomorrow!

ASecret (if I may be so bold as to nickname you) my dh used to be a very fat man doing exercise but has lost 2.5 stone since april and is now a much less fat man doing exercise. You keep at him, it will be worth it!

Maybe you should be a bit kinder about the bite though, his does sound very large and must be sore. Mine hurts when I straighten my leg, although dh (tough love guru) says that is just because of the position.

sybil,

Please give an update re the bite on your leg when you can.

I have had two reactions to bites whilst gardening in the last 2 months. The first, on the side of my hand, swelled up, went red etc I thought it may be infected got it checked out when no change after a week, was just a reaction to it. Advised to take antihistamine, went down within a couple of days. Interestingly, it didn't really itch very much, and was a good while before I realised it was a bite.

Same thing happened last month on my lower lip. Looked like Mick Jagger for a couple of days. Antihistamine sorted it again.

No idea what bit me - the nurse at the Minor Injuries said with the warmer weather we are getting more weirdy biting beasties these days.....

will do Attila, will see gp tomorrow and let you know what he says.

If you felt it and the area has swelled p, its more likely to be a horsefly bite than anything else. They're REALLY nasty, but not harmful

from wikipedia :

The bite from a large specimen is painful, especially considering the agile nature of the fly. Unlike insects which surreptitiously puncture the skin with needle-like organs, horse flies have tiny, serrated mandibles which they use to rip and/or slice flesh apart.

The horsefly's modus operandi is less secretive than that of its mosquito counterparts, although it still aims to escape before pain signals reach their mark's sphere of awareness. Moreover, the pain of a horsefly bite may mean that the victim is more concerned with assessing the wound, and not swatting the interloper. The bites may become itchy, sometimes causing a large swelling afterward if not treated quickly.

Ah, yes, it could have been a horsefly. They are nasty. It hurts when they bite and you can be left with a swelling.

I think the horsefly may be right, it definitely hurt when the little bit me anyway.

It is much better this morning since I have been taking the piriton and smearing it in the kids fairy kisses bump balm.

The redness around the lump has practically gone overnight and the lump itself is looking much better. So I have been saved a trip to the gp, and feel much happier.

Thanks for all your help everyone, it was very much appreciated!

Yes honestly. Your leg is going to drop off. Very soon and at a time you least expect it. Best wishes.

excellent, we both understand the meaning of irony. How clever of us.

ummm..I was wishing to bring a note of levity? No irony there or intended. Sorry if you are offended.

Oh god, no don't be sorry!

Its ok I'm not that easily offended. Its really hard sometimes to judge the tone of something on the screen though isn't it?

it is difficult. I was adopting the position of "a doctor writes.." Hope it isn't tick bite. Doubt it though - there would prob. be a head of some sort still visible. ~I think. Good luck.