Suffering on holiday - such a lightweight

[Theolittle]

This is more about me being a lightweight in coping with life but does anyone else struggle too?

it was day 3 yesterday in Spain. I’d walked 15k plus the first couple of days to get to final resort, after a city stop off, in trainers and not unusual for me. Went out in flip flops yesterday and got blisters on the bottom of my feet (8,5k steps total). Thought a paddle in the sea might help but got sand in one big blister (over an inch square) and it was super painful walking the 1k home after that. Had to cut open the blister to wash sand out - very painful last night so didn’t go out and hobbling round apartment. Still painful this morning -although much improved - don’t think I can walk around today though

Then the bites- I’ve used lots of different repellants on previous holidays which never work for me and this holiday trying Avon skin so soft. Didn’t put it on during the day though as had sun tan lotion on. Have 5 big bites and lots of small. Using cortisol antihistamine lots which takes the edge off but still super itchy and inflamed. My hand particularly bad last night was just one big mass of itching.

Then had to hobble to the loo during the night with the squitz🤦🏼‍♀️.

This is only the start of day 4 and I’ve got a week to go! Previous holidays the bites get worse and worse as the holiday goes on and it’s only when I get back to the cool of the UK that relieves them

Would be nice to have any tips but also to know it’s not just me!

I have not worn flip-flops since they blistered my feet between the toes, from the toe post. My Teva sandals however, I have walked many miles in them, including extended stays camping in the tropics.

I sympathise with sand in a blister - that can be very painful. I am currently on holiday, and have used my Compeed plasters I packed (from well-worn in walking shoes, so not sure what's going on there.

Be careful with DEET. It is effective, but also brought me up in red welts where it was on my skin.

If it's any consolation, I woke with a raging Dore throat the first day I was off work. It has mutated into a productive cough, but I'm seeing it as a win thst I can now swallow without crying in pain.

The skin on my feet blisters and shreds at the slightest provocation. It's trial and error when it comes to summer shoes. I tend to buy sandals that have velcro to adjust the fit or Mary-Jane style trainers, and always, always wear them a bit before I go away so I know they'll be OK. I call it 'the Tesco test' because I'll put them on to go shopping for a few weeks. Flip flops are a definite 'no'. Leather or canvas is the way to go because it doesn't trap sweat; the sweat soaks into it.

Just to say certrazine is the anti histamine recommended for itchy bites, others don't work so well. We had to get it this year in Italy and it really helpful.

You have my sympathies. I have been on many holidays where that particular combination of woes has made me feel miserable. An upset stomach and bad reactions to insect bites are guaranteed for me on every holiday abroad and too many times I’ve been caught out wearing the wrong footwear and ended up walking a lot more than I’d anticipated. It’s difficult to enjoy yourself when you’re in discomfort.

I totally sympathise OP. I feel like my body is a finely balanced ecosystem that copes ok with UK weather/food etc, but take me anywhere else and it all goes to pot. No real advice (I do the hats, comfy shoes, don’t drink much, still end up with upset tummy and general feeling rubbish) but have some solidarity.

For the bites, assuming they're not infected, try applying heat. It sounds odd but I've found it to be really effective in stopping itching in its tracks (can't remember where I originally got the tip from). Either: run a teaspoon under boiling water then hold the spoon part against the bite for a few secs/ as long as you can bear (obviously, be careful) or blast for a few secs with a hot hairdryer.

I use DEET bracelets on wrists & ankles, never get bitten.

You have my utmost sympathy suffering with your bites as my skin reacts the same to bites on the rare occasions I go abroad! I can't put plasters on them or the skin around the bite comes up like a burn and then gets infected. The only thing that works is keeping them cool with flannels or water or aloe vera if the skin isn't broken.

The blisters I have less sympathy for as you shouldn't wear flip flops to walk so far! But you need to dry them out as quickly as you can - tight plasters to protect them from infection, salt water bathing, uncovered at night - that sort of thing.

Hope you feel better soon x

Your opening post suggests every holiday feels like this... Are you always doing the sort of holiday you think you should do, as opposed to the sort of holiday you want to do?

It doesn't matter if a holiday sounds like someone else's boring... it's supposed to be your fun downtime to recharge.

Forget creams for bites, you need to heat them which takes the protein out which causes the inflammation.

Give them a blast with the hairdryer for 30 secs, as hot as you can stand without burning yourself. Repeat if needed.

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.

i brought compeed but I didn’t realise how bad my feet were while I was walking, and wanted to clean them before putting the compeed on. The blister got full of black sand under the skin which made it nastier

Was feeling very yuk with lack of sleep too this morning so it was good to offload, have been for a swim in the pool and feeling better now. Yes today will be a day under shade by the pool reading a book

I do walk a fair bit at home but have found it hard even in the UK this summer. I often have swarms of horse flies around me and they completely ignore my partner- have tried all sorts of repellants and they don’t seem effective on mefor some
reason🤷‍♀️. I do sweat a ridiculous amount when walking up hills even wearing as little as possible - sorry can’t help it - maybe this attracts them!

Have also had big yellow water blisters on the past from bites - horrendous so not doing too bad this time in comparison

Considering the sandal suggestions and off to get some more compeed and oral antihistamines

Thanks all, you have helped!

Very interesting about the extra heat suggestion! Had never heard of that - will try it out on one of the bad ones!

My favourite holiday is camping in the UK - got so much stuff nowadays it’s very much glamping - love it so much! So just one abroad holiday each year if that - as I get older perhaps the heat is not for me

I would use the back of a hot spoon for applying heat directly to a bite.

Oh god I went on a city break with a friend who ended up with one problem after another and it really limited what we could do. We basically strolled from one pharmacy to the next to try and get cures for her many ailments 😂 I could give you a map of the pharmacies in Rome!
I love her immensely but i’ll never take another trip with her again, it felt like taking one of my small dc away with me!!
Hope you manage to make the best of the rest of your time away op.

It says in the OP that 15k steps is not unusual for her.

I’d walked 15k plus the first couple of days to get to final resort, after a city stop off, in trainers and not unusual for me

I think the issue was that the third day, despite only walking 8k steps (less than the previous days), she ended up with blisters because she’d been wearing flip flops rather than her usual trainers.

Always take odourless garlic capsules from two weeks before you go away. Stops being bitten- I think the theory is it’s meant to change smell of your blood! Old wives tale nsybe but it works for me when I go it and I’m a mosquito magnet.
sldo a doctor told me to take an antihistamine each day on holiday then it’s in your body to work immediately if you get bitten!

I’d walked 15k plus the first couple of days to get to final resort, after a city stop off, in trainers and not unusual for me

I read that as she had walked 15 kilometres to get to the final resort. I was going to suggest hiring a car.

@Rubinia

GP no use. It was a nurse practitioner who told me.
she also advised re treatment.

i have had an infected insect bite as well which turned into cellulitis and I was on IV antibiotics for that so I can see the difference.

i am allergic to some insect bites but not others (bitter voice of experience!)

her advice was:
hydrocortisone cream
Wound dressing. (This keeps the cream in contact with the skin and prevents infection)
they come in several sizes I use these for small ones
https://amzn.eu/d/62BC3wd

then if possible put a compression bandage over the area to keep the swelling down.

i take systemic (tablets by mouth) anti histamine all through the summer anyway but if you/your child doesn’t then start.

https://www.jaxfirstaid.co.uk/large-sterile-hse-wound-dressing/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22800412788&gbraid=0AAAAADPRiSbo6claKOPbh43qjjAWPUIXb&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7-mmn-DIjwMV9JlQBh1NLAbpEAQYASABEgLAtPD_BwE

Yes, me too — I was going to ask if this was the pay off for a very cheap package, that you have to walk from the airport to your accommodation.

Maybe it’s not a package holiday at all. It looks like they started with a city break and moved on to where they are now, so more likely that travel and accommodation were booked separately.
I’ve never been on a package holiday and we often travel around a few different places, so have always had to sort our own transport.

Skin so soft is no longer of any use as they changed the formulation sometime ago so doesn’t work to deter insects.

Skeeter syndrome is a diagnosis. It’s not common and I’m concerned my child has it.

the person I quoted seemed to have some knowledge that might help my child whom I already treat with all the usual stuff you listed. Yet he still ends up at the GP every time being prescribed ABs which do absolutely nothing.

Yes we booked the hotel and flight separately - not a package - had to get from airport to train station, then city exploring. So one day was 25k steps and another day 18k steps. Not due to a cheap package 😂Despite trainers used compeed on my ankles which rubbed as feet swelled in the heat

Feel for you Octavia

Thechosentwo I feel for you and don’t want to be that person like your friend! Feel like a real softy sometimes but I do feel real suffering - then feel a bit pathetic because of the real suffering of many people in the world 😢

odorlous garlic - noted thanks!

Why are you walking 8km in flip flops? Why are you walking 15km to a resort?!

Sorry you’re having a shit time! Get a taxi or bus or bike? You don’t wanna be walking on those feet by the sounds of it.