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Hughes Syndrome APS Forum

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Bites

Lure2 profile image
18 Replies

I would like to know if you have had bad experiances after a bite from a mosquito, a wasp or a gadfly (breeze fly)? the latter connected with sailing in the archepelagoe.

Hope you have those names for these flying creatures in your country. I have wondered if the bites have something to do with APS.

Kerstin in Stockholm

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Lure2 profile image
Lure2
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18 Replies
HollyHeski profile image
HollyHeskiAdministrator

I have a horrendous time with bites, horse flies & mosquitoes!! I blister up, usually to 1/2 inch blister, which always gets infected. My GP is happy for me to keep a supply of antibiotics for when this happens. If out and about in summer, I do a lot of walking with my dogs, I cover up and I spray constantly, but they still find a way to my skin!!

Not to do with bites, but the same thing happens after surgery, especially if dressings (Sticky) have been applied. I now have on my notes that I get soft tissue infections, to give antibiotics before, during and after surgery.

It was mentioned years ago that I could have acquired my APS via a mosquito, but don't think anyone has proved that? But definitely more susceptible to them.

Offcut profile image
Offcut

mosquito's can transmit all sorts of infections so I would not think it impossible?

AnnNY profile image
AnnNY

There are lots of mosquitos in the US, and I still get the same sort of reaction that most people have, an itchy bump. Fortunately, mosquitos don't seem to like me very much. I spent a summer in Greece many years ago and with those particular mosquitos I got big hives after I was bit, but the next day there was not an itchy bump. About ten years ago, I had a big yard and I kept running into hornets (like wasps) and I started getting allergic to them with bigger and bigger red spots every time I got stung. I would take antihistimines when I got stung. I got an epipen in case I got a severe reaction, but it never got so bad that I felt like my breathing was affected. Now I have moved into an apartment upstairs, so I haven't had many problem with bugs anymore.

Don't know what it means other than a weird immune system.

Lure2 profile image
Lure2

In the early 70th when sailing I had a bite from a gadfly (hope it is the right word, found it in the dictionary). I got a very swollen upper leg with high fever. Lasted for a couple of days. This was 20 years before mysterious incidents happened perhaps related to APS.

The same thing happened always close to the sea several times the next years. I have sometimes wondered if it could have been an early DVT but I saw the gadfly.

Thank you for your answers!

Kerstin

GinaD profile image
GinaD

Here in the US we have a lot of trouble with mosquitoes. And more trouble all the time. Back in the day one only had to worry about getting bitten during the evening and night hours – the mosquitoes could not tolerate the sunlight. But then container shipping came along, and we all saved money by buying cheap goods from Asia that was crowded over here in containers. Unfortunately, the containers also carried a new breed of mosquito, which is spread up-and-down all over the East Coast and the central plains. This new mosquito, which I called the zebra mosquito because that's what it looks like can bite in the middle of the day. So now there's no escape. Every spring I plant my garden with great enthusiasm, and then begin to ignore it as the mosquito population rises and I cumulate more and more bites. I'm sure that mosquitoes and all of the nasty things that can carry – including now Zika virus – do have a profound effect on immune dysfunction. But I have been bitten so many times for so much of my life that I cannot point to specific Bite or reaction that may have led to my APS.

PepperT profile image
PepperT

I always react very badly to mosquito bites, they start plain itchy but then wherever the bite is swells to enormous proportions, becomes very painful and weeps. This doesn't happen here in the UK with midges just abroad. Nothing seems to help.

Lure2 profile image
Lure2 in reply to PepperT

I guess midges is a type of English mosquito. If we use antihistamines we should have it before we get the bite. Difficult to know in advance.

I was in the rainforrest in middle America to visit my daughter in 2000 and took a bath in a lagun (a wonderful experience) and was bitten by a sort of mosquito who left a drop of blood before it left. They spoke of that mosquito as if it was a nasty one. One week after I came home from Mexico I fell without reason and could not stop my fall and that was a symptome of APS.

Kerstin

Lure2 profile image
Lure2

It is hard to believe they want to bite us with our sticky blood but perhaps we are properly anticoagulated when they attack. I know they do something to thin the blood when they bite, at least the mosquitos I have learnt.

Kerstin

Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt

It is4:47 pm in USA time what time is it where you are?

Lure2 profile image
Lure2 in reply to Wittycjt

It is time to go to bed. 23.00. 6 hours before you in Stockholm.

Good Night!

Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt

I left quite a lengthy post prior to asking the time, but it has disappeared. What it said was there is an all natural bug repellent that works for ninety days. You mix blue dish soap, Epsom salts and beer. Shake it and spray on what you don't want the bugs to go near. I can't remember the exact amounts. But you can GOOGLE it!

Lure2 profile image
Lure2 in reply to Wittycjt

I also think they do not like the smell of alkohol.

If you use that bug-repellent you talk of that works for ninety days I guess you also miss all men near you.

Kerstin

Wittycjt profile image
Wittycjt in reply to Lure2

Spray it on patio, etc you silly woman! LOL🙄

Lure2 profile image
Lure2 in reply to Wittycjt

My question was regarding bites from mosquitos etc on people with APS and the effects from it.

You misunderstood me. Sorry for that!

Kerstin

MaryF profile image
MaryFAdministrator

Yes I have a horrific reaction to bites and stings, always, have reacted very seriously to horsefly bites and mosquitos and this has worsened over time, and now I carry an EpiPen for anything wasp like which may sting me, in case of another reaction. People with Hughes Syndrome and or Lupus do appear to be more likely to have a reaction. MaryF

Fusch profile image
Fusch

Have always reacted badly, been hospitalised in the past. Last year I had a bit of a crisis with a Tia then 3 weeks later a very bad reaction to bites, hospitalised with that then diagnosed with high titres of antibodies and put onto warfarin subsequently

wales profile image
wales

I got bitten by some midge in the cemetery caused cellulitis of my leg . It's related to our naf immune system

Lure2 profile image
Lure2 in reply to wales

I looked it up. Nasy little type of mosquito.

Kerstin

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