Mosquito Bites

[missmolly]

Looking at an old post, do others find they are a target for mosquito bites? When ever I'm away I get pounced on by them and end up with big angry red sores.

[HollyHeski Administrator]

Yes I do too - to the point they get infected and I need antibiotics.

I have a belief that 'I aquired' my APS via a bite to begin with.

This year I have been plagued with horse fly bites, with the same reaction.

[Lure2]

Yes, I am very sensitive to mosquito bites. Especially in the early 70th when me and my husband (not yet married) sailed in the Swedish archepelago I was biten by "gadglies" (hope you understand me right and I use the right word for that animal). I swell up on my upper leg where they usually attacked me and I got very ill with fever etc. It took a couple of days at least. It was always gadflies and near the coast when sailing.

In 2000 I was in Mexico and was biten in the "reinforest" in Chiapas (near Guatemala) by some sort of mosquito. When I came home I fell on the pavement at home. I do not know what happened . I fell on my face. It could also have been because of the long flight to Mexico and back only 10 days later. I visited my youngest daughter who stayed there for 1 year. I did not know about HS/APS at that time but I am sure I had some sort of mini-stroke when I fell.

Best wishes from Kerstin in Stockholm

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

This is an interesting question and Dr Hughes has written about this in his 1998 post, "Is it lupus? The St Thomas' 'Alternative Criteria' which you can read on LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) website: the LuPUS Message Board:

lupus-support.org/LuPUSMB/i...

[HollyHeski Administrator in reply to lupus-support1]

Hi, I am unable to open the link, states I dont have permission - am I doing something wrong? Ta

[Lure2 in reply to HollyHeski]

Hi Holly,

It must be locked in some way!?

Kerstin

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to HollyHeski]

Apologies, I should have mentioned you will need to Create a New Account (free) and I will validate it as soon as I am able. This is to stop spammers etc

Any problems, send me a Message with your details and I will Register you myself.

Use the nn-nn-nnnn format for DOB e.g. 07-07-1986

Ros

[Kerlampert in reply to lupus-support1]

I just tried, too. I didn't even get the dob request.

Kerstin Lampert

[nyctapdancer in reply to lupus-support1]

that link is locked.

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to nyctapdancer]

You will need to Sign Up (top right) and complete the details. Or, contact me privately and give me:

Display name (eg HU display name)

Email address

Date of Birth

First and Last Name

I will give you a temporary password, which you can change.

You can add to your Profile as you wish.

With good wishes,

Ros

[nyctapdancer]

I sure do! But this year I bought this device called a Bite Helper and for the first time ever, it actually stops the inflammation ,itching, etc that have plagued me for my whole life.

bitehelper.com/

Bites swell and itch, sometimes for weeks. I once got bitten by some flies and was itching so bad I had to take steroids. I don't know if this thing would help with multiple bites like that time, but it sure works on the ones I got from mosquitoes.

I have no idea what useful purpose those creatures serve on earth.

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to nyctapdancer]

Is this sold only in the US?

Lyme Disease is also problematic especially in certain areas of New England.

[nyctapdancer in reply to lupus-support1]

you can buy it online. i don't know if they ship internationally

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to nyctapdancer]

They do for $15!

[missmolly]

They must sense a different blood make up and queue up for us. Even repellent don't help, but I'm guessing it would be much worse without.

[PepperT]

I have an dreadful reaction, wherever the bite is swells to enormous proportions, itches gets very red and throbs and stays like that for weeks sometimes. Insect repellent just doesn't work, I still end up with bites. Strangely midge bites at home in the UK do itch and swell slightly but nothing like the mosquito bit I get on hols!

[Lure2 in reply to PepperT]

Hi Pepper,

Sorry! Looked in my dictionary but could not find "hol! -s.

Kerstin

[nyctapdancer in reply to PepperT]

you'd think they'd taste out thinned crazy blood and say blecch! but they love it!

[PepperT]

Haha, sorry, abbreviation for holidays!.

[Lure2 in reply to PepperT]

Hi Pepper,

Ha Ha! Thought it was some sort of tree or wood. They are a nuisance really.

Kerstin

[Fusch]

Yes, I have always suffered greatly, but a couple of years ago just after my TiA I got some bites and was seriously ill, was hospitalised and needed iv steroids - then retested for aps (was faint positive in 2002-3) and was triple +ve high titres

[Kerlampert]

Yes....I just went to an outdoor cookout and family reunion in northern Michigan and came back with red blotches on my legs ...llthey look like blood poiso ing, as the bruise travels up and down the leg.

Kersti. From Hawaii

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

It does seem that many of those of us with autoimmune problems have problems with insect bites. Lyme Disease is particularly nasty as it can mimic the symptoms of lupus and goes untreated because it is not diagnosed. It is more prevalent in certain areas of the US, but also in the UK.

From NHS Choices:

Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.

Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures found in woodland and heath areas. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. Ticks that carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are found throughout the UK and in other parts of Europe and North America.

It's estimated there are 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year. About 15% of cases occur while people are abroad.

Lyme disease can often be treated effectively if it's detected early on. But if it's not treated or treatment is delayed, there's a risk you could develop severe and long-lasting symptoms.

nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-dise...

US Information:

cdc.gov/lyme/index.html

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[Hughes-Comrade in reply to lupus-support1]

I just went through a tick experience in June. I was treated early. I've never been so sick in my life, ever. The sickness was worse than when my appendix went gangrenous. 104.8 temp when I decided to go to hospital.

[Holley]

I'm the opposite. A while ago I posted to see if there was a connection between my "bad blood" and not getting bit. Apparently not. Sorry.

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

In view of your comments, I have altered the reCaptcha to the "I am not a robot"! This requires a tick!

The process is simplified!

All of this was put in place at a time when we were having not just spammers, but "professional xxxx's" whose aim was to destroy a forum!

Many thanks!

X

[Tucson]

I don't get bitten either, my ex husband used to joke his blood must be sweeter than mine as he'd get covered in bites and I'd get none, maybe I'm just naturally repulsive lol

[MaryF Administrator]

I have the most dire reaction to bites, including limb swelling etc and out of control sores, however I apply something called Incognito from head to toe and this seems to keep them away. If not I also end up flaring and feeling as if I have flu. MaryF

[Puska]

I'm not a target for mossies. Quite the opposite. But if they do get me (prior to APS and anticoags) I bleed a lot from them and some fly bites.

[jetjetjet]

Hi APSNF -- hows my friend ?? do you remember my bout with a wasp sting --cellulitis, arm got rock hard swelled and landed me in hosp. 3 or 4 days and many meds tried to stop progression before it got to lymph nodes- was a major concern for all Dr's involved. now it is a medical alert on file for spider - Bee- Wasp bites and stings. these never bothered me before and now G .