How great it is to be able to be outside again playing in my garden. Enjoying the visit of familiar friends and the new as they appear and reveal their offerings in all their glory.
How not so great it is for me that the bugs that seem to inhabit my garden at different times of the year like the taste of me..
My current bugbear is the horsefly (.Tabanidae is the family name for these biting clever flies) they always attack with stealth from behind and seem to know in which direction your eyes are facing. As you look for them and spin to catch sight of them they hide behind you. OUCH that hurt! problem is when I was not with CLL/SLL the familiar two holes, the welt they cause and discomfort eased off.
No such luck now! I remember when working in France a year before diagnosis getting a bite on the knee from one, which resulted in my left leg swelling to twice that of the right for three weeks. Last year I was also bitten by one on the arm and needed help from from the GP. Now one got me again yesterday and the elbow it has bitten is buried somewhere in the sausage I now have for an arm.
The mosquitoes and midges haven't had me yet this year but last year they caught me bad enough to swell my legs again and force me off my feet, with a very unsightly and painful reaction to their bites.
CLL/SLL has made the summer and the garden a lot more interesting than it used to be there seem to be so many more noticeable hazards: Including the soil itself or sites such as the compost heap or thorns, even the salad and sun!
I am interested in how others get on with things and what precautions or remedies they have found helps when you react to bites?
Nick
factoids/snippets from Wikipedia
"Adult horse flies feed on nectar and sometimes pollen. Females of most species are anautogenous, meaning they require a blood meal before they are able to reproduce effectively, if at all. Much like male mosquitoes, male Tabanidae are not ectoparasitic and lack the mouth parts (mandibles) that the females use in drawing the blood on which they feed. Most female horse flies feed on mammalian blood, but some species are known to feed on birds or reptiles. Some are said to attack amphibians as well."
"Horsefly bites are painful, the bites of large specimens especially so. Most short tongued (short proboscid) species of horse flies use their knife-like mandibles to rip and/or slice flesh apart. Flies with longer proboscides bite more like a mosquito, their stylet-like mouthparts piercing the host's skin like needles."
"The horse fly's bite is more immediately painful than that of its mosquito counterparts, although it still aims to escape before its victim responds. Moreover, the pain of a horse fly bite may mean that the victim is more concerned with assessing the wound, and not swatting the interloper. In any case defense is difficult, considering the agile nature of the fly. However, inhabitants of regions where the flies are a pest usually learn to swat immediately at the first hint of the bite. That usually gets the fly, especially if its escape is hampered by its having bitten through clothing. The bites may become itchy, sometimes causing a large swelling afterward if not treated quickly."
Like I suspect many others, I find now that insect bites have a larger effect than previously.
Additionally if I am wearing shorts and it is hot enough to be sweaty this can result in some strange effects. Just brushing past some grasses when hiking or cycling can produce red spots or even welts that I never experienced before. I lived for nearly 40 years in tropical countries and spent some time both clearing jungle for a road and house, as well as living in the Honduran jungle. But through all that time I never had any big problems. Now it is a completely different story, even sweating and having nylon or lycra next to the skin can bring out a rash.
Of course with slightly low platelets any cut or graze now takes longer to heal, and I presently have what is called a cyclist’s Road Rash to prove this one..
As regards Horseflies, with me they do produce a medium sized swelling, but this soon goes. Luckily one usually feels a horsefly bite and I learned to react and swot them fast. Apart from the natural biters such as the horsefly, the one I REALLY keep a good look out for are the Ticks. I often go hiking and thus walk through areas where there are deer, the natural home for these ticks. In these areas I use lots of chemical sprays and take a careful look all around when I stop the hike. Lyme disease and other diseases from ticks is a serious matter. Most of Europe is now seriously affected, with the boundary line of anything East of the middle of Switzerland towards and including Austria and Bavaria. There is a vaccine for the European tick, but its effectiveness for someone with CLL must be doubtful.
As we all know having any level of leukaemia makes one immune deficient, and I think the real worry for gardeners is the spores flying off a dry compost heap. One of the spores could be the naturally occurring Aspergillus fungus, which if it enters the lungs can be extremely difficult to treat I believe.
A CLL mate of mine ended up in Emergency with a very high temperature after working in his garden with some potting mix earlier in the day. I now make sure I wear a mask.
I used to get large welts from mosquito bites but seem to get less of a reaction now. Seems the overreaction to bites only applies to some of us.
Irrespective, infection risk is always the concern whatever the bite, particularly if the bites are so itchy you have an irresistible urge to scratch...
I once ended up with a significant cellulitis after a mosquito bite (killed her, but watched the spot where she bit, mid arm, swell from finger tips to elbow, and I did not scratch it at all). I once saw someone with a full body outfit made of netting. I don't know how effective that would be against your horseflies, but suspect it might help - perhaps with ticks, also, though I don't know how easy it would be to hike in such an outfit. Perhaps others know more about where to find an outfit like this. I have been lucky in the past several years to have not been in areas with many biting critters, but the few bites I've had do take forever to stop itching.
I too am pleased at getting out to potter in the garden. As a born worrier (butstrangely not on all topics) it took to heart the comment my consutlant made about increased isk of skin cancers. So, i dont wear shorts outside and f theres any sun at all i were my Tilly, and finally iwear a pair of the rubber palmed gripper gloves that buiders wear.
I try to avoid t cmpost heap as well, so other than empying te grass clippings on it my wife handles dstributing the results. This i feel a bit guilty about, especially for the veg plot hoch is my domain.
Other than the above life is the same in our gaden.
Oh, as for insects and sun, we walk a bit, well wouldnt anyone living in the Peak District? Same rules apply, tilly hat, long trousers and long sleeved shirt.
Rob
Last week my right forearm and hand looked like someone had inflated a rubber kitchen glove and my right calf was in a similar state. My GP's solution was antibiotics, which I decided not to take......if I start down that route, I'd end up taking antibiotics all summer. While the cellulitis is painful and itchy, my immune system is still able to fight it off. As for the mossies........they've won. Other than on a hot day at midday, I leave the garden to them
I love off road running - my main concern are sheep ticks so when in tick country I don't wear shorts and check my legs over carefully on return Even so I did get a tick on my leg once.
Another hazard on Friday my route took me past some caravans and I was nipped by a scruffy mongrel dog so I am back on antibiotics!
Hi This is a plea to all dog owners. Please clear up after your pet and please do not allow your dog to jump up to people. As dogs and many other animals can have fleas, ticks and worms. Its not just us but many healthy people are at risk.
I too have more severe reactions to bug bites than before I developed CLL. Whereas before, I had red bumps, now I have large oozing mountains that last much longerand leave a reddened patch of skin for many weeks. But, I found if I apply a drop of lavender essential oil as soon as I get back inside after being bit, I almost have no reaction at all. Applying more laterwhenever there is itching stop the itch. I'm by nature pretty skeptical of these types of claims, but it really works for me.
To Rob -oleboyredw--we too live in the peakdistrict --a wonderful place -perhaps not today though in the wind and the rain . Cover up , cover up , no direct sunlight on the skin --all the drs words of advice and adhered to here . Seems to be the only answer to avoiding the bites and other nasties out there . Will try the lavender cure if its is needed and see if it works .
Thanks for everyone's preventative tips and the lavander seems like a good one to try. Personally I've found that taking an ant-histamine from an early stage, before the swelling really sets in stops it in it's tracks.
To jenrus, have thought about moving away, i'm originally from Norfolk, but i love the. Countryside around here, real ups and downs.
I plan to resort to suntan lotion for exposed areas (face etc) now the sun is out, seeing my consultant for 2nd quarterly check since end of chemo so plan to raise practicalities of this area( covering up etc, not Peak District) with him.
Lavender might not work for me, hay fever sufferer, summers partially miserable for us, but i'm determined to not let that beat me. Moving lawn can be a tiresome task as well.
There is some sort of hand/skin cream that supposedly paratroopers resort to, to avoid bites, has anyone tried that? (It is one of the well known makes, and smells nice apparently). Just tried to find on internet but failed. Will phone-a-friend tonight and update this later.
Hi Rob, do you mean Avon, 'Skin So Soft?' (the bluey green bottle). It's a body oil spray but is widely reported to keep the flying nasties at bay. Certainly worked for me last year and I've heard the troops use it in the Middle East to good effect.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and tips. I must admit I am skeptical too about lavender oil. I have some growing in the garden- will rub some on next time I am bitten by anything see what happens (and I'll get some oil)? The crew down by the lake I fish with may think I'm a bit sweet. Hope they don't see Avon calling too. The powerful itch, swelling and discomfort that seems to last for so long following any bite, is maddening. anything that helps is worth a go.
I have to be careful with the content of antihistamines because of interaction with prophylaxis, but will look more closely at what is available. To try to nip reactions in the bud before they get out of hand.
Well here in the UK we have some good weather for a while. Time to enjoy my garden and I will be cautious and employ protection strategies. Last night while anticipating today's sun, having just fed everything I was out giving all my plants a good drink, the weeks weather seemed to have brought the midges out it was a minefield..
Hi Newdawn, Thats it - Skin so Soft. Must get some. Anyway good news from consultant visit, my approach to being out in the sun he's happy with. Now, one thing i don't like doing is taking unnecessary chemicals (seems strange saying it after the last year). But this leads me to hayfever.
I've always tried to limit the drugs i take for hayfever, apart from anything else they've never seemed that effective. So yesterday I tried a little experiment. I needed to cut some grass (about quarter of an acre) and strim the long grass around drystone walls. Normall, I'd end up sniffing, and with streaming eyes in the past. So, on with builders dust mask, on with mask that i've used for sanding (goes over my glasses) and finally on with th normal helmet with pastic sheild and ear protectors. Got hot, but worked for an hour, possibly bit more .... No hayfever!
Also did some shopping and picked up couple of long sleeved shirts claiming UV40 protection. Roll on summer, I feel reasonably well prepared, for me.
So far avoided bites in my garden but did manage to scratch my arm which came up like a ballon. Was bitten in Southampton, stayed near a river, the night before the CLLSA meeting. Great meeting but could have done without the bites which are still very red and itchy.
Used to get hay fever quite badly but it got better over time. The last few days with the sunshine I have been suffering again. Driving with the roof down probably does not help but it was worth it!! I used to find anti- histamine helped but as has been mention many over the counter medications don't mix - so read the labels carefully if you are taking prescription drugs - often buried in the small print. I also find trips to the seaside helpful and a nice distraction - picking up fossils and watching the waves.
Enjoying pottering in my garden too - much more productive this year - not sure whether this is due to the better weather or more focused pottering. Either way garden is very colourful and full of bees - not many butterflies yet but there is still time.
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The powerful itch, swelling and discomfort that seems to last for so long following any bite, is maddening. anything that helps is worth a go. 
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