What's eating you?

[wayfaringwordhack]

According to the pharmacist, my itchy, bumpy, allergy-thing, probably-insect-bites ongoing saga is to be blamed on this blasted devil and his kin:

(image via Wikipedia)

Harvest mites, aka chiggers!  I have yet another outbreak of bumps after Sunday's bike ride and yesterday's walk in the ornithological park.  I ITCH!  I can't get rid of one crop of bites before the next pops up. I tried using Tiger Balm a couple of times, even though it is not recommended for nursing women, that's how bad the itching is, how mad it is driving me, keeping me awake and waking me at all hours...the hours when S is not waking me, that is.

But, there is a reason Tiger Balm is not to be used by nursing moms:  Every morning that followed a use of the balm, S would spit up. She usually never does that. I went several days without using it but last night used just a smidgen.  This morning, spit up again. Not much, but enough to confirm that the balm was to blame.

The pharmacist gave me a "safe" brand of antihistamine cream, but I am sad to say, it is not working.

Oh, my legs, I want to claw them to shreds! 

Comments

[nebula99.livejournal.com]

Ugh, sympathies

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Dang, that's crummy. At least you know what it is now though.

I first thought of calamine lotion but maybe that hasn't worked for you. I looked online for safe treatments (cause I'm no chigger bite expert) and one recommendation was an oatmeal bath.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the sympathies, but especially thanks for making me laugh with that icon. I love it. :D

[frigg.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...back to the pharmacist, I'd say - or the doctor. Ice-cubes can help by numbing, but it's just temporary relief, I'm afraid. :(

[pjthompson]

Have you tried peroxide? Old-fashioned, but I've found it to be effective on the itch of bites and it helps them heal faster. I'd have to think it would be safe.

[me-1956.livejournal.com]

i have heard if you paint the bites with clear nail polish the bugs that are actually under your skin cant breath so the come out, sooo no more itching. I don't know if its the same or maybe this was for redbugs. You know me I just dont go outside into their habitate. hehehe

[nipernaadiagain.livejournal.com]

Poor you! I get itchy just reading the entry.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I've taken an oatmeal bath to deal with itchiness before, and it does work. Last night, I took a hot shower, treated the bites with apple cider vinegar (for the itchiness), and then applied coconut oil which is supposed to be anti-fugal and antibacterial.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

The cider vinegar and coconut oil seemed to help actually. I'll reapply as needed today. And it is BEAUTIFUL outside, but knowing that means prime chigger condition, I'm afraid to go out. :(

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't you know I packed up the peroxide and sent it to J's mom's place just last week. :(

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

*lol* Apparently, despite popular belief, the nail polish isn't for chiggers because they don't burrow and are easily scratched off. :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Chiggers are definitely something you can wish on your worst enemy. :P

[pjthompson]

C'est dommage! Got any iodine? That sometimes helps, too, but it doesn't seem to suck out the itch juice like the peroxide.

[cathemery.livejournal.com]

ugh! Sympathies!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Thankfully the itchiness has subsided, and after yesty's walk in the woods, I got directly into a soapy bath to wash any potential hitchhikers away.