[graciegirl]

I have avoided being bitten by the nasty little critters for four years but I was pulling out long strands of Zoysia that were invading my planting beds and I was bitten four times on the right hand by fireants.

My bites now look like this.
fire ant bites - Bing Images

I have read to not disturb the blisters and I have used CalaGel and Cortisone cream and they still sting and itch.

Now this is NOT huge and I am not a baby. (well maybe a bit of a whiner)

Any sage advice?

[In awe of TV]

So sorry to hear about the bites Gracie and unfortunately I don't have any sage advise. However, just as a warning the site you posted is riddled with viruses. I wouldn't suggest that anyone open it. : \

Good luck with the bites, I hope they heal quickly and painlessly.

[redwitch]

Gracie, I get bit a lot (the joys of weeding lol). Sadly, nothing seems to really work but time. The best cream I've found is Benadryl and it only works for a short time. As you said, don't pop the blisters -- just makes it worse and three times as long to heal.

[njbchbum]

gracie - my sister, the nurse, suggests you try using an icepak on your hand when you take the time to sit down and rest [] should be applied 10 min on/10 min off and should have a wash cloth or other light material between skin and ice pak.

sounds like a good reason to stop being busy and take a rest!

hope that helps

[ariel]

Hi Gracie. Sorry to hear this happened to you. They are nasty little biters. Not a lot to do but use the topicals with cortisone to make the area feel better. You may find taking oral Benedryl will help. If the blisters seem to be worsening, you may need a little oral Prednisone from your doc. Hope they get better soon.

[mrfixit]

...........

..........PREVENT........spray or rub white vinegar ON your skin Before you go out to area.


.........SOOTHE..........rub non-sudsy Ammonia On the Itch.....

.........WERKES FER ME.

[Dayzee]

Gracie, so sorry you encountered the fire ants - I know from personal experience how much they hurt. All of the suggestions given are good ones - wish I had known about some of these remedies a few years back when a friend of ours accidentally stood on a nest of fire-ants while golfing. He literally had to drop his drawers in order to knock them off his legs. Talk about a sight - it was hard not to laugh - really felt bad for him afterwards. Hope you're feeling better.

[jnieman]

I've used the Benedryl spray for ant bites. It keeps them from itching. Good stuff. (its a small bottle with a spray top)

[Pturner]

Gracie, sorry to hear. Those red ants do pack a mean bite! I discovered something once by happenstance that oddly enough works great for me. Apply benadryl cream and a sports pain relief cream together lightly. It will sting after a few seconds but for me totally takes the itch out. Works for a few hours. If you try it, let me know how it works.

[QUOTE] However, just as a warning the site you posted is riddled with viruses. I wouldn't suggest that anyone open it. /QUOTE]

I was anxious to see the pictures and after looking at a few suddenly it said "preloading" and then I got a msg that AVG blocked a virus.

Good luck Gracie.

[missypie]

Gracie,

I do hope you are feeling better. I had those blisters too once but I popped them and then washed well with soap and water. Not the best idea. It did take longer to heal and now I have tiny spots where they once were.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have avoided being bitten by the nasty little critters for four years but I was pulling out long strands of Zoysia that were invading my planting beds and I was bitten four times on the right hand by fireants.

My bites now look like this.
fire ant bites - Bing Images

I have read to not disturb the blisters and I have used CalaGel and Cortisone cream and they still sting and itch.

Now this is NOT huge and I am not a baby. (well maybe a bit of a whiner)

Any sage advice?

I just read that fire ants do produce a venom. The old standby of calomine lotion and/or the cortisone cream does seem to work.

Also, ice it.

Back in 1973 we were walking with our two year old toddler son on a path by the beach when he stepped into a nest of fire ants. He was holding my husband's hand at the time (unfortunately, daddy saw nothing or would have walked around it).

After the screaming was over and we were safely back to our home, we did ice it and then I put calomine lotion on it.........not knowing anything at all about fire ants. He was fine.

However, he had the scars for a long long time.
This same child was attacked in Vermont by a swarm of bees.
Hope you are on the mend.............


How to Relieve Itching & Swelling From Fire Ant Bites | eHow.com

Click on hyperlink above ...........for some further info......they also mention the calomine lotion.

P.S. I just remembered that when we were all bit up by "sand fleas" at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, we were told to put "Avon Skin So Soft" on prior to sitting on the sand.
This was Vero Beach on the east coast. It seemed to work to deter the sand fleas; perhaps it will work when you are gardening........but not sure.

[lincap]

I stepped in a mound of fire ants about three weeks ago while playing golf. Ouch!!! I got about 40 bites as they completely covered my shoes and raced up my legs. I was also biten on the hand as I try to brush them off. Horrible. Ice worked best for me. It is three weeks and some still itch!! I now carry "AfterBite" in the golf cart if I get another bite.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by lincap

I stepped in a mound of fire ants about three weeks ago while playing golf. Ouch!!! I got about 40 bites as they completely covered my shoes and raced up my legs. I was also biten on the hand as I try to brush them off. Horrible. Ice worked best for me. It is three weeks and some still itch!! I now carry "AfterBite" in the golf cart if I get another bite.

Oh my dear person! 40!!!!! These five were driving me nuts itching and they hurt too.

Afterbite? Tell us more about it.

[jane032657]

Are fire ants seasonal or year round? How do you protect the dogs? How often do you treat the yard or can you treat the yard so you do not get them? I never heard of these until now!