Anyone here hyper-allergic to bug bites? Any treatment issues?

[Nords]

The bedbug thread reminded me to add an update.

Her bites weren't able to be identified as anything in particular. (They're probably a mix of mosquitos, ants, & a few bedbugs.) The allergist offered sympathy, comfort, and prescriptions for prednisone, Benadryl, & Allegra. No Epi-pen. "Call us if you stop breathing!"

I guess the allergist [-]is too cheap[/-] feels the Epi-pen is too dangerous for those who haven't actually gone into anaphylactic shock yet. Or else they're worried about the party syndrome of "Eh, brah, hol' dis one beer an' watch me geev 'um!"

So nothing's really changed, although the drugs are stronger & more accessible. As always, if a bee stings then we'll jump in the car and drive to the nearest ER. Other critter bites will just get heavy doses and watchful waiting.

 

[summer2007]

This is probably of no help but I thought I would post it just in case it might help.

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. If I get stung or bit by bugs it does very little to me. Bee stings hurt but that is about it...I get a little pimple.

I'm constantly barefoot and I step on bees and still don't put shoes on. I work outside a lot.


Now the one thing that I think might be the reason for my low sensitivity is since I was like 3 I played in the woods and was outside constantly.

My Mom is to the point that she gets sick from just going outside. I think her biggest problem is that she started staying indoors all summer and never going out. Now she is hyper sensitive to pollen and can not be outside.

So I don't know if it will help you at all but I think being outdoors might over time be the best way to reduce sensitivity.

I think humans were meant to be outside.

Jim

 

[Nords]

This is probably of no help but I thought I would post it just in case it might help.
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. If I get stung or bit by bugs it does very little to me. Bee stings hurt but that is about it...I get a little pimple.
So I don't know if it will help you at all but I think being outdoors might over time be the best way to reduce sensitivity.

You're right, I'm one of those individuals and it's absolutely no help.

I no longer observe that my only mosquito bites are when I'm not near my spouse. Heck, I haven't had a bee sting since we got married 22+ years ago.

Spouse has verified that staying outdoors longer reduces her sensitivity only in the sense of hastening her progress to the point where she'll no longer sense anything at all. In other words, more stings just make that type of people more sensitive until the final sting kills them.

My being one of those opposite-end-of-the-spectrum people, however, gives her a great feeling of comfort that I'll have no trouble administering CPR and getting her to the ER.

 

[Moemg]

The bedbug thread reminded me to add an update.

Her bites weren't able to be identified as anything in particular. (They're probably a mix of mosquitos, ants, & a few bedbugs.) The allergist offered sympathy, comfort, and prescriptions for prednisone, Benadryl, & Allegra. No Epi-pen. "Call us if you stop breathing!"

I guess the allergist [-]is too cheap[/-] feels the Epi-pen is too dangerous for those who haven't actually gone into anaphylactic shock yet.

Nords , Sometimes the doctors ( sorry Rich & Meadh ) need a gentle push to prescribe something you feel you need . I would push him for an epipen . It's much better to be safe than sorry . Allergic reactions turn bad in a second and by the time you call 911 and they come it's too late . I've seen several allergic reactions and it is past scarey .

 

[Nords]

I would push him for an epipen .

Although I may be prone to hyperbole, next to the dictionary definition of "push" is a picture of my loving spouse.

Spouse's bites elicit the reaction she refers to as "heebie-jeebies"-- big hive or similar swelling at the bite. Short of breath but not asphyxia. Her BP starts at 95/60 so it doesn't exactly go lower.

She's honest about the symptoms so the clinic & specialist doctors have held back on the Epi-pen. The Tripler doctors rotate every few years. This particular colonel has apparently been pushed enough and it'll be another's turn soon.

 

[Martha]

You're right, I'm one of those individuals and it's absolutely no help.

I no longer observe that my only mosquito bites are when I'm not near my spouse. Heck, I haven't had a bee sting since we got married 22+ years ago.

Spouse has verified that staying outdoors longer reduces her sensitivity only in the sense of hastening her progress to the point where she'll no longer sense anything at all. In other words, more stings just make that type of people more sensitive until the final sting kills them.

My being one of those opposite-end-of-the-spectrum people, however, gives her a great feeling of comfort that I'll have no trouble administering CPR and getting her to the ER.

My spouse is like you. He can even pull poison ivy out by hand. Me, I touch the dog that touched the poison ivy and I have it all over me.

I grew up outside all the time. I am much more an outside person than my spouse. But I have to work hard to avoid bites or the results are bad. DH almost never gets bit and if he does, you wouldn't know it.

 

[summer2007]

Nords

I was just trying to help.

Jim

 

[Nords]

Nords
I was just trying to help.

Understand... but just so there's no confusion among any other posters, this is not one of those sensitivities that appears to respond to desensitization treatments. Sure wish it did-- she'd be chugging it by the gallon.