Lymphoedema and insect bites
All the information I can find about lymphoedema says to avoid insect bites, which is good advice - until you have been bitten.
I don't have lymphoedema but had 4 lymph nodes removed with my surgery so I have been told that I am at risk. I am also allergic to most insect bites and stings. Great combination.
Last week I was bitten by an ant on my at risk arm. I immediately took anti histamine and thought everything was ok until the next morning when I woke with a 10cm swelling around the bite. I tried to make an appointment with either of the GPs I routinely see but neither were available. I had also run out of anti histamine - oops.
So I decided to go to the medical centre where you supposedly don't need appointments and also pick up some more anti histamine. I stupidly asked for advice at the pharmacy but they didn't want to sell me anything and said I needed to see a doctor. Fine - I only went to the pharmacy first because I had to walk past it to get to the medical centre. So I arrive at the medical centre and despite the sign on the door saying no appointments necessary it turns out that I did need an appointment and I couldn't get one for 3 days. I called 2 more medical centres but apparently most the doctors were at a conference or something because no one could see me that day.
At this point I was starting to panic just a little. I tried to call the breast nurse who was unavailable. The swelling on my arm was now at about 25 cm and rapidly getting worse. I've been allergic to insect bites for years and had never had a reaction like this. I considered going to the emergency department of the local hospital but I was concerned about sitting there for hours waiting for treatment.
So I went to a different pharmacy (hid my arm) and bought more anti histamine and then went home and started to treat the swelling myself. By this time I was swollen from my wrist to my armpit. I elevated my arm and alternated using ice packs and my compression sleeve (I use this when travelling) and did the lymphoedema massage I had been shown when my sleeve was fitted and the swelling started to reduce. After several hours it was back to about a 5 cm swelling which is my typical response to an ant bite.
Interestingly yesterday I was bitten again but this time on my other arm. I took anti histamine right away and this morning I have a small swollen area about 3-4 cm.
I've already decided that next time:
1. I will NEVER EVER run out of anti histamine again. I now have multiple packets - in my handbag, in my travel toiletries, in my gym bag, and in the medicine drawer at home.
2. I will NOT run around trying to visit doctors and buy drugs. If necessary I will call a friend who can do all that I will remain still and treat the swelling.
3. I have made an appointment with my doctor next week to review what happened.
So has anyone else had this experience?
What are we supposed to do if we are unlucky enough to be bitten on our at risk arm?
I don't have lymphoedema but had 4 lymph nodes removed with my surgery so I have been told that I am at risk. I am also allergic to most insect bites and stings. Great combination.
Last week I was bitten by an ant on my at risk arm. I immediately took anti histamine and thought everything was ok until the next morning when I woke with a 10cm swelling around the bite. I tried to make an appointment with either of the GPs I routinely see but neither were available. I had also run out of anti histamine - oops.
So I decided to go to the medical centre where you supposedly don't need appointments and also pick up some more anti histamine. I stupidly asked for advice at the pharmacy but they didn't want to sell me anything and said I needed to see a doctor. Fine - I only went to the pharmacy first because I had to walk past it to get to the medical centre. So I arrive at the medical centre and despite the sign on the door saying no appointments necessary it turns out that I did need an appointment and I couldn't get one for 3 days. I called 2 more medical centres but apparently most the doctors were at a conference or something because no one could see me that day.
At this point I was starting to panic just a little. I tried to call the breast nurse who was unavailable. The swelling on my arm was now at about 25 cm and rapidly getting worse. I've been allergic to insect bites for years and had never had a reaction like this. I considered going to the emergency department of the local hospital but I was concerned about sitting there for hours waiting for treatment.
So I went to a different pharmacy (hid my arm) and bought more anti histamine and then went home and started to treat the swelling myself. By this time I was swollen from my wrist to my armpit. I elevated my arm and alternated using ice packs and my compression sleeve (I use this when travelling) and did the lymphoedema massage I had been shown when my sleeve was fitted and the swelling started to reduce. After several hours it was back to about a 5 cm swelling which is my typical response to an ant bite.
Interestingly yesterday I was bitten again but this time on my other arm. I took anti histamine right away and this morning I have a small swollen area about 3-4 cm.
I've already decided that next time:
1. I will NEVER EVER run out of anti histamine again. I now have multiple packets - in my handbag, in my travel toiletries, in my gym bag, and in the medicine drawer at home.
2. I will NOT run around trying to visit doctors and buy drugs. If necessary I will call a friend who can do all that I will remain still and treat the swelling.
3. I have made an appointment with my doctor next week to review what happened.
So has anyone else had this experience?
What are we supposed to do if we are unlucky enough to be bitten on our at risk arm?
