Forum Discussion
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?
17 Replies
- @"Harley B", so interesting would not of thought an insect bite would affect us like that. Good to know. Thank you for sharing.
@Zoffiel, with everything you are going through you still have your sense of humour. Everything you said is so true. Thank you for the giggle I really did need it. All the best :) - Ouch! I'm lucky enough not to have a problem with lymphodema but I was bitten by a tick on my hairline once and one side of my face swelled up! It was awful, I walked into the doctor and first thing she said was "what happened to you??" :)
- It's possible to test if they are spider bites (blood test) but apparently only in the first day orvso. I got some similar sounding bites on my neck, they took some time to go away but no apparent side effects (they were on my lymphoedemic side).
- Thanks Zoffiel, I saw my GP yesterday and she didn't know why they are not going away but said to keep an eye on them and the rash on my hand where the canular was as my immunity is very low and they aren't starting injections until my next chemo. She never mentioned spider bites.
- Hi Cate, if there is any chance they are spider bites, you need to get some help. Spiders, in addition to venom, introduce some bacterial which are not good when you are comprised.
- Hi ladies, on the insect bite subject, I got a number of bites on my arms, stomach, back and neck just over two weeks ago. Had my first chemo 12 days ago and the bites got worse (redder, more swollen and itchy) afterwards and are not going away. I already take phenergan everyday so may be worse if I didn't. Anyone else had this issue? Lucky for me no lymphoedema of my surgery arm but feel for you ladies that do.
- Not grumpy just honest! I can be very straightforward and honest in my conversation, particularly with bureaucrats and they don't cope as their vocabulary is what I term weasel words - honesty is a good policy!
- BC's the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it? More pointless directives to add to the list:
- Eat well, while bowels alternating between 'set like concrete' and 'mud canon'
- Get some rest, while gobbling steroids
- Relax, while everything is going to hell in a hand basket
- Look after yourself. Really? I have no idea how to do that anymore. Unless you mean lying on the couch
- Don't let the turkeys get you down. Difficult, when you can't eat them. See point one
- Get some exercise. Ha. Hahaha. Does the endless loop from the dunny to the couch to the bed count?
- Don't lift anything over 5kg. Not even going to bother thinking about that.
- Avoid bites in an environment just heaving with things who's sole purpose seems to be chewing on you.
- @"Harley B" well of course now you have a plan and all the drugs to do the job it wont happen again ;)
I agree with @Afraser my sleeve and glove garments seem to keep the bites at bay a bit more than I usually would be bitten.
I refuse to spray or roll on chemicals to keep bugs at bay as I think that is more dangerous all the chemicals in it.
I unfortunately fell and broke my wrist (affected arm) it needed surgery and pins and plates.... it has taken us nearly 2 years for me to get my lymphodema under control again after 6 months to heal the breaks...
Massage exercise and elevation are so important with lymphodema.
IF any of you have access to a pool try getting 2 frisbees put one in each hand under the water splaying your hand out in the back of the frisbee to hold it then do figure 8's under the water it helps to move the lymph along your arms. ..
it is an old exercise which someone taught me and I find it very helpful. - Sorry I meant to come back and update this thread after my doctors visit.
She repeated the advice to avoid being bitten on that arm - and then we laughed about the idea that anyone actively tries to get bitten. While repellent is not much help with ants, bees, wasps and spiders (my main problems) it does help with mosquitoes, sand flies etc.
She was pleased that I now had multiple packs of anti histamine readily available and we added phenergan to take in the evening when necessary. I also have prednisone 25mg to take in the day time as a single dose if I am bitten on my arm. Obviously anyone with similar condition should see their own doctor for appropriate medications.
The bite treatment I used of rest, ice, compression sleeve and elevation (RICE) is the appropriate treatment.
Hopefully now that I am fully informed and prepared I will never again be bitten on that arm.
