Something stung my thumb last night.

[Are_grits_groceries]

I was almost asleep last night when my thumb began to sting. I mean fire ant type sting and I have had experience with that. I cut the light on and tried to find whatever it was that bit me but I found nothing. I can't think of any 'disease' that would cause this. I put some Benadryl on it and eventually it calmed down. I have a red area on my thumb this morning.

I have tiny monsters with teeth in my bedroom. Halp!

[Agschmid]

1. You posted this in GD, did you mean to be in the Lounge?

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. Thank you for letting me know this is GD.

What would I do without the GD monitors?

Yes, I meant to post it here.

[Agschmid]

7. Probably living with less spite?

[LanternWaste]

47. And less snark from the balcony too, it would seem..

"Probably living with less spite?"

And less snark from the balcony too, it would seem.

[olddots]

48. snappy comeback

[justiceischeap]

2. Well, you obviously let the bedbugs bite

I sometimes get bit by spiders in my sleep. I also seem to be allergic to ant bites. I don't get the stinging sensation but huge red welts.

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. Pssst...

Mentholated vapor rub on a sting/bite, re-apply 3x a day, takes the sting, reduces the itching, reduces the welt.
Esp. great for fire ant bites.

Every biting bug in the country seems to live down here in the south, and I swear by mentholated Vaseline.

[justiceischeap]

29. Thank you!

I seem to attract ants, spiders and mosquitoes when the weather warms and boy do I get itchy when they bite.

[dgibby]

30. Soaking in iced tea or ammonia also helps.

I used them both for fire ant bites when I lived in the Lowcountry.

[Are_grits_groceries]

36. Does that help with chiggers?

I haven't found anything that works with those bastids. Their bites can make you lose your mind and dig holes in yourself.

[dgibby]

45. Yep, somewhat.

Chiggers are mites, and although they don't burrow into your skin as commonly believed, they do inject a digestive enzyme into the skin, which is what causes the itching. Calomine lotion, corticosteriods are sometimes prescribed. Some folks think nail polish will smother the chiggers, but that's not true, as the chiggers are not burrowed into the skin. They big problem with chigger bites is the secondary infection that occurs when you scratch yourself half to death!

[TexasProgresive]

4. What does the bite look like? n/t

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. It's a roundish red area. nt

[TexasProgresive]

6. If it gets a dark center

Seek treatment for a possible brown recluse bite. It probably isn't but if it is early treatment is important. Good luck, Keep eating grits.

[HelenWheels]

8. Can't be fleas

or you would have several bites. My bet it is a spider. Look through your bedding in case it is still in there.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. I know fleas.

When it started I didn't think much about it. After a minute I got up because this was something real. It was getting worse and not pleasant. It was not screaming pain, but I felt it.

[B Calm]

9. Could it be a spider?

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. Maybe?

Do their bites sting?

[darkangel218]

26. Yes, they do sting quiet a bit.

[spike91nz]

12. what part of

the country do you live? Assuming you live in the US. When you examine the area with a magnifying glass do you observe a single point or two near points where the skin is broken? Is there any pattern to the red area? Is it raised? Can you move your thumb without pain? Are there any systemic effects, (e.g., chills, sweats, thirst, rapid heart beat)? Best to get a medical evaluation if there is any concern.

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. I live in NE South Carolina.

I live near the swamps. Anything can crawl out of those.
It looks like there is one small point where the bite is but it's hard to tell. The thumb doesn't hurt but it looks a little swollen around that area.
I'm keeping an eye on it.

[madokie]

13. Don't know if this is it or not

but I was stung on my finger by a scorpion one time, it woke me crawling across my neck and when I reached to brush it off i must have rolled in a ball because I found it on the floor with a couple messed up legs going in circles trying to get away. Anyways it set my finger on fire but there was no spot showing where it stung me until much later. I knew where it was by where I hurt but there was no visible sign of a sting. Later the next morning my finger was red but other than that I couldn't tell you exactly where it was it stung me. Just in case that might be it

I looked it up in a encyclopedia and from what it said there sometimes you can't actually see where the scorpion stung you so that maybe what got you. Hurt like the dickens.

[RoccoR5955]

15. Check for vampire bats

They often bite at night..

[Are_grits_groceries]

16. It was probably a Palmetto Thug with a switchblade. nt

[darkangel218]

17. It was most likely a spider.

It has happened to me too.

[Nitram]

18. Spider bites are rather rare.

And Brown Recluse bites rarer still. The Brown Recluse actually lives in a fairly restricted geographic area, contrary to public belief. I would suggest the bite was most likely a small bee or wasp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_recluse_spider

[darkangel218]

19. Spider bites are actually quiet common at night

Like I said, I was bit by one as well. And bees/wasps at night? In the bedroom?

[Nitram]

22. Actually, spider bites are not common at any time of day.

The notion that a mysterious bite that occurs during the night is probably a spider bite is a common misperception.
http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3006-2/

[darkangel218]

25. lol!!

Where do you live? Here in FL spider bites are very common. Happen all the time.

[Nitram]

42. How many times have you actually observed a spider biting you?

It's a common myth. I lived in Florida for a year, and 10 years in tropical countries where poisonous spiders are far more common than in the U.S.

[darkangel218]

43. Lmao!

[randome]

46. Some spiders are hungrier than others.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]TECT in the name of the Representative approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[snooper2]

33. I had a spider bite me once!

[pipoman]

20. There is no better...

Every spring and fall...no spiders, crickets, or any other bugs...I've been using it for 15 years...

[Nitram]

23. I'd rather risk a spider bite than spray a neurotoxin in my bedroom.

The active ingredient in Bengal Roach spray is permethrin.

Permethrin acts as a neurotoxin, slowing down the nervous system through binding to sodium channels. This action is negatively correlated to temperature, thus, in general, showing more acute effects on cold-blooded animals (insects, fish, frogs, etc.) over warm-blooded animals (mammals and birds):

Permethrin is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic life in general, so extreme care must be taken when using products containing permethrin near water sources.
Permethrin is also highly toxic to cats, and flea and tick-repellent formulas intended and labeled for (the more resistant) dogs may contain permethrin and cause feline permethrin toxicosis in cats.[11]
Very high doses have tangible neurotoxic effects on mammals and birds, including human beings.

Permethrin is listed as a "restricted use" substance by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)[12] due to its high toxicity to aquatic organisms,[13] so permethrin and permethrin-contaminated water should be properly disposed. Permethrin is quite stable, having a half life of 51–71 days in an aqueous environment exposed to light. It is also highly persistent in soil.[14]

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. Yep. I don't get how anybody would want to spray shit like that in their home

I refuse to let the exterminators in my house when our condo association calls them. I can live with seeing a house centipede once or twice a year. Some of the people in my building go absolutely fucking bonkers over seeing a centipede.

The latest scam is non-toxic. Yeah, just like agent orange...

[snooper2]

34. Hey! That is the same thing Wikipedia says!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin

[Nitram]

40. busted!

[pipoman]

38. Not me...

My 8 yr old niece got one of these on her face...her life is changed forever. I live on a farm, I can find you a recluse at any point....they are everywhere...not in my house...I'll take my chances...

[darkangel218]

44. You forgot the link:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin

[CreekDog]

27. I don't know why you take comfort in using that stuff around your family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenothrin

[betsuni]

21. Could it be a centipede?

I was bitten by a young one once and it hurt like heck. I killed it and was up all night scared that its relatives would avenge the murder.

[KMOD]

37. lol

Not about you getting stung, but the relatives avenging the murder.

[dgibby]

31. Watch out for:

increased swelling

increased redness

red streaks

discoloration of thumb and/or nail bed, ie, blue or blanched bed.

increased pain/throbbing.

numbness.

Any of these symptoms may indicate compartment syndrome, which is caused by decreased circulation. In other words, the swelling acts as a tourniquet, cutting off circulation and causing tissue death. Prompt intervention/treatment is required in order to save the affected area (Miles O'Brien lost his arm because of this).

If it gets worse, please get to the Dr. asap!

[randome]

32. Was it one of these? If so, what you need are a few good flamethrowers.

Because where there's one Zanti misfit, there's another.


[hr][font color="blue"][center]TECT in the name of the Representative approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[lonestarnot]

35. Snort

lol

[petronius]

39. If there is a pricking in your thumbs, it means that "...something wicked

this way comes." But if it's only one thumb, I wouldn't expect outright wickedness: anticipate a visit from someone mildly obnoxious...

Hope it feels better!

[Are_grits_groceries]

41. lol....nt