Ouch! Have you ever been bitten by ants after a rain storm?
By PearlGrace
@PearlGrace (3171)
United States
August 23, 2008 9:30pm CST
Well, I have. Yesterday, I went outdoors just for a minute to pull the hose out that drains water from the swimming pool as it had gotten too full from all the rain we got. While outside, I wore flipflops. Well, my right foot starting itching so I looked down, and OMG! there were aunts all over my foot biting the crap out of me! I quickly tried to get them off and ran inside to wash my foot.
It was itching like crazy and I was scratching! Then, the swelling started. Well, today, my foot looks like a Donald Duck foot, it is swollen and so huge! Since I have a 6 month doctor check on Wed., I'm trying to wait until then to see the doctor.
However, I do have a history of being allergic to wasp stings, ant bites, etc. The swelling has now reached the bottom of my ankle. I keep cold packs on it and take Benadryl capsules for the itching.
Have you ever been bitten by ants? If so, what did you do to make it better? Did it swell up? Or was it no big deal?
3 people like this
12 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Sounds like fire ants....and my granddaughter had a very bad experience with them...the itching..scratching....swelling..sounds like the reaction she had to them. She is terrified now of ants and I don't blame her! Hope you found something to relieve your bites!
2 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Hi jillhill.
Sorry I freaked you out. I have been on the sofa practically the whole day, taking Benadryl and having ice packs on my foot. Getting in the swimming pool always helps my insect bites heal quickly, so I decided to do that. I swam 75 pool lengths (usually do 100) and it was so refreshing and stopped the itching immediately. Strangely, when I got out of the pool, a lot of the swelling had gone down. Isn't that amazing?
Afterward, I cooked dinner. I am just noticing it's starting to itch again so I've already got an ice pack on it. Since I don't have to work tomorrow, I think I'm gonna get in the pool in the morning, which I don't often do.
But I will definitely be getting to the doctor either tomorrow--Monday, or Wednesday, if the swelling is still down tomorrow a.m.
You are very sweet, thanks for your concern.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi jillhill.
You are such a go-getter! Ranked #1 out of 25,866 in the Life interest category on myLot!! WOW! How do you do that????
Anyhoo, the ants did not look like our fire ants down here. They are usually very, very small. And I would call these ants more medium-sized. Anyway, the bites did burn so I guess our fire ants could be getting larger. And I have been bitten by fire ants before and it was pretty painful.
I woke up this a.m. and the swelling is now above my ankle bone. What a pain. I will have to call the dr. tomorrow (Mon.) instead of waiting for my appointment on Wednesday. The swelling just keeps creeping up and up my foot. Now, it's at the top of my ankle. I'm just praying my husband won't end up getting freaked out and making me go to the E.R. today. I definitely want to avoid that!
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
24 Aug 08
Hi PearlGrace, I have only ever been bitten when I was a child by red ants but I didn't swell up like you did. I would personally not wait until Wednesday as the swelling is reeping up the leg, isn't there a shot you can have to stop it by going to ER or even to a pharmacy. I am going to worry over you now until I know you are okay and have had something done. Healing huggles. Ellie :D
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi ellie333.
These might have been red ants, what we call fire ants here, but they were much larger than what our fire ants usually are. Yes, you are right, I'm not going to be able to wait until Wednesday. When I woke up this a.m. the swelling was up to my ankle. I am going to call the doctor at 8;30 a.m. tomorrow (Monday), that's when they open for business. I will tell the nurse about it and see if she can give me a shot, at the very least. When I got attacked by wasps 3 or 4 years ago, they gave me a shot and Prednisone, a medicine that I absolutely hate to take. But, I will take it, just the same.
I did go to the pharmacy yesterday and the pharmacist told me to take Benadryl for the itching (which I am doing) and to use cold packs for the swelling, which I am also doing.
Thank you for your concerns, ellie333. I will be taking it easy today and have a cold pack on it right now as I type.
1 person likes this
@dementia88 (900)
• United States
24 Aug 08
ug just reading this post made me all itchy. that is seriously crazy. I have never been bitten by an ant ever. nor stung by a bee. I did get bit by a spider once on my leg though and the 2 bite marks swelled up.
i hope your foot feels better soon
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi dementia88.
Wow,you are lucky that you've never been stung by a bee or bitten by an ant. I have an allergic reaction to both. I woke up this a.m. and my foot is even larger. The swelling is now above my ankle bone! I will have to call the dr. tomorrow (Mon.) as I can tell I'm not going to be able to wait until my appointment on Wednesday.
Sorry to hear you had a spider bite. I get so many bites living down here, that I often don't know what bit me. This time, though, I saw them, and they were ants.
Thanks for your response and good wishes.
1 person likes this
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
24 Aug 08
We are up in Volusia County.. about 30 miles W of Daytona Beach and about 30 miles N of Orlando...
When the rain (FINALLY) stopped, I went outside to do the clean-up.. Those damn things were EVERYWHERE! No matter where I stepped, I was getting bit. I am not allergic; the most reaction I get is those stupid gross blisters their poison leaves under your skin.
They even took up residence i my sons room (he has an outside wall) I keep poisoning them, but they keep moving (although the package says it kills the mond, I think they just move)
I hope the swelling goes down soon. They are very painful bites to endure. I hope your damage was not great.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Hey there, fellow Floridian!
So sorry to hear you've been dealing with Fay and these horrible ants. I wasn't outside for longer than 2 minutes and they got me. My husband loves working outdoors and he spends a couple of hours a day out there. He says they are everywhere also. You'd think he'd get bit more than he does.
Anyway, it's clear that I'm quite allergic to these bites. Also, when I got wasp stings a few years ago, I had the swelling and had to see a doctor for a shot and medicine. I'm sure it will get better. I took a swim today and that seems to relieve the itching and reduce the swelling. I guess it's the chlorine in the water that helps.
Thanks for your response, dizzblnd. Take care and avoid those ants.
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I hate any kind of bug bites. They all seem to itch like crazy! Do you have any Benadryl? that might help with the allergic reaction your having ( swelling ).. be careful, make sure you mind how your feeling.. it sometimes can be a much worse type of reaction!
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Yes, I'm taking Benadryl capsules for the itching and it does seem to help a little. But it's not helping the swelling at all. I'm using cold packs for the swelling, but, quite frankly, they don't appear to be keeping the swelling down. I'm afraid I'm gonna wake up tomorrow with an even more ginormous foot!
Thanks for the caution. I will be watching it and if my husband wants me to go to hospital tomorrow, I'll go. But, I'd rather at least wait until Monday to try to get in to my doctor instead. She'll give me an antibiotic shot and some prednisone, probably.
1 person likes this
@Boatter (37)
• China
24 Aug 08
I have not been bitten by ants before. But I have a strange to tell you happened just these days. Several days ago, I found four red blains. First I thought I was bitten by mosquitos, they were flying every palce here. But my blains got very itch, more and more, became big. I went to the school hospital, the dermatosis doctor told me it looked like bitten by small insect, but he could not know which insect it was. I have been taking pills and rubbing ointment these days, and feel a little better now.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hello Boatter.
I do not know what red blains are, but I am sorry you were bitten by mosquitos. That's good that you saw a doctor and that you got some medicine for the bites. I am glad that you are feeling better. Hope you don't get bitten again. Take care.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
24 Aug 08
I have never been bitten by an ant after a rain storm, it is usually when it is nice and warm and sunny. The last time I was sitting on my boyfriend's decking and when I got home I realised I had two lumps on my legs. The bites had obviously swollen up around the area, but as only two ants had bit me it was not my whole leg swelling. I put some witch hazel gel on them and after a few hours the bites had gone down and all I had left was a couple of small red marks, which itched. To get rid of the itching I put some sudocream on it (the same stuff many parents here use to get rid and prevent nappy rash on babies). Hope that helped.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi Elixiress.
Thanks for the tip about witch hazel gel. I didn't even know there was such a product. But I will look for it. How smart to use the sudocream, I wouldn't have thought of that one in a 100 years. Right now, the itching and swelling isn't too terrible because I went for a swim, which relieved it quite a bit. I think it's the chlorine in the pool that seems to help insect bites shrink and dry up.
Thank you so much for responding and for your wonderful suggestions. Take care.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Oh man that stinks . You might have to see the doc earlier , but it should be ok . I used to get stug all the time when i was a kid and only this year did i get stung . I was out by the pool and while i was getting ready to climb up the later a wasp stug my toe . Oh man did it hurt and then itch . Then a few years ago I hung my swim suit on the back porch and went to grab to drape over my arm and all then got my arm . Now that hurt and swell for one day . I had to use ice and it hurt too 
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Hello metschica.
I will either see the doctor tomorrow or Wednesday about my ant bites and the subsequent swelling. The swelling was increased this morning but now is reduced. Sounds like you have had alot of experiences with wasps and stings. Lucky for you that the swelling lasted only one day. I am really hoping the swelling will be down tomorrow morning.
Thank you for responding. Take care.
@MOMMASAM (1004)
• United States
24 Aug 08
not after a rain storm, but before it.
it's like they are in a frenzy !
be sure to elevate your foot too. that will help
with the ice and draining the fluid back to your body.
if you find out you are allergic, you will need to carry
the pen to inject yourself. which is no big deal.
it is easier to not go outside after a rain storm, and avoid the ants, than to
100% avoid a wasp sting which is a proven allergen to you.
i'd be very interested in what your doctor has to say, too !
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hello MOMMASAM.
Yes, you are right about elevating the foot. It feels a little better when I sit in the recliner and have cold packs on it. I am obviously allergic as the swelling keeps creeping up my foot and has now reached above my ankle bone. I'm assuming it's going to start up my leg by tomorrow.
I guess I need to ask the doctor about carrying the pen so I can inject myself in the future.
I really don't walk through the grass very often and usually stay on the sidewalks and driveways.
I was just outdoors for about 2 minutes, and boy, did they get me. Thanks for your advice and response.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Hi Raja_Franklin.
Sorry to hear that you have been bitten by ants. Hope it didn't get all swollen up like mine is doing. I have used Benadryl cream and Benadryl pills. I am also keeping cold packs on it to limit the swelling, but that isn't stopping the swelling much.
Take care and thank you for your response.
@razor123 (979)
• India
24 Aug 08
Yup i have got bitten by big ants and it really hurts. The ant that bit me was a big red ant and once i got bitten i almost felt my foot numb.
Then after 4 - 5 minutes the pain and numbness reduced and i felt better. However there was no swelling as such only that the bitten part had poped up a lil and turned red.
Sorry to hear that your leg is swelling and please see a doctor soon. Hope you get ok soon and please take care of yourself.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Hello razor123.
Well, it sounds like you've experienced a pretty awful ant bite yourself. Glad yours healed up pretty quickly. Yes, I am watching the swelling and putting ice packs on it to keep it down. A swim in the pool seemed to relieve it quite a bit this afternoon. I will see my doctor either tomorrow (Monday) or Wednesday, depending on how the swelling is tomorrow.
Take care and thank you for your positive wishes. Thanks also for your response.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Hi moosecup.
Yes, it hasn't exactly been a picnic, that's for sure. The first day, the itching was deep in the tissue and it was just unbelievably uncomfortable. The swelling has increased each day. However, I took a swim a couple of hours ago. That relieved the itching and the swelling a bit. It must be the chlorine in the water. I've noticed it helping my bug bites before, so I was glad it helped today.
I've got an ice pack on my foot now. Thanks for telling me about the aloe cream.
Take care. Thank you for taking part in this discussion.
