That’s what I feel like right now. I have a piece of advice for you. If you’re ever hiking in the woods, and you get really hot, and then suddenly feel that you must shove your sleeves up to your elbows, don’t, I repeat, don’t do it! I am covered in mosquito bites again. The pink comes from the Caladryl that I applied in a desperate attempt to relieve some of the itchiness. I think I’m due for another application because – oh my God, I don’t think there’s any explanation necessary.
I’m apparently extremely allergic to mosquito bites. If you saw my lower arms right now you would laugh hysterically. I’ve counted no less than 10 bites and each one has swollen up in an area at least one inch long. There are at least four that have swollen to an area of about 2-3 inches long. There are two on the outer edges of my arms (one on each arm) that really make my arms looked deformed. If I could get past the itchiness/soreness, I would have laughed. Luckily, it looks like the swelling is starting to go down just a tad, but the sensations – oh my.
I’ve felt a sort of hypersensitivity all day. Extreme itchiness and soreness that is just constantly there and then if any of the bites are brushed by clothing, etc., Oh My God. Okay, it is pretty damn funny. My mom was laughing at me earlier after she got past her concern. There was one pretty nasty one on my wrist that concerned her for a bit. Then she got over it and continued laughing.
As I said, I earned these bites by hiking my ass off on Saturday. At the end of the hour, I was one out-of-breath sweaty mess. Whoever says that all of Kansas is flat has never been to eastern Kansas. There was one hill that I didn’t think I was going to make it up. And this wasn’t even the most challenging trail! I’m going to save that for next time and believe me, next time there won’t be an inch of me that isn’t coated in at least an inch of bug spray.
Now, before you say, “wow! good job” – I was feeling pretty proud of myself – I get to add the fun fact that I totally blew it as far as my food plan this weekend. I mean, so far beyond blew it that saying I blew it is like saying that I was only slightly overweight when I started this journey. Ugh.
It’s appropriate that this Cathy cartoon was in the paper this weekend:
Because that’s what I can expect at weigh-in on Tuesday.
Oh hey, I just found a new bug bite!
I can commiserate about the mosquito allergy. While everone I know gets little to no reaction (pencil eraser sized?) … I get quarter sized welts. I’ve found AfterBite and Benadryl to be more effective than calamine lotion, but hope these are gone by now!
The Johnson & Johnson’s clear bug bite gel works the best on my bites. Plus it gives you a little sting, which distracts you from the itch until the rest of it kicks in.
Yeah…Eastern KS is maybe not as hilly as other parts of the country, but it’s definitely enough to get your exercise in!
That cartoon was too cute!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re eaten up! For your sake, I am so glad you don’t live here. I swear we are the Mosquito Capital of the World! They are so bad that we literally have a Mosquito Control Truck that drives by each night to spray for them!
But, you would get such a kick out of my husband. He HATES mosquitoes. We must have 3-4 fly swatters hanging around the house, just for mosquitoes.
Every evening, he turns on every single light in the entire house and searches for them room by room. He simply will not go to bed until he does this – every night! LOL
I know you said we couldn’t congratulate you, but I think you still deserve it – despite your eating. Just think if you hadn’t gone on that hike!
Thanks for all of the great tips, you guys! My bites have definitely diminished. They’re still kind of red and itchy, but not nearly as swollen.
Skye-Lynn, I don’t think I’d survive in your neck of the woods! I’d be afraid to leave my house! Ever! That’s so funny about your husband. I’d probably be the same way if I lived there!
And thank you for the congratulations! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it!