For anyone who reacts badly to horse fly bites....

Coblover63

Coblover63

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I have extreme reactions to horse fly bites. We're talking a hot, red, itchy area the size of a side plate sometimes, despite taking a daily antihistimine for a dust allergy!

But last summer I discovered "After Bite".... http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Bite-Insect-Remedy-14ml/dp/B000KU919G which is actually an ammonia solution in a handy pen-shaped applicator. If you haven't seen or heard of it, this stuff has been my salvation and will reduce inflammation to around the size of a 50p for about 24-26 hours and then after that they just look like mozzie bites. On Saturday I went on an all-day trail ride and came home with 21 - yes TWENTY-ONE horse fly bites. Didn't think to take my After Bite with me so didn't start applying it until Saturday evening. Had a fairly uncomfortable night of itching and had to wake up a couple of times for a cold flannel and then re-application and had the small swellings on Sunday. By yesterday the "angry-ness" had gone out of them and today they are just marks... and haven't itched yet today (and I've got hot doing my housework!)

So for a couple of quid, I would say it is worth a try for you, if you aren't allergic to ammonia, of course! I certainly don't feel so worried about venturing out now that I know I have something to deal with any bites that occur.
 
Oh thanks for this. I too have an extreme reaction and have been prescribed huge amounts of anti-histamine to take after the bite but then I am knocked out. This could be the answer!
 
That's what I use. Everything with wings bites me while my husband never get bit. He says its because I'm bad meat!! Very funny darling! They really do work.
 
Oh wow thanks - I am super allergic to mossies and horse flies. Got bitten on the hand the other day and couldn't get my riding glove on!! Will give it a go!
 
Oh, forgot to say, you don't have to order it from Amazon... that was just a handy link to show you what it looks like. Aldi are currently selling them for £1.99 and you can get them in most high street chemists. Boots do their own version too.
 
thanks for htat will be buying some!! I always get bitten by them and it litrally swells up to about 10" diameter!! Usually end up going to doc 2/3 time during summert for antibiotics!!
 
Oh Thank you for this piece of info. I too react quite badly to the Horseflies and i noticed yesterday they've just started to appear at the farm!

Last year I got quite a few bites while they were around and one particular one,...bit me through my jods just below the knee and did the usual big red
hot and itchy swelling. The morning after my lower leg/calf was swelling pretty badly and beginning to stiffen up and really hurt.

Ended up in Tarporley A & E that afternoon getting emergency treatment as i'd been to a couple of chemists and they took one look at it and
said 'Wo... you're way past antihistamine help, you need to get yourself to hospital with that'!! Doc said i'd done the right thing as i'd obviously
been bitten on this particular occasion by a 'dirty/infected fly'.

So... i WILL be purchasing an 'after bite' pen as they sound good!

Thanks again :)
 
I puff up like mad - will get some to try - I take antihistamine all year round as am allergic to horses, dust, hay etc etc - remind me why I love horses?
 
*Sticks hand up* :(

Thanks for the info. I hate the bloomin' things though they love me. Apparently mozzies etc can smell your blood up to 1km away. They eat me alive and it seems to be running in the family. My sons get eaten too. :(
 
I was told once that biting insects prefer sweeter blood and that kind of ties in with the fact that I do have a terrible sweet tooth, whereas hubby, who hardly ever gets bitten (and doesn't react either!) is a savoury guy.....
 
I have 3 of these because they are brilliant! Horseflies, wasps, bee's and mosquito's all nibble me very regularly and my body really doesn't like it. This pen really takes the oomph out of it. Before I got these I used vinegar and still do in case I forget this. I thought it was an old wives tail at first but it really does work, I guess the same as peeing on a jellyfish sting. I don't care if I smell like a chip shop that's been used as a cattery!
 
Ooh thanks I will go and get some have had some nasty reactions on my legs mainly from horse fly bites, I can put up with smelling of cat pee if it works:)
 
Anti bite is good :) also double (or if need be triple) dose on antihistamines - one a day isn't enough. And you can also crush an antihistamine, mix it with a little water into a paste and rub it on the bite
 
Well...I've been to Aldi and bought myself an 'After Bite' Pen and it's now safely tucked in my bag ready to do battle with the b*ggers!!! LOL

Edited to add.... i wonder if i can use it on my boy to sooth his bites?? Don't see why not!
 
That's what I use.

Although the other night I had to make up a vinegar poultice. I dunno what the little blighted had bitten before me but my gosh it just burnt.

Vinegar poultice using a cotton wall pad and vet wrap apparantly didn't make me appealing that night, said OH :(

And remember TCP or dettol, every year I ended to with cellulitis at some point but I scrub the bites now and so far they have settle I'm 1-2 days
 
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