We changed our minds about going to Kruger National Park. Last night, I was awake for several hours, itching from sand fleas (midges, no-see-ums) bites, and I was up several times using various creams and lotions, including Calamine, some of which may work for a few hours. I’m a little too tired to ride in the park for hours.
Invariably, I fall back to sleep, waking up a few hours later with the itching worse than the last time. Last night, a bite on the bottom of my foot was the worst culprit, along with the nagging dozens of bites around my neck. However, with our ramped-up preventive measures, I am only getting one or two new bites each day, far less than a few weeks ago.
The itching lasts from one to three weeks, which can be just as awful the second or third week as when the bites were new. At night, warming up under the covers in the cold weather exacerbates the itching, particularly on my feet. I have implemented the following measures to reduce the likelihood of being bit and the itching:
- Wear repellent with DEET, not only on all exposed skin but under my clothes, reapplying every six hours
- Wear thick socks, leaving no gap between the sock and the bottom of my long pants
- Wear a “bugs-away” long sleeve shirt over a long-sleeve tee-shirt
- Spray the area where we’re sitting outdoors, day and night
- Spray the bedroom with Doom in the late afternoon
- Keep the bedroom door shut at all times.
- At bedtime, reapply repellent, wear long leggings and a long-sleeved hooded shirt to bed, pulling up the hoodie when going to sleep to keep my neck and part of my face covered
- Use anti-itch creams as needed, including cortisone, antihistamine, and calamine lotion
- Shower using exfoliant cream and sponge to remove any remaining insect larvae on my skin.
This is our boy, Dot, who has a few polka dots on his back and above his left leg, as shown in this photo.
I can’t think of anything else I can do. Please let me know if you’ve had experience with these types of insects and their terrible bites. Tom hasn’t had a single bite. Go figure!
The power just went out a few minutes ago. It is supposed to return by 4:00 pm, 1600 hrs. Yesterday, Danie came over and re-did the inverter system in the house. There were two inverters, one upstairs on the second level and the other on the main floor. The unit on the main floor died, so he had to hook up the upstairs unit via a long power cord hanging along the wall by the stairway. He is so on-the-ball about getting things to work well for us, just like his lovely wife, Louise.
Also, yesterday Danie added a handrail leading to the second level. We were so grateful he did this, making it easier for us to go up the stairs. There’s another living room/lounge up there, as well as another huge veranda. It will be fun to entertain up there if it’s raining. Now, with the handrail in place, we’ve added another floor of usability to this house.
Plus, there’s an air-con unit in the lounge upstairs, and on sweltering days and nights in the summer months, we can always go up there to hide away for a few hours. Also, there’s a big TV monitor up there with Netflix; if we’d like, we can watch a movie up there.
The power will supposedly be back up by 4:00 pm, 1600 hrs. Today, with more of the same tomorrow. Tom placed the large metal bowl filled with ice in the refrigerator. Everything in the freezer will be fine for this short period.
Have a great day!
Photo from one year ago today, June 14, 2021:
I am also very sensitive and reactive to various insect bites. Especially chiggers which cause a lot of misery and itching. I have found great relief in soaking the affected area with a strong solution of Epsom salts in hot water. You could soak your foot but keep dipping a wash cloth in a bowl of the mixture and apply. I do this many times a day until it heals. The Epsom salt draws out the poison and I have found relief in a few days versus weeks! I hope this helps.
Kris, I just put Epsom salts on my grocery list. Thank you so much for this tip. I will try this and write how it worked in a post. So much appreciated. Hope you are doing well.
Warmest regards,
Jess & Tom
Chiggerex 2x power
This works for me. Mainly chiggers & fleas are my problem.
I would use it several times a day, until the itch was better.
Says it’s for chigger, tick & all bug bites.
Donna, thank you so much for your suggestion! I looked everywhere and couldn’t find it here in South Africa. But, I am in the process of preparing an order of supplies to be sent here from the US. I found it on Amazon and just now placed the order. So thoughtful of you to write. I’ll write about how it works for me.
Warmest regards,
Jess & Tom