This has happened before, for about a week and a half about two weeks after we moved here. I've got numerous little red itchy spots on my hands and forearms, presumably bug bites. They are intensely itchy. I'm at a loss as to explain them. They are not mosquito bites - first, mosquitos are for more attracted to Joel than they are to me; I've hardly gotten bitten at all since I've met him. Second, when I do get bit, the bites tend to swell up right away, and are immediately very swollen and itchy. These, on the other hand, I notice one day, a little red spot, and then it is the next day that they really begin to swell and itch. (Which means I can see in advance that there is worse to come). And the ones on my hands all seem to happen on the knuckles, where the swelling ends up being quite painful too.
The worst part is that it is Sunday, and hence the drugstore is closed, so I can't get any calamine or anything. We're going to see if the grocery store has anything that will help - it's a shot. In the meantime, I have a vague recollection about a solution with baking soda being an anti-itch thing. However, Joel wasn't able to find anything googling last night. Does this ring a bell for anyone from old wives's tales, stories from their grandparents, quack remedies? I'd be interested in trying, in case I can't get any itch creme. At least if it didn't work it would be harmless.
The frustrating part is that I'm at a complete loss as to where these are coming from, so there's nothing I can do to prevent them. I'll admit, the possibility of bedbugs had crossed my mind. There are two strong reasons that I don't think this is the case. First, why was there a 9 month gap where I didn't get any of these? Second, Joel hasn't gotten a single one. I can't imagine that we could both sleep in the same bed and *I'd* get ravaged and he wouldn't. Anyone have any thoughts or guesses? Or other home remedies to curing itching so I don't go mad today?
The worst part is that it is Sunday, and hence the drugstore is closed, so I can't get any calamine or anything. We're going to see if the grocery store has anything that will help - it's a shot. In the meantime, I have a vague recollection about a solution with baking soda being an anti-itch thing. However, Joel wasn't able to find anything googling last night. Does this ring a bell for anyone from old wives's tales, stories from their grandparents, quack remedies? I'd be interested in trying, in case I can't get any itch creme. At least if it didn't work it would be harmless.
The frustrating part is that I'm at a complete loss as to where these are coming from, so there's nothing I can do to prevent them. I'll admit, the possibility of bedbugs had crossed my mind. There are two strong reasons that I don't think this is the case. First, why was there a 9 month gap where I didn't get any of these? Second, Joel hasn't gotten a single one. I can't imagine that we could both sleep in the same bed and *I'd* get ravaged and he wouldn't. Anyone have any thoughts or guesses? Or other home remedies to curing itching so I don't go mad today?