Floridians Need Your Help

lovemy2 wrote: Anyone ever heard of fire ants? Anyone gotten bit by one? What kind of symptoms did you have and how long did they last?

lisar replied: Yea all the time we get bit by them. They wont kill you unless you are allergic. They will sting really bad for about 30minutes and then go away. Put some benadryl on the bites. If it swells alot then I would call the dr but it might swell a little on its own.

Edited to add that it might feel like the bite area is on fire.

Feel free to ask anything else. i have about 5 of these ant beds in my yard.

grandma replied:
They have fire ants in Texas too. When they bite you it stings like a &*^() and you get little red stingy bumps. If I remember we use to treat them like a burn.

lovemy2 replied: My Mom was in Florida about three weeks ago - she was bit by SOMETHING not sure what it was - it did swell - she put ice on it - for the past two weeks she has had this burning feeling in different parts of her body and pain radiating from her foot where she was bit....the burning feels like burning from the inside if that makes any sense - and its in different areas - the back of her legs, her arms, her butt - - could that be from the fire ants or do you think it was something else that bit her - I find the info about burning on the internet but not about burning in other places on her body....

luvmykids replied: I don't know what that could be, but at this point I think she should see a dr.

mckayleesmom replied: Im allergic to them and when I get bit within 10 minutes my breathing is starting to shut down. I have an eppy pin that I have to carry around and inject if I get bit.

amynicole21 replied: That doesn't sound like a fire ant bite... we have scorpions here, too - could it have been that? Don't know what those symptoms would be. I would tell her to see a doctor.

lovemy2 replied: She has been to the MD TWICE and I also took her to emergency - we didn't end up staying at ED because it was like a 7 hour wait - they did her vitals, etc. and they were all OK - we called her MD and she said to come into the office the next day which she did - they have done bloodwork, etc. kidney, liver function all sorts of stuff - so far everything is fine....but I would think if she was bit by something they could maybe draw blood to check for toxins/poisin or something????? I feel so bad for her she is so uncomfortable, miserable....

lisar replied:
Scorpion????? We have some here that will do that and it will last for a couple weeks. Benedryl is what the dr's reccommend for that.

lisar replied:
Thats what I thought cause fire ants dont do that.

MommyToAshley replied: When I lived in Louisiana, I was bit by red (fire) ants. I had whelps with little blisters all over my body. I was only 7 at the time, but I don't remember it feeling anything like what you are describing.

lovemy2 replied: Aren't scorpions big? or not necessarily - she was in Naples FL....

amynicole21 replied: No, they can be 1" long...

lisar replied:
Yeap we have those.

luvmykids replied: I was stung by a scorpion once, I didn't even see it until after I stepped on it, thats how small it was. I did have burning and swelling but don't remember anything like what your mom is dealing with. I agree, you'd think they would be looking for something more specific....I hope you guys are able to get it figured out soon and get your mom some relief

grandma replied:
Sorry, I didn't realize I had used a forbidden word.......

lisar replied:
It really all depends on what kind you get bit by. Some are alot worse than others. And yea some of them blend in so well its scary. I have done alot of research on them because we have them out on our property and I wanted to know what do if one of the kids got stung.

I hope your mom gets better. Keep us updated on her.

Calimama replied: I've never heard of anything like that. KUP!!

holley79 replied: There will be a little blister that comes up. If I don't get vinegar on it as soon as it happens it swells and burns for a while.

My2Beauties replied: *shudder* Iiiiiick! I hate any type of bug....If I so much as see a fire ant or a scorpion when I go to Florida this year, I'll hightail my butt back home

lovemy2 replied:
Check your bed - apparently the scorpions hide in the sheets Seriously - google it

Calimama replied:
Back home I've heard of people finding them in their shoes! I'd flip out.

I KNEW there was a reason I always wear flip flops.

holley79 replied: I wear sandals all the time. We also get brown recluses (sp?) in shoes and beds in central Fl. *shudder*