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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 27 2011 at 5:04pm | IP Logged
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Ok, Southerners, I have a question for you. I am apparently allergic to fire ant bites. Yesterday I was out in my garden picking beans and didn't notice that I had stepped on an anthill. Fortunately it wasn't a big swarm, but I did receive several bites on each ankle, and now my ankles are roughly the size and shape of giant red sausages.
Is there anything I can do besides elevate, ice, and Benedryl? I googled fire ant bites and it looks as if bleach is often recommended immediately after being bitten, and yes, I was even desperate enough to try this yesterday, but I am thinking that it's either just an old wives tale or it doesn't work on me, since see above. 
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 27 2011 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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Stops the Sting - not expensive, it's probably at your local hardware store (especially if you can find a little Mom and Pop store!). WORKS!!!
One of my kids is allergic to fire ants, too. Sigh. So much so that a couple of years ago we actually paid to have our yard treated with what is essentially a citrus oil (all organic based...as in organic...of the earth...not necessarily certified organic stuff - we chose this because we're a part of a local watershed). And you know how big our yard is....I think we only treated 2 acres of it. Anyway, the yard treatment was a HUGE success, and we've had much diminished activity this year, even though we're two years past treating. It is NOT cheap, but if you have a local pest company that works with organic based products, you might check with them. It was worthwhile for us.
But until then - go and get some STOPS THE STING!!!!!!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 27 2011 at 9:33pm | IP Logged
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I know this sounds terrible, but I always make sure to pop the little pustules that form at the site of the bite. Not on my kids because that would be more of a trauma than the bites themselves, but I always do on myself. It seems to release some of the toxins within and allow it to begin draining.
I always keep a tube of prescription strength hydro-cortisone cream around. Works very well to keep the itch down. I always keep meat tenderizer around as well. If you make a paste and allow it to dry on the sting or bite it seems to help draw things out.
Oh and if you sprinkle some grits around the ant hill it does pretty well at getting rid of those little buggers after a few days.
I hope you feel better soon!!! 
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 28 2011 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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Grits??? Oh... I bet it has something to do with the corn. I remember my dh looking at some organic weedkiller that as mostly made from corn, so I bet it's kind of the same principle.
Jen, I remember talking to you about your yard treatment. We looked for somebody around here a while back, but couldn't find anybody right off the bat... I hope that means we just need to look harder. Where we are is NOT a great bastion of organic services. In fact, I think that all the ants in the neighborhood are flocking to our yard because of the enormous amounts of chemicals our neighbors dump on theirs... wish there was a shudder icon... 
Andy has been ordering some stuff off the internet that works, kind of. The problem seems to be that every time it rains 20 more ant hills spring up. We must have BILLIONS of ants!
Thanks, ladies, for your help!! The swelling is down this morning, but my feet still itch like crazy! 
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: Sept 28 2011 at 8:47am | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
Grits??? Oh... I bet it has something to do with the corn. I remember my dh looking at some organic weedkiller that as mostly made from corn, so I bet it's kind of the same principle.
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Oh I know it sounds crazy! Actually, many think it is a myth so I guess you just would have to try it to see if it works for you, but it is something I have used with success. I think the myth part is that some say it can blow the ants up!  Anyhow the Dirt Doctor has an explanation posted along with some other natural ant control ideas.
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~Shannon
Mom of dd 12, ds 9, & dd 5
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Erin
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| Posted: Sept 28 2011 at 3:19pm | IP Logged
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Angela
You may need to take some antihistamine to reduce the swelling. One of my dc is allergic to jumping ants and we keep some on hand for him.
Sigh, one allergic to j ants, another bees and another paper wasps.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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kbfsc
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| Posted: Sept 30 2011 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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Here is the remedy we used during my childhood here in the south: Kirk's Castile soap. My mom would lather it up and liberally cover the entire area where we received the fire ant bites and then let the soap dry before rinsing it off. I don't know the science behind it - but this always worked! The little sores would form, but there was almost no discomfort, swelling or itching.
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Kiera
happy mama of ds '02, dd '03, ds '06, dd '09 and little ones in heaven
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: fire ant remedy?
