There have been a few times in my life when I really wanted to look my best. My wedding, my honeymoon, and this week when I am on TV in my bathing suit. And so far, two out of those three times, mosquitoes have done their best to sabotage me.
On my honeymoon in Fiji I was eaten alive by mosquitoes. My left arm, hand, leg, and FACE (yes, you can see pictures here) were a delicious snacking ground for a very hungry mosquito. I was, in a word, sexy.
I can’t just get itchy red bumps like a normal person – my body reacts by completely FREAKING THE FREAK OUT. The bites get swollen and infected looking. Sometimes they get bruised, sometimes they get bloody, and sometimes I get really lucky and get the swollen/bruised/bloody trifecta.
So here I am, in my hotel room in NYC, trying not to itch my entire left leg, as I have been the victim of another vicious mosquito attack. My left foot is very swollen. I am going to post a picture of it now…I apologize in advance for this, since as you all know, I hate feet.
Gag. So many gross things in that picture. You can’t really see the redness thanks to the flash and spray tan I received, but ooooooh man is my foot big. I had to wear flip flops as my other shoes were too tight.
But the other place that the bites are really bad….I can’t show you a picture. Because somehow, a mosquito got all up in my badonkadonk. This freaking bug went to town, biting me eight times. My left butt cheek is the trifecta. It is swollen, bruised, and just totally disgusting. And if you were here in person, I would show it to you because that’s the kinda pal I am. But if I put a picture of my ass on the internet, my husband and dad would kill me.
Luckily, you can’t see the mosquito bites on my butt when I’m wearing a swim suit. Although, just to be on the safe side, Lands’ End put me in a different suit yesterday at my fitting – it’s a cute swim skirt, but it also has a double layer of fabric covering my rear.
Fingers crossed there aren’t bed bugs in my hotel, or I am screwed.
P.S. If you live in the Connecticut area, I’ll be on Connecticut Style this morning. Watch for our swim suit segment!
Lisa says:
Ugh, that sucks. I really react to mosquito bites as well, and they just love to bite me. Luckily I don’t get the bruised part. Just really red, really swollen welts. Mosquitoes can suck it!
You looked lovely in your swimsuit on Curvy Girl this morning, can’t wait to hear more about your swimsuit adventures this week. Best of luck to all of you on your tv appearances.
Misty says:
Have you tried After Bite? It helps witht he itching ans swelling of bug, especially mosquito, bites. A drug store should have it.
Noelle says:
I am super allergic to mosquitoes, like epi-pen shots and bites swollen to a golf ball size when I was a kid. As I’ve gotten older I don’t react nearly as badly. I take prescribed Zyrtec on a regular basis and use Benadryl gel as a topical. They really help.
Good luck with those bites, and the swimsuit!
Audra says:
My friend has the same problem and the mosquitos always seem to go for her face which results in eyes that swell almost shut and all kinds of unattractiveness. She uses Benadryl (the pills and the topical cream). I know that you have a really busy schedule right now and probably can’t afford the Bendryl-induced nap, but it might help. Do you know if Annie has the same kind of reaction? You can’t give Benadryl to children under 6, so if you think she might, it might be a good idea to have some children’s prescription stuff on hand before mosquito season really gets under way.
Meg...ct says:
Im in CT…I will watch!
Leigh Elliott says:
dear lord Heather! have you tried taking an anti-histamine with some ibuprofen? I take claritin 10mg (not the claritin D which will probably knock you out) but just the little tiny claritin. It does not make you drowsy. I say this combo b/c I am actually doing immunotherapy right now for some of my allergies and yesterday I had a stronger reaction than normal and my arms swelled up big time. When I called my allergists office they suggested taking an anti-histamine coupled with ibuprofen. I thought they were just telling me to take the ibuprofen for the pain but am now realizing it was to take the swelling down.
I don’t know if you can take these medications but thought I’d suggest it.
and BTW, thanks for being such a good role model – in more ways than one – and showing us your confidence in your suit! I totally agree that as moms, we have to do our best to set these examples early on. We can tell our girls to have confidence, and be proud, but if we can’t do it for ourselves, what’s up with that?
Hope you feel better.
I think your toes are beautiful!
Deborah says:
Yucky! I don’t know why, but mosquitoes almost never bite me. They will fly all around me but not land on me or anything. Same with my dad. My mom, on the other hand, is dinner to those pesky bugs. I must have a really sour taste or something.
Becca says:
Oh dear…. I used to work at a summer camp in my younger years that hosted international counselors as an exchange program – there would always be ONE that would react like this. It was horribly painful to watch. As far as I know there’s not a lot you can do about it, some people are just more allergic to the mosquito’s saliva (errrggghhhh) than others. As far as the after-bit suggestion, I never found it to work against the actual redness and bumps, however the sting that happened when you apply it became a nice, and slightly addicting, relief from the constant itchyness.
Yay for swimsuits!
Jamie says:
And i thought my monster bites were bad (my individual bites get pretty big, but I don’t swell like that). I’m sorry about your aft end. Does benedryll help?
Skye says:
ugh, what awful timing! At least the more visible parts of you are spared, unlike on your honeymoon!
Jean says:
I’m about 15 minutes away from the wtnh studio. You just missed Martin Scorscese and Tom Hanks by a day. They were here all weekend up until yesterday for Yale’s graduation. You should always keep benedryl spray in your purse. Mosquito bites make me swell up too. If I spray the benedryl spray as soon as I get a bite, I don’t swell up. Enjoy your time in NYC and CT. NYC is the best place on earth.
amanda says:
Hey! Welcome to CT! Hope you enjoy our muggy, rainy weather – you’ll want to RUN back to LA! xo
Jannette says:
I once got bitten severely when I was in the Caribbean. Turns out, it was not mosquitos but bed bugs! In case it is bed bugs, make sure you don’t bring them home with you.
Jenn says:
Bites or no I still think you are doing an amazing thing and I think you still look BEAUTIFUL my friend!
amourningmom says:
Ugh! I get bitten all the time too. My mom would always try to make me feel better and tell me that the bugs liked me because I was so sweet. It did not help so much with the itching but it was a nice thought. Take care and hope the bites go away soon.
Lisa_in_WI says:
Oh, you poor thing! Could your doctor consider you allergic at this point and give you something to bring down the swelling? Maybe try some Benadryl?
Kristina says:
My daughter has the same, intense reaction. She takes claritin every day in mosquito season. Benadryl as soon as I notice a bite, and then a steroid gel cream topically. If it gets infected she gets yet another topical cream. It wasn’t until we visited a pediatric dermotologist that I found out how to handle her severe reaction. We use a spray made entirely out of essential oils to avoid the bites in the first place. It’s the only thing that has truly worked. Plus unscented shampoos, soaps, detergents, etc. Good luck! You look great and I like the confidence in swimsuits philosophy!
Carly-from-Canada says:
Try taking Vitamin B1 (thiamine) before you are going to be around mosquitos. Something about it changing your scent and mosquitos not liking it. My kids start taking it 2 weeks before they go to summer camp and it really cuts down on the amount of bites they get. They still have to use repellent but not as much.
Trisha Vargas says:
Living in Florida, I know a thing or two about mosquito bites and fire ants and well don’t get me started on all the damn bugs down here that just love my freckly tender skin. I blow up with bites and so does my 2 year old daughter. It’s horrible to endure.
Try the Children’s Benadryl Clear Anti Itch Gel. It’s awesome. I use it even though it’s for kids. It cools and soothes the itch. Also if you can take Benadryl without becoming a walking zombie, try that too. Also, I have had to go to doctor for steroids and a shot of epinephrine before because the reaction was so bad. If it gets worse, you might want to check that out when you get home. Since you are allergic, clearly from the swelling, having an epi-pen handy and script for predisone wouldn’t be a bad thing just in case the reaction ever gets worse than what you experience now.
For prevention, try wiping down with a Bounce dryer sheet that you’ve moistened just a little bit or try Avon’s SSS Bug Guard.
I love the purple on your toes made me smile and think of Maddie.
Good luck with all your modeling work over the next few days and I hope the bites get better soon.
katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
Oh wow, what a complete pain! I cannot relate one bit because honestly, mosquitos never bother with me. I can be in a room with a swarm of them, and all those around me will have bites, but not me. My blood must not smell inviting to them. Good thing
Kelly says:
My poor little Mea blows up like a balloon with any bug bite. We have already started her summer ritual of Zyrtec.
Funnelcloud Rachel says:
Oh, Heather, I can totally relate! I am freakishly allergic to mosquitoes, and my backyard is freakishly full of them. The day we moved into our house three years ago we sat on the back porch to celebrate. The next day, I had 60 mosquito bites all over my legs. Sixty! My boyfriend had 2. He likes to have me nearby because I serve as bug repellant for him – evidently, my blood is much more delicious. And I don’t get little red welts like normal people – my bites swell up the size of golf balls. Ugh!
Courtney says:
I have terrible allergic reactions to bug bites, too. (I swell up, break out in hives ALL OVER. Talk about sexy…) Taking Benadryl every 4-6 hours works in a pinch, but I also recommend talking to your doctor so you can get a prescription for something. Good luck!!
Rebecca says:
Are you sure your hotel doesn’t have bed bugs?
Oohhh you poor thing!
Stacy says:
Oh how I wish you were my pal IRL! You crack me up! Poor thing! So sorry! I think you’ve held up your end (pun intended) in helping mosquitoes stay off the endangered species list. Fingers crossed all the swelling goes down! Here’s a thought, next time offer up the boobies! Who would mind some swelling there, especially when you have to be in a bathing suit?! Just make sure they bite on target!
sherry lane says:
Tree Tea Oil!!! My youngest daughter is SO allergic to mosquitos!!! If the bite is not open, rub this all over the swollen patches. Works wonders!!!!!
sherry lane says:
Ha! I meant Tea Tree Oil.
Expat Mom says:
My youngest son has HORRIBLE allergies to the smallest of bites and my in-laws have dogs with fleas that are always near our house. When he was a baby, he always looked like he had chickenpox or some horrible disease because his entire body was covered in huge, swollen, oozing bites. Poor kid. He’s doing better now, plus we wash his bedding in anti-flea shampoo and sometimes his clothes if it gets too bad!
Kristin (MamaKK922) says:
Poor Heather, it sounds like you are allergic to mosquito bites like I am. I get the same thing when they bite me, and I am like the nectar to the God’s to them, they can’t get enough of me. I HATE them, but they love me. I hope they leave you alone for the rest of your trip.
Rumour Miller says:
Do not move to Manitoba Canada, then. The mosquito is our provincial bird…. I joke. I joke. But they are stupid brutal around here in the summer months.
Laura says:
haha, love this! I’m from Manitoba, too…and I don’t think anyone understands just how BIG the mosquitos are, until they actually experience them!
Jayme (Random Blogette) says:
I can’t believe that it is only May and we are already seeing so many mosquitoes. I am sure it doesn’t help that it rains almost every day here in Ohio right now. We were sitting in a friend’s garage on Saturday night and I had bites all over my legs and my butt too. I was wearing pants!! My bites became giant welts. Ick!
I would definitely try to find some After-Bite! It seems to work for me when I remember it!
Crystal says:
Oh man. I live in Connecticut. Missed it today. Bummer.
M. says:
Mosquitoes freak me out. Sounds like your immune system is freaked out by mosquitoes, too : /
Jackie F. says:
Uggghhh! I don’t envy you! My 7 y.o. daughter has the exact same issues…I had hoped something like this would go away by adulthood but I guess not! Her’s blister and will swell up her entire hand from just one bite…it is crazy and gross and I always feel so horrible for her.
Rebecca says:
Yes, as someone else said, make sure your hotel room doesn’t have bed bugs! The rear end bites sound more like bed bugs then mosquitos and I’m tellin ya first hand (my best friend had them in her apt.), they are HORRIBLE and will hitchhike home with you and are super, super hard to get rid of! Lift up the sheets..look for dark spots on the mattress along the side and underneath and on the boxspring. they can hide anywhere..behind the headboard.nightstands. they are hard to find, but usually leave “trails” of where they have been and left blood. Ick, I know. but seriously, you don’t want them! I warn everyone I know when they travel! hah
Emily (NY) says:
First off, yuck! I’m so sorry! My daughters both have horrible, allergic reactions to mosquitoes, and it’s just no fun. Hope you can get some relief soon!
But secondly… Jumping on what Rebecca just said, I’d definitely investigate for bedbugs. The butt-bites are very bedbug-like, especially if they’re all in one general area (like you said, a bug went to town… and that’s just what bedbugs do…). You can also check out http://bedbugregistry.com/ to see if you hotel has been reported in the past for a bedbug infestation.
Hoping it’s only mosquitoes! Not fun on your end (is that a pun?!), but better than bedbugs… Whatever it is, still hoping you’ll be better SOON!
Megan@TrueDaughter says:
Okay, that’s awful, and I hope you can still have a great time. It’s rare that I come here and wish I hadn’t, but the comments are SKEEVING ME OUT! UUUHHHGGGHGHGHG! I HATE bug and infestations I think more than your average person. I hope you get a chance to make sure it’s not bedbugs, cuz you don’t want to take that home! Good luck! EEEKKKKEEEkkkkk!
A Colony of Hungry Mosquitoes. says:
Dear Heather,
On behalf of mosquitoes everywhere, I would like to apologize that your magazine/television deal has been a bit spoiled and generally interrupted by our impulsive ways. It’s just that sometimes Heather, well, your delicious blood just cannot be ignored!
Next time we decide to dine, we’ll attempt better timing. But I can’t really make any promises. Really. I’m actually a bit more hungry now to tell you the truth.
Well, all that being said, do enjoy the rest of your time in the city! And Heather?
Leave the window open. (;
Signed,
A bunch of very hungry city mosquitoes.
Kristy H says:
Oh man, I feel for you! I get reactions like that too, and the kiddies, not fun at all!
And, I’ve got the same feelings about feet, they are gross, ugly, and nobody should ever have to look at them, lol! Especially the bottoms, always makes me cringe, on Tv, movies, anything, gross, gross, gross!!! Baby feet are the only feet I can tolerate!!!
Hope your foot is better really soon!!!
Mitzi says:
Oh my gosh! My husband and I got married on Matangi Island back in 1999. I was eaten alive by mosquitoes while there too. Actually, on the morning of our wedding we had to go to the main island to get our marriage license and while we were on that island we climbed a huge waterfall and swam in the pond at the bottom of it. Well, I don’t swim so I was just kind of splashing around like a 2 year old in a wading pool while the others were walking behind the waterfall. Next thing I know I have about 999 bites on my back and I’m screaming and waving for John to come back to me. Once he got back he said, “Why didn’t you just sit down in the water to cover yourself from being bitten?” hmmm….because I’m stupid that’s why.
We loved Matangi! Bure #10. Best decision we could have ever made for a wedding/honeymoon, it was like heaven on earth. I’ve never known of anyone else that’s been there. Cool.
Sara says:
I’m so sorry I missed the Connecticut Style segment yesterday! I would’ve totally watched, had I been smart and read your blog YESTERDAY and not today!
Sara says:
I’m so sorry I missed the Connecticut Style segment yesterday! I would’ve totally watched, had I been smart and read your blog YESTERDAY and not today!
TracyKM says:
I haven’t read all the comments, but mosquitos only bite once, then they’re full and don’t bite again. Sounds/looks more like fleas or blackflies, or as mentioned, maybe bedbugs. Bedbugs bite three times in a close pattern, usually. My mom and my kids react horribly to blackfly bites, but mosquito bites don’t cause the same huge swelling that blackfly bites do to them. My kids have had their eyes swell shut
Keep your feet up, down some Benydril, and hope it gets better soon!
Dawn @What's Around the Next Bend? says:
Sounds like you might have a chigger… they love ankles … and badonkadonks
Elizabeth says:
OMG that’s crazy!!! I have so many bites already it’s unreal!