August 23, 2009 by Moomette's Magnificents (Admin)
Filed under Reviews & Buzz, Veranda Chit Chat, baby boomer, children, family, health, kids, leisure, lifestyle, parenting, rantings, toddlers, tourism, travel
Camping
This weekend our Staycation was quite an adventure.
We’ve been doing quite a bit of camping this summer and decided to try another campground. Years ago when the kids were little we took the kids to one of Connecticut’s State Parks down at the shore, and this year DD26 wanted to go back and take her kids.
When the reservations were made, she booked for “tent site.” I think we were in the RV-Camper & tent site last time when we went as a group.
Well, tent site is what we got. We had to park the car in the parking lot, and hoof it with all the gear to the middle of a field with some shade, along with some shady campers who weren’t aware that lanterns in tents at night cause shadows.
The walk to the bath houses was along a dirt and gravel path, about ¼ of a mile. Not too bad in the daytime, but darn scary at night.
It was bug-infested and Pepe Le Pew skunk heaven, with a smattering of wild turkeys and who knows what else thrown in.
I’ve always used Off Insect Repellent, but it has Deet in it. This year my daughter had a brand called Natrapel 8-hour Deet Free Insect Repellant. The Active Ingredient is Picaridin (20%).
We used it on the kids, and everybody else, including me put it on.
It doesn’t work. This is what I looked like – everybody said I must have at least 100 bites on my legs. And these are only the pictures of the bites that I could show you. I wore shorts that night and a short-sleeve top.
This is not a sponsored review. This is my review. The stuff is awful. I would rather take my chances with one shot of Deet over the weekend, because I wonder how much I’ve now increased my chances of getting West Nile. I think I’m going to get checked out this week.
Apparently though, some people have a tendency to be mosquito magnets. I’m one of them.
Before I was able to get to Walgreens, I used my mom’s old-fashion remedy and slathered soap on me and let it dry. It helped somewhat.
Then everybody said to make a little ‘x’ with your fingernail on the spot that was puffing up like a little pimple/blister. If I did that, I probably would have needed 2-3 people to help me with all the bites.
I ended up talking to a pharmacist at Walgreens, who said to use Hydrocortisone and Benedryl. I bought the Walgreens brand products, and had minimal relief.
Salt water from the ocean was the only thing that appeared to offer some relief and I was going to try to bring a bucket of salt water back with me but everybody talked me out of it.
We still had fun camping, but with no air-conditioning and this heat and humidity, it’s pretty tough.
The camping trip before this I ended up with a wicked sunburn, and I did use suntan lotion.
I can’t wait for the next and last camping trip this season. You might not hear from me again if I keep going like this.
Give me your best home remedies to stop these mosquito bites from itching.
Update – Tuesday 8/25 – Trip to Dr. because allergic reaction to one of the “remedies.” Doc said I have 300 bites – and now I’m on Rx Prednisolone. Yay me.
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Whitney on Sun, 23rd Aug 2009 8:32 pm
Ouch. Thankfully I’m not mosquito prone, but I will definitely NOT use that stuff. We always stay in our camper; I’m not sure I could rough it out in a tent. I hope your next trip is better than your last two.
Whitney´s last blog ..Bach Kids Winners
Natalie on Sun, 23rd Aug 2009 8:51 pm
Oh man!!!!! I’m so sorry! I too am a mosquito magnet, I hate those little boogers!
Natalie´s last blog ..Sundays are hard for me
Kim @ What's That Smell? on Sun, 23rd Aug 2009 8:55 pm
Ow that must be ITCHY!
I think maybe camping isn’t your thing LOL
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ConnieFoggles on Sun, 23rd Aug 2009 10:44 pm
You poor thing. Another reason for me not to like camping
Have you tried an oatmeal bath? I know that there’s packages of sold in drugstores and other stores. Feel better!
ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..Bravery When Tooth Gone
Amanda on Mon, 24th Aug 2009 7:23 am
I’m so sorry you go so many bites. I’m with you. I’d be using the DEET from now on too. My husband takes vitamin B6 tablets for a couple weeks before he heads out to the field for exercises during mosquito season. That’s supposed to repel them.
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Gena Morris on Mon, 24th Aug 2009 9:50 pm
OUCH. That really sucks!
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erin on Mon, 24th Aug 2009 11:52 pm
I actually heard somewhere that DEET isn’t bad after all.
Try Avon’s Bug Guard if you are still afraid of DEET though. It works. In my post you can watch a news report with different products being tested against mosquitoes.
http://www.themombuzz.com/2009/07/skin-so-soft-bug-guard-plus-spf-30-from.html
Sorry – if I had the link to the video I would do that. I don’t mean to sway you to my site. LMAO. But watch the video – honestly.
erin´s last blog ..Underwater Surfing with the SubSurfer
Christine on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 12:47 pm
I am a mosquito magnet too. It is awful, so thanks for the heads up on this stuff. i will avoid it like the plague. I hate it when products don’t work the way intended.
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:20 pm
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Hi Whitney – My DD26 and her DH are hoping to buy a pop-up camper some day! Hope there’s room for me in it!
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:20 pm
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Hi Natalie – we used to boat and the squeeters never bothered me when I was younger!
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:21 pm
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Hey Kim – I’m always game for an adventure, but think I’m asked to go camping to be the extra set of arms to help out with the grandkids!
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:22 pm
Twitter: Moomettes
Hi Connie! I used to have a now (ex) sister-in-law whose famous words were “if it’s not nicer than my house, it’s not a vacation.” Enough said.
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:24 pm
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Hi Amanda – I think I heard something once about the B6 tablets. Must look into it.
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:25 pm
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Thanks for the great link Erin! I had my DH watch the video and it was really interesting. You’re right about Deet not being so bad for the kids any longer. Now to just convince my DD26.
Moomette's Magnificents on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:26 pm
Twitter: Moomettes
Hi Christine – I am really convinced now that I read that Wikipedia article that there’s something to it for being a Mosquito Magnet.
Josephine on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 5:48 pm
I’m sorry you got bitten so much – maybe you have mosquito-lovin’ sugar blood!
Next time reach for a little off and it shouldn’t be sooo bad – everything in moderation is my mom’s advice!
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Lorie Shewbridge on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 5:58 pm
I’m one of those that is a skeeter magnet and get a HORRIBLE reaction to the bites… I swell up and then get allergic reations to the bites. I can only use repellents that have DEET in them and have been using them since I was a kid, with no ill effects. I used Deep Woods OFF! for camping trips and hiking when I was a kid ~ all through-out the Appalachian trail.
The only thing that ever helped my itching was straight isopropyl alcohol, but only for a short period, and then Rx strength hydrocortisone and prednisone. Good luck with your itches, sorry about the bites, I KNOW how miserable you are!
Jayne @ Misplaced City Girl on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 9:58 pm
Oh. My. Goodness. I can only imagine what you’re going through. I only have about 5 and I am waking up in the middle of the night scratching!
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WAHM Shelly Hill - Tupperware Direct Sales Consultant - Guest Post | Moomette's Magnificents on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 11:59 pm
[...] line. We’ve been doing quite a bit of camping this summer (you have to read my mosquito post) and this is just perfect for packing our produce, vegetables and other food items that need [...]