Pete in MI
New member
just took these this morning. Wednesday was the first day in the water. It takes about 24 - 48 hours to start the agony. About 24 hours in my case. All you want to do is scratch...but if one does it could open up all those spots and become infected...just making matters worse.
It takes about 7 days before this goes away. I am coated in calamine lotion and taking bendryl (an antihistamine) to cut down on the urge to scratch. Thursday I wanted to scratch them so badly I put socks on my hands so best I could do was rub not scratch the sores.
Luckily I didn't go in the water above the bottom of my swim suit. I have heard of grown men just whimpering for a week in agony from Swimmer's Itch.
Here's the pics:
[attachment 60010 P6160012.JPG]
[attachment 60011 P6160013.JPG]
They are red raised bumps with white areas around them...each one screaming "Scratch me NOW".
OK so here is some advice.
(1) if there are water fowl around, use caution as the bacteria is from them and snails.
(2) if you go in the water coat yourself with some kind of protection - I think sunscreen applied liberally will work. (Reason I say that is because my right arm was in the water each time I had to lift the scoop and it didn't get Swimmer's Itch...I has a sunscreen on my arms).
(3) if you do get it - and YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU GOT IT - shower well, use calamine lotion to help dry it up, take an antihistamine to help relive the itching. I have heard there is a soap "FelsNaptha" that kills the bacteria. (I haven't confirmed that yet.)
(4) And most important: Pray to God to take away the itching and to kill off the bacteria - prayer works!
As soon as Sherry realized how much agony I was going through on Thursday she got ahold of her group of prayer ladies to ask for prayer.
After I took the benedryl and woke up from the nap (don't drive if you take Benedryl) I no longer had the itching - thank God.
I would never wish this on my worst enemy - except Satan - he can have this back and on him.
I also noted because I wear a compression stocking on my left leg...there was no Swimmer's Itch under the stocking. So ya might look stupid but maybe wearing panty hose wouldn't be a bad thing to wear - just in case.
May God protect you and keep you from Swimmer's Itch.
It takes about 7 days before this goes away. I am coated in calamine lotion and taking bendryl (an antihistamine) to cut down on the urge to scratch. Thursday I wanted to scratch them so badly I put socks on my hands so best I could do was rub not scratch the sores.
Luckily I didn't go in the water above the bottom of my swim suit. I have heard of grown men just whimpering for a week in agony from Swimmer's Itch.
Here's the pics:
[attachment 60010 P6160012.JPG]
[attachment 60011 P6160013.JPG]
They are red raised bumps with white areas around them...each one screaming "Scratch me NOW".
OK so here is some advice.
(1) if there are water fowl around, use caution as the bacteria is from them and snails.
(2) if you go in the water coat yourself with some kind of protection - I think sunscreen applied liberally will work. (Reason I say that is because my right arm was in the water each time I had to lift the scoop and it didn't get Swimmer's Itch...I has a sunscreen on my arms).
(3) if you do get it - and YOU WILL KNOW IF YOU GOT IT - shower well, use calamine lotion to help dry it up, take an antihistamine to help relive the itching. I have heard there is a soap "FelsNaptha" that kills the bacteria. (I haven't confirmed that yet.)
(4) And most important: Pray to God to take away the itching and to kill off the bacteria - prayer works!
As soon as Sherry realized how much agony I was going through on Thursday she got ahold of her group of prayer ladies to ask for prayer.
After I took the benedryl and woke up from the nap (don't drive if you take Benedryl) I no longer had the itching - thank God.
I would never wish this on my worst enemy - except Satan - he can have this back and on him.
I also noted because I wear a compression stocking on my left leg...there was no Swimmer's Itch under the stocking. So ya might look stupid but maybe wearing panty hose wouldn't be a bad thing to wear - just in case.
May God protect you and keep you from Swimmer's Itch.