Wonder what Swimmer's Itch looks like? Here's some pics...

[Pete in MI]

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:

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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. (see this website: http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/swimmers_itch.html )
(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.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

Nasty stuff Pete, God speed in your recovery brother. Not as bad in salt water, but I get rash on the inside of my elbows and under my arms. Use a long sleeve rash shirt and tights (wetsuit/drysuit/waders in winter), water booties and gloves. Conditions have improved dramatically. I look real sexy, lemme tell ya, but I'm mostly covered. We have sealice and they can be just as knarley!

 

[Sanddigger]

n/t

 

[Pete in MI]

n/t

 

[nanwate7]

n/t

 

[Pete in MI]

it wa highly suggested we wear panty hose while doing combat maneuvers because of the tick infestations out in the fields we were doing the maneuvers in. Of course, no one wanted to be less of a man so to my knowledge no one wore them...but it was highly suggested.

Due to blood clots in my left leg I wear a compression hose. It is only knee high but have had some thigh high ones...Will probably wear them in the water from now on. Had I had them on I am sure I would not have had this problem or at least not as severally. I have heard from others who have really had this much worse than me. This is a horrible thing to get.

 

[CDF(Fla)]

Pete, this looks like something I picked up when I was a child from swimming in a dirty lake by my home. This looks and sounds simular to what I had. The name of it was called "Florida Creepers",also a parasite,commonly seen during the summer when water is at it's warmest.
It covered the worst areas of my body that you couldn't imagine. I was in total agony for about a week until I got some type of medicine perscibed to me by a doctor. I don't remember what it was or what it was called though. I just know I had to apply it on as well as taking it internal. This was a miracle drug,it seemed,because it cleared it up in near record time. I don't wish this on anybody! Posion ivy dosn't even compare. Water hunters beware! If you have any deep cuts on you put some type of medicine on it before you enter any dirty water,or you are simply at risk! I wish you the best of luck,Pete and hope you have a speedy recovery!

 

[migolddigger]

Sorry about your luck Pete, and I hope you get better soon. I need to ask though, What lake in Michigan? I want to stay as far away from that place as possible.

Tom