Anyone have any magical jellyfish antidotes? I've tried vinegar, baking soda, and alcohol.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Nope... but OUCH!

If nobody has a magic cure I suggest until you pass out...



just kidding, but man thats gotta smart.

I seriously considered that...but, since I've already knocked back a vicodin I don't think that would be a good idea.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Well, on Friends, wasn't Joey going to pee on Rachel or something?

Yup! Joey peed on Monica.....

Pee is the best solution! What are you doing stepping on Jellyfish anyway!????

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

ADOLPH'S MEAT TENDERIZER!!!!

Not sure of spelling, but in the spices department of most groceries!!
Really! Works! My son got stung in FL once, and just about every local on that particular beach had a jar of it in their beach bag! Got it on him, in mass quantities, and by the time we got back inland an hour or so later, there was NO MORE redness, no swelling, just a red speck of where the stinger got him.

Make sure, if there is this danger anywhere in the ocean (didn't realize they were around northern regions), to have a jar of this stuff readily available! The enzymes in it completely and quickly neutralize the venom.

Uh, is there a story behind this question??

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I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

MSL! You are da' bomb! This has helped quite a bit and I bought an extra to keep in the beach bag.

Not anything exciting or dramatic. I took the kids to a local island and as we were walking along the shoreline I stepped on it. The lifeguard also suggested peeing on it...but, with 6 impressionable children with me that didn't seem like the best option!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

So glad I read this and was able to help!! Just keep plastering it on. Was just a miracle how fast it worked on my son (who was around 8 or 9 at the time) - he was as red as a beet all over his stomach, got him on the belly. We were at a beach that was primarily locals and seniors. They sure knew the cure. Great stuff, glad it worked! YES, keep some available!!

ewww. Just saw this. Sorry that happened to you. Yep, meat tenderizer on any bug bite or stings works well. Eats up the venom or whatever pretty quick. MSL have you tried that on your black fly bites at all ?

We use After Bite (3.5 % ammonia (is that like pee ? ) profusely on all stings for 5 or so minutes, then liberally apply & reapply meat tenderizer. An hour or so later Calendula oil for healing.

DOH! Nothing like taking my own advice......had NEVER thought of it!!!!
Hopefully, won't need to put it to use again this season. I can't even imagine why my doctor or pharmacist never suggested?? They are Benadryl, all the way, and I've had some reactions so severe that they required rx doses of Prednisone BTW, the Benadryl gel lotion (topical - new) is good, FWIW. At least on this type of insect bite. (Gash might be a more appropriate word.)

MSL - just remember the tenderizer needs to contain Bromelain - the enzyme that eats the protein in the venom. I don't know what it is about the ammonia in the After Bite, but it handles it really well. Marketed to take away the itch & redness, but I wonder if it kills germs & eats away any oils or something from bites & stings as well ? We use that first , then the tenderizer. Works on all our stings. No swelling or redness after about 1 hr.

I love After Bite, but only the version that is sold in Canada. I can't remember the difference in the ingredients, but, I've found the Canadian version works much better on me.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Got another black fly bite this afternoon, in the whole 10 minutes I was outside, behind my ear, near scalp. Did it all: After Bite, meat tenderizer in mass quantity. Didn't work or help. Only the Benadryl gel is working. People with really severe reactions (short of anaphylaxis) are apparently beyond most topical measures

I've had lots and lots of insect bites and never anything remotely close to this in terms of severity of reaction. Had to pass on 2 outdoor events this weekend (actually 3) because I just cannot be outdoors when these bugs are still around (unless completely covered, head to toe - yeah, real comfortable in summer....). Thought their season was finally done, guess not....

I spend way more time outdoors in winter than summer.

Oh MSL I'm so sorry you got another one, and sorry only the benadryl works. Was hoping your reaction would be less severe. But allergic is allergic. Darn. You got my curiosity up on that black fly. Geez, they even tune into colors ?!! And there is a good mystery novel titled "Black Fly Season". And I found this, posting just for you, a Canadian folk song about the black fly.
http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_..._id=f_25052998

Hope it gives you a good laugh. You know what they say about laughter being the best medicine.

Ha! Thanks for "sharing my pain." Oh boy, will be a long, slow day today.... My whole neck is swollen, can't even turn my head. Really too bad there isn't anything remotely close to Urgent Care in this part of the country. (Really! Some here have never even heard of it!) I need rx strength for this one. Guess I'll just get back into my good book until the Benadryl oral puts me out....some people have cabin fever in the winter (NOT ME! I PARTY ALL WINTER!!). I have it for months in the summer......

I really have to move..............

Vinegar (household variety of white vinegar, which is acetic acid 5.0%, is recommended for stings from a box-jellyfish and for many other stinging species. It seems to be a good all-purpose decontaminant. It can be cut 50% with water or isopropyl alcohol and retain its beneficial effect.

With regard to meat tenderizer, most of these products contain papain, which breaks down proteins. This is perhaps the reason why an application of meat tenderizer is effective in diminishing the discomfort associated with the sting of a marine creature. However, one must take care to not leave meat tenderizer on sensitive skin for too long (e.g., longer than 10 to 15 minutes), because it can cause an irritating reaction in and of itself. Furthermore, I have heard from a few users that if the seasoned form of tenderizer is used, it may increase the irritation or even cause stinging with the initial application. The sensitive skin of infants and babies, and facial skin at all ages, may be more prone to an adverse skin irritation from application of papain.

With regard to using application of fresh papaya fruit, I have heard that recommendation before. I don't know anything about the use of pineapple, but I have a patient that swears by it.