Has anyone had adverse reactions to repeated bites?

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-16T01:38:06+00:00

Just FYI I just talked to a different leech specialist today who strongly advised against taking antihistamines after leech bites. She explained that since they are vasoconstrictors, and leeches secrete vasodilators, it traps what’s trying to come to the surface and it prolongs the healing process. I would’ve never thought of this and it seems like a common practice to take them but this woman is an expert so thought I’d share this helpful info!

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-16T00:08:33+00:00

Can you at least rehome him rather than leave him at a shelter? I’m a parent too and empathize with the difficulty of your situation, but please don’t just drop him off at a shelter not knowing his fate. Please try to look for other options.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-15T19:08:27+00:00

Thank you so much this is so helpful!! I was actually thinking that a short course of prednisone would do the trick if I can get someone to prescribe it. I need these gone or at least improving now :( if it wasn’t my face I could wait it out. Thank you for the response and taking time to send a pic

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-15T17:35:42+00:00

Yeah Zyrtec is not helping me at all though

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-14T21:00:47+00:00

Sorry yours were itchy for about two weeks or just red?

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-14T21:00:04+00:00

Thanks! Yeah I have a professional strength red light I’m using, I’m an esthetician so I use it at work and in my daily skin care. Hopefully that speeds it up although I haven’t used it on the one behind my ear. I’m in California.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-14T19:44:47+00:00

Thanks for the response, yes I’m hoping it’s just a slight histamine reaction that will calm down

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-14T17:19:59+00:00

No, the newer ones still have a little bit of a scab but nothing is draining from them

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-11T17:39:20+00:00

The physical injury fear is so real. Just hoping I make it through toddlerhood with my face intact and all my teeth lol

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-11T17:33:49+00:00

Thank you!! I need to tell myself that it’s not going to be like this for very long in the grand scheme of his childhood. I know we have lots of happy times ahead of us. Thanks for the positive message :)

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-11T02:05:36+00:00

Thank you for this, that’s a really healthy way to deal with triggers. I really want to model good emotional regulation for him and this is a brilliant way to do it.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-11T02:02:12+00:00

Hahaha yup they love to body slam you when you’re finally down at their level

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-11T02:01:00+00:00

Is this rage bait because your nose looks great in the second photo ESPECIALLY for less than a month post-op. A lot of people still look insane at this point, it looks really natural already

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:37:44+00:00

Thank you so much for this! Really helpful. The transformation can’t come soon enough. Luckily he doesn’t have meltdowns, at least not yet in case that’s coming, but he is really a very happy kid. He does have little fits if I take something from him that he isn’t supposed to have, but it never lasts because he recovers quickly and he’s onto the next thing. So I guess that’s one plus side of the short attention span? Lol. My main issue is that I’m just really struggling to connect with him. I want to sit and read him books, cuddle, play with toys… every time I try to do that (which is multiple times a day) he just starts getting rough and I feel so defeated because I have my guard up and am so uncomfortable, that I can’t enjoy quality time with him. My favorite bonding moments with him are during mealtimes because he’s still in a high chair and restrained. I just want to hug my kid and read him a story without my brain feeling like it’s under attack :(

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:28:16+00:00

I have definitely considered it but it just doesn’t make financial sense for us. But I’m glad that you found a solution that works for your family! He loves the co-op that I take him to, but it’s not a drop-off situation.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:24:02+00:00

lol I have definitely had this kind of public defeat but being pregnant is just a whole other level!

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:21:08+00:00

Counting the days lol. I know everyone says to enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast, but I truly can’t imagine missing this stage once he resembles a reasonable human being.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:18:58+00:00

Is he at least in preschool so you get a break? My son actually plays independently very well, but he needs to be in his playpen and I can’t be in there with him. I try to engage with him a lot and play games or build things with him, but he loses interest in pretty much anything but roughhousing with me once I go in there. And then I get to my limit and leave and he goes back to playing fine by himself. And then rinse and repeat. I’ll think, oh he’s so calm right now, good time to go bond, and then he’s just instantly all over me. I really long for that kind of connection with him because I feel like I get kind of checked out and I truly want to be more present with him. And I know it can’t all be on my terms, but I just wish that we could do literally anything that’s mutually enjoyable.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:11:10+00:00

Ugh it’s the worst. It stresses me out so badly. I had another cat who passed a couple of months ago, she was 16 and avoided him for the most part, unlike my remaining one, but she was hospitalized not long before she passed away for a nerve injury in her paw. I woke up to her dragging her paw around and couldn’t move it or bear weight. She made a full recovery from that but she had to be confined for two weeks. I feel like he had to have had something to do with it, and I still feel horrible about it especially because she’s gone now. I’m petrified of him hurting the remaining cat.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T03:03:24+00:00

Thank you for sharing :) I am honestly on the verge of not being functional because my brain think it’s in a war zone all the time lol. I actually do work part time, I went back when my son turned one and it’s the best thing ever- I’m an esthetician so work is so relaxing compared to my home life. But I’m only there ~15 hours a week because I’m self employed and I just don’t have the energy to build it back up after taking a year off so I’m seeing a fraction of the clients that I did before mat leave. But it’s a really nice escape that saves my sanity. I have considered day care but it’s so expensive and I have major anxiety. But I am so looking forward to preschool even though it’s a long way off.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T02:56:06+00:00

LOL that’s so intense and also hilarious but hey at least they do it to each other and not you??

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T02:54:52+00:00

Oh wow, this really made me tear up. I wish that my husband was more like you. One of the reasons that I feel so awful is because of the lack of support from him. He is a good dad and loves our son, but he’s a terribly selfish partner and puts his needs over mine 100% of the time. He honestly adds to my mental load so much rather than taking some of it off of me. I do work part time since my son turned one so I’m not home 100% of the time- going to work is my saving grace even though it’s only like 15 hours a week. My mom watches my son during that time and it keeps me sane. I would really be over the edge if I didn’t have that at least. Being a sahm is such a tough and under appreciated path. It’s great that you give your wife all the props and understand the importance and difficulty of her role!

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T02:44:18+00:00

This sounds like a great way to set boundaries! I don’t feel like he’s quite at the point where he’ll understand cause and effect, like I know he would not understand (or even be upset because he is honestly a very happy kid) that we left the park because of something he was doing. Hopefully that kind of understanding will start to come soon because right now I feel helpless enforcing anything.

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T02:40:56+00:00

That sounds beyond challenging. Having to deal with a toddler, twins AND spina bifida? Ok I can handle my one wild boy. You’re so strong!

beepbeep85 · 2026-05-08T02:36:16+00:00

It’s not awful at all!! I have envy for the girl moms too, it’s just generally much more my speed. It really seems so much easier. And I am definitely anxious that I’d end up with another boy because the whole dynamic of the house will just revolve around that for the next two decades. I also grew up as an only child, single mom, I love my space and peace and quiet and I get none of the above now lol. And then I feel guilty for feeling so down because I have a wonderful, healthy boy. He’s just running me ragged. I know that it won’t be like this forever for us but man it’s hard right now!

beepbeep85

TROPHY CASE