It all started with a few little insect bites on my leg - except, on me, insect bites never remain little. They go bright red and grow to the size of a 2p coin - and that's the smaller ones. But they usually disappear in a few days, so I never bother with any treatment. Big mistake, this time.
After about a week the marks {aka 'First Bites'} had gone, but then a whole load more turned up on my back. OK, so I'd worn the same T-shirt, maybe that was the problem. {Of course I'd washed it! But only at 30 degrees, which obviously wasn't hot enough.} This lot {Bites 2 - the return} were an irritable, itchy bunch and lasted a couple of weeks. Then, just as they were going, a huge, 3-bite red mark appeared under my arm {The Blob - children of the Bite}.
After about six weeks, I realized the Blob wasn't going anywhere, so I went to see the nurse. She said it looked like eczema, and had I recently changed my deodorant? Well, actually, I had. The Blob wasn't exactly where I apply deodorant, and it was only under one arm, but I threw out the new (cheap) stuff and bought some more of my usual (not cheap) brand. She also suggested that I "try this cream". That didn't work, so three weeks later I saw the doctor. {The delay wasn't my procrastination, this time. It just takes that long to get an appointment.} At least he recognized a bite when he saw one, prescribed stronger cream and some tablets.
Before I could even begin the treatment, I noticed a nasty rash on my legs. {Why do we always say, 'A nasty rash'? Has anyone ever had a nice rash?} It looked like a heat rash, only it wasn't hot weather and it got worse. Thankfully, it seemed to respond to the tablets - but after the weekend, it was back. Could it be unrelated to the bites, but due to something I wore to work, perhaps? Or, {and much more likely, in my view} was I being consumed from within by some alien virus that would make my arms and legs drop off?
I think the surgery receptionist could hear the panic in my voice, as she gave me an appointment for the Thursday. Now I have different cream, and stronger tablets that I have to take for a month and can't drink with! And, apparently, because it's gone on for twelve weeks, I'm now even more sensitive to allergens than I was before.
Whilst this was in some ways reassuring to know, it has created a few problems. I was due to have my hair coloured, but decided it probably wouldn't be a good idea to coat my head with chemicals at the moment. Should I still have it cut, though? Which is the better look, spikey and stylish but grey, or fluffy and floppy but black? {I opted for short, because at least that looks intentional. Even if people do think my intention is to look like a badger that lost an argument with a ceiling fan.} On a more intimate note, should I really be using deodorant at all? It can't be helping, but I hate the idea of being less than 'nice to be near'. Also, it's quite possible that I've become allergic to the fabric of my work trousers.
Fortunately, I only have to wear my uniform for a few hours, and some days not at all. {Because I work part time, not because I have that sort of job!} I can wear a skirt to and from work, and change when I get there. And, because I'm incognito, I can go without deodorant and scowl at people on the train without worrying that I'm bringing my employers into disrepute!
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