Not that I have ever been bitten by fire ants, but they could not be worse than black flies. Try Witch hazel. Brush it on. This works for me with mosquito bites, allergies, bees, etc. For black fly bites, the bite site does not show up till a day or so later, then it is a hard, poison-filled bump. I have found that the only way is to literally take my nail and gouge them out, and apply alcohol gel. This kills the unbelievable itching. But try the witch hazel first. It is a liquid, odorless, colourless, but not tasteless - don't go there!!

Nancy.

Elevate the affected area.
Cool compress.
Keep clean.

most important........watch for symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. These include chest pain, nausea, sweating, loss of breath, swelling, and slurred speech. If any of these symptoms are detected, get medical treatment immediately.

Bum a cigarette if you don't smoke. Wet the tobacco. Rub it into the skin. It should relieve some of the stinging. Best done right after, of course.

Try some Benadryl for the itching - it might will help you sleep also. Sounds like you've had an allergic reaction to the stings.
Fire Ants are horrible!! As you know, you can be covered in them in just a matter of seconds. I've had stings many times, but the stinging and the whelps only last for a few minutes at the most. I've never experienced what you describe.

Hope you get some relief!!!

If you have an aloe plant--or know anyone nearby with one--cut off a piece, open it up, and rub the inside all over the stung area. That works better for me than anything else I've tried.

You can keep the aloe piece in the fridge in plastic and re-use it when you need to.

When we get hives from something my dr usually says to take benadryl at night and claritin in the morning. If it were me I would do that.Ice or cold water also usually help relieve some of the itching/pain.
You could also go to the doctor -- specially if it seems like the itching is getting worse and not better, or if it is spreading. If you are getting a systemic allergic reaction the dr can give you a prescription.

Fire Ants are a reason for using chemicals in the garden, whatever it takes to kill them. Fire Ants are the primary reason I always wear shoes and socks in the garden.

There is an over-the-counter Anti-Itch lotion that I find helpful, several brands. Calamine lotion is soothing. Absorbine Jr. is also helpful when you're first stung. In the garden, if I get bitten by a fire ant, I put saliva (that's spit, not salvia) on the bite, immediately. The enzymes in saliva help to neutralize the venom. When I get inside, I use other preparations if I'm still itching.

I hope by now you have found some relief, Gardenerme.

Nell

Get to your doctor Gardenme ASAP if you aren't feeling any better by now. I have been unlucky to have been bit/stung TWICE from these horrible creatures!!!! Once in the front yard and then again in my backyard. YIKES!! Your doctor will give you drugs to make you more comfortable,etc...these ant bites won't get relief from the usual antihistamine/lotions for insect bites.I got blisters and the itching was unbelievable from them. Good luck-let us know how you are doing!

Beca

I don't know if this works but try toothpaste.

I also would second the suggestion of cooling your legs. I regularly use this technique when I get an attack of hives.

If you find your symptoms to be increasing I would strongly recommend seeing a doctor. Some people are just more allergic to ant venom than others. Wounds can also get infected and so beware.

Ianna

Just a couple more old-timey remedies ...... I tend to react badly to biting insects, worse as I age, and have tried it all. I get instant relief from the itching by dabbing bites w/Listerine (the brown stuff, not the minty blue/green). This is a trick dog-people have used for decades, swabbing dog's 'hot spots' w/brown Listerine.

Staying on the dog subject, for general all-over itchies dogs often get during hot/humid summers, take Fido outside and saturate/sponge him down w/apple cider vinegar (diluted if he has open sores). It really helps and he'll only smell like a chef's salad for a short time.

One last overlooked helper is pure tea tree oil, aka melaleuca oil. It has antiseptic properties so staves off infection and is very soothing. This year, pup had a tick which I could not, even w/help, get a grip on. I dabbed pure tea tree oil on the tick and w/in a couple of hours, it was dead and I was able to remove it.

Wish I'd known about these remedies back in the early 80's when I suffered a black fly attack in NH - I had a genuine 'cauliflower ear' - so painful!

Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions! I raided the medicine chest and decided to try some benadryl to make me sleep at night. Then I took some aleve just because it works so well for me when I have pain.

The blisters are still there, about 20 of them, between and on top of the toes, but the itching is way down and the pain is minimal. Since I have only taken aleve since that first night, I suspect that the inflammation, which aleve works on, was what was giving me so much trouble. I am OK now and want to thank all of you for your attention! I will use anything, including an atom bomb, to get rid of them. I am terrified that my little grandkids will get bit and it was such a horrible experience that I must do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen to them. Thanks again!