Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Keith13 on February 16, 2009, 10:28:15 AM

Title: Swollen hands
Post by: Keith13 on February 16, 2009, 10:28:15 AM
Went to check on the girls this weekend. Well I can say for sure they are healthy.
I made the mistake of trying to do the check up on a cloudy sorta rainy day. I was in the process of reversing the deeps, when I dropped a frame. That was more than they could stand those girls came after me with a vengence. Normally I work them with just a jacket on. It took them about 2 seconds to find thier way under my veil and also under my shirt. They also found the little ring of open skin around my wrist took over 20 stings on the wrist. Definately will not mess with them again on an overcaast day

Keith
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: justgojumpit on February 16, 2009, 10:50:26 AM
Or at least don't drop the frames!  How did you handle the stings?

justgojumpit
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Davepeg on February 16, 2009, 11:37:17 AM
Sorry to hear about your hands.  I think getting stung on the hands is the worse.  My hands always swell up and hurt for a couple of days.  I usually wear at least a like pair of gloves.

Went in to peek at the girls the other day and as soon as I opened the cover I had one come straight at me, hit my cheek but no sting.  Guess they didn't want me around that day.
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Keith13 on February 16, 2009, 01:53:15 PM
Quote from: justgojumpit on February 16, 2009, 10:50:26 AM
Or at least don't drop the frames!  How did you handle the stings?

justgojumpit


Typing with ballons right now :-D

Keith
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: RayMarler on February 16, 2009, 02:02:38 PM
Getting stung inside the nose is much worse than on the hands. Eyes tear, nose runs like an athlete, for 10 minutes or so. The good news is, after 10 to 20 minutes, you can breathe oh so well, it really does clear out the sinuses!
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: asprince on February 16, 2009, 07:31:19 PM
Over the years, I have been stung a lot. But yesterday, I got nailed good on the ear and I don't remember ever hurting that bad. Even today my ear is still sore and red all the way down my neck.

Steve
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: johnnybigfish on February 16, 2009, 08:00:39 PM
My bees are shooting blanks right now! I got stung a few times last week and it barely burned at all! It seems to be that way this time of year tho...Its like their poison gets weaker right before spring.
your friend,
john
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Cindi on February 16, 2009, 11:21:30 PM
Quote from: johnnybigfish on February 16, 2009, 08:00:39 PM
My bees are shooting blanks right now! I got stung a few times last week and it barely burned at all! It seems to be that way this time of year tho...Its like their poison gets weaker right before spring.
your friend,
john


Oh John, I bet my bottom dollar that those are very young bees that haven't packed a huge whollop to their sting yet, smiling.  Too bad they weren't all young, eh?  Beautiful day in this great life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: JP on February 16, 2009, 11:40:12 PM
Quote from: RayMarler on February 16, 2009, 02:02:38 PM
Getting stung inside the nose is much worse than on the hands. Eyes tear, nose runs like an athlete, for 10 minutes or so. The good news is, after 10 to 20 minutes, you can breathe oh so well, it really does clear out the sinuses!

Hands down worse sting I ever experienced was dead on the nasal septum. I saw stars and tear ducts were activated. Felt like Mike Tyson hit me or bit me on my nose. :-D


...JP
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: tlynn on February 17, 2009, 12:00:12 AM
The other day my neck and shoulder were out...just that annoying, can't turn your head kind of thing from sleeping wrong maybe.  That afternoon I got stung on the hand working the bees and within an hour the stiffness and pain were gone, I mean gone.  Normally something like that would last a couple days.  And I didn't connect the sting until after I noticed the lack of pain in my neck.  Going to have to take a hit again next time it goes out and see if I can repeat it!

Tracy
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Cindi on February 17, 2009, 11:51:53 AM
Tracy, oh yes, you can bet your bottom dollar on that one, hee, hee.  Beautiful and most wonderful days, Cindi
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: rast on February 17, 2009, 07:10:24 PM
 Oh how I wish bee stings would take the stifness and hurt out of my neck. Of course its tied together with bailing wire and a piece of bone off my tail bone fused in. I broke C3 & C4.
Now if I'm in a bad mood, I have a good excuse. I go around with my butt on my shoulder all the time.
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Brian D. Bray on February 17, 2009, 08:20:18 PM
Quote from: rast on February 17, 2009, 07:10:24 PM
Oh how I wish bee stings would take the stifness and hurt out of my neck. Of course its tied together with bailing wire and a piece of bone off my tail bone fused in. I broke C3 & C4.
Now if I'm in a bad mood, I have a good excuse. I go around with my butt on my shoulder all the time.

That brought back a memory:  Often, as a youngster, when I got to acting up my dad would say, "If you don't knock it off I'm going to kick you in the backside so hard you'll have to take your shirt off to go to the bathroom."  That always brought visions of the hunchback of Norte Dame sitting upside Down on the commode.   :lau:
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: RayMarler on February 21, 2009, 02:40:31 AM
Rast,
Try getting beetings at C3 and C4, see if it helps.
Granted, my probs are only disc probs which is quite minor compared to your neck, but the beestings do help me.
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: SlickMick on February 21, 2009, 04:53:25 AM
I swallow an antihistamine if I get a sting or two and that seems to prevent any swelling or longer term stinging sensation
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: NWIN Beekeeper on February 21, 2009, 05:04:23 AM
Day old hand stings tend to relent with a good long hot water wash while flexing your fingers.
The improved ciculation dilates the vessles and improves the uptake of released histamines and speeds healing.

Cold will localize an immediate sting and slow the chemical reactions, so that is best in the first few hours.
Heat is better the day after to fix the aftermath.
Title: Re: Swollen hands
Post by: Understudy on February 21, 2009, 11:50:08 AM
I have been stung in the hands so much now it barely registers. When they hit the fingertips it is a bit more of a bother. I have had my hands so swollen I couldn't get my wedding ring off. It looked like a choke point on my finger.

The others mention sensitive points such as the septum. I agree. I turn into a snot factory when that happens. I don't like the ear of the armpit. The back of the knee is no fun. However I have only had one plant me on my ass. A sting to the throat. Nailed right in the center. That one brought me to my knees. I could feel the venom move through me. It took about an hour for me to recover.

I have been stung there since then but it wasn't as dramatic. But I pay careful attention to those stings.

Sincerely,
Brendhan