I remember earlier in the year talking about stings and how they were needed by beekeepers to build up resistance or immunity. Well I have only really suffered one solid sting this year. So my question is should I forgo the smoke on my next inspection and hope for a sting or just count myself lucky this year?
Nah, your girls will probably fix you up even with the smoke. Unless it is a really small hive I would not do it. With out the smoke you could really take a beating. When you get done with your next inspection, if you don't get stung, you can just pick up a bee and make her sting you.
Jim
Like Jim says, use smoke. You don't want to start out with 25 to 75 stings within 10 seconds. That isn't the proper way to do it. You can work them normally, or get in a bit of a hurry and bump them around a little. That usually gets me a few.
I will also pick one up and apply the sting where I want it now and then.
Well I have not got brave enough to not go out there without a suite yet. But the general agreement is that I need a few more stings under my belt. Last sting really only hurt for 30 minutes with minimum swelling. My hives are small with only two deeps and a honey super on my stronger of the two.
This is a good topic. I have been beekeeping for the past 8 years and stings haven't given me a problem until this year. My first sting of the season was on my finger and it swelled up. After a few days the swelling went down and it itched like crazy. This season I've gotten stung about 4 or 5 times and the same thing. Now the past 6 or 7 years stinging didn't bother me. Anyone else have this??
So far my sting reaction has been very very very mild. I have managed to avoid wasps but when they hit me it is like a brick smacking me. It just hurts for a while with a decent amount of swelling.
First year beek. 4 sings so far. I feel sting for couple minutes, followed by no pain for good 8 hours, followed by a day of pain/discomfort and light swelling, followed by no symptoms after 2-3 days.
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I swell like crazy especially on the hands. Lasts about 3-4 days with day 2 being the worst
Tapper,
I'm on my 6th year and 3 weeks ago while removing honey, I took over 25 stings to my hands in one day. With the exception of one sting on my ring finger, after 5 minutes you could not tell that I had been stung. That one on my finger tip swelled but after about 5 hours, the swelling went round.
Jim
I think it has a lot to do with where and how deep and long the stinger is in there.
When I get them on my arm or forehead the hurt for a couple minutes. Last week I got one right above the eye. Hurt for a couple days. Got one yesterday right below my eye. Typing this with one eye.
I don't think that any beekeeper 'needs' to get any stings. As you can see from these posts the range of reactions is wide and can even change over time, or depending on where the sting is, etc. An individual is going to react the way their body reacts and I don't think that looking for stings is going to really change anything. I've also heard that some folks seem to hit a spot where the get more sensitive over time with more stings, or become sensitized - rather than the other way around. Spare yourself the trouble!
Re: Bee Sting
? Reply #9 on: September 24, 2016, 10:06:36 AM ?
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I think it has a lot to do with where and how deep and long the stinger is in there.
When I get them on my arm or forehead the hurt for a couple minutes. Last week I got one right above the eye. Hurt for a couple days. Got one yesterday right below my eye. Typing this with one eye.
Why are you not wearing a veil?
tjc1
? on: September 24, 2016, 07:57:51 PM ?
Insert Quote
I don't think that any beekeeper 'needs' to get any stings. As you can see from these posts the range of reactions is wide and can even change over time, or depending on where the sting is, etc. An individual is going to react the way their body reacts and I don't think that looking for stings is going to really change anything. I've also heard that some folks seem to hit a spot where the get more sensitive over time with more stings, or become sensitized - rather than the other way around. Spare yourself the trouble................... Perhaps I will just keep suiting up and doing what I am doing. Lets be honest stings hurt even if you are expecting them or not.
Two reasons I don't wear a veil.
I sweat even in the winter. Don't need another layer.
I don't get stung much, and it's just nicer to work without one.
Here's a video of my youngest daughter quite a few years ago, and yes I titled the video "Child Abuse" figured I'd get a rise out of somebody.
https://youtu.be/l_Jrw3NG31k
Braver man than I
Psparr,
My 2 granddaughters were fearless for 5 years around the bees until last year when the youngest one got stung in the neck trying to look into my observation hive while my wife were working on it. Now they are both scared of the bees. The youngest is starting to be less fearful but not the older one.
Jim
Funny you should say that. All three of mine will scream bloody murder if there's a bee in the car, but stick their fingers into the comb to get some honey.
Go figure.
When did yall start your kids grandkids around the hives. I have a one year old and would like to start him early./
Just do it when there's a good nectar flow on.
I haven't been stung that many times. Mostly in the hands and not much of a reaction but it does not appear to do anything for arthritis. If you are working your bees I feel you should wear a veil at the very least. A bad situation could occur in a heartbeat. If you are just standing around an open hive I think you can get away without anything but you should be ready to back out quickly if the need arises.
The only time I've ever worn a veil was on a couple cut outs. The last cutout was in shorts and a t-shirt. To each his own.
You asked if you should "forgo the smoke, or take the stings". Don't worry, even with the smoke you'll take your share of stings.
Quote from: Acebird on September 29, 2016, 10:11:10 AM
I haven't been stung that many times. Mostly in the hands and not much of a reaction but it does not appear to do anything for arthritis.
As it happens, I was beginning to worry this summer that I might be getting arthritis in my hands - sore, stiff knuckles and palms. I got stung on the writs a few weeks back, and at first my attention was on my swelling forearm, but on the second day, I suddenly realized that my hands felt great! Good new/bad news scenario, but interesting to feel that effect of a sting.
I think the body is fooled when it comes to pain. More severe pain or recent pain takes preference and when it subsides the arthritis pain returns. The arthritis does not go away from a bee sting the pain is just distracted.
I have arthritis in my fingers, bee stings definitely ease the soreness and I also notice it is much easier to make a fist. This is after I get brave and pull off my gloves, and get tagged " you are it".
Actually, the elimination of pain and increased mobility have remained now a couple of weeks later. This is my first experience with this topic - I would rather hope that I really don't have arthritis, but...!
These Russians I keep can get a mite defensive if I'm moving combs about. Usually don't go on a full fledged attack but they will start head butting my hands and face. I wear the veil because I find 4 of 5 bees angrily buzzing and slamming into my face to be distracting. :smile:
Quote from: Acebird on October 01, 2016, 11:26:36 AM
I think the body is fooled when it comes to pain. More severe pain or recent pain takes preference and when it subsides the arthritis pain returns. The arthritis does not go away from a bee sting the pain is just distracted.
Don't tell my shoulder that.
I got into beekeeping partially because of shoulder problems. After 6 months I didn't have any problems. Twice during the last 6 years I have had periods with no stings and the problems come back. After a few stings I slowly goes away again.
I'll bet I am not the only beekeeper who has experienced the same thing.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 02, 2016, 06:55:46 AM
I have had periods with no stings and the problems come back. After a few stings I slowly goes away again.
This is what I am saying Jim it comes back. It is no different than taking a pain reliever and as the chemical dissipates and gets flushed through your urine the pain comes back. Maybe we are in agreement on what the sting does. I don't know. Unlike a pain reliever it hurts to take the sting and there is that small risk of staff infection.
Brian,
Not in my case, I think my shoulder heals up after several weeks of bee stings. When I stop getting stung, after about 4 to 5 months the problem starts to show up again.
It is not so much a pain reliever as it helps repair the damage.
My son on the other hand gets instant relief from fiber myalgia type pain and like you say, about 24 hours later, it wears off.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on October 02, 2016, 10:37:46 AM
It is not so much a pain reliever as it helps repair the damage.
I am not knowledgable enough to know how that would work. It is my understanding that all venom's destroy tissue not repair. So I am going to bow out of this discussion now.
Jim when you get stung on purpose do you try to git it in the shoulder or just any where that it handy.?
I'm with Jim on this, only received my first sting the other day after 6 months, hands were starting to hurt, 24 hours later feeling pretty good. Bad luck it doesn't help the back.
I place 1 or 2 in the center of my back at the belt line about once a week. It definitely does help. It does not help my back if I get several stings on my hands, arms, face, or head.
Interesting hearing the different experiences.... I also get temporary relief in my hands after a sting and it lasts quite a spell, but never considered it may be helpful for the back as well.
Does anyone know of any literature on this worth a read? Just curious as can be now....
it's called apitherapy, start with Charles Mraz. There's lots of info out there.
This is a side note with everyone talking about arthritis. I am 31 and have led a pretty active life and played a lot of sports and such. My dad has bad arthritis. When does this start up and would bee stings help to put off developing arthritis?
I doubt that bee stings work on the actual cause of arthritis. They do have some anti inflammatory properties or maybe I should say they set off anti inflammatory responses in the body. My knees always feel better for few days after a sting. But they go back to normal after that...
I agree with Michael, it seems as though the immune system inflammation has something else to do after a sting, for instance to cure a head ache hit your finger with a hammer. The venom does not cure or prevent any ailment but redirects the priorities of the inflammation from the immune system. Just a redneck theory not backed by anything but my observations.
I don't have arthritis pain or other joint pain to start with. Last I took a sting right on the knuckle, it felt like an injection of eucalyptus. :)
Then it swelled up and got itchy. :(
Well perhaps I should just start taking care of my body better now.
Quote from: bwallace23350 on October 04, 2016, 09:10:16 AM
Well perhaps I should just start taking care of my body better now.
thumbsup!
Beestings cause an increase of blood flow and inflammatory changes in the body - heat packs also increase blood flow and are often used for painful areas. Bee venom itself is designed to destroy tissue, but perhaps the secondary effects of inflammation and blood flow are benefiting other ailments.
Every prescription drug out there is a poison. Bee venom being a poison does not meant will or won't help. Like every other treatment bee venom is going to work differently with different conditions. Even with the same condition different patients will react differently to the same drug. If bee stings work for you, fantastic.
Like I've heard plenty times before, What is the biggest difference between medicine and poison? The dosage..,
Everything out there is a poison.
Everything also causes cancer
I think what Phil's saying is, everything has a certain level of poison in it. Some things we tolerate much better than others.
Haha yes I was referring to Paracelsus' quote that "all things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dosage makes a thing not poison."