:cry: Installed my 2 new hives (I'm a new bee) and the first hive went perfectly. I DID wear my bee suit, but I wore my gardening gloves which I thought would give me enough protection and easier to work with - which they did on the first hive. Unfortunately, the 2nd morning with the 2nd hive it didn't go so well, got stung 5 times on my hands, obviously the gloves do not protect from bee stings. I was transferring from nucs, and the tops were pretty stuck on there, so I can only think that I must have possibly harmed one or two when trying to pry it off. Luckily I didn't have an major adverse reaction right away, I had my husband go get some benadryl and my proper gloves so I could continue. They were pretty angry the entire time, however, amazed the difference between the 2 hives. The stings didn't bother me at all except for some minor burning sensations until about 8 hours later, when I had fairly bad pain in my right hand, then swelling. I probably should have taken more benadryl after the first dose, but didn't about it since they felt fine. I took more when the pain started, then some tylenol and it improved pain wise. This morning still very swollen, minimum pain, however now it seems like a couple of the other spots are itching and swelling!!!
anyone have any tried and true ways to help these heal faster, or is this the norm? I know once I got stung they released an alarm plus my displeasure also probably set off alarms, so nothing to do about that, but will surely wear all my gear in the future. Honestly, I don't know how all these people in the you tube videos go out to tend to their hives with no protection! Thanks to anyone who might have any input.
Sting reactions
Your immune system is not static. It develops base on your environment. When I started beekeeping, I swelled up as much as anyone. In the past 2 days, I took somewhere between 14 to 20 stings while removing honey, moving the hives and putting stickies back on. Most were on my hands and wrist, one next to my left eye and one on my head.
I have had 0 swelling and no marks showing.
One thing that helped me get to this point was that when I started beekeeping, my pharmacist recommended using Benadryl cream and Hydro Cortisone cream together. Once I did that, my reaction quickly decreased.
Here is a copy of another post about calming down your bees.
Calming down a hive.
I can make the calmest hive mean and I can make the meanest hive calm. It is all about you handle them and how you smoke them.
I teach the 10 minute and 30 second smoking procedure. Get your smoker puffing thick smoke. Puff 3-4 puffs into the bottom of the hive. Wait full 10 minutes, puff 3-4 puffs into the bottom of the hive and wait 30 seconds. While waiting, slowly slide your hive tool between boxes to break the propolis. Do not bang on the hive tool to do this.
One thing you do not want to do is bang anything against your hives.
Move slowly and gently slide frames in and out of the hive. J
im Altmiller
thanks so much!
I experienced a pretty bad reaction during my 'first' Honeybee cutout, even to the point of my eyes turning red. At the time of the cutout, I was not very concerned about the effects as the homeowner was a RN and had a Epipen on hand, (just in case). I later learned from
"Vikingcnp",the quote which is to follow below given to another member. I also took the same advice given to you above by
Beemaster2, when he gave that same good advice back then. Together the combination did the trick for me. I now use nothing and as
Beemaster2, I rarely swell.
I have noticed Zantac is back on the market. I do not know if the active ingredient in Zantac, 'for our interest in purpose', has been removed along with the 'outlawed' ingredient of Zantac, which is said to have the capability to cause health problems.
Phillip
Quote from: Vikingcnp on June 03, 2018, 04:08:59 PM
I am not practicing outside of my scope. I am a nurse practitioner but not in primary care.
Always have Benadryl with you. Personally I would take a 25mg dose about 15 minutes before starting work on the hives.
Always have Zantac with you. If you are stung you can take Zantac along with another Benadryl as it is an H2 blocker.
Zantac and Benadryl are evidence based approaches to preventing the histamine cascade.
This is a trick I learned from an ER doc in the reserves.
Your going through desensitization and having an epi pen is a smart move.
Wishing you the best.
Sorry to hear your 2nd hive was a handful! It's nerve-wracking as a newbee to have to deal with angry bees. As a rule I have pretty bad sting reactions, with the area being very hot and swollen usually for the next 8-12 hours or so and then progressing to being very itchy as the swelling goes down over the next day. My reactions have gotten a little bit better since using hydrocortisone and diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) cream together on the sting like Jim recommends, but I always swell up. Taking an oral Benadryl immediately after getting stung helps to keep the reaction down and of course getting the stinger out as quickly as possible. Even major swelling, burning, itching, etc. at the sting sight is totally normal for some people, like myself, and is nothing to be concerned about. A dangerous anaphylactic reaction is characterized by an all over body reaction, such as full body hives or the more familiar and extremely dangerous swelling of the throat. With either of these reactions you should seek medical help as quickly as possible, even if you have an epi-pen, which isn't a bad idea.
Jim's smoking method really helps, even for truly nasty hives, and I would also recommend nitrile gloves. I double layer them, since stings to the hands are the most common, and the bees still can get through one layer pretty easily. It's easy to remove the stinger by simply removing the glove and disposing of it, and the gloves are thin and fitted enough that you are still able to feel with your fingers as you are working, which really helps to keep you from accidentally crushing bees. I do not recommend those large leather gloves for this same reason, unless of course the colony is completely unmanageable. Try to work the colony efficiently, but making each movement slowly and deliberately, with no sudden jarring or bumping, and don't be afraid to use a decent amount of smoke if the colony is being uncooperative.
The most important thing, especially as a beginner, is to wear whatever protection you need to make you comfortable. I'm entering my 5th spring beekeeping, and I've always been very unafraid working the bees, but because I get such major reactions when I get stung, I still fully suit up every time I inspect, just because it makes me feel more comfortable. Some people are plenty comfortable in a veil and a T-shirt and shorts, and that's fine too. But the more comfortable and relaxed you are, the more comfortable and relaxed the bees will be around you.
No matter what I'm doing with honeybees.. I always personally light a smoker.. Before I even start working bee.. I will smoke myself as well as my hands... If I get stung... I will
resmoke where the sting was... So it will Cover up the Bee's smell.. I hope you have a great time keeping honey bees... The only time I could not smoke bees is in a fresh swarm.. Bees Have nothing to eat.. To gorge themselves From the Smoke....
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :smile:
Quote from: BeeMaster2 on March 08, 2022, 07:43:16 AM
In the past 2 days, I took somewhere between 14 to 20 stings while removing honey, moving the hives and putting stickies back on. Most were on my hands and wrist, one next to my left eye and one on my head.
Where is your left eye?
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Quote from: .30WCF on March 09, 2022, 09:47:43 PM
Quote from: BeeMaster2 on March 08, 2022, 07:43:16 AM
In the past 2 days, I took somewhere between 14 to 20 stings while removing honey, moving the hives and putting stickies back on. Most were on my hands and wrist, one next to my left eye and one on my head.
Where is your left eye?
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:cheesy:
I find if you talk to your bees and ask them not to sting you, 99.5% of them follow your request?..
Quote from: BeeMaster2 on March 08, 2022, 07:43:16 AM
Sting reactions
Your immune system is not static. It develops base on your environment. When I started beekeeping, I swelled up as much as anyone. In the past 2 days, I took somewhere between 14 to 20 stings while removing honey, moving the hives and putting stickies back on. Most were on my hands and wrist, one next to my left eye and one on my head.
I have had 0 swelling and no marks showing.
One thing that helped me get to this point was that when I started beekeeping, my pharmacist recommended using Benadryl cream and Hydro Cortisone cream together. Once I did that, my reaction quickly decreased.
Quote from: Lesgold on March 09, 2022, 10:45:25 PM
I find if you talk to your bees and ask them not to sting you, 99.5% of them follow your request?..
Thanks lesgold. Gave me a grin. I will try it.
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:cheesy: Well in a hive of about 80,000.00 Bees that leaves only 400 to sting you lol.. Gave me a grin too.... :wink:
Phillip
I usaully give my bees a severe talking to if i get an unwarranted sting, i must be using the wrong words as it tends to make no difference.
If bees are a bit "iffy" then avoiding any clunks is the secret. We also write on the lid of fizzy hives "do last". As the efect of a hive going off tends to effect the whole group, smells released by angry bees i guess, so if done last you can complete the group in comfort and then walk away from the mongrels.
We have a group of about 40 hives of which about 12-15 are fizzy, we have just finished requeening these but with not a great success.
We find fizzy hives are hard to requeen too aggressive to other bees as well.
Bens reposted advice is spot on. I keep the liquid children's Benadryl on hand. Not only wil it work more quickly, but I don't really have to worry about dose. Just swig :grin:
If it gets itchy and you need something, Vagisil works great. People laugh when I tell them that, but I know the guys get the girls to buy some for them! :cheesy:
LAVENDER OIL!
Apply until the itch stops.
To prevent later swelling and itch ---
Someone posted here that the Apitherapists make their patient take loads of vitamin B and C, to rinse the venom out of the body. I started doing that, it's the BEST.
So: a pint of water, B-50 and 2000mg of C immediately after coming in from the yard, and then every 2-3 hours a few times, until you have no symptoms.
BTW - I just took my first little sting after 8 months no stings. I wear purple long-cuff nitrile gloves. If doing something heavy duty, pink dishwashing gloves from dollar tree....they both can be washed & reused.
PS on preventing stings.... it seems to me the colonies that are about to start stinging SMELL differently a few seconds before they start to sting. Kind of a metallic smell.
The get LOUDER too, and ping your veil. If that happens, try 1:1 syrup spritzed on them with spray bottle, until you close up. They will land and clean themselves. If you the colony is in 2 or more hive bodies, you can keep them calmer by unstacking to the bottom box, put a teatowel or pillowcase or inner lid on the hive body you aren't inspecting.
And Make sure the bees aren't "Hangry" that is, feeling threatened because they are hungry and have no food stores. If they feel threatened from hunger or low stores, they're more prone to defensive behavior. Fat bees=happy bees.
QuoteI wear purple long-cuff nitrile gloves. If doing something heavy duty, pink dishwashing gloves from dollar tree....
I went down that route also. It seems the purple gloves are bit thin from my experience and dishwashing gloves are a bit to thick, (at least the ones I tried though I have not tried pink). The 9 Ml black mechanic gloves nitrile have the advantage of being protective along with the ability to (feel) what it is we are doing. As Goldie Locks said of the right bed. (this one is just right). :grin:....
Phillip
Quote from: FloridaGardener on March 20, 2022, 11:37:19 AM
PS on preventing stings.... it seems to me the colonies that are about to start stinging SMELL differently a few seconds before they start to sting. Kind of a metallic smell.
This is a little off-topic, but I've been wondering about this. I think the alarm pheromone smells like bananas to some people and like metal to others. I have never smelled bananas working with bees, even bees that are in a bad mood and stinging. But when I have 600 bees in my sugar roll jar, they smell metallic to me. Does anyone who smells bananas when the bees are upset also smell metal? Or it this a thing like how cilantro tastes like soap to some people, and one person only smells either metal or bananas?
I don?t smell them when they are just being mad and stinging. But if I really pizz them off big time I smell Mr. Twisters.
If you want to play a mean joke on someone, toss one of these in the hive when they are working on them.
This gives me an idea. I have a neighbor that won?t quit coming over when I?m working the bees. Next time he comes I?m gonna open a pack of these and hand them to him.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220320/e58024a576ea5c38ecc3b5e826d3ee0f.jpg)
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Quote from: .30WCF on March 20, 2022, 05:46:53 PM
I don?t smell them when they are just being mad and stinging. But if I really pizz them off big time I smell Mr. Twisters.
If you want to play a mean joke on someone, toss one of these in the hive when they are working on them.
This gives me an idea. I have a neighbor that won?t quit coming over when I?m working the bees. Next time he comes I?m gonna open a pack of these and hand them to him.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220320/e58024a576ea5c38ecc3b5e826d3ee0f.jpg)
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The idea being that they'll lure more than just fish, I suppose. :cheesy: In other news, I had no idea that fish liked bananas.
BB: I might get yelled at for saying this, but put the gloves away and leave them away. You can't feel what you're doing so you will have clumsy fingers, mash bees, and make them mad. Bare fingers can work gently, gingerly, but also quickly and smoothly. You can feel the bee before you mash her, so you don't mash her and she gets out of the way. Everyone stays happy!
Only do not use scented soaps (of course), and get your hands good and smokey (wash your hands in smoke) before you get started.
Also if you have a metal wedding ring or other rings, it's wise to take them off before getting in the bees. Lots of folks switch to silicone wedding rings. Not me, I can't get mine off. :)
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