Ambulance ride

oldenglish · June 15, 2010, 11:49:10 AM

I went out to feed some of the bees today, as I was only putting on a feeder pail I did not take the smoker and left the jacket & gloves in the truck.
On the first hive the bees came out with a temper, two of them nailed me on the inside elbow on my right arm. I walked over to the truck, removed the stingers and put my jacket on. We got the feed put on all four hives anf walked back to the truck, as I took the jacket off my feet and scalp started to itch pretty bad. I told Anna I may be having a reaction but was not sure, we headed back home and only got about a block when I told Anna we would be stopping in at the local fire station, everypart of my body itched and my lips were swelling up (ok to breath). We got to the station maybe 10 minutes after getting stung, they took one look at me and said they were taking me in. At the hospital they continued with the IV drip and added steroids and an anti inflamatory plus I got a shot to the stomache. They kept me under observation for three hours then let me leave. I have a perscription to get today. The Dr said next time I get stung dont wait just go ahead and use the Epi pen and get to the ER. Up until tonight I have never had more than a local reaction to a sting. The wife thinks I am nuts but I am not giving up on the bees.

riverrat · June 15, 2010, 12:08:05 PM

be careful that is just plain scary. If you contiue to work bees make sure you are not out along

Kathyp · June 15, 2010, 12:26:53 PM

make sure you have more than one epi-pen. they are short acting and you may need two in the time it takes you to get to the ER. carry your cell phone with emergency numbers on speed dial. make a contact on your phone called ICE and put allergies, meds, and conditions in the notes. ERs are getting pretty good at checking for ICE info.

oldenglish · June 15, 2010, 12:36:46 PM

Quote from: kathyp on June 15, 2010, 12:26:53 PM
make sure you have more than one epi-pen. they are short acting and you may need two in the time it takes you to get to the ER. carry your cell phone with emergency numbers on speed dial. make a contact on your phone called ICE and put allergies, meds, and conditions in the notes. ERs are getting pretty good at checking for ICE info.

I actually had four pens at home, they are for the wife but we always carry a couple with us, except this time as we were just putting feeder pails on the lids. Of my three yards I think this one had the closest EMT but they are all close so if I need it in the future I will administer the pen then call 911, last night my concern was not for me but as I was driving it was getting worse and I knew my 15 yr old daughter with me could not drive, I was worried about the reaction getting worse and maybe passing out. I do not want to be in that situation again where I put myself and others at risk, better to sit and wait for others to arrive.

Shawn · June 15, 2010, 01:03:15 PM

Wow, that makes one wonder if that could happen to them. Im glad your ok and take caution the next time.

jhs494 · June 15, 2010, 01:13:04 PM

If you have a reaction once will you react that way from now on? Could it be a one time thing? I am just curious. Does a persons body get to the point where it can no longer take the sting and from that point on you are allergic to them?
If this is the case, I wonder if a persons Dr. would prescribe an EPI pen knowing that you are a beekeeper. What sort of shelflife does the EPI pen have?
A lot of questions but, my Wife, Son and I all three work our bees and would it be smart to ask the Dr. for it just in case?

Sorry about your bad reaction and thankfully you are okay.

Thanks for sharing this with us!

oldenglish · June 15, 2010, 01:22:29 PM

I am going to be asking my Dr that same question, I would hope it was a one time thing but kinda doubt it, also it was the first time I had ever been stung twice at the same time so wonder if the double whammy had something to do with it.
EPI pens have a shelf life of one year.
As for your Dr some will and some won't when it comes to just in case perscriptions. Best is to ask and if they say no find a Dr that will. However for family most will say yes but few will agree if you talk about needing them in case visitors get sick.

You can also buy them from canada.
Cost will depend on your insurance, if you dont have any they are about $100

jhs494 · June 15, 2010, 01:39:45 PM

Thanks for the info! My wife, son and I all three go to the same Dr. maybe she will be understanding and write it since she knows we keep bees.
Thanks again, and hopefully you will never react again! Enjoy those bees!

Kathyp · June 15, 2010, 01:42:48 PM

grab some benadryl and keep it with you also. i like the liquid children's because i don't have to worry about the dose. just swig the bottle. them i take a tab or two later. the liquid gets into your system quickly.

tandemrx · June 15, 2010, 06:39:18 PM

Consider taking a loratadine tablet (over the counter generic Claritin) BEFORE you go to your hives. It is really best to have an antihistamine in your system before you get stung. The less/non-sedating antihistamines like loratadine are quite well tolerated and pretty cheap as generic. You are blocking histamine at the receptor with these drugs . . . it helps if you take it after, but if you can block the receptors PRIOR to getting stung you would even have less of a reaction.

I only get typical local swelling and itching - not a bad reaction - but I always try to remember to take a loratadine before I go to the bee yard - no matter the reason (I often take one daily for seasonal allergies anyway, but even if the nose is o.k. I definitely take one before I go to bee yard . . . its well worth trying to reduce the hassle and reduce symptoms).

Of course any medications have risks and it never hurts to discuss with your doctor, but loratadine has much less sedating effects than benadryl (so driving is less of an issue) and also doesn't have anticholinergic effects (drying effects) which are not ideal for even-semi-older folks and really anyone who is going to be sweating up a storm (which is what I do on a hot day in my bee suit :-D).

I am a pharmacist, so that is a pharmacists recommendation, but again, its always a good idea to discuss anything like this with your MD.

melliphile · June 15, 2010, 11:01:36 PM

I've heard of old beekeepers developing allergies to bees after having kept them for years. Children often grow out of allergies. Allergies for any one of us may come and go without our knowing because we were never exposed to the allergen. An allergist (whom I hope you plan to see) can offer desensitization, but that takes time. If you are not allergic, two stings at once will not have this effect. One sting probably would have done it for you.

JP · June 15, 2010, 11:14:42 PM

My wife had the same reaction you did and the same treatment except for the shot in the stomach. This was about a month ago. A week later she took a sting and didn't have a reaction.

When we left the hospital we went and got her prescription filled for two epi pens.

Iddee mentioned there are two medical doctors in his bee keeping group that say that bee keepers who are not allergic and get stung regularly do not all of a sudden one day have a terrible reaction to stings.

They did point out however that those who get a few stings here and there over the years may get a dreaded reaction one day.

Apparently, I am safe.

...JP

wildbeekeeper · June 16, 2010, 10:40:23 PM

same here JP :) I went to my Doc and told him I was a beekeeper and wanted some epi pens "just in case" and he had no problem giving me a Rx for tem. Shelf life is one year

MagicValley · June 17, 2010, 02:57:30 AM

Sometimes the law is just stupid.

Teach your 15 year old daughter how to drive. FTG.

Kathyp · June 17, 2010, 10:59:10 AM

thanks for the info on the loratadine tabs. think someone else brought that up years ago. i had forgotten. i am a cheep SOB an am amazed at what people will pay for OTC meds. if i can't find it at the dollar store, i probably don't buy it ;).

fortunately, i have found both the loratadine and the benadryl at my local dollar store.