Do I need to worry about stings?

[JackM]

I am concerned by the non-medical advice particularly the "you are probably ok" stuff.  I have medical background, so I feel competent to address this.

YES YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED.  You have outlined the scenario of how a true allergy can present early on.  First stings no big deal, next stings, worse, the next worse and so on.  There is a line where you will cross and become truely anaphalactic in minutes.

You should ALWAYS wear protective gear for any exposed skin, even for a quick look, most of my stings have been when I first moved stuff in the hive and they went right for my hand or face.  (CO2 attracts, remember).

Talk to a doctor, get this information into your medical record as it is very important.  Yes, you should have gone to the doctor.

Benadryl and the EpiPen are temporary stopgaps in a true allergic emergency, not the final solution, seek medical care.  If you experience any shortness of breath, throat closing type stuff, call ambulance, don't drive.

[Kevin Bentley]

Yep, what he said.

[sterling]

I never open a hive without a smoker lit and a veil on even a nuc. It's just not that much trouble to light a smoker and put on a veil. And I don't have reactions from bee stings. But I can't handle the bees flying around my face without a veil on.

[Dallasbeek]

That's not as bad as when one manages to get in the veil and flies around your head.  Double check that velcro tab over the zippers.

Gary

[OldMech]

  All well and good, except that I started helping an old beekeeper when I was in my early teens.  I never KNEW there was such a thing as a veil until many years later. There were no computers or internet to look things up.
   I have an Ultra Breeze now, and I put it on, but I VERY seldom put the veil up. After so may years working bees with no veil I find it distressful rather than helpful.
   I agree that everyone needs to be prepared the best they can for reactions. I disagree wholeheartedly that you should avoid stings and wear maximum protection. A sting or three every so often is good for you. Have joint pain? Put a bee on the sore spot and let her sting. According to the old timers, avoiding stings will make your reactions worse over time. You deal with bees, their pollen and honey, everything they do. Without getting stung those things can cause allergies to get worse.  At least, thats what I have heard for most of my life.  I even read somewhere recently that the families of beekeepers tend to have a greater percentage of allergies to bee stings because they are exposed to everything BUT being stung.
   An allergic reaction to a sting is NOT something to take lightly. I am in no way advocating getting stung if you ARE allergic, however, if you are NOT allergic, then I am advocating it.   
   I really would not want to spend years building up my apiary wearing half a ton of bee armor every time I went to the hives, and then one day FINALLY get stung and end up in the ER or worse...
   I feel fortunate that my reaction to stings is excessively Minimal, often no swelling or itching at all. I also feel that such minute reactions are because I get stung every so often, rather than avoiding it.
   28 stings since the first cut out started this spring.

I had a hybrid ninja/kamikaze bee visitor sitting on the veil that I rudely flipped up and over my head.  Inside the LEFT NOSTRIL the she-devil went and out of the veil I came.  It felt like a (CUSS WORD) Tasmanian thunderstorm inside my nose that delivered a watery, debilitating everything.  I hot-footed it to the truck, removed the (CUSS WORD)stinger, popped a Benadryl, chugged some water, wrung out my head, and thankfully finished the job.  Hurt like a "CUSS WORD!"!  So, yes, you should be concerned, but really only if you have systemic and not localized reactionary symptoms.

   Kevin... I want to say that is the most ACCURATE description of a bee in the nose I have ever read. Well written!!!

[biggraham610]

I am concerned by the non-medical advice particularly the "you are probably ok" stuff.  I have medical background, so I feel competent to address this.

YES YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED.  You have outlined the scenario of how a true allergy can present early on.  First stings no big deal, next stings, worse, the next worse and so on.  There is a line where you will cross and become truely anaphalactic in minutes.

You should ALWAYS wear protective gear for any exposed skin, even for a quick look, most of my stings have been when I first moved stuff in the hive and they went right for my hand or face.  (CO2 attracts, remember).

Talk to a doctor, get this information into your medical record as it is very important.  Yes, you should have gone to the doctor.

Benadryl and the EpiPen are temporary stopgaps in a true allergic emergency, not the final solution, seek medical care.  If you experience any shortness of breath, throat closing type stuff, call ambulance, don't drive.

Yes, Yes yes.

[biggraham610]

  All well and good, except that I started helping an old beekeeper when I was in my early teens.  I never KNEW there was such a thing as a veil until many years later. There were no computers or internet to look things up.
   I have an Ultra Breeze now, and I put it on, but I VERY seldom put the veil up. After so may years working bees with no veil I find it distressful rather than helpful.
   I agree that everyone needs to be prepared the best they can for reactions. I disagree wholeheartedly that you should avoid stings and wear maximum protection. A sting or three every so often is good for you. Have joint pain? Put a bee on the sore spot and let her sting. According to the old timers, avoiding stings will make your reactions worse over time. You deal with bees, their pollen and honey, everything they do. Without getting stung those things can cause allergies to get worse.  At least, thats what I have heard for most of my life.  I even read somewhere recently that the families of beekeepers tend to have a greater percentage of allergies to bee stings because they are exposed to everything BUT being stung.
   An allergic reaction to a sting is NOT something to take lightly. I am in no way advocating getting stung if you ARE allergic, however, if you are NOT allergic, then I am advocating it.   
   I really would not want to spend years building up my apiary wearing half a ton of bee armor every time I went to the hives, and then one day FINALLY get stung and end up in the ER or worse...
   I feel fortunate that my reaction to stings is excessively Minimal, often no swelling or itching at all. I also feel that such minute reactions are because I get stung every so often, rather than avoiding it.
   28 stings since the first cut out started this spring.

I had a hybrid ninja/kamikaze bee visitor sitting on the veil that I rudely flipped up and over my head.  Inside the LEFT NOSTRIL the she-devil went and out of the veil I came.  It felt like a (CUSS WORD) Tasmanian thunderstorm inside my nose that delivered a watery, debilitating everything.  I hot-footed it to the truck, removed the (CUSS WORD)stinger, popped a Benadryl, chugged some water, wrung out my head, and thankfully finished the job.  Hurt like a "CUSS WORD!"!  So, yes, you should be concerned, but really only if you have systemic and not localized reactionary symptoms.

   Kevin... I want to say that is the most ACCURATE description of a bee in the nose I have ever read. Well written!!!

And Yes Yes Yes.
Now, let me explain. I am lucky enough that stings dont bother me that much, actually they help my aching hands, I dont get stung on purpose, but do take my share. That being said, an allergy is a very dangerous thing, and it can be very progressive. Not so bad, man this sucks, to shock. I am not a doctor, but, I would consult one if the symptoms worsen with stings. I hope they dont. But you need a backup plan close until you are certain. Good Luck. G  :chop:

[GSF]

Some people are stinging magnets so approach all advice with caution.

[SueCT]

Has anyone here used injectable Diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benedryl)?  I have a bottle here for veterinary use (we have four dogs and I wanted to be prepared in case one of them was stung and had any signs of anaphylaxis.  We often use this medication in veterinary medicine for pets with vaccine reactions and it reduces/prevents swelling very well and works quickly.  It is given IM.  I'm thinking it can probably be used IM in people, too, but haven't chatted with my Dr. about this yet. I figure it's good to have on hand in an emergency for pet or human.  Anyone have any experience with this?

[SueCT]

Has anyone here used injectable Diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benedryl)?  I have a bottle here for veterinary use (we have four dogs and I wanted to be prepared in case one of them was stung and had any signs of anaphylaxis).  We often use this medication in veterinary medicine for pets with vaccine reactions and it reduces/prevents swelling very well and works quickly.  It is given IM.  I'm thinking it can probably be used IM in people, too, but haven't chatted with my Dr. about this yet. I figure it's good to have on hand in an emergency for pet or human.  Anyone have any experience with this?