weird sting reaction

[Mairzy_doats]

Hey all,

Not sure if this is in the right spot so feel free to move it. Got my girls today and promptly got stung on the arm. No swelling, no pain more than what a sweat bee feels like so I thought, "great! this'll be easy" esp since I went all last season without a single sting.

HOwever, a few hours later my arm is extremely stiff and painful, but still no swelling. I'm having a hard time making a fist with my hand and I'm starting to freak out. I've been stung lots of times as a kid and always swelled a little but nothing ever hurt this bad. Its making a wasp sting look like a pleasant experience.  :-D 

Is this a normal thing or should I be concerned? I think I'm just overly paranoid but....I figured I'd ask a few folks who are experienced at getting stung.

Thanks!

~mary

[Kathyp]

  have you taken any anti-inflammatory meds?  to late to ice it probably although it would do no harm if it made you feel better. 

if it were my arm i'd take some motrin or aspirin and maybe some benadryl.  that will probably do the trick.

are you a skinny thing?  wondering how deep that sting went.  also, there is always the chance that it hit a superficial nerve.  again, anti-inflammatory is the way to go.   

[AllenF]

It really feels good to scratch and scratch if it itches.   On stings, it depends a lot on where you get stung and just how well the bee got you.  Try not to think about it when you get stung.

[Michael Bush]

Not all stings are alike and it seems that Tylenol in your system will make them worse.  I have had many reactions that vary from something I can't find a few minutes later to a sting on the ankle ones that swelled so much I couldn't walk for several days.

[Kathyp]

i am not a big fan of Tylenol as an anti-inflammatory.  plain aspirin is best if you can take it.   motrin is quite good.  i can't think of a reason Tylenol would make it worse, it just wouldn't be my first choice.

[Mason]

It seems to me that sometimes they just hit the mark.  I got popped on the cuticle the other day and almost cried.

[Mairzy_doats]

Thanks all. Its feeling better now, I popped some motrin so I'd be able to sleep. Not to be a crybaby, but sheesh... :roll: never thought a measly sting could hurt so bad. Still no swelling, but the area is red now and itching something fierce. But I have most of my range of motion back so I'm happy about that. at least I can type without wanting to cry..hehe. Hopefully this doesn't happen every time I get stung this season... :-D

thanks again!

~mary

[Bee Happy]

"The Classroom" By Jerry Hayes has a list of sting reaction classifications. Probably some publicly/internet available stuff as well. There's several categories of bad reaction before allergic though, and he closed it by recommending an allergy test.

[Beaver Dam]

When I started kepping bees 3 years ago the stings on my hands would swell and itch like crazy. :'( I would normaly message the area to disperce the venom. Now, no swelling or itch. But I seem to have this thing that is forming on my backside resembling a stinger. :shock:

[slacker361]

 i can't think of a reason Tylenol would make it worse,


Tylenol can make it worse because it stops the bodys natural defense, the natural defense is called glutathione, it is produced by the liver. Tylenol stops the production of this chemical for up to 8 hours per recommended dosage.  this is why people can die from a tylenol over dose.

and this can be why tylenol can make it worse, the body is trying to work on the sting with its natural defenses and the tylenol stops that process.

I know I should have minded my own beeswax       LOL

[Kathyp]

I know I should have minded my own beeswax       

now what fun would that be???????   :evil: