Got my first sting yesterday

[LEAD PIPE]

Well it’s official. I was showing my brother my top hive feeder and how it can be removed without opening up the hive and Bam. I took one in the corner of my eye, just above my tear duct. This is my first time getting stung by a honey bee. It was not bad at all. I would not call it painful, more startling. The swelling is about the size of a mosquito bite. I'm glad I got it over with. This was a very determined bee, no buzzing around, no warning, just bam! I never even saw her coming. I will always wear my head net when I'm that close to the hive.

[Beecharmer]

Hey,

I got my first sting this morning.  I was changing out the sugar water I've been feeding them.  I have long hair and one got caught in it.  Before Bryon could find it, she nailed me.  It burned for a little while, but can't even feel it now.

[LEAD PIPE]

Congrats, Where did she get you.

[drobbins]

I got 1 on the side of the hand the other day while I was holding a frame
of course I couldn't do anything about it without dropping the frame so she got me good
didn't hurt to much, but sweld a bit the next day and itched for 2 or 3
I think a benadril might help with the itching

Dave

[Barny]

I got 2 today from a real mean hive.  One between the eyes when I was doing NOTHING, and one on the back of my neck where my veil sometimes brushes the sides and back of my neck.  Ouch, but oh well!

[indypartridge]

Got my first sting yesterday - almost a month to the day from when I got my bees.  I've been refilling their feeder every day when I get home from work, and yesterday one of the girls followed me across the yard, got caught in the hair on the back of the neck and stung me. Not too bad.

[latebee]

Although I am not an expert beekeeper-I am an experienced on being stung. It is nothing like a wasp or yellow jacket sting. Those are PAINFUL,a honey bee sting on the other hand alarms you somewhat but is about 100 times less intense than a wasp or hornet sting.You will have less irritation though if within the first few minutes,you scrape off the stinger.I usually use my hive tool or a knife to scrape it off.After you have been stung a few times during the season your reaction should be less and less.One thing I learned the hard way is to always smoke the sting area on yourself very heavily before returning to work the hive or you will be stung repeatedly in the exact same spot over and over again.When I first started I think the apprehension of being stung was worse than actually getting stung. Maybe I am lucky but the only place I get a noticeable reaction is when stung on the face and then it usually looks worse than it feels.