Stings are hurting WORSE

Haddon · July 12, 2013, 03:02:09 PM

The removal in Clinton, ms those sting hurt pretty bad. So much so that the one on my neck and ankle almost sent me to my knees. The one on my ankle stayed swelled up and made it hard to walk for a couple days. Well I went in the bee yard Wednesday and took one or 2 under my bicep and it hurt like hell I mean like making me want to run. I had my suit on so it was a threw the suit sting.

I have 2 removals this weekend and its got me worried first time I have ever been worried about stings. They are hurting so bad if this keeps up I don't know if I will be able to keep on. Maybe its the heat but I normally laugh about how the stings hurt or how many I took threw the suit but not this week month. Think about me tomorrow it could be the test as to if I have to stop this all.

Anyone else ever have the stings get worse or I am on no med or anything like that.

iddee · July 12, 2013, 05:52:32 PM

4 hours before starting, take 2 ALEVE. When starting, take 2 more.

JackM · July 12, 2013, 06:06:04 PM

Interesting, my doc says I am allergic and that my symptoms will increase with every sting. 2 stings ago on a finger just the finger swelled, the next one on th e finger and my whole hand swelled up so bad I had to remove rings and watches for a week, along with the violent itching....which as far as I am concerned is 100 times worse than the sting.

I now keep my epi pen very close. Might want to go visit your doctor, don't just rely on antihistamines, your body is trying to tell you something, not sure what, but something, listen to it.

JPinMO · July 12, 2013, 06:30:45 PM

Haddon, one of our Bee Club members took some 50 stings (at an estate auction, someone who didn't know any better opened up a hive....). She went to her doctor after a couple of days because the reactions weren't getting better. He told her that your body will keep reacting to the venom. (He gave her several shots and had her return three days in a row for treatment).

Is there a reason you didn't start taking benadryl immediately?

This isn't on the typical sting remedy "list", but I have had good results with soaking in epsom salt solution. Make it strong, 2T of e/s per cup of water, or 2 cups per gallon, although I'm sure it doesn't have to be precise. Use a cloth as a compress for an area you can't soak in some type of basin, like your neck. You can get a 2# carton of e/s at Walmart for 88 cents.

sc-bee · July 12, 2013, 07:04:11 PM

Quote from: iddee on July 12, 2013, 05:52:32 PM
4 hours before starting, take 2 ALEVE. When starting, take 2 more.

Starting??? Starting work on hives?

Kathyp · July 13, 2013, 01:59:26 PM

had another rec made for me and have found it to be helpful. before working on bees, take Loratadine. it won't make you sleepy and you only have to take it once in 24 hours. if you are stung, take some diphenhydramine. i keep the kids liquid and just take a swig or two. it's such low dose that you can do that without worry and the liquid hits your system faster.

because i don't want to drive on the benadryl, the Claritin (loratadine) is perfect to take before i go on a call, and i can hit the benadryl when i get home. both are antihistamines, but work a little diffidently.

Haddon · July 16, 2013, 10:05:05 AM

Thanks kathyp I had a feeling you would know a way to deal with this.

I dont partake of really any drugs and caffeine is a drug in my eyes too. So when I take beni its like giving me a narcolepsy pill.

Well I survived the weekend removal but darn they were horrible so bad that they were attacking the vac hose. I mean a boil off attack but they were up high and I used a long pipe on my hose so that I didnt have to be near the vac hose I would have not liked holding the hose. I dont think I got video that really shows how aggressive they were. Sadly I have been reworking my vac and it was sucking them to hard and killed a lot but as I told my dad maybe the loses will weaken their aggression.

Kathyp · July 16, 2013, 04:45:34 PM

QuoteThanks kathyp I had a feeling you would know a way to deal with this.

don't know if it will work for you. worth a try maybe. do a test run when you are at home and don't have to drive anywhere.

JPinMO · July 18, 2013, 06:19:16 AM

KathyP, love the Claritin suggestion. Definitely filing that one in the memory bank.

Haddon, how are you doing? Any relief?

Carol · July 18, 2013, 12:11:52 PM

I've also noticed a difference. I was stung 3 times (my fault) while installing 2 packages in March. All 3 were on my right hand. It did swell and itch but not too badly. A month later I was stung on the leg. (swatted without thinking, thought it was a spider) it swelled even more and more itch. A few days ago I was stung on the bicep and that really swelled and itched. Seems like they are getting worse each time. Guess I need to get an epi pen..just in case. Not into meds...baby asprin a day is the most I take. That's part of the reason I want to have a hive that is treatment free.

capt44 · July 18, 2013, 11:28:24 PM

I was harvesting honey this mawn'n and they gals got upset, I mean UPSET.
I got stung several times through my overalls and glove vents.
I counted 42 stingers on the legs of my overalls and my white shirt.
Just seems the one on the inside of my left wrist hurt like everything.
It's swelled some but it is starting to go down 12 hours later.
I used smoke but that'll probably have to stop for we're under a burn ban.

Kathyp · July 18, 2013, 11:35:57 PM

here, a burn ban does not extend to bee smokers!