Bee stings.

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Bee stings.

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chickenlady

Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 1:43 pm Post subject: Bee stings.
How do folk deal with bee stings? I was stung last week, on the arm, and it swelled up and spread and spread. Ended up having to have antibiotics and super strength antihistamine from the doc. Was advised, at first, by a bee-keeper to put Germoline on - but this obviously wasn't enough. So...what do you do when stung? (I did flick the sting out immediately.)

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 1:45 pm Post subject:
When I am going up to work my bees, I take an antihistimine tablet, and ibruprofen before I go. I do suffer if I am stung, and this really helps. I then carry on taking this for a few days, and use an aloh vera itch cream as and when needed.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 1:52 pm Post subject:
Never taken anything. I find the early season stings are more reactive, by this time of the year I have little reaction. I also find stings around the face swell more than on legs & arms.

gardening-girl

Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 1:53 pm Post subject:
I just use an antihistamine spray.Haven`t reacted too badly so far.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 1:54 pm Post subject:
Heat from a smoker nozzle will destroy the venom before it spreads, & the smell of the smoke masks any alarm pheromones.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 2:19 pm Post subject:
I usually do the same as Alison but as I've not had bees for the last 2 summers I've got a bit out of touch

SandraR

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 2346
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 2:45 pm Post subject:
We keep liquid Piriton in the feed store which I take as soon as I'm stung and then Piriton tablets for several days afterwards.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46207
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 3:49 pm Post subject:

i dont seem to upset bees,all of the fruity bramble ones are either tame enough to play with or ignore me

wasps and every other type of toxic and bitey insects go for me,over the years i have got more sensitive but oral antihistamine,antihistimine spray with benzocaine for the pain and magic splosh to reduce secondary infection,necrosis etc seems to work
i have considered getting an epipen but so far my over reactions have been no worse than thinking the skin might split from the swelling last time i was wasped.

i still have the scars from the hornet attack necrosis 15 yrs ago

chickenlady

Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 6:04 pm Post subject:
Blimey, dpac, I'm glad it wasn't a hornet then. Thank you all for your advice...I'm going to stock up on everything! Arm is still swollen and hugely red so might need more meds. Hopefully not. I'm not a beekeeper and this was the first time I've been stung by an bee. Wasp stings seem feeble by comparison.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46207
Location: yes

Posted: Wed Jul 23, 14 10:27 pm Post subject:
i suspect different folk react differently to different critters ,some say hornets are not too bad ,some wasps etc etc if you have had a bad reaction to bee it might be worth getting an epipen as these things tend to be more extreme the more times it happens,unless like some folk you seem to get less sensitive im sure there is a pattern but it is a complicated one

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15966

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 14 6:22 am Post subject:

Reaction to bee stings tends to go one way or the other; either it becomes worse, and in some cases can become dangerous, or you develop an immunity. If you get a really bad reaction, beyond just swelling, then your doctor might be able to refer you for a course of de-sensitisation therapy. They apply very small amounts of the venom until you develop immunity, but as it takes time and is quite expensive, think this is only used for really severe cases where life could be at risk.

gardening-girl

Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 14 8:00 pm Post subject:
I have heard that garlic applied to the sting helps,fact or falacy,no idea.

chickenlady

Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset

Posted: Fri Jul 25, 14 4:06 pm Post subject:
It's very slowly going away...must have been a very venomous bee

iaf

Joined: 30 Oct 2010
Posts: 168

Posted: Fri Jul 25, 14 9:20 pm Post subject:
I use surgical spirit; the alcohol seems to numb the venom.

dangerous

Joined: 01 Feb 2010
Posts: 27

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 14 8:38 pm Post subject:
Apis mel works for me. As an aside. There is a link between taking NSAIDS like Ibuprofen and enhanced reactivity to bee stings. The only time I swelled up from wrist to elbow was when I had taken Ibuprofen the day before.

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