A couple of weeks ago I was cutting my lawn and I got a sting from a wasp. Now this is not a pleasant experience at the best of times but this time I noticed that, in addition to the swelling around the site of the sting, I was also getting some little blisters (or hives).
I showed them to my wife (luckily she was actually at home) and we decided to go to the Emergency at the local hosital (15 minute drive). As we were driving there I suggested that we go to the doctors office - which is only 5 mins. away as I didn’t relish the 4-6 hour wait in the Emerg. (I didn’t think it was an emergency at this point).
We made it to the doctors and by this time my face was swollen and my ears were getting clogged. I could also feel my chest getting tight. I walked in to the doctors office and promptly fainted at the reception desk. The doctor brought me around and administered some adrenelin and anti-histamine. I survived…apparently, according to the doctor, I had less than 5 minutes before I would have died. If we had gone to the Emergency I would not have made it.
Has anyone else had an experience like this. I have been stung many times before (usually once a year at some point) and have never had anything like this happen. I now have to carry an EPIPEN and some anti-histamines and apparently it could be faster the next time.
The father of a college friend of mine used to keep honeybees. He had been stung many, many times over the years, and never had a reaction beyond the initial pain of the sting and a slight bump. One day, while he was standing in his bathroom and shaving his beard, a honeybee flew in the open window and stung him on the nose. He had a severe allergic reaction (much like yours) and almost died. He had to get rid of all the bee hives, and now carries an Epipen.
A friend of mine, who had never had a bad reaction to a bee sting, was stung on the back of the neck while we were out hiking. After the initial pain, he didn’t think much about it and kept on walking… for about 100 yards. Then he collapsed onto the ground, passed out. He came to almost immediately, and we made him take some benadryl. He now carries an Epipen.
I’ve never had a bad reaction to a bee sting, but I realize that it could easily happen the next time I get stung. I hope not, though.
Anaphylaxis. No fun. My son has that for beestings (found out some WIllie weeks ago when, still a seven year old, he helped me catch a swarm from one of our beehives, needless to say they have moved several miles from the house). Realise this first sting set up the reaction, the next reaction will be more severe and quicker so keep the anapen/epipen handy at all times. Carry something identifying the problem so paramedics know what the problem is, just in case.
Sometimes when I get stung it is pretty bad in that I can’t breath or sit up and I start choking. Other times not much happens. I don’t usually have to go to the doctor, but I would rather have a wasp sting me because it doesn’t leave it’s stinger in the skin. Honeybees leave their stingers in the persons skin and have to die afterwards.
While I admire the Jainist sentiment, I can’t help but feel that if stinging me causes you to die, it’s kind of your own dang fault.
Part of my hard attitude with respect to yours, Cranberry, comes from having had to nurture a kid through and out of obsessive-compulsive disorder. There was a time when she felt obligated to hold her arms out to feed the mosquitoes, shake her feet off before getting on the school bus lest ants be inadvertantly removed from their homes, and avoid swimming pools as the chlorine would kill the mites living on her eyelashes. By the time I’d kept her from starving herself to death (to avoid her harmfully impacting the world because of her needs,) I’d emerged with a much more detached attitude toward things like that.
As I child, I was often stung by yellow jackets and developed a lot of swelling (I hesitate to say “localized” because if I got stung on my hand, my arm would swell up to my elbow), but I’ve never had anything that bad. Usually some benadryl would get rid of it in a couple days for me.
It’s been years since I was last stung (I think I was maybe 9 or 10 the last time) so I don’ really know how I’d react now. I tend to run away screaming from the little bastards though, so hopefully I’ll never know.
Just one of these things, i have been stung by bees a good bit (the bees we had here in ireland were ferocious and would go for me often when i’d be working in the garden) and I will get a huge swelling from a developed increased sensitivity. My son was only ever stung once but instantly developed an anaphylactic reaction. They are two different phenomena.
Is there any possibility that this is related in some way to age/hormones etc. I realize Peter’s son was young and reacted to his first sting, but a lot of people I have heard of this happening to were in their mid forties to mid-fifties, and most had been stung before. What is it that causes the body to react one way with one sting and another way with the next sting?
Also my doctor told me that either bees or wasp stings were the same when it comes to allergies. The only difference is the fact that the bee leaveshis stinger inside (actually if you are fast enough you can get it out before it releases its venom - < 45 seconds).
As far as I know bee and wasp venon are not the same, I had my son tested and while he has a very severe reaction to bee venom, wasps are no threat to him. Which was a relief as wasps are generally far more agressive than bees. It is worth looking into that and have yourself tested so you won’t have to panic at any bee that may be harmless to you.
I have known several people who developed anaphylaxis during their 40s, one of them had a very narrow escape like yourself, another wasn’t so lucky.
I am not sure the actual cause is known but it is something that can develop, not only beestings but some types of food (especially nuts can cause fierce reactions) can cause anaphylactic reactions.
I suggest you confirm with your doctor that anaphylaxis is your problem and then get information from one of the anaphylaxis websites/patient organisations. There is very good information available, I got a lot from the British Anaphylaxis association. Obviously getting reliable information can lay to rest a lot of misinformation flying around and focus you on the things you really need t owatch out for.
That’s a good idea and my doctor has actually set up an appointment (for next March - believe it or not that is the earliest I can get) with an Allergist. Apparently there is also some de-sensitization treatment that is available once it is determined what the allergy is actually to.
Thanks Peter. the more reliable information I can get the better. Appreciate your help.
Same problem with me. I only found out by accident as usual. Was going on my motorbike and had a friend on the back seat when one flew into my helmet and stung me several times in my neck before I could stop without having a crash. First reaction to slam into the breakes I could JUST resist. After releasing the wasp from my helmet and even feeling sorry for her (ta!) I got back on the bike to drive my friend home which was about 10 minutes or so drive. I felt something was not alright and realised I was starting having poblems with breathing. When I stopped at her house and took the helmet of she freaked out about my look, must have been even more horrible than normal when you take of the helmet when it is over 30 degrees Celsius . She did not want to let me go home on my bike and called me a taxi and he decided to not give me a lift “just home” but to get me to the hospital which I am very happy he did. When they saw me at the emergency entrance I got straight through and got cortison and antyhystamine in my venes I think. Was some frightening (feeling like hours) time lying there consciously forcing the diaphram to press the air out and suck back in. My mom came to drive me home and even so much later she still freaked about my look. Have a wasp phobia now, cannot help it but my legs start running and running same as when a horsefly decides chasing me
Brigitte
P.S. Never ever since then I had my helmet open when biking again.
We had our GP take a bloodsample which was sent off to Galway for analysis, result was back after a week. You could check if that’s an option so you know at least something before March.
A friend just told me about her husband having an anaphylactic reaction from hornet stings. She said that he has had allergy shots for them for the last 10-12 years and that when he got stung again recently, he did not have an allergic reaction. You might want to talk to your doctor about this option, since it’s really dangerous to have that reaction, even with an epipen on hand.
Peter, are you saying that I can be allergy tested through a blood sample. If that is the case then I will definitely get it done sooner than later. The wasps are getting more plentiful and agressive around here at the moment. One landed on the rim of my glases yesterday when I was stretching before my run
If we had gone to the Emergency I would not have made it.
. She did not want to let me go home on my bike and called me a taxi and he decided to not give me a lift “just home” but to get me to the hospital which I am very happy he did. When they saw me at the emergency entrance I got straight through and got cortison and antyhystamine in my venes I think. Was some frightening (feeling like hours) time lying there consciously forcing the diaphram to press the air out and suck back in. My mom came to drive me home and even so much later she still freaked about my look. Have a wasp phobia now, cannot help it but my legs start running and running same as when a horsefly decides chasing me 