Bee Sting/bite q's- Long - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-08-2004, 02:10 PM

"David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message
news

an.2004.08.08.20.27.34.440010@lehigh.edu...
> On Sun, 08 Aug 2004 15:44:55 -0400, Cat Dailey wrote:
>
> > Anyway, 91 miles into it, a bee gets up under my helmet and proceeds to
> > sting me 3 or 4 times at least (one of the guys I rode with today said
it
> > was a "bite" not a sting, because it was a multiple). All I know is, it
> > hurt A LOT :<
>
> Chances are, since you were stung multiple times, it was a yellowjacket,
> not a bee. Felt like an electric shock? Those critters are a RPITA
> around here this time of year, and they will only get more aggressive as
> their food supply (bugs) grows scarcer.
>
> > Over the
> > next 4-5 hours, the whole right side of my face swelled up until my eye
> > was nearly closed, ala Jonathan Vaughters. I iced all night and took
> > several benadryl during the evening, which only served to knock me on my
> > a**. By the next morning, it had migrated across my face and halfway
> > closed my left eye as well.
>
> Much like the reaction I get to yelowjacket stings. I got one on the
> cheek a few years ago and couldn't see out of my left eye for a couple
> days since the whole side of my head swelled up.
>
> > Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from
> > now on, or is this a one time weirdo thing?
>
> I don't know that I would call it an allergy. You are sensitive to these
> things, but that is a common reaction, especially to multiple stings. An
> epi-pen is a good idea (I need a new one, myself). This is not, however,
> a one-time weirdo thing.
>
> > Did I get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter
> > in question was what we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
> It's definitely a sting. Yellowjackets are a type of wasp; their nests
> tend to be in the ground or in recesses in buildings -- or anything
> outside. I usually get stung while mowing the lawn, since they defend
> their nests fiercely.
>
> --
>
> David L. Johnson

Thanks David. I don't think I'd call it an electric shock...it hurt a bit
more than that. In fact, I was surprised at how much it did hurt ;< Do
you have a similar reaction now every time you get stung? And do you wait
to use the epi pen to see if you are having trouble breathing, or do you
just go for it whenever you get stung?

Cat
PS-We have ridden together before, you and I....

08-08-2004, 02:13 PM

>"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from now
>on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and never
>had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic. Did I
>get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was what
>we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
>Anyone have any other advice?

An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to your
doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The swelling and
itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the offending
insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the insect
feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-08-2004, 02:13 PM

>"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from now
>on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and never
>had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic. Did I
>get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was what
>we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
>Anyone have any other advice?

An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to your
doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The swelling and
itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the offending
insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the insect
feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-08-2004, 02:13 PM

>"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from now
>on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and never
>had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic. Did I
>get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was what
>we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
>Anyone have any other advice?

An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to your
doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The swelling and
itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the offending
insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the insect
feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-08-2004, 02:13 PM

>"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from now
>on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and never
>had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic. Did I
>get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was what
>we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
>Anyone have any other advice?

An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to your
doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The swelling and
itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the offending
insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the insect
feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-08-2004, 02:13 PM

>"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

wrote in part:

>Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from now
>on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and never
>had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic. Did I
>get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was what
>we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
>
>Anyone have any other advice?

An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to your
doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The swelling and
itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the offending
insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the insect
feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

08-08-2004, 02:23 PM

"Hunrobe" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> wrote in part:
>
> >Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from
now
> >on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and
never
> >had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic.
Did I
> >get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was
what
> >we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
> >
> >Anyone have any other advice?
>
> An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to
your
> doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
> BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
> wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The
swelling and
> itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the
offending
> insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the
insect
> feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>
>
> Regards,
> Bob Hunt

You know, it's funny, but my family doc doesn't seem to be much help with
the sort of off the wall problems I get into on occasion as a cyclist. He's
great with "sickness" but doesn't seem to be as great with stuff one might
encounter as an athlete. If I ask him for a scrip for an epi pen, he'll
give it to me without too much trouble I think. I was hoping to get some
basic info from someone else who might have a bee sting allergy to find out
if it is something I should trouble the doc about. He doesn't have hours
Friday late or over the weekend anyway. If it's an emergency, I go to the
hospital, otherwise I wait until Monday morning when the office is open.

Cat

08-08-2004, 02:23 PM

"Hunrobe" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> wrote in part:
>
> >Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from
now
> >on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and
never
> >had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic.
Did I
> >get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was
what
> >we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
> >
> >Anyone have any other advice?
>
> An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to
your
> doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
> BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
> wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The
swelling and
> itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the
offending
> insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the
insect
> feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>
>
> Regards,
> Bob Hunt

You know, it's funny, but my family doc doesn't seem to be much help with
the sort of off the wall problems I get into on occasion as a cyclist. He's
great with "sickness" but doesn't seem to be as great with stuff one might
encounter as an athlete. If I ask him for a scrip for an epi pen, he'll
give it to me without too much trouble I think. I was hoping to get some
basic info from someone else who might have a bee sting allergy to find out
if it is something I should trouble the doc about. He doesn't have hours
Friday late or over the weekend anyway. If it's an emergency, I go to the
hospital, otherwise I wait until Monday morning when the office is open.

Cat

08-08-2004, 02:23 PM

"Hunrobe" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> wrote in part:
>
> >Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from
now
> >on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and
never
> >had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic.
Did I
> >get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was
what
> >we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
> >
> >Anyone have any other advice?
>
> An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to
your
> doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
> BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
> wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The
swelling and
> itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the
offending
> insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the
insect
> feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>
>
> Regards,
> Bob Hunt

You know, it's funny, but my family doc doesn't seem to be much help with
the sort of off the wall problems I get into on occasion as a cyclist. He's
great with "sickness" but doesn't seem to be as great with stuff one might
encounter as an athlete. If I ask him for a scrip for an epi pen, he'll
give it to me without too much trouble I think. I was hoping to get some
basic info from someone else who might have a bee sting allergy to find out
if it is something I should trouble the doc about. He doesn't have hours
Friday late or over the weekend anyway. If it's an emergency, I go to the
hospital, otherwise I wait until Monday morning when the office is open.

Cat

08-08-2004, 02:23 PM

"Hunrobe" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> >"Cat Dailey" [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> wrote in part:
>
> >Am I allergic to bees now and do I need to carry an epi pen with me from
now
> >on, or is this a one time weirdo thing? I have been stung before and
never
> >had a reaction like this one, but my one sister is terribly allergic.
Did I
> >get stung or bitten? I am pretty sure that the critter in question was
what
> >we call a "yellow jacket" here in PA.
> >
> >Anyone have any other advice?
>
> An epi pen is a prescription item. That means you have to at least talk to
your
> doctor anyway so ask him/her for a professional opinion.
> BTW, it was a sting. Neither bees nor wasps bite and even if they did you
> wouldn't experience anything remotely resembling like you did. The
swelling and
> itching we get from insect bites is a reaction to the toxins in the
offending
> insect's saliva, toxins that are there to prevent clotting while the
insect
> feeds. Ever heard of a blood sucking bee? <g>
>
> Regards,
> Bob Hunt

You know, it's funny, but my family doc doesn't seem to be much help with
the sort of off the wall problems I get into on occasion as a cyclist. He's
great with "sickness" but doesn't seem to be as great with stuff one might
encounter as an athlete. If I ask him for a scrip for an epi pen, he'll
give it to me without too much trouble I think. I was hoping to get some
basic info from someone else who might have a bee sting allergy to find out
if it is something I should trouble the doc about. He doesn't have hours
Friday late or over the weekend anyway. If it's an emergency, I go to the
hospital, otherwise I wait until Monday morning when the office is open.

Cat