Bee Sting/bite q's- Long

08-08-2004, 11:44 AM

Friday I played hooky and decided to do another 100 miler. It was just too
gorgeous a day here near Philly not to (75 sunny, breezy...you know, one of
God's days.)

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 :<

I finished the 100 and got home to a pretty good swelling localized on my
forehead where the bee got me. My hub had to officiate at the velodrome, so
I decided to go with him and watch the racing. 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.

My entire head has been itching like crazy and my hands/fingers swelled a
bit and are itchy too.

By this morning, both my eyes were open enough to ride with my group (thank
god they were only doing a 17-18 mph pace ride), but I noticed that my HR
was elevated and my chest felt tight (not to mention my droopy face kept
flopping up and down like Richard Nixon's).

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?

Thanks,
Cat

08-08-2004, 12:18 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Cat Dailey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> 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?

I don't have any expertise about allergies. But I do know
that bees only sting once and then die. Wasps, such as yellow
jackets, can sting multiple times with gleeful impunity. And
their stings can be a lot worse than bee stings. I've heard
it described as resembling a strong electrical shock.

The last time I got stung by a wasp, a little topical
application of calamine lotion fixed it right up, with
immediate relief. But I had nowhere near the symptoms
you describe.

I think your best bet is to talk to your family physician
about it.

cheers,
Tom

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08-08-2004, 12:18 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Cat Dailey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> 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?

I don't have any expertise about allergies. But I do know
that bees only sting once and then die. Wasps, such as yellow
jackets, can sting multiple times with gleeful impunity. And
their stings can be a lot worse than bee stings. I've heard
it described as resembling a strong electrical shock.

The last time I got stung by a wasp, a little topical
application of calamine lotion fixed it right up, with
immediate relief. But I had nowhere near the symptoms
you describe.

I think your best bet is to talk to your family physician
about it.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

08-08-2004, 12:18 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Cat Dailey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> 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?

I don't have any expertise about allergies. But I do know
that bees only sting once and then die. Wasps, such as yellow
jackets, can sting multiple times with gleeful impunity. And
their stings can be a lot worse than bee stings. I've heard
it described as resembling a strong electrical shock.

The last time I got stung by a wasp, a little topical
application of calamine lotion fixed it right up, with
immediate relief. But I had nowhere near the symptoms
you describe.

I think your best bet is to talk to your family physician
about it.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

08-08-2004, 12:18 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Cat Dailey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> 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?

I don't have any expertise about allergies. But I do know
that bees only sting once and then die. Wasps, such as yellow
jackets, can sting multiple times with gleeful impunity. And
their stings can be a lot worse than bee stings. I've heard
it described as resembling a strong electrical shock.

The last time I got stung by a wasp, a little topical
application of calamine lotion fixed it right up, with
immediate relief. But I had nowhere near the symptoms
you describe.

I think your best bet is to talk to your family physician
about it.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

08-08-2004, 12:18 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Cat Dailey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>
> 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?

I don't have any expertise about allergies. But I do know
that bees only sting once and then die. Wasps, such as yellow
jackets, can sting multiple times with gleeful impunity. And
their stings can be a lot worse than bee stings. I've heard
it described as resembling a strong electrical shock.

The last time I got stung by a wasp, a little topical
application of calamine lotion fixed it right up, with
immediate relief. But I had nowhere near the symptoms
you describe.

I think your best bet is to talk to your family physician
about it.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

08-08-2004, 12:27 PM

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

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |

08-08-2004, 12:27 PM

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

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |

08-08-2004, 12:27 PM

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

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |

08-08-2004, 12:27 PM

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

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |