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