This past Friday, I picked up a bad sting on my little finger — probably from a yellow jacket or hornet (they were nesting under some boards on the ground near a house foundation).
I am aware of severe allergic reactions — and I had none of those symptoms.
But the day after (Saturday), there was a little swelling on the back of my hand, and today (Sunday), the swelling is a little worse. No signs of infection.
I started taking OTC Benadryl today and am icing the swollen area every couple of hours.
Anything else I should be doing? Is this sort of moderate swelling common after such a sting?
Replies
Mom used to take a bit of baking soda and mix it with water to make a paste. Then she'd smear the paste over the sting area.
Don't exactly know why, that's just what she always did.
Eternity is long. Especially in the end.
Bee stings are acid so the bicarb will help to neutralise the sting.Wasp stings are alkali so vinegar is the best for those.
IanDG
Unless there was a stinger imbedded in the bite site or you saw the offending critter what got you is a matter of speculation. The degree of swelling you have indicates a reaction to the venom that should be of some concern. I would contact my physican ASAP and discuss the degree of swelling and there thoughts on possible worse reactions on your next encounter. You may very well should be allowed to keep a Epi Pen handy in the event of a worse reaction.
Are you sure it was a bee? Is it possible it was a spider?
The baking soda works as does ammonia, but usually when applied just after the sting. If the swelling continues or spreads up the arm, I would suggest a visit to the doctor.
Antihistimine ointment may help, too. But certainly call a doctor if it doesn't seem to be right.
Is the stinger still in there? Remove it (by scraping, not squeezing) if it's still there.
Myself...I scream like billy-hell..til wife can't stand it...she says "get over it"..."try havin a baby"
Funny, My wife got a bee between her toes out on the porch last night and it left the stinger there. I pulled the stinger, put ice on it, and gave her a couple of tylenol. half an hour later, it had swelled the foot and turned it bright red, while she cried about it hurting all the way up her leg.
No signs of allergic reaction, so she got into my Vicodin and that still didn't help her. I kept my tongue in my mouth though. She wanted sympathy and attention - well no, she realy wanted the pain to go away!
never thunk abnout benydryl
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
A pint of 100 proof rum takes any pain away nicely <G>.
I've heard of putting meat tenderizer on, but must do it immmediately. I tried it with a tellow jacket sting once and didn't notice much help. Ammonial is also supposed to work for ant bites. Used that as a kid in Florida, seemed to help some. I agree with everyone else--if swelling persists or goes up arm, tell doc. Maybe a call into your local emergency room will get you some better advice, although being Labor day weekend, they're probably up to their....very busy. Good luck--amazing how such a little critter can inflict such pain!
http://www.insectstings.co.uk/
Click on "the reaction" and "treatment" links for info.
It dont help, even a little bit, but my ol' granpappy swore by Red Man or Bull O' The Woods. "Just chaw yaself a little bit an' rub it on thu stang." Pop Myers
I got stung or bit, whatever a yellowjacket does, last week on the left wrist. There was no stinger left in the wound. It swelled up for a couple days and then itched like crazy and went away. Nasty, nasty little critters. I'd still rather have a bunch of bees around than a bunch of stinking flies.
Thanks for all the good advice.
I took a couple of Benadryl tablets today, but probably more important, iced the swelling every two three hours. So now, the hand is pretty much back to normal.
Subject came up last year, I had to take my daughter to the Doc's and I had a swollen left arm from multiple (five) yellow jacket stings on the back of my left hand.
My hand was pretty swollen, and the swelling was up my forearm, I had a "Popeye" arm.
Doc said that if the swelling passes two joints (in the direction of your heart) to seek medical attention. In my case the stings were on the hand, so if the swelling passed the wrist and the elbow I should have gone to see someone.
As to the itching, he said the same thing as with poison ivy or something similar. You can take an antihistimine, but if you're averse to that, just soak the itching body part in water as hot as you can stand for a few minutes, five or so. I forget the mechanics, but it was something like the heat draws out the built-up histimines, so when you pull your limb out of the hot water you should be able to get 6-10 hours of relief from the itching. Repeat as required.
An old timey appalachian mountain treatment for bee stings is plantain. This is the weed that is most likely growing in your yard. Mine is full of it. Its a broad leaf weed with a center seed stem sticking up. Grows in cracks in concrete very well.
Anyway, back home they would get a leaf and chew or mash it up and put it on the bee sting for 10 minutes or so. It is highly effective.
Here is a description of the plant. Allegedly it did not exist in North America until white men brought it from Europe for medicinal uses. The native americans used it and called it "white mans footsteps" because it seemed to grow anywhere they walked.
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/placom43.html
Consume one bottle of beer every ten minutes until you pass out.
Got stung in the calf about a month ago walking across a lawn with a fresh tray of mud. Looked down to see the bas&%rd stickin' it to me. Couldn't get the stinger out for about 1 1/2 hr, until I could get tweezers. The calf started to swell and discolor over 48 hrs and then started to subside. It was painful to put weight on it. After the two days it started to reduce on its own.
Ice and tylenol is what I used. Benadryl is more for a systemic (not local) reaction. It won't help reverse the symptoms, but could help you sleep!
I feel your pain...it was a horrible 2 days.
MES
>> Benadryl is more for a systemic (not local) reaction.
Does that mean it's just my imagination when Benadryl Cream applied topically works for me? I've never tried it on a sting, but it sure works for some other kinds of skin afflictions.
You are correct , sir. I should have made the distinction between oral benadryl and a topical.
MES