How does your body react to yellow jacket stings?
- Thread starter General Lee
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Thats what we have all right WOW pinchers AND a wicked stinger yeouch I will be even more careful now thanks for the insight! :thumbsup:
Richard
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I agree with those that say to see a doc.
My understanding (and I'm no Doc) is even the red local swelling is a reaction to the venom.
So you are evidently reacting and it just becomes a matter of how much.
I've been stung any number of times over my life. Once was out digging some stumps with my hoe and was stung about nine times. Was either 5 on face and 4 on arm or other way around.
Regardless, my face was puffy for a week and ached. (I'm sure it still pains my wife to look at it
)
Fast forward a couple years and in LATE November, a lowely little wasp was very lethargic (cool weather) and climbed up my sock....stung me on the calf.
I ended up in the emergency room with several syringes of "stuff" being pumped into me via an IV connection.
My airway was constricting, my entire body was itching like a real SOB.
I ended up going to an allergist and went through the 5 years of treatment.
As it turns out in my case, I'm allergic to all the little stinging critters now. The LOWEST reaction I have is to wasps & bees. Yellow jackets & Hornets are off the scale for me. It was a lowely wasp that landed me in the ER.
I've since been stung by a yellow jacket. The moment it happened I remember saying something like "here we go... it's test time" (to see if the process was helping)
I went inside as per my Doctors orders. (stay cool)
I also went to the cabinet and took a couple chugs of liquid benedryl (only found it as Childrens Benedryl......cherry flavor of course!)
and I kept my epi pen handy as well as phone.
After an hour of nothing..... I concluded that I was not going to have a reaction like I had before.
Reported the story to the Doc at my next appointment and he was pleased to hear how it responded.
So I went from no serious allergic responses to landing in the E.R. after being stung by the least reactive offender. Had I instead been stung by a yellow jacket/hornet, my story might have been different.
I now keep an epi pen at home and one at my work. I'd keep one in my car but I understand they don't hold up well in heat.
Much like car insurance, the time to get a checkup to have any allergic reactions measured is before you might have another episode....not after.
My understanding (and I'm no Doc) is even the red local swelling is a reaction to the venom.
So you are evidently reacting and it just becomes a matter of how much.
I've been stung any number of times over my life. Once was out digging some stumps with my hoe and was stung about nine times. Was either 5 on face and 4 on arm or other way around.
Regardless, my face was puffy for a week and ached. (I'm sure it still pains my wife to look at it
)Fast forward a couple years and in LATE November, a lowely little wasp was very lethargic (cool weather) and climbed up my sock....stung me on the calf.
I ended up in the emergency room with several syringes of "stuff" being pumped into me via an IV connection.
My airway was constricting, my entire body was itching like a real SOB.
I ended up going to an allergist and went through the 5 years of treatment.
As it turns out in my case, I'm allergic to all the little stinging critters now. The LOWEST reaction I have is to wasps & bees. Yellow jackets & Hornets are off the scale for me. It was a lowely wasp that landed me in the ER.
I've since been stung by a yellow jacket. The moment it happened I remember saying something like "here we go... it's test time" (to see if the process was helping)
I went inside as per my Doctors orders. (stay cool)
I also went to the cabinet and took a couple chugs of liquid benedryl (only found it as Childrens Benedryl......cherry flavor of course!)
and I kept my epi pen handy as well as phone.
After an hour of nothing..... I concluded that I was not going to have a reaction like I had before.
Reported the story to the Doc at my next appointment and he was pleased to hear how it responded.
So I went from no serious allergic responses to landing in the E.R. after being stung by the least reactive offender. Had I instead been stung by a yellow jacket/hornet, my story might have been different.
I now keep an epi pen at home and one at my work. I'd keep one in my car but I understand they don't hold up well in heat.
Much like car insurance, the time to get a checkup to have any allergic reactions measured is before you might have another episode....not after.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
As a child I used to catch the Female Velvet Ants in a small jar, and put them in the freezer. They can last for several days and will revive in about 10 minutes if placed in the sun. They are very hard to kill by stepping on them, as you will just push them into most soils and they just get up and go on..you gotta use concrete!
That black stinger sure looks mean, but I have never been stung by one.
James K0UA
That black stinger sure looks mean, but I have never been stung by one.
James K0UA
LD1
Epic Contributor
I was bored today and did a little resarch on some bees, and I found out (learned) some very interesting stuff.
First, Wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets are NOT bees. They are Wasps, and wasps are not bees.
Bees include honey bees, bumble bees, and carpenter bees.
Primary differences is:
Bees are harry and collect pollen. Usually loose their stinger so they can only sting you once.
Wasps: Scavengers and meat eaters. Not harry. Can sting multiple times.
I also found it intersting that thier venoms are totally opposite. Wasp stings are alkali based and can be neutralized with acid. Bee stings are acidic and can be neutralized with alkali.
I also found the following link interesting. According to it, The most painful sting of bees and wasps is the paper wasp. Followed by the honey bee, yellow jacket and hornet. Bumble bees arent on the list:confused2:
Schmidt Sting Pain Index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
First, Wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets are NOT bees. They are Wasps, and wasps are not bees.
Bees include honey bees, bumble bees, and carpenter bees.
Primary differences is:
Bees are harry and collect pollen. Usually loose their stinger so they can only sting you once.
Wasps: Scavengers and meat eaters. Not harry. Can sting multiple times.
I also found it intersting that thier venoms are totally opposite. Wasp stings are alkali based and can be neutralized with acid. Bee stings are acidic and can be neutralized with alkali.
I also found the following link interesting. According to it, The most painful sting of bees and wasps is the paper wasp. Followed by the honey bee, yellow jacket and hornet. Bumble bees arent on the list:confused2:
Schmidt Sting Pain Index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MotorSeven
Elite Member
I agree with the others....get an EpiPen. I got zapped the other day, a pinching burning sensation, then a quarter red spot, then 3 days of insane itching. Any allergist or Gp will write you a script. I think mine cost $60....cheap insurance and it will keep in the fridge for a long time.
OP
General Lee
Veteran Member
I'm no expert but I would say your reaction is considered a normal non allergic reaction. Pretty much mu entire forearm was turned red and had minor swelling up my arm and around the wrist. It did itch for a couple days but not to bad.
