Wasp sting
 

Yesterday while playing golf I was stung twice by some sort of black flying insect ( I suspect wasp). It hurt but no biggie, I’ve been stung by wasps and hornets before. However, on the next hole (16) I was having itchy, tingling feet, itchy hands, butt hole, etc. At hole 18 the guy I was riding with dropped me off at my house and I actually fell over onto the ground (don’t think I really passed out). He helped me to my back sliding door and my wife threw a towel on the couch for me to sit on (I was sweating profusely which isn’t unusual around here this time of year). After half an hour or so I got up to take a shower. My wife had given me two benedrills but my feet were bright red, blotchy red spots all over my body especially around my waste band. This morning blotchiness has dissipated somewhat but hands still itch. By coincidence, I have an appointment with an ENT dr today and he also is an allergist…so I’m going to run it by him. One of the guys I was playing golf with is a Dr and he called to check on me and said I should ask the ENT guy to prescribe an Epi-pen in case I get stung again. Getting old is not for sissies!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752058604.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752058604.jpg

Wow! I'm glad it seems to be improving and wasn't worse.

It could have been much worse. Anaphylaxis is nothing at which to scoff.

I was mowing my tall grasslike weeds one day and it felt like I got hit with a baseball on my calf. I thought nothing of it until a few minutes later when I began to itch all over, my lips went numb and I turned a beautiful shade of crimson.

Then whilst the Chief Sandwicher was lollygagging around causally taking me to ER in her car, I asked her very calmly and nicely to please step on it because I’m dying. Much like you would say the house is on fire so at the next commercial we need to turn the TV off and probably get out.

Into the ER I go as my throat tightened up and my breathing became rapid and shallow. A cuppla Adrenalin shots later the ER doc takes The Sandwicher aside for a chat whilst I literally chilled out, as in freezing to death on a hot July day.

Then, just like that, the swelling went away, my breathing went normal and the redness faded.

Later, on the way home, I asked Sandwicher what the secret discussion was all about. She said the doc advised her that if this reaction does not subside in the next few minutes, and I paraphrase, drastic measure would need to commence or there would be a funeral in my near future.

Take any insect bite that results in such a reaction very seriously. When you fell I would have taken you to an urgent care center.

Hopw you can figure out what it was and have meds at hand in case it ever happens again

Holy carp! My first thought was that you'd been hit by a venomous snake. It was an insect sting?

That's what I was thinking. If I fall down or nearly pass out, that seems bad.

But then many of us would probably think, "I should rest a bit," rather than, "I'd better get too the hospital so I don't die." I think many/most gents are more likely the "walk it off" sort.

Yep. Mine was a venomous sting.

The follow-up story:

Upon discharge, the doc’s strong advice was unnecessarily adamant as I did not want to do this again. He said get an epi-pen and hastily dispatch yourself to the nearest ER if you EVER get stung again.

So I did just that.

Admitting nurse Ratchet asked if she could help and what is your emergency?

I told her I got stung and am here on doctor’s orders.

How do you feel?

I feel great!

Have a seat.

So I did. With the latest National Geographic on my lap to soon be read.

My name was called about a half hour later, so into the examination room I go.

Doc asked why are you here?

I got stung and I’m allergic and was told to get to the ER if stung again. Which I was. I feel great.

No symptoms?

I’m a little red where The Attack happened but otherwise, I’m starving to death.

You have an epic-pen?

Two.

Did you use them?

No. They expired about two years ago.

Tell you what; let’s just pretend you are not here and never were so we can save me a lot of my time with paperwork and your insurance company a lot of money.

Fair enough, I said.

Good by.

Same to you.

What did you shoot?

I got stung when young while walking a dog, stirred up a hornets nest and we both got stung many many times. The dog immediately ran into the ocean so my dad put me in the ocean as well, all pain went away in a couple of minutes and all stings were fine after.
Moral of the story if you can, immediate apply a high salt water on the bite/sting

Ha-ha! Didn’t finish the round as the guy dropped me off at my house on 18. Another buddy just told me they have a nasal spray called Neffy that replaces the Epi-pen. I’m going to ask the ENT/allergist guy about one of those this afternoon. Ive still got blotchy redness and itchy but it’s getting better. And my doctor buddy that I was playing golf with said once you’ve had a reaction like that the next one could be bad too…or worse.

Sorry to focus on this and I’m happy you’re feeling better.

But the bug bite made your anus itch? I read that right?

Yup and my feet and my hands.

ROFLMAO! Well, better to buy some epi-pens, and waste some time in the ER rather than die. How great that you had a reasonable medical person that didn't want to rack up a crap ton of charges!

It's always weird to me that someone can go from "not allergic" to "deathly allergic" in one or two experiences for something that super rarely happens.

I understand that if you eat a lot of <insert common allergen here> that you can develop an allergy. That kind of makes sense.
LOL! That struck me as funny, but I can vouch that it happens. I haven't had it from an insect bite, but when you get a skin irritation from bug bites or, I think, anything that makes the skin red and itchy, that's from prostaglandin dumping due to histamine reaction (or something like that). It's the same thin that causes some folks to turn red and itch when they take niacin (that would be me). I have experienced an itchy sphincter after taking niacin (the niacin flush usually starts with the face, then hands and feet and works its way toward the torso).
Reminds me of the joke that I first heard when I was about 11. "Confuscious say, 'go to bed with itchy butt, wake up with smelly fingers'."

I've been stung a hand full of times in my life but I got stung by a wasp a week or two ago for the first time in decades. After a couple minutes I could feel it in the back of my throat like I was having an allergic reaction. Never got to where I thought my throat was going to swell closed but it sure got me thinking I should be ready next time.

Just a couple days ago I was cooking outside. A wasp followed me in. I’m probably irrationally afraid of them. I took a damp towel, wet it more and when that wasp hovered, I hit it hard. Blew up a jar �� of course salt, two glasses and a bowl. My wife came running in and saw me wiping up the wasp goo. She looked at the mess and left. I had to smash that thing. No death throes stings were happening. I had to be sure.

I generally just take one of the towels that's always laying around in a kitchen, fold it up several times and then grab the wasp using the towel like a pot holder. I also have one of the leather gloves that I use for outdoor work laying around and use that. Various wasps get in far more often that the grandsons would prefer.

Wow!...that looks like it's going to itch for a while also. I'm sure you're putting something on it for that.

For a bunch of bites or a large area like that, (assuming itching and inflammation) you can take allergy meds like Zyrtec, Claritin, Benedryl, etc.... They block the histamine reaction which makes a huge difference. It's easier than trying to coat yourself or large parts of yourself in calamine/caladryl lotion.