My first allergic shock - what to do

[priono]

Hi, today i had a new experience.

I got stung this year some times and never had any serious stuff apart from swellings which i dont mind, they dont even itch anymore.

today was different, i fed my girls and afterwards watched the ladies flying in and out, collecting surprisingly plenty pollen until i got stung on my forehead. I thought better to leave the hive before i attract more. 2min later on the computer, checking the forum what others did today i felt a warm wave going down from my chest to my legs and getting hotter.

I instinctively checked the net for allergic shocks and home remedies as i never really take pills. They suggested Vitamin C, i went to the kitchen and while i was squeezing two limes which i found as only source i almost fainted, drunk the limes with half water and laid down.

My heart hammered like a steam hammer and my breathe become shallower and more difficult. My body got hot like an oven. For the next 20-30 min i had a feeling i never had before. after another 20 min everything was gone. all ok except the heat became cold. but that was over rather soon as well.

I went to boots and ask for remedies but they could only offer me tablets to take every 2hrs or a prescription from my GP for an injection stick like insulin which i can take when it starts. But that is really a number to hard for me injecting myself.

Have you had something like that before? whatt relief would you recommend?

Thanks.

 

[Tom Bick]

I think you should talk to your doctor as a precaution

 

[REDWOOD]

I think you should talk to your doctor as a precaution

make an appointment ASAP, the injection stick is an epi pen for people who suffer from anaphylactic shock that can happen when stung by bees.

 

[Outlander]

I think you should talk to your doctor as a precaution

Get checked out, it's not worth taking the risk.

 

[drstitson]

as per tom - probably best to see your GP (although they may be none the wiser re stings)

BUT in meantime

Vitamin C is useless

you needed an antihistamine (possibly with sudafed to enhance action)

from what you describe what you had was simply a severe systemic reaction to the sting (as on forehead probably got into a vessel).

probably unlikely to be given an epipen on basis of that.

 

[itma]

Take it to a pro, and see whether it needs to go to a specialist.

The doctor can get you a test ("RAST") to put a number on your sensitivity.
And then take it from there.

You might need to carry an EpiPen, to give yourself an emergency injection of adrenaline, if you are "coming over all faint." It isn't an ordinary syringe - its more like stabbing your thigh!
Or better, get the Doc to put you in for desensitisation therapy - a gradually increasing dose of bee venom in (to start with) weekly injections (usually at a hospital).

Or it might turn out to be a one-off, perhaps associated with some medication you've taken. Even Nurofen/Ibuprofen can produce an increased response. Heaven knows what something like St John's Wort might do!

Get a test to check your sensitivity.
But meanwhile, take care with your Personal Protection Equipment. Use it!

/ as per drstitson, probably into a blood vessel. Did you get the sting out quickly?

 

[drstitson]

anaphylaxis

i've been promising these for over a month now.

 

[Lorenz]

Interesting. When I had it it looked like someone had painted every single joint in my body with a broad brush stroke of red blotchiness - other places, including where i was stung were not red at all.

 

[drstitson]

"other places, including where i was stung were not red at all."

again - probably another sting into a vessel.

 

[REDWOOD]

"other places, including where i was stung were not red at all."

again - probably another sting into a vessel.

thanks drstitson for the photos and the reply given to priono, it put my mind at rest

 

[Lorenz]

"other places, including where i was stung were not red at all."

again - probably another sting into a vessel.

It wasn't an allergic reaction probably? I dropped a brood box when I was moving it and had a suit with lots of holes in. I was stung over 200 times. I've been fine since. Had an epipen for a couple of years reluctantly prescribed by GP. Hospital thought I should have one due to way airway was closing, but GP said just buy a proper suit or stop beekeeping.

 

[drstitson]

"I was stung over 200 times."

no wonder you went red all over etc etc. any systemic response will not have been exaggerated just appropriate to the venom load.

but good that you do have an epipen as security having had a scare.

your reactions since have all been normal (or minimal)?

 

[PBee]

How to deal with an emergency...... True story from back a few years. A friend of my mothers whose husband had a few hives of bees arrived to the house one afternoon. Country people don't like to get straight to the point so there ensued a good 45 minutes of tea, scones and general catching up. She then brought up the reason for her visit. Hubby had received a severe stinging and was draped over a gate at home (20 minutes away) 'breathing a bit funny' and she wondered could she borrow some anti-histamines.

 

[dpearce4]

Cheers for those pics Doc.

Thats how bad i my reaction was when i ended up in hospital, im hoping that on the 17th the Prof dont cancil again.

Will be good to know what happened.