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Help with Bee Sting reaction

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Julia

Julia

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I'm reluctant to post something which appears to be regarding ASF as a segment of the "Women's Weekly", but am desperate for some help with an itchy reaction to a beesting.

Actual sting occurred 36 hours ago. Hurt like hell for 24 hours, and since then the pain has completely gone but it is itching like I wouldn't have believed possible. It's on the last joint of the third finger in the fleshy part.
I removed the sting immediately and there's no infection. It's a bit red, slightly swollen and tight feeling, but the itch is driving me insane. It's alleviated slightly by holding the finger in crushed ice but as soon as I remove it the itch is back in full.

Any possible remedies will be received with pathetic gratitude!

Julia
 
Julia said:
I'm reluctant to post something which appears to be regarding ASF as a segment of the "Women's Weekly", but am desperate for some help with an itchy reaction to a beesting.

Actual sting occurred 36 hours ago. Hurt like hell for 24 hours, and since then the pain has completely gone but it is itching like I wouldn't have believed possible. It's on the last joint of the third finger in the fleshy part.
I removed the sting immediately and there's no infection. It's a bit red, slightly swollen and tight feeling, but the itch is driving me insane. It's alleviated slightly by holding the finger in crushed ice but as soon as I remove it the itch is back in full.

Any possible remedies will be received with pathetic gratitude!

Julia
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Julia,

I don't know know how common taht reaction is, but I react exactly the same (but I get mucho swelling)... and it gets worse each time I get stung (last time on the back of the head :eek: ) The itching is unbearable.


I don't know of an antidote, but would also be delighted if someone has one. (for future reference) But ice gives *some relief.

errr... it's the cold stuff I'm refering to! :D

Cheers
 
Panafcort (prednisone) I'm allergic to them and always have this on hand. Dermaid .5% hydrocortisone helps relieve the itch.
 
nioka said:
Panafcort (prednisone) I'm allergic to them and always have this on hand. Dermaid .5% hydrocortisone helps relieve the itch.
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Thanks Nioka. I've tried the topical cortisone cream which has almost no effect. I have some prednisone tabs which I've used for my dog's itches and suppose I could take that. Hate it, though, it makes me jumpy.

Anyone else got any other solutions?

Wayne: glad to know I'm not imagining the extreme levelof the itch if you've experienced it also. It's unbelievable!

Julia
 
nioka said:
Panafcort (prednisone) I'm allergic to them and always have this on hand. Dermaid .5% hydrocortisone helps relieve the itch.
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prednisone, bloody dangerous drug this one...makes you eat like a pig, gain significant weight. It also give you a moon face appearance and bone loss....steer clear!
 
Julia
Try tea tree oil, works great on bee stings, mossie bites etc, hope you have some in your cupboard, If not any tea tree product will work just not as quickly.

Good luck
 
Julia - if you're into a potential natural remedy look around for a paw-paw / papaya tree , break a leaf off it and rub some of the white oozy sap that comes out of the broken end onto the sting area.

This is actually natural 'papain' which is the key ingredient in 'stingoze' and some other ointment brands. It seriously works to reduce the pain of many different insect stings BUT - may not help much if your reaction is allergic. Certainly won't hurt though.!! :p:

If you're in the south ... you could buy one at the fruit shop - preferably a greenish one - and get some sap from the stem area or the fruit skin.

No kidding - it works!! - well it has worked for me anyway with wasps; and big ba$#&^%d centipedes!!
-Duke-E
 
billhill said:
Have you tried icing it.
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Yes, as I said in original post, it's better when held in crushed ice but the itch returns as soon as it returns to room temperature.

Mumbank, thanks for that suggestion. I will get some tea tree oil tomorrow if it hasn't subsided by then. However, I've had hundreds of mozzie and sandfly bites which are plenty itchy, but none of them come close to the mind blowing itch of this bee sting. They could use it to break down prisoners at Guantanomo!

Julia
 
You could always rent this little gem from your local video store and dance around your lounge room singing "Punch,Punch, Punch those balls....having so much fun, use you hand or wrist or fist and keep them on the run....ahhh remember the good old days :p:
 

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See if you can get any cream with a local anaesthetic. Anything with lidocaine/lignocaine. I think some cold sore creams contain it if you can't get one specific for the skin. Or lavender oil is also supposed to be an anaesthetic.
 
I am also allergic to bee stings, although it's been quite a few years since the last one - thankfully. If I remember correctly, I ended up taking antihistimines, but still took a quite a while for it to settle down completely. If it persists, might be worth asking a chemist if they can suggest anything.
 
Hi Julia,
The bee sting is an organic acid (formic acid I think), so it can be neutralised with a basic (alkaline) material. The web link above suggested baking soda which is as good as any (not too strong, but will do the job I expect), although I guess it has to be applied ASAP after the sting. No harm trying it now, but if your body has already reacted to it, then maybe that is your problem now? Can't help there sorry, I'm not a medical doctor. Try your luck with the baking soda. Good luck!
Cheers!
 
Found this. Hope it helps.

An Antipruritic is a drug which reduces pruritis, or itching. Most anti-pruritic drugs are antihistamines or mint-like substances such as menthol or camphor. Calamine lotion is a zinc-based anti-pruritic that has been used in this capacity for hundreds of years. A commonly used herbal antipruritic is olive oil, but its use can cause a worsening of many skin disorders caused by fungi, as they flourish in vegetable oils.
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Julia,

Be grateful that is the only reaction you get. I am severly allergic and was told last time i got stung to get straight to the hospital the next time, or start saying my goodbyes. After 3 1/2 years of frequent injections i am hoping i am now allergy free however i dont take any chances.

Unfortunately i cant help you with any remedies, as all that worked for me was a shot of adrenaline at hospital.

You may also see a link here to my username, a name that stuck after the last time i was bitten!
 
Hi Julia,

As I am allergic to them and puff up like a balloon in the affected area, I have had to have injections and then take antihistimine or hayfever tablets etc. Yes it hurts and then gets itchy.

Go to the doctor.
Snake :kebab
 
I am a bee keeper and have been stung more times than I care to mention. First thing to do is remove the barb of the sting which is always left in the skin, this often causes the irritation, then get some sting goes or some such, and try not to scratch as this irritates it more. If very allergic to sting seek medical advice. For some reason I have developed an immunity and often if I am stung the only discomfort is intial pain,
 
Hi Julia
Sorry I cant help much with the remedy either, but I do know that when my finger got stung it swelled up like yours and like you say, the itch is unbearable! But when I was stung on the foot it didnt bother me! I think it lasted for about four days and then settled!

Maybe telfast might work, and also Stingose. And those local anaesthetic sprays you can get now, applied every hour if needed!
Hope it comes good soon!
 
"Better Red than dead..."

I can't remember the last time i was stung by a bee but in Japan they have these ####ers called Suzumebachi (Japanese Giant Hornet) - one of which i was stung by last year - apparently most people only have immunity up to 2-3 separate stinging events at which anaphylactic shock becomes common (sometimes one is enough - or if you disturb a nest in which case you are in BIG trouble)... I couldn't beleive the fuss they made in my work place when i walked in saying something big stung me and showed them my swelling and visibly throbbing arm (oh it hurt a bit too)... and they rushed me off to hospital for antivenime and saline - that said Japanese are a little "Costanza" (hyhpochondriacal)...
 
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