Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: elibump on July 01, 2009, 16:31

Title: Boobed with the bees
Post by: elibump on July 01, 2009, 16:31
 :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

Just did the second hive inspection of our bees which involved some complicated stuff to do with changing the base so the bees started to get a bit lively then suddenly one stung me. :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:

Not on the arm, where the skin is tough as old leather and breaks the teeth of unwary mossies, no.  Right on the girly bits. :ohmy: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

It seems that although not the best experience of my life I am not allergic to them, that's a relief then.  The gaffer thought it was, er um, amusing :tongue2: and could hardly apply the apicyl for giggling. :ohmy:

No sign of verroa though  :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 01, 2009, 16:41
I got stung on my hand on Sunday and me hand swelled up!! I have had to take off my wedding ring three days on and the itching and welling is starting to subside. Have you got any swelling in the affected area?
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on July 01, 2009, 18:17
What a personal question!!! :ohmy:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Caralou on July 01, 2009, 18:35
Ouch!!! Hope it doesn't swell  ::) :tongue2: On holiday when young a bee flew up my top and stung me, my dad had to rip the shirt off as I was screaming and a german bloke ran over ready to intervene thinking dad was assaulting me  :ohmy:. Thankfully I also established I wasn't allergic and no swelling   :blush:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: peapod on July 01, 2009, 19:57
Ruff you norty  :ohmy: :D

At least you know you arent allergic as you said!
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 01, 2009, 20:18
I had swelling honest
Taken Monday night 24 hrs after being stung.
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l389/Roughlee_Handled/Bees/IMG_1041.jpg)

Taken Wednesday night 36 hrs after being stung.
(http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l389/Roughlee_Handled/Bees/IMG_1078.jpg)
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 01, 2009, 20:20
Oh and its still slightly swollen. I can make a fist though which is the first time in 3 days.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Yorkie on July 01, 2009, 21:44
Ouch.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Foxy on July 01, 2009, 22:43
oh elibump sounds sore! erm have you gone up a cup size? :blink: :blink: :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Ice on July 01, 2009, 22:50
I think this is called the Scaramanga syndrome.  Keep us abreast of the situation.  we are here to help. ;) :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 02, 2009, 06:47
I think this is called the Scaramanga syndrome.  Keep us abreast of the situation.  we are here to help. ;) :lol:

 ::) :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: elibump on July 02, 2009, 08:53
oh elibump sounds sore! erm have you gone up a cup size? :blink: :blink: :lol:

Thanks for all your good wishes, Foxy - just to let you know, the gaffer says no   :tongue2: :( I haven't gone up a cup size.

Just a large red patch and little sort of blood blister this am so yes, thank you Ice it may well be Scaramanga Syndrome. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 02, 2009, 08:54
I just realised a rather apt name you have elibump.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: elibump on July 02, 2009, 08:58
 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :nowink:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: too many girls on July 02, 2009, 11:57
hope you don't get stung somewhere sensative Ruffle, i might not be able to cope with the pics of it all swollen 8) mind you i bet your wife would get a suprise :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Foxy on July 02, 2009, 12:01
hope you don't get stung somewhere sensative Ruffle, i might not be able to cope with the pics of it all swollen 8) mind you i bet your wife would get a suprise :lol:

rather depends what she's used too! :ohmy: :lol:
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: beesontoast on July 02, 2009, 20:32
No sign of verroa though  :) :) :) :) :)

Sorry to hear of your injury!

When you say there is no sign, may I ask what method you are using to assess them?

Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: elibump on July 03, 2009, 06:46
Hi there Beesontoast

looking for the varroa mites visually, checking lavae and checking the varroa screen at the bottom of the hive.  What method do you use?

Thanks for the sympathy, not a serious sting by any means but a warning to freckled beekeepers!!!! I have to go to the pharmacy today, the gaffer & I were laughing at how clever the bee was to sting me right in the middle of a freckle, with the benifit of hindsight and the swelling I now realise that in fact the 'freckle' is in fact the barb which is still in there and it won't come out even with use of a needle like you do for splinters.  Lacking in other ideas and being a bit tender I hope the pharmacist can help. ::) ::)  Blonde or what ::)
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Swing Swang on July 03, 2009, 07:11
>hope you don't get stung somewhere sensative Ruffle, i might not be able to cope with the pics of it all swollen  mind you i bet your wife would get a suprise

As Billy Connolly said in his sketch on the Tunnel Web Spider which had just bitten his man-parts,
'Doctor, can you take away the pain but leave the swelling'

SS
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 03, 2009, 07:14
Scrape out the "sting" with your finger nail.

The longer the sting is in (after the initial sting) the more venom it pumps into you.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: elibump on July 03, 2009, 07:18
Scrape out the "sting" with your finger nail.

The longer the sting is in (after the initial sting) the more venom it pumps into you.

Can't scrape it out with a finger nail - too squidgy to do that & we only realised it wasn't a freckle this morning so, trying to use the 'side' of the needle to tease it out. As I found most of the sting on my T shirt I thought it was out and where I had been stung looked exactly like a freckle so only the benefit of hindsight has given me 20/20 vision. :(
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 03, 2009, 11:05
Just to let everyone know you can become allergic to bee stings.  Your body can change.  May I suggest that if you are considering keeping bees in a remote location i.e. Allotment the ask your doctor for a prescription for a EpiPen pen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epi-pen
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: beesontoast on July 04, 2009, 12:07
Just to let everyone know you can become allergic to bee stings.  Your body can change.  May I suggest that if you are considering keeping bees in a remote location i.e. Allotment the ask your doctor for a prescription for a EpiPen pen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epi-pen

You won't get a prescription 'just in case' - only after you have shown allergic symptoms. The medics reckon that they can get to anyone on this country in time to treat them - although I wouldn't want to put that to the test if I lived on a Scottish island.

I once had to call out the Air Ambulance to a beekeeper who had collapsed in the middle of Dartmoor after being stung. He had been keeping bees for 25 years and suddenly became anaphylactic with no warning.

The best thing to carry with you is Benadryl - only a couple of pounds from the chemist - and that will alleviate the symptoms long enough to get you to hospital - if necessary.

A good precaution is to always have someone else with you when you check your hives, and carry a mobile phone.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 04, 2009, 18:37
Well I am sorry but I have one and I know of two others that have them as well.  We all have different doctors.  My bee mentor is one of them.  :D


Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: beesontoast on July 04, 2009, 23:52
Well I am sorry but I have one and I know of two others that have them as well.  We all have different doctors.  My bee mentor is one of them.  :D

If your doctor has prescribed an Epipen when you have no symptoms of anaphylaxis, he/she could be accused of gross negligence. If an Epipen is used on someone who is not showing symptoms, it can be fatal. Make sure you are not ever tempted to use it 'just on case'. Benedryl is much safer.


Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Roughlee Handled on July 05, 2009, 11:53
Please beesontoast as you told me in not so many words "take off your blinker", also as you have stated you can become ellergic at anytime with out warning. 
I once had to call out the Air Ambulance to a beekeeper who had collapsed in the middle of Dartmoor after being stung. He had been keeping bees for 25 years and suddenly became anaphylactic with no warning.

I am often with my bees alone with no one is shouting distance.  You will know when you are suffering from anaphylactic shock.  Please give people credit they are not going to inject themselves after one bee sting.  They will know the symptoms of anaphylactic  shock. I have been taught them on my BBKA course. Only then would you use the pen and then you will have to go to the AE ASAP.  The one of the other members of my local BBKA carries a pen with him as he produces honey and keeps bees for a living.  He keeps his bees across the other valley in farmers fields and is mostly away from a road in the middle of a field and always alone.  He carries a pen with him just in case. 

I do not call this "gross negligence" I call this responsible doctor.

This thread started off in a happy I have been stung in a unusual place thread please lets keep it light hearted.  :D
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: beesontoast on July 05, 2009, 12:14

This thread started off in a happy I have been stung in a unusual place thread please lets keep it light hearted.  :D

There is a place for 'light-heartedness' but IMO not when we are discussing potentially life-threatening matters. All the enquiries I have made suggest that it is most unusual for Epipens to be prescribed on a precautionary basis, for the reasons I have already stated. If you have one, then I'm sure you will have been educated in its correct use, but for everyone who cannot get hold of one, and has any suspicion that they may have a true allergic response (not just local swelling), I suggest you buy some Benadryl and keep in handy, just in case.

Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Ice on July 05, 2009, 12:20
Your enquiries suggest they are not usually prescribed and Ruffs say they can be.  Shouting louder doesn't make you more right.  End of argument. 

Any more and I'll lock this thread.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: beesontoast on July 05, 2009, 18:13
Nobody is shouting. I always respect opinions based on experience.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Yorkie on July 05, 2009, 18:17
On this forum we respect all other members.

I am locking this thread as it has run its course.
Title: Re: Boobed with the bees
Post by: Ice on July 05, 2009, 18:24
You don't need to be an expert to express an opinion.  All opinions are valid whether we agree with them or not and all are welcome on this forum.   Everyone has a right to post without someone automatically contradicting, arguing with or ridiculing what they say.