Bee Sting...ouch!!

[chanbe]

I was stung by a bee yesterday.I was at Walmart looking at their wooden planters and picked one up that obviously had a bee on it.Of all places,I was stung on the palm of my hand :rolleyes: .I've been trying to figure out what kind of bee it was,but can't seem to find anything that looks like it.I want to say a carpenter bee(since it was on wood); but none of the pictures I've seen look like it.It was big (like a bumble bee),but all brown and fuzzy.It left a nice big stinger too-LOL.The palm of my hand is red and swelled;and has that itchy/burning/sore feeling.I've never been allergic-but 2 years ago I stepped on a wasp and ended up in the ER cause my foot swelled about 4 times the normal size and they had to put me on antibiotics/steroids for it.Got my fingers crossed this time.Anyone have any old home remedys for bee stings?I've been applying ice,cortisone and benedryl cream.TIA.

[JazzMama]

Anyone have any old home remedys for bee stings?I've been applying ice,cortisone and benedryl cream.TIA.

The only home remedy I've ever used was to take baking soda and mix with just enough vinegar to make a thick paste and apply it directly over where you were stung. It dries and makes a mask over it. Feels pretty good too. I usually wrap mine in gauze after it dries so the mask doesn't start to flake.

Sorry you got stung - I haven't gotten stung since I was 5 (crossing fingers and knocking on wood).

**I did a little searching for bee sting home remedies (b/c I was curious ;) ) and found these sites**

http://www.learningherbs.com/bee_sting_remedy.html
http://slate.msn.com/id/2088863/device/html30#ContinueArticle

[dcut4]

It might have been a Hornet.


My husband is HIGHLY allergic to bees/wasp/hornets. The allergist that we go to told us that even if you are allergic to one they can have a cross over effect to the others and you can have a reaction.
From your reaction last time it sounds like you do have an allergy to them. Each time you get stung it will get worse.
About 7 years ago hubby was stung and his hand swelled up about 4 times normal size. A year later he was stung and it swelled all the way up to his elbow, the next time he was stung(he works outside alot and they seem to be attracted to him) he wound up in the E.R. and almost died, the doctor said another 5-10 min and he would not have made it. He had to take an antihistymine for about a week after treatments in the E.R. so keep taking the benadryl.

[queenangie]

Did you get the stinger out??

Scratch the stinger out with a credit card.

Apply ice.

Meat tenderizer made into a paste with water helps take the sting pain out.

Maybe you are allergic to bee stings. Some folks have to carry a little Epi-pen
with them at all times, to use in case of a severe reaction.

Do you need to go to the doctor?

Hugs!

[melissar]

Yes.... my son is like that... When he was very little and we went camping, we have gone before he was born every year.. every year without fail... we had to rush to the emergency room because he would get bitten by something and swell to beat the band.. i mean wherever he was bitten would swell so bed... It wasn't until visiting the er and giving him three shots to keep his throat from closing up that the doctor prescribed us an epi pen... He is now 9....You might want to check into having an epi pen because its not a good situation if you can't breathe...

[Shann]

I don't have any home remedies to give you but it sounds like the other posters have given you some great ones. :) I just wanted to come in and say that I hope it feels better soon. I don't remember the last time I got stung and am happy keeping it that way. Bees scare me and if I see one, I go the other way w/o causing a comotion. :o

[Mystic32]

oh man I know where your coming from...unfortunately, my dot was stung on memorial Day up at my mom`s...she let out this bloodcurdling scream....then she said she got bit by a big mosquito...I was in shock(my son is allergic to bees & my dot had never been stung before)he finger swelled up like there was no tomorrow...I kept scraping for that stinger......I`m under the assumption that it must have been a wasp or hornet....she`s OK .....thank god we didn`t end up at the er......I just used ice & some benadryl.....

[june72]

we use dish soap........if applied when stung will help prevent swelling(really works)
have also heard of meat tenderiser or toothpaste.

[chanbe]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions.Although the itch is driving me crazy.....swelling has went down some.And if anyone gets stung-my suggestion is "toothpaste".It really does help the itch!Read on a website that it "neutralizes" the acid in the sting.Don't know if that's true,but somehow it really works.Dr.'s visit wasn't neccessary this time.I asked the ER last time why I suddenly seemed to develop a reaction when I never had before.He said it's because of all the pesticides and things everyone puts on their plants and the bees ingest them and it makes the sting more venomous these days.My daughter has asthma and even though she doesn't seem to be allergic to bee stings.....we do have the epi-pens on hand just in case.Just wanted to let everyone know-I think I'm gonna live-LOL.

[tracey74]

sounds like what we call a "bore bee" they bore holes into wood to make their nests and usually the only way they sting you is if you get in between 2 females that are fighting.also if you get stung after a bee has been "pollinating a flower" it can cause more of an allergic reaction if stung.they told my dh this after being stung one time by a bee he's allergic to but this time about died from it.last reaction wasnt bad at all.so also when you get stung try benadryl for the antihistamine effect and maybe an ibuprofen for the swelling.

[Tisky67]

here I will make you feel better about only getting stung on the hand.

We went to Kennywood (amusement park) for the kids school picnic on Thursday. Well I was standing near the merry go round & all of a sudden I felt something bite me & the area started to burn. I got stung by a bee.........

ON MY BUTT !!!!!

[reneep45]

GAS ! Yes , gasoline , one drop on the sting & its gone ! as if you were never stung !
i'm allergic to bee sting , been to er all that swelled up , bout died & all
got stung after i married Steve & he put gas on it & it was gone !
its happened several times here thru the years , kid gets stung , Steve puts GASOLINE on it & POOF ITS GONE !!!
I didn't believe it either but i do now ! :)

[chanbe]

Tisky-LOL.How in the world are you dealing with the itchiness?LMAO.Now I don't feel so bad about scratching the palm of my hand-LOL.

[Tisky67]

I am having a hard time with the itching ! I have the donut from my father to sit on & I keep putting a rag soaked in vinegar on my bum.

[Steena]

My dad told me years ago to put dissolved aspirin on the sting. I haven't had a bee sting in years, but I'll try to remember some of these remedies. Gasoline? Interesting.