Bee Sting

[Arthur]

The bees themselves havent bothered me.  The day before the doc told me of the results I was making yet another gate.  As we are on a farm and try to feed ourselves we have plenty of flowers, one reason for the bees.

I had bees buzin all around me with no concerns at all.

I just dont know if I am supposed to become paranoid or not???

arthur

[Furby]

Actually had a very thirsty bee around lunch time, kept flying into my cup to sip up the left over drops.
Was really harmless and really wanted the drinks so I took the chance to do some up close studying of it, it didn't mind at all and flew off full.
It was really kinda cool! 8)

[Arthur]

Furby

they are fasinating to study.  All of the self watering systems we have get heavy visits from the bees.  We have 12 hives of european honey bees and twenty or more native ones.  The native bees have NO sting and produce superior honey but a hive is ony 20% of the size of the european bees.

I guess we will slowly change now to native ones although you dont get the same buzz from chasing a swarm.

arthur

[Phorester]

"You dont need the help of a kind first aider with their magic pen just to have a realy bad day."

Some people might not be aware (I didn't realize this myself until a few years ago) that an epi-pen is a prescription device from a doctor.  You don't just go down to the drugstore and buy one off the shelf if you're allergic to bee stings. 

You can't carry one in a first aid kit for "general" use like a bandaid.  Also, you can't use one person's epi-pen on somebody else. They could have a dangereous reaction to an epi-pen prescribed for somebody else. Also, as one poster said, they are only good for a year then the prescription needs to be refilled.

We have a parttime firefighter on our crew that carries one with him everywhere he goes, even while fighting fires.  So it's not something that will limit your activities.  You just have to remember to carry it with you all the time and to let people you are with know about it and how to use it on you, in case you can't do it yourself.  A dangerous reaction to a bee sting can be instantaneous.  But the epi-pen also works within seconds to counter the venom. 

[sprucebunny]

I read this topic Saturday. I've never been allergic to any thing. Sunday afternoon I got stung and just figured "..good enough, time for a beer ;D " But my heart started pounding and I started to itch different places Then my eyelids and lips swoll up and then my tongue so I started for the hospital. 5 miles down a rough dirt road to the state road ....it's real hard to drive when you need both hands to scratch ;D The chest pain started when I was still on the dirt road. By the time I got to the ER I could barely talk. They gave me a benydryl shot right away and epinephrine a while later when the chest pain didn't quit.

Full body hives is quite the experience 

I still don't feel great but the hives are calming down. Guess I will have to learn more about this and the epi-pen.

Thanks to the FF for saving my life !!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff]

Thank God you were close enough. Time to start carrying a kit with you.

[SwampDonkey]

The guys thinning say the white faced hornets (those big black b****ds) have been real whicked this year. And most nests have been above eye level so they come dive bombing you from high up in the nest. 

August and September is worst here because they are rearing their grubs.

Be careful around old log piles for yellow jackets too.

[sprucebunny]

Thanks , Jeff

If it wasn't for what I read here, I would have just "toughed it out ". I never knew that some one can become allergic overnight 

SD...it probably was a white face hornet but I didn't stick around to see ;D

[gary]

I am glad your all right

[Fla._Deadheader]

Glad to hear you came through it, Bunny. 

  Things learned here are very valuable.

[Arthur]

sprucebunny

doc recommended I carry with me any of the 'fexofenadine hydrochloride' pills at full strength.  doesnt fix the problem just gives you an extra 15 to 20 minutes to get help.

arthur