Allergic Reaction to Wasp Sting HELP!!

Hi E.!
I don't know if this would work for itchiness from a wasp sting, but it works for itchiness from mosquito bites ... try rubbing on some toothpaste that has baking soda in it.
Hope you feel better soon!
Cyndi

I have not tried this but I read that you should put a penny on the sting. The copper takes the sting out!

Go back to the doctor. You may need a cortisone injection to stop the itching. I feel so bad for you. You must be going insane. I hope something works fast for you!
L.

First make a paste of baking soda and water. Leave that on for 15-20 mintes. That neutrailizes a lot of the venom that is still in the sting. Have someone go and get some Aquafor. It is by the lotions not the medical creams. Or you can try the eucerin. I have tried both. The aquafor is a salve and the eucerin is a cream. Either one should help with the itching. Cool cloths until you get the salve or cream should help. Or an ice pack. Keep a washcloth or rag in between your skin and the ice pack.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

E.

Go back to the doctors and see what they can do to help. They can give you the bee sting pack (it's a prescription). Don't wait on this. You can get help. If the doctor doesn't see the problem go to an allergist. You really need to be prepared should you get another sting.

I think he may be talking about an EPI pen. Check with your physician...it sounds like you need one. My only other suggestion is to scratch it with an ice cube.

Ask your doctor. You might need a Rx strength antihistamine. And ask about a kit to keep on hand to use immediately after a sting.

I was going to suggest one of the "drawing" pastes mentioned previously (baking soda, oatmeal). Did the doctor say why you responded with the baseball-sized lump? Are you THAT reactive or did the stinger hit a lymph node or something? Did he check to see if the stinger was out? Is the itch and lump the only reaction your had? No fainting, trouble breathing, etc.

I had systemic poison ivy and the doctor gave me steroid shots too. I used epson salt soaks and it helped. I also had an allergic reaction to yellow jacket stings so the doctor prescribed an Epikit that I keep in the medicine cabinet. It's a shot for breathing problems. I am allergic to some weeds and my lungs and throat close. When I itched, I used to stand under the shower or use water as hot as I could stand on the itch site and stay as long as I could bare the pain. The doctor said it was ok that I was actually burning the nerve ends so I couldn't feel the itching. They grow back. That gave me the best relief.

First thing I would call the doc again, maybe go to the ER. The only other thing I have heard for Bee stings, mabye help for wasp stings, is white vinegar is supposed to stop the itching and stinging. That is what they use for jellyfish stings. Or, this is gross, but it is the old fashioned way when our grandma's were young........urine. Then, there is a medicine you can get at Walmart, maybe any pharmacy, but it is called After Bite. It is for any bites after the fact to stop the itching. It does not work all day so you would have to reapply. Ask the doc why this happened, or do google research, but find out why so you know if it is going to happen each time you get stung! Then, see what you can do to rid your outside of all wasps. Whatever spray you can use, make sure there are no nests, etc

Good luck! W.

Hi E.,

I have a rather non-conventional suggestion, but it worked for me (I believe) when I recently had a bad case of poison ivy and it has worked for numerous other things... and best of all, it's FREE! This is a 'cousin' to accupuncture (but no needles involved, you just tap). It's called EFT (emotional freedom technique). You can learn more about it, including downloading a free pdf file by going to emofree.com. I hope you find a way to stop the itching!

K. G

I had a wasp sting and I used snuff. Made a little paste out of it with water and put on the sting. I worked for me.

C.

E., I had poison ivy one time SO bad it was horrible. I don't know if this will work with your sting, but it's certainly worth a try......Take a blow dryer and turn it on hot and high - hold it on the sting as long as you can stand it - it will hurt because it's hot but it actually feels good in a "bad" way (lol)...it will keep the spot from itching for hours and hours. I did this every morning before I went to work and it would last nearly all day. The heat blocks the histamines.

E.,
You've actually got two different issues going on. First of all, you want to get rid of the itching before you pull a fox in a trap and chew your arm off. Now, not only is this a painful means of remedying your itching problem but it makes it darned hard to change a diaper! One of the best solutions I know for such an itching problem is baking soda. It has a natural drawing power as a response to its chemical reactions with other agents. In this case, you would want to mix it with water to make a soft paste. Smear some of this over the affected area and let it dry. It's most effective when you use it immediately after the incident but it should still work for you.
A few steps to be aware of for future reference: 1) If it is a bee sting, make sure the stinger is not still in the skin. A bee stinger will continue to drain its toxin into the body even if not attached to the bee. Get it out by gently scraping in the opposite direction of entry with a playing card, credit card, fingernail, etc. - anything thin enough and firm enough to carry the stinger out. 2) Most stings occur on the hands, arms, feet, and legs. (In toddlers, the most common point is the bottoms of the feet as they tend to play in the yard in the summer barefoot and bees don't like getting stepped on.) After removing the stinger, or if there was no stinger, apply a tourniquet lightly just above the point of the sting to prevent the toxin from moving through the body. 3) Apply ice. Yes, ice for a sting! The ice will slow the blood flow and therefore slow the movement of the toxin as well. 4) This is the no-brainer. Get to a doctor ASAP.

Your second problem is, quite obviously, the sensitivity to stings. You need to discuss this with your doctor. Let him know of your concern for anaphylaxis. He will probably not recommend extreme interventions right now but you should be aware of your options. While it sounds as though your reaction is moderate to severe (I know it doesn't FEEL moderate to you!) some people have very severe reactions to stings and, within minutes - as few as three or less in some cases - can find themselves gasping for breath, heart racing, profuse sweating, and passing out, and, in extreme cases, as you pointed out, they can stop breathing. Generally, in such a case, your doctor can prescribe pre-loaded syringes of adrenaline to help combat the reaction.
As you know, when you become pregnant, your body undergoes a lot of chemical as well as physical changes. This could be the trigger that set off your immune system to respond so violently to the wasp sting. I am curious though. Have you been stung since the birth of your four-year-old? Perhaps the first pregnancy triggered it and you just did not discover it until now. Otherwise, it might have been the second pregnancy that created your allergic reaction. Some of these changes may go away with time, others you will be stuck with. Only time will tell into which category this condition falls. Or, it could very well be merely coincidental that you developed the allergy around the same time as the birth of your second child.
It is not at all uncommon for us to develop adult onset of allergies. And, sort of like getting mumps as an adult, they tend to be more painful. The "good" news is that, at present, it sounds as though it is more nuisance than medically critical. However, should you have another such reaction in the future, remember the emergency first-aid steps, go directly to your doctor for treatment and ask him if you need to be supplied with pre-loads to keep with you for future emergencies. The sooner you get treatment the faster you get resolution and you don't want to risk a potentially lethal reaction when there is a ready solution.

Good luck and stay away from the bees and wasps! (just not the great outdoors)

I was reading this to find out people's suggestions - my mom got stung by a wasp Wed night, and my son last night before we located the nest. His reaction is not so bad, but my mom's (right on the rear end!) is awful, but doesn't sound quite as bad as yours.

But I am writing this to tell you that several years ago I was stung twice with bad reactions, which I NEVER had as a child, either. First, I was stung by a yellow jacket on my ring finger, and ended up with my entire hand swollen and purple that night and cutting the wedding rings off! Two years later, I was stung by a wasp on the upper arm, and it got hard and red and very sore/itchy and after about 5 days, I had to go get prescription lotion from the doc, after trying the baking soda, the toothpaste, the Benadryl/ Caladryl lotions, the After Bite, etc... nothing helped me and I am not sure the Rx did much, since it was already day 5...

But my main point is that when the wasp got me, I also started wheezing (I am asthmatic, but it actually improved drastically during my second pregnancy) and had to use my inhaler, but it wasn't any serious breathing difficulty. But when I told my doc this (at the lotion visit), she also prescribed an epi-pen to carry with me "just in case". I have never needed it and actually had to throw it out after a year. I wouldn't panic yet about the anaphylactic reaction unless you already had a similar reaction. I worried about all of my kids reacting that way until they'd all been stung, but they all recover better than me from those things!

I am going to tell my mom about the vinegar now, and see if that helps her!

A bee sting kit would work for any insect sting. it is a shot of epinephrine. You need to get an rx from a Dr. Would be good to have around for the future. Now however, keeping it slathered with benadryl cream would probably be the best fix.
M.

I agree that you should go back to the dr. One other possibility: a couple of summers ago I was stung (I think by a bee but it might have been a wasp) and developed cellulitis within a day or so. It was really painful and my arm swelled up. It is treated with meds. You might check that you don't have that; it took several days to clear up.

I would go back to doc. I had a allergic reaction to a wasp sting on my leg. It got red and hot and was huge. It was starting to set up blood poisoning. They gave me a shot & some meds.

You need to get an epi pen to keep just in case of a more severe reaction. I have read that taping a copper penny over the sting spot can help break down the reaction of th venom. I have not tried it. You have an allergy. My husband has this to wasps, shellfish and penicillin. I understand that a the trio of allergies is quite common. When he gets stung we immediatedly give him liquid antihistamine and then Benadryl pill on top of that. You should call your Dr. office and see if you can come in for another shot.

i'm not sure if this work for a wasp sting, but it's worth a try. when i had chicken pox, my grandma got an old knee high stocking and filled it with instand oat meal. then she had me take a warm shower and rub it all over the pox. soemthing about oatmeal has anti inflamitory qualities and it really helped witht the itch. maybe you can apply some warm moist oatmeal to the bite and it'll help.

Wow, some reaction, next time it may be worse. If you have a doc, go and tell him what happened. Let him give you and epi pen to carry, then, don't forget it! Get a bracelet made and wear it, so if anything happens, they will administer the right meds to you. Make an appt with an allergist. You might be able to be desensitised before next year. Carry a kit in the car and in the house of stuff for stings. Benadryl makes a sting spray, There is a spray of calamine lotion by bandaid, it is also good. I have used both sprays with success. Take an antihistamine, it will help with the itching, make sure it is no drowsy. Benadryl at night, at least 50 mg. But, benadryl makes you real sleepy, I can't function when I take it. Stings are terrible, good luck.

Hi E.,

As for the condition you are in at the moment, you probably require more cortizone (via injection) from the Dr. BUT Meat tenderizer, such as Adolph's will neutralize the venom, which naturally prevents the onset of the rest of the symptoms and will take away the burning sensation if applied immediately after being stung. Works wonders. Took my son from "AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" to "Oh, ok, cool" I would still however carry an epi pen just in case.
Good Luck to you!
B.

E.:
You have gotten some great advice. I agree with the baking soda as a home remedy. And I agree with the advice Reece gave. My only recommendation - go to your doctor now, again - it may be a good thing for him/her to see that you still have a lingering reaction. I would INSIST on having an epi-pen - several of them. Keep one in your purse or diaper bag, one in the car - so that you have one available wherever you go. I am a registered nurse and this is a very benign prescription -meaning it shouldn't be difficult to get from a physician and it could save your life! Our bodies change as we age, have children, etc and we can develop allergies at the drop of a hat. Please push for an epi-pen so that you are prepared if you ever encounter a problem again. Don't take a chance on 911 or gettng to an ER if you develop severe reactions. And when you get them remember that they do expire so you will have to keep an eye on that in the future so that you always have a "good" one ready to go!
If you are hesitant to rock the boat with your doctor, ask yourself "Aren't your kids worth it?" The only reason I say that is that I have often had to ask myself that to make myself do things that otherwise I may blow off.
Sorry, but I guess you can tell I feel strongly about this. I have seen people go into anaphylactic shock from fire ants, bee stings, eating seafood - and the worst, a 10 month old baby who was unknowingly allergic to eggs who tasted her mother's salad dressing (made of eggs!) Not something to mess around with and easy to be prepared for and combat!
Hope that you feel better soon! Oh, and since it is summer, the cooler you stay the less you will itch too!
Blessings,
E., RN

E., there look like lots of great suggestions for anti-itching reliefs, so I won't add to them. But please do talk to your doctor about getting an Epi Pen, the "bee sting kit".

I had the same reaction when I was stung a few years ago and after a cortizone shot and a few days of Benedryl, it went away. However, the next summer I was stung on the foot and my whole leg swelled up within hours and I began to feel dizzy. Again I went to the doctor and she suggested that I get an Epi Pen, but I didn't think that was really necessary (I had been stung loads of times as a kid and had never had any reaction at all)so I didn't fill the prescription. Several years later I was stung a third time and had to be rushed to the Emergency Room for chest pain and increasingly shallow breathing -- I was terrified! The ER doctor had to give me two IVs of epinephrine and explained that the more exposure you have to an allergen, the more severe the next reaction will probably be. In other words, I might not have 20 minutes to make it to the ER after the next sting.

Now I carry that EpiPen with me wherever I go, although I have never needed to use it in the last 5 years. It is a hassle and kind of expensive at $50 per two-pack of pre-dosed needles, but well worth the peace of mind! Good Luck!

My son was allergic to bee stings when he was young...We had a old country Pediatrician (this was in the early 80's) he recommended making a paste from meat tenderizer(I have used "Adolf" and various other brands)and water, I would pour about a teaspoonful/tablespoonful into the palm of my left hand and add a drop of water at a time stirring with my index finger from my right hand until I formed a thick paste and then apply it directly to the sting area...make sure the stinger is out...if not get tweezers and pull straight out...do not scrap it out...you do not want to release anymore venom that may still be in the stinger...place an ice pack (frozen peas works well in a pinch) on it for a little while on and off to curb the swelling.It has worked like a charm for years. It takes the bite out of the sting...an oatmeal paste will help with the itch if needed..."Aveeno oatmeal bath" product comes in packets(dry)to place in the tub to soak in...it is wondeful, I even use it in the winter when I get the dry skin itch.

Nature's Remedies stores sell this fabulous stuff for bug bites and it has many other uses. It is made with tea tree oil , lavender oil, peppermint and many other all natural ingredients, it works well. It has a peppermint smell so it's not so bad. My family uses it for all insect bites, sun burn or dry irritated skin. Check it out. Most malls have Nature's Remedies stores in them or check on line.

Several months ago I was stung by a wasp and I feel for you. The itching lasts several days and yes, it does get very intense! You can get a little relief by making a paste out of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Your 4 yr old would probably enjoy helping you and slathering it on for you. Hope that provides a little relief.

If the steriod shot isn't working, you need to go back to the doctor. A bee sting kit is basically a "kit" which contains a shot you can give yourself in case of emergency. Most people only need those if their reactions are quick and severe.