What I am learning about wasp stings

We all react differently to wasp stings. I picked up a glass of water once and the wasp that was having a rest on it took exception and stung my finger. it hurt of course and the water went everywhere, but after a couple of hours there were few ill effects. Sounds as if you are more allergic, Bags.

The more stings you sustain the worse the reaction seems to be. I once got stung while wearing strappy sandals and my foot puffed up between the straps, it was so swollen I had great difficulty getting the shoe off.
Hope it settles down soon Bags

I had a wasp inside the sleeve of my dress when I was camping [in my youth]. What a dilemma; strip off and run round the campsite unclothed or get stung like hell. [Think I ended up doing both]. My dog is very allergic to wasp stings; piriton is carried everywhere with us now [the only antihistamine recommended for dogs]. Stood on a bee once and thought I'd broken my leg as the pain shot upwards.

I had a wasp's nest in my garage one year... usually we ignored one another, but one afternoon several of the blighters ganged up on me, and I had three or four stings. I quietened them down with vinegar (wasps have an alkaline venom, while bees have an acid one), and then the reaction started - my hands itched unbearable for about an hour! Odd.

While out Historic dancing at a stately home which was run by a religious community a wasp
(or bee ) crawled up the inside fo my farthingale and stung me on the b*m. A nun came to my rescue and dealt with the sting!

I was recently stung by a bumble bee whilst on a river cruise in Germany, when I went back to the boat I asked if there were any first aid facilities - not allowed to dispense anything due to health and safety - another passenger suggested bicarbonate of soda so the cruise director went to the kitchen to ask - no - but came back with half a peeled onion which the chef had sent as a remedy! I rubbed it on the sting and it did work - then didnt know what to do with half a peeled onion so am afraid to say it now lies somewhere at the bottom of the Danube!

I didn't think bumbles stung?

The females do.

I was stung when a bumble bee flew through the window of a bus straight down the back of my blouse. My fellow passengers must have wondered why my (then) husband put his hand inside to try to free it. I was tempted to just strip off, but didn't dare!

At least bees only sting in extremis. Wasps are just bad-tempered. My finger still hurts and still doesn't like water! Ridiculous! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though – midge bites itch for days and days on me. Gusty sigh.

Having a picnic on holiday in Devon some years ago, I picked up my can of 7up and took a swig. A wasp that was in the can stung me on the tongue. I didn't know what to do with myself with the pain. DH ran to Boots in the town but it was closed for the lunch hour. We went back to the house where we were staying and I sucked ice cube after ice cube, which helped. But it was very painful for a week. I don't drink fizzy drinks any more in a can or in a glass.

I bet that was really frightening, grindos! Shudder!

At first it was terrifying cos I didn't know if my tongue would swell up and choke me. After I realised that wasn't going to happen I was just furious, my language was very strong, as they warn on TV.

Get an Aspivenin Kit to relieve your bites and stings. Larger Boots have them or you can buy one online.

Thanks, tattynan. I googled Aspivenin and watched a wee video about it. It looks as if it's just what I needed yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure it would be much use with midge bites though as they come in dozens at once.

I was just saying to OH on our walk through woodland that every flying insect seems to be out to get me today. This afternoon it was the wasps and my second sting of the week, then the midges this evening - horrid creatures. Fortunately the stings weren't too bad although my finger has just stopped itching from the first one a few days ago.

Hope yours gets better soon Bags [Sympathy]

You can use the aspevenin on midge bits. I get bitten every year by gnats and midges [the ones that look like a bit of soot give me the worse bites.] Every time you itch you can use the aspivenin to suck the venom out. There are 4 different size heads you can use depending on the size of the bite.

I'm going to get one, tattynan . Since I have to carry around a tub of Tiger Balm everywhere, I might as well carry an insect bite poison vacuum. The Tiger Balm does the same thing in effect, by the way, as it makes the bites 'bleed' the poison out. I didn't use it on the wasp bite though, the site of which actually wasn't visible for very long anyway.

Thanks again for the info.

Bags How's the finger today? Hope it's less painful.

It swelled up again last night and the blood vessels throbbed. This morning there's a blistery rash, possible an allergic reaction to the elastoplast I used during my shower yesterday morning. It's rather red and hot, uncomfortable (more than yesterday) but not painful. Swelling also creeping into hand just above the finger. It's definitely a nuisance having strong allergic reactions. I was quite worried when I got up but now not sure whether it needs to be looked at. I don't feel ill, just irritated that a wasp sting can have so much effect!

As one who suffers from quite violent reactions to wasp stings and sand fly bites, I would recommend seeking professional advice – a pharmacist or GP – especially as the swelling is spreading rather than reducing.

I think I'd have it looked at, if I were you, Bags, especially if the swelling is spreading. You might have to carry an epipen as reactions tend to be worse on subsequent occasions, or so I have been told. DS1 was stung by a wasp that casually breezed into the office when he was on duty one evening and stung him without provocation. He swelled up so fast that he was taken into hospital and put on a drip!

Go to doctor!