Allergies to bee stings???

[Nicos]

OK- I think we need to know before we get bees.....

OH has been stung a couple of times recently...first time his finger swelled up.
2nd time his arm swelled up to his elbow.( He is an asthmatic)

We are now 25 mins minimum from a hospital...so....

Is it a stupid idea to get bees- or - what advice is given from the Bee Assn???
Are there epi pens available.,...or something else/ better???

[Glutton4...]

I have a similar reaction, and it's been worse each time I've been stung. Even Gnat bites swell and get really itchy, and if they're on my lower left leg, they swell up and go green. I now carry extra strong prescription Antihistamine with me at all times. I really wanted to keep Bees, too, but have been advised by my GP 'not to be so daft.'

[Aberdeenplotter]

G4's comment about being worse every time rings true with me as well and I have been told the effect of bee stings is cumulative. I also carry antihistamines with me in case of being stung but I still love the buzzy wee things! I try to tell myself they only sting when the are threatened unlike wasps which sting for the hell of it.

[cptncrackoff]

I also have asthma and have the same reactions, gnat bites are getting worse and worse, swellings, really hard 'lumps' weeping, never used to.
Also bee stings, although not had one for a while made me feel very weird, a little spaced out.
A wasp sting to the underneath of my chin a few years back made my mouth, lips tonge and chin swell.
I take regular antihistamine from the doc for hayfever and allergies to washing powders/fabric conditioners, i wonder if that effects it...!?

[kalimna]

I think that, on the face of it, the sensible idea would be to avoid any stimulus that might provoke the reaction (especially if it is worsening over time). Having said that, if you are still keen to proceed, then advice from an expert is probably what you need, not necessarily a reply on a public forum from people who have had simillar experiences.
Immunological reactions are complex, and getting an epi-pen is really not the answer, in the absence of a known anaphylaxis. Antihistamines are certainly a good drug to have around if you are prone to allergic reactions, but are second line in relation to epinephrine in the event of a severe reaction.
Speak to your GP, who might be able to refer you to someone who can do a variety of skin tests to determine whether bee stings would be a problem or not.
Whilst you can easily come into contact with bees anytime spent in your garden, it might be more sensible to avoid a large concentration of them that require close work.


Just my tuppence,
Adam

[Nicos]

Thanks for that Adam- a brilliant reply!... and we'll certainly do that.

( but I'd still like to hear what other peeps have to say about it before we go to the GP!!!!)

I think my main concern is that we're not just 25 mins from a hospital- but it'd take that long for an ambulance to get here too...and having lived within 10 mins of ambulance help all my life, I suddenly feel more vulnerable here in the 'sticks'.
First line medical help would ultimately fall on my shoulders so I feel I need to be prepared if such an event would occur!
( I've even bought OH special army issued clotting powder in case of a major chainsawing accident!...paranoid???...moi???)

[Capsid]

If you are allergic to bee stings (you can get tested) then I recommend getting desensitised. This is a a course of injections that gradually allows you to tolerate the sting without a reaction. Ask your GP.

Wasp and Insect Sting Allergy | Dr. Adrian Morris of Surrey Allergy Clinic Tests and Treats allergies

[Headfry]

I too am starting to get a worse reaction to bee stings, which is really sad as I love my girls and would be so upset to have to part with them.
I cover up well and know to take rings off quickly if my hands get stung.

I used to work with my 'girls' without any protection at all (flip flops and a strappy dress has been known ) - it was lovely to feel my little bees and to feel the warmth of the hive - things you don't notice with gloves on. I could feel them moving under my hand if I laid it very gently on top of a frame full of bees, it was a lovely feeling.

But alas, I swell up really badly now and have had to promise Mr HF (he was worried) I would always cover up and take care!

[Glutton4...]

I was told by a Bee Keeper that ALL Bee Keepers get stung. Usually once a year. Dunno if this is true. Could well be worth the allergy testing, I reckon.

I was only mildy irritated by stings and bites until I went on holiday to the Caribbean - I got eaten alive by the Mozzies, and had so many Sand-Fly bites/stings on my feet that I stayed in the pool instead of venturing out to the Sea. My feet swelled up quite painfully. The next time I went, I wore beach shoes all the time I was on the sand. I've been much more reactive to bites and stings since that holiday.

[BigShot]

There was a detailed discussion of this over on the biobees forum (some time last year, I think).

Some people were talking about carrying an epipen "just in case" but someone who seemed to know plenty advised against it. I don't recall exactly, but they may have been some sort of doctor or specialist. I'll need to check back on it.

Using an epipen inappropriately is dangerous... as in "a trip to hospital".

The advice was simple. If you're allergic to bees you can still keep bees, you just need to take steps to ensure your safety.

1> Avoid getting stung.
This can be done in a number of ways, from taking care to fully seal your bee suit to using different hives (top bar hives tend to stress the bees far less than conventional hives at inspection time, for example).
2> If you do get stung, you can use a spray to mask the sting pheromone which should prevent further stings (I seem to recall it was peppermint - but I'll double check that).
3> Carry FAST ACTING antihistamine at all times. Slow release ones are no good. If you get the fast acting ones in two-piece gel capsules; splitting the capsule open and dumping the contents under the tongue is apparently the fastest way of getting it into the bloodstream.
4> Get to hospital FAST. This is true with or without epipens. It's not unheard of for people to react, use epinephrine and then carry on as if nothing happened, only for the anaphylaxis to set in again a short while later and kill them.

With allergies, it's probably best not to tamper with the bees alone... and have the car ready to go, keys in pocket and with a driver on standby if you're doing something particularly prone to angering the bees - like anything that exposes the brood nest.

On the biobees forum there are several users who are allergic to bee stings so such allergy does not rule out keeping them... you just need to do it carefully.

[Glutton4...]

There was a detailed discussion of this over on the biobees forum (some time last year, I think) ....... there are several users who are allergic to bee stings so such allergy does not rule out keeping them... you just need to do it carefully.

Glad to know there are others, and they still keep Bees - very encouraging!

[Hilary B]

When we had bees we got a 'teaching visit' from the local experienced bee keeper, she was allergic, so she coered up well, and her husband accompanied her and kept medication in his pocket. Not sure exactly what the medication was, but I THINk it was epipen type. This was over 25 years ago, because we moved from that house over 25 years ago, and it was at least 2, probably 3 and might be 4, years before we moved.