Bee Sting-- Help

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

I got stung by a bee and it's swelling up... it's almost the size of a quarter... it's on the inside of my leg, ya know... the back of my knee... it's bleeding a little, but it HURTS!!! It's crazy! Any advice to keep the swelling down? I don't want to look OR feel like this tomorrow morning for school... to make matters worse, I think I have a cold and my nose is stuffed, yet runny at the same time... I think it's my sinuses acting up again... Yeah, just my little vent/rant/whine for the day..

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

Come on all you helpful PT'ers... I know you're out there...

[tatsxxx11]

Nurse Sandra checking in! The past few years I've gotten bitten about a dozen times! I forgot how much they hurt!

Make sure the stinger is removed. Put ice on the area that was stung. It's going to hurt considerably for a few hours then start to subside. You can take an aspirin or tylenol for pain relief. A 25mg. tab of Benadryl will also help to minimize/reduce the swelling and redness. You can also apply some 5-10% hydrocortisone cream or Calamine or Caladryl cream/lotion to the sting to ease the discomfort.

But, if you notice any "allergic" type symptoms, any wheezing, swelling of your throat, shortness of breath, go to the ER immediately! Even if you've been stung before without an anaphylactic reaction, that doesn't mean it can't happen! The swelling should be lots better by tomorrow! Last year I got stung in the inner rim of my lower eyelid! My whole cheek swelled up but by morning there was barely any swelling at all; just redness! Let us know how you're feeling! And here's a link to bee sting treatment! Sandra


Bee Sting Treatment

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

Yeah, it's a little better now, not as red and not as swollen.. still hurts though. Thanks Nurse Sandra!

[Amber]

yikes hate getin stung, last year I got stung on my pinky finger and omg it got as swollen as a hot air balloon!! it was really bad and it hurt like heck, just put ice on it and icth/pain medicine.
good luck!!~

[catland]

Originally posted by tatsxxx11
You can take an aspirin for pain relief.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that people under 18 years old aren't supposed to take asprin.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by catland
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that people under 18 years old aren't supposed to take asprin.

My medical book says not under 21.

I always hear to put an onion on it. I tried it once and I didn't notice anything, but that was my first bee sting too, and my second one hurt considerably worse when I didn't have an onion. So not sure. You could go to the drug store and put on some emla cream. It work wonders!

[tatsxxx11]

We medicate adolescents with aspirin all the time at the hospital for a variety of ailments, under a physician's care. It's young children/infants you need to be especially careful with, especially if they are experiencing an infection. Tylenol is fine though. If you have any bleeding disorder, aspirin is always contraindicated.

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by tatsxxx11
We medicate adolescents with aspirin all the time at the hospital for a variety of ailments. It's very young children/infants you need to be careful with. Tylenol in fine. If you have any bleeding disorder, aspirin is always contraindicated.

*phew* That's what I thought!

Good luck on your bee sting!

[tatsxxx11]

The reaction Wolfsoul is referring to is Reyes Syndrome. It occurs when aspirin is given to very ill young children suffering from certain types of actue infections, primarily viral. I wasn't aware of Ilovemyabbygirls age, i.e. young adult/child Of course, if you have any concerns, take Tylenol!!

[wolfsoul]

Are you sure i'm thinking about that? lol. I don't remember, all I remember is that my book says that aspirin thins the blood...or something...lol?

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

Originally posted by catland
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that people under 18 years old aren't supposed to take asprin.

We have Ibuprofen up the KAZOO at my house. I take Ibuprofen for everything... hope I'm okay?

[tatsxxx11]

Sorry if I misunderstoond you Wolfsoul! I was alerted to your concerns about young children. Re: Blood thining...That applies to any age, although that is primarily a concern of the elderly and those on anticoagulants, e.g. heparin or coumadin. People with pre-existing bleeding disorders or taking such medications, should never take aspirin as it does have some blood thinning properties. But, that is not the caution that is widely heralded re: giving aspirin to young children. Appx. 40 yrs. ago, young children, infants, were being treated in emergency rooms for severe, unknown reactions after having been given aspirin by their parents in the routine treatment of infections, e.g severe URI's, bronchitis, and especially, viral infectins, etc. As you may have seen in drugstores, aspirin in pediatric doses, is sold widely, by many manufacturers e.g. "Bayer Aspirin for Children." Aspirin may be given to children and infants, but with caution and under a physcian's direction. Many cardiac patients routinely take "children's aspirin" daily for "blood thinning" as a prophylactive (pretentaive) to blood clotting/heart attack. Most physicians, in caution, will recommend children under 16 not be given aspirin without their ok. It seems we've gotten off the topic of bee stings!! As I said, if you have any concerns re: age, bleeding disorders, for young children, take Tylenol. Better yet, ALWAYS consult your physician!

"Abby"....you're ok!! Actually, Ibuprofen reverses the blood thinning affects of aspirin!! How old are you "Abby"??

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

I'm 14. You can call me Meg.

[Kfamr]

My aunt used to mix baking soda with water and put it on our bee stings. It always worked for us.