Bees. So harmless Until You Are Stung!
Yesterday, I tackled the unimaginable. Garden #1. My garden looks like a madwoman lives there. Oregano had gone wild invading every nook and cranny. (One my invasive thug plants even Tony Soprano hates.) Grass, clover, and a bunch of no name weeds are everywhere. At this point, I can’t even find my vegetables. And I am not being a drama queen. (Hard to believe. I know.)
In the process of bringing in some freshly pulled oregano, I got stung by a wasp or bee. It was too dark to tell whether it was a wasp or a bee.
I Felt Like a Vampire with a Stake through the Heart
Apparently, the bee or wasp must have been sucking the nectar of the oregano flowers. In trying to bring in too much stuff from the garden, I pressed the oregano against my chest to balance everything I had in my hands. Then, I was stung right near my heart. You can’t imagine how that felt. It hurt like a son of a b*tch.
Now I know how Vampires feel when stabbed in the chest.
I couldn’t understand at first what happened until I saw the wasp or bee float away. I gather it was a wasp because it seemed to be alive. Correct me if I am wrong, bees die when they sting you? I started gasping and whining even though I have been stung before in the legs and arm from stupid stuff I did. (Sitting on a bee is not the coolest thing to do.)
But this time, it was in my chest where there isn’t a lot of fat. My survival skills set in because I thought I was going to die. (And the envelope goes to Anna for her Oscar performing role as a bee femme fatale.) Grabbing for the ice, I whimpered for hubby to help me. You have to feel for someone who got stung in the chest.
The funny thing is I normally would have winced at putting cold ice on my chest. Yep, no towel. Just plain ice. I am telling you. Survival mode cures fear.
In the past, I have broken out from bee bites. But this time, pain seared through my arm. (In retrospect, most likely from dragging a 101 things into the house, not the bite. ) Son #3 jumped on to the computer to talk to Dr. Google. (Well, he didn’t really jump, but it sounds more dramatic. In reality, he kind of walked in that slow motion that teenagers adopt to piss off their parents.)
Hubby also went to look up some remedies as I milked my best Sarah Bernhardt impression clutching the ice to my chest. (Son #4 continued watching TV since I hadn’t died yet.)
Precaution: Watch for Certain Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, seek emergency treatment if you have the following symptoms from a bee sting:
- “Skin reactions in parts of the body other than the sting area, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin (almost always present with anaphylaxis)
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the throat and tongue
- A weak and rapid pulse
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Dizziness or fainting Loss of consciousness”
In addition, if you have been stung multiple times and have any of these symptoms, seek emergency help.
Home Remedies
Dr. Google suggested the following remedies after you remove the bee stinger. I didn’t have one so I assume that it was a wasp.
- Tea bag
- Ice
- Vinegar (Most said to use in conjunction with baking soda and meat tenderizer.) Vinegar neutralizes the venom.
- Meat Tenderizer or Vinegar/Baking Soda/Meat Tenderizer combo. Baking soda soothes and meat tenderizer lessens the effect of the venom since it contains an enzyme found in Papaya
- Toothpaste (thanks to @Tanya Meyers from the GT fan page.) The glycerin apparently dries out the venom.
- Baking Soda (thanks to @ Deborah Mustard from the GT fan page.)
Plantain Leaves
- Chew a plantain leaf (a common weed) then apply the macerated leaf onto the bite. (from Amy Jeanroy of About.com’s Herb Gardens)
- Apply basil to the sting
- Cover bite with mustard
Honey was listed too. However, human bee sting remedy guinea pig William Brantley, stated in his article, “Sting Operation” that honey soothed the symptoms for only thirty minutes. Um, I can milk it for more than 30 minutes.
Homeopathic Remedy
Hubby bought SSStings Stop for Son #3 for mosquito bites. He said it really helps. See sustainable blogger, Kerry’s favorable review too of this product.
What Did I Use?
As I mentioned above, I used the ice immediately. When the ice cube melted, I tried vinegar and then a tea bag. And finally the SSSSting Stop. I can’t really tell you if the tea bag , the vinegar, or the gel helped because after the ice, I didn’t feel much pain.
Hubby bought me Benadryl pills since I broke out last time I was stung. This morning, I feel fine. There is just a raised bump where I was stung.
Join the Conversation:
- Have you used any of the above remedies? If so, which ones worked for you?
- Have another remedy for bee or wasp stings?
- Is there an over the counter remedy that you use?
Amy Jeanroy says
You poor thing! I always get so offended too, like they don’t realize how hard I work to make a nice garden for them to enjoy. Then they come in and sting me..geez
😛
Glad you are better.
AJ
Kristina (The Greening of Westford) says
Ouch! My daughter was stung recently. I tried baking soda and water – didn’t do too much, then yogurt (a remedy from my mom) – did nothing for her, then ice water. The ice water worked. It was a pretty bad sting. The itch lasted for over a week. I ended up calling her pediatrician, luckily it subsided. I think she may end up being allergic. I wish I had known about the SSSTing Stop. I will have to get that for her bug bites!