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csziggy

(34,119 posts)
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 10:45 PM Sep 2020

Dang - it was my day for a wasp sting.

Since the work on the addition is finished and we have our Certificate of Completion(!) the contractor will be picking up the permit box soon - that's the box that all the plans, forms and permits have to be in during construction. I decided collect all those papers from the box to store. We did that with the original construction of the house and some of those plans were really helpful in the addition.

So I wander out to the box and reach up to grab the papers - and saw the wasp nest just as one zapped my right hand. I have no idea what kind they were - I dropped the door, froze for a second in case more swarmed out, then headed back to the house.

I've got to restock my Benadryl cream and tablets - both are way past expiration, but they still seem to work. The sting is below the webbing between the thumb and first finger. My hand is swollen half again as big as it should be from the middle finger to the thumb, then down the wrist and about half way down my arm. It itches all the way to the elbow.

Mostly I've been icing it with my home made ice packs (1 part isopropyl alcohol to 3 parts water, double bagged in ziplock freezer bags). I can wrap my entire hand in one of the gallon size (1 pint mix in the gallon bags works great) and that relieves the pain better than anything else.

But this is on my right hand and I am extremely right handed. PITA.

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Phoenix61

(16,949 posts)
1. Hot water and Epsom salt soak will work.
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 10:49 PM
Sep 2020

I had a bite and my hand swelled. Two days later someone s told me to do that and in 30 minutes all the swelling was gone.

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
2. The same thing happened to my brother, last week
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 10:50 PM
Sep 2020

Nailed on his left hand. He was in total misery.

I was stung last summer, while I was mowing, by ground hornets. I used a baking soda poultice and didn't get any severe swelling, but the pain - wow.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
6. Yeah, this time of year they are preparing to over winter
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 11:09 PM
Sep 2020

And are very protective of their nests. Thing is, two weeks ago the inspector was in that box and apparently there were no wasps then.

I could mix the Benadryl cream with baking soda - I've done that in the past - but with the location, there is too much flexing of the skin for a thick poultice to stay and I don't have anything to effectively hold it in place.

2naSalit

(86,035 posts)
8. I got it from mud wasps at the farm last summer...
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 11:16 PM
Sep 2020

Once in the armpit and a different time on my neck near a jugular vein. I used the baking soda at first and it helped the swelling but the next day it was still really painful for a couple days the first time. The second time was during our cbd hemp harvest and I decided to put fresh hemp juice from the stalks right on the sting and it stopped hurting after about ten minutes or less, can't remember but it was fast enough. The only other thing I can think of that would be handy and natural would be comfrey poultice, oil or salve.

safeinOhio

(32,524 posts)
3. Benadryl is your friend with stings.
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 10:51 PM
Sep 2020

I have it the injectable form. Works faster with 1/6 the doze. You can also crush it and put it under your tongue.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
4. I pretty much get a lot of swelling every time
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 11:06 PM
Sep 2020

At one point I had an epipen but by the time I needed it it was ten years past the expiry date.

Last sting was next to my nose. Within a few minutes, I could not breath through my nose at all. For that one my husband took me to the urgent care center where they injected me and observed the progress for a while.

My doctor has decided that the only stings that are a danger to me are those in critical areas. Since I am no longer doing much outside I have let my defenses down, but I will get new supplies tomorrow. Probably by the next time I get a sting, those will be out of date!

Tonight it is Benadryl cream, another dose of the tablets, and icing the hand. I think it is at its worse right now.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
7. That'd probably help with the surface pain, but not the swelling
Fri Sep 4, 2020, 11:12 PM
Sep 2020

The swelling I get is a mild allergic reaction. The sting location doesn't hurt much anymore, but the skin where the swelling is feels like it could split, plus the nerves where the poison is spreading itch ferociously. That means it is time for another dose of Benadryl tablets. The cream can no longer got to the source of irritation.

Jeebo

(2,005 posts)
9. Betadine is best for insect stings.
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 12:03 AM
Sep 2020

Hospitals use it as a surface antiseptic, but you can buy it in the pharmacy over-the-counter. The weird thing is, it doesn't even say on the label that that's one of the things it's good for. But I promise you, it works so well it's almost miraculous. It sucks that pain away instantaneously. I know from experience.

-- Ron

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
10. I've used betadine a lot for cleaning wounds in horses
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 12:07 AM
Sep 2020

But I tend to avoid it - if I wash with it layers of my skin peels off. I have a mild sensitivity to iodine that causes this reaction.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
11. a friend of mine was stung by a wasp while coming up the stairs to my apartment
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 05:24 AM
Sep 2020

same place, right hand

big guy, but within a few minutes he was in trouble - anaphylactic shock - I could not believe how fast it took him down, his face and neck swelled up and his breathing became audible........we were very close to a hospital so I quickly drove him to the emergency room, where he got a shot, and then he had to always carry emergency meds on him

scary stuff

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
12. Yeah, it is scary to watch
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 10:03 AM
Sep 2020

My sister has to carry a kit - she goes into anaphylatic shock with bees, wasps, scorpions, etc. I remember Mom having to take her into the hospital once while we were on vacation because she was stung by a scorpion. Her face was gray as they left. That was 1957, I think and they didn't have Epipens, just a syringe and a vial. As a RN, Mom gave sister lessons on how to inject herself as the rest of us watched. Mom even taught some of her friends how to, in case she was out with them and had a reaction.

I know I am lucky to just swell up. Mom did that, too. Once she was stung on her left ring finger. The way Dad put it " The first thing she did was to divorce me!" Mom had not had that ring off since he'd put on her finger when they were married. She knew if she didn't take it off, it would have to be cut off to save the finger. In a few days, the swelling was down and she "remarried" Dad.

yellowdogintexas

(22,114 posts)
14. Excellent Emergency Treatment: Tobacco! Chew it up and put the wet glob
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 01:16 PM
Sep 2020

right on top of the sting. It will pull the venom down to the sting point like magic and reduce the pain.
I do not know if it is the nicotine or some other component but for damn sure it works. It was my dad's immediate response when we were stung by any venomous insect.

Daddy just peeled a cigarette and chewed up the filling but snuff or chewing tobacco will also do the trick.

I do not understand why Big Tobacco has not developed and patented it.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
15. No tobacoo any where on the farm
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 01:25 PM
Sep 2020

So that's out.

Today my hand is still badly swollen and the swelling extends down the arm about halfway to the elbow. It itches horribly.

Unfortunately I have things to do but it's not too bad to let me wipe down some shelves for a coat of varnish, apply the varnish, or to get the bread made. But I will be glad to be finished with those chores and let it rest.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
17. yep benedryl is about the best
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 10:10 PM
Sep 2020

read "recently" to keep childrens' liquid around for snake bites with dogs too.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
18. It would help if my benedryl were newer - expiry date is 2011
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 10:32 PM
Sep 2020

Meaning it's about ten years old! I put it on the shopping list, but my husband ran errands today and did not go shopping.

The swelling is starting to go down. I may take two of the benedryl tonight so I can sleep better.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
19. it's probably fine if it hasn't gotten too hot
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 10:39 PM
Sep 2020

not sure I own any unexpired first aid products

benedryl makes a great sleep aid if you don't do it very often. I took one on Thursday night, I had some strange 24 hour fever. no idea what or why, haven't been anywhere even shopping in two weeks.

LuckyCharms

(17,281 posts)
20. Argh...I feel your pain...
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 11:00 PM
Sep 2020

3 of the 12 yellow jacket stings I got last month were on top of the knuckle of my ring finger on my right hand (I'm right handed as well). The whole top of my hand blew up like half a baseball.

I'm assuming it didn't leave a stinger. Wash it well and watch for any infection.

Keep up with the ice and Benadryl. It took about 2 days for my hand to start itching like a bastard. Just pat it when you itch, try not to dig your nails in.

Feel better soon!

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
21. I knew at two DUers had gotten stung in the last few weeks
Sat Sep 5, 2020, 11:25 PM
Sep 2020

I guess it is the season for the little bastards. I'm glad your stings are doing better.

We've got yellow jackets and some big black and red wasps (not sure what their name is). While I've been stung by yellow jackets more, the black and red ones cause more problems for me. I suspect this one was a yellow jacket.

Right now the swelling is only halfway up the arm but I'm getting itching almost to the armpit. The swelling in my hand is going down - I can see my knuckles again!

I've got projects to get done - I have one more bookshelf to varnish, then about 65 shelves (adjustable loose ones) to sand and varnish. Until the swelling in my hand goes down I will not be doing the sanding, though - it's just too uncomfortable to hold the palm sander. I did get a bookcase varnish today and made a loaf of bread, but that was really painful.

Benadryl is a great sleeping pill for me so I don't take it during the day. I will take it in a few minutes and probably sleep really good. This morning I was so soundly asleep when the cat ran across the bed and over me he did not wake me up.

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