Yellow Jacket Stings

[welasharon]

The cure is time. But Beer helps.

Ha ha! Best post! My grandfather always put wet tobacco on us when we got stung. I hated it more than the sting...that was so gross!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

If I get stung ONCE, I swell up an area as large as I can spread with my hand (about 8 inches). If I got hit 6 times, it might be time to call 911! I keep a bottle of clear ammonia on hand. The last time I got stung (put my hand down on a brown wasp that was on a porch railing) I immediately soaked a paper towel in ammonia and held it on the bite for about 20 minutes. I did not experience any swelling at all. Ammonia is the active ingredient in After Bite; it is supposed to react with the protein in the venom and deactivate it (same idea with meat tenderizer). It won't help much at this point, but this may be helpful "next time".

Thank you so much!
My husband has the AfterBite with him on holiday, but I have been using a lot of baking soda paste, and benadryl, so the swelling has been minimal.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

The cure is time. But Beer helps.

I agree. On both counts.
I also find benadryl and merlot go delightfully together!

 

[rrrmamma]

If I get stung ONCE, I swell up an area as large as I can spread with my hand (about 8 inches). If I got hit 6 times, it might be time to call 911! I keep a bottle of clear ammonia on hand. The last time I got stung (put my hand down on a brown wasp that was on a porch railing) I immediately soaked a paper towel in ammonia and held it on the bite for about 20 minutes. I did not experience any swelling at all. Ammonia is the active ingredient in After Bite; it is supposed to react with the protein in the venom and deactivate it (same idea with meat tenderizer). It won't help much at this point, but this may be helpful "next time".

X2. ammonia works for me on flea bites too. allergies to yellowjackets can develop with each episode of stings. Dh gets stung at least once a year.. This year about 50 stings got him a trip to the ER by ambulance.I was not home. He was in full anaphylactic shock when the emts arrived. He had never had that severe of a reaction before. Now an epi pen is on hand at all times, Be careful.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Husband and I just tried this--this year. Press a penny onto the sting. I swear after a minute I did not feel a thing. My husband who teased me about it being a little bit on the "Snake Oil" side of things laughed until he tried it. Now he swears by it. Along the ice lines put the penny in the fridge or freezer to cool it down fast. We didn't do that, but I'm thinking this will really help it! Good luck!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

X2. ammonia works for me on flea bites too. allergies to yellowjackets can develop with each episode of stings. Dh gets stung at least once a year.. This year about 50 stings got him a trip to the ER by ambulance.I was not home. He was in full anaphylactic shock when the emts arrived. He had never had that severe of a reaction before. Now an epi pen is on hand at all times, Be careful.

I'm so glad he was all right! That is terrifying!


I am so thankful for this Community and for all the caring "friends I had not met yet" who came straight to my aid!

I was really lucky.
The baking soda worked best of all the things I tried, second best was damp tea bags. Last night, when I went to bed, I taped one to each sting and it not only helped draw the poison out, but also prevented me from scratching them. The deep itch began around midnight and woke me up repeatedly in the night. I knew when it started, it was time for more benadryl.
I think the penny idea is pretty great, and keeping them in the freezer is a fantastic idea.
Will keep all these ideas in mind for when I make my husband get rid of the nest when he gets home from his vacation.

PS I am all about the "Snake Oil" cures!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Weird Update:

I am having a delayed onset reaction to the wasp stings.
Around 5 of the stings, I have developed a maddeningly persistant itchy red rash. The sting sites themselves are sort of pitting, and crater-ish (small).
I have had a little bit of swollen gland feeling in my lymph nodes, but no other allergic/immune response symptoms.
Does anybody know anything about this?
The stuff I have found online just says it is an unusual reaction, but not what to do about it, specifically.
I am not manifesting any of the "go straight to the hospital" signs, but I am starting to be a little concerned about the systemic reaction, so long after the stings.

 

[bluesub]

You might want to see a doctor, they might want to give you some steroids... I had a reaction 2 days after I was stung by a wasp and my hand just kept swelling and swelling (I thought it was going to burst). Good luck.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Thanks, bluesub. That swelling sounds horrible!
I haven't had any significant swelling, but it appears I have hives spreading from the sting sites.
The best known OTC remedy is still benadryl. As I don't have insurance, there won't be any doctor's visits for me, without a life-threatening symptom.
I have done a ton of research on the subject, today, and benadryl and ibuprofen at this stage is the best bet for me.
Thanks again to those who contributed.
I can't imagine how bad this would have gotten if I hadn't spent the first whole day covered in baking soda paste, with the poison getting sucked out!

 

[bluesub]

Try putting some hydrocortisone cream (OTC), the highest percentage you can find on the stings.