Ow...Yellow jacket sting(s)

[AZChins]

I was just outside cutting out wire for cages that I really need to have done this week. All of a sudden it felt like my head was on fire, seriously, the pain was so sharp and severe that I screamed for my husband because I had no idea of what was happening. I ripped out my hair clips and it hurt so bad I couldn't see straight as I ran for the house.

John told it was a yellow jacket. The entire back of my head is on fire right now, the swelling is still happening. I'm getting hives but I took some Benedryl.

So, the question is: Is this supposed to hurt so much? I didn't feel the yellow jacket on my head at all, I was cutting out cage wire and then, bam, super pain like I was shot in the head.

I'm sort of far out in the country here. I've never been stung by one of these before. I think I may need to go to the emergency room...unless this is just normal. How can a wasp sting hurt this much?

 

[Lmbswimmer]

If you are breaking out in hives I would at least start for the ER, best case senario you walk in sit down, and walk out.

If you need their attention at least you will be there. If you wait too long, what is your typical response time for local EMS? Longer than getting yourself to the ER?

Good luck.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

They smart pretty bad but getting stung on the scalp must be really bad. I hope you feel better soon! Put some ice on it.

 

[AZChins]

30 minutes for any hope of any paramedics getting here. I took the benedryl immediately and I haven't gotten any new hives in a few minutes now.

It will take me 40 minutes to get the closest emergency room if I speed. This is really the only drawback of living out here for me!

Why do I have to be allergic to everything? uggg...

 

[AZChins]

I have a bag of frozen corn on my head, Cathy! LOL It is numbing it a bit...that's good. I took some ibuprofen.

 

[AZChins]

OK...the hives have gone down...the swelling is down a bit. My head is throbbing and I have a headache from being scared by it! LOL I think I will live. Sorry to freak out!

 

[3CsMommy]

Benedryl was a great first choice, as is the bag o' frozen veggies. If you've got Benedryl cream it might help around the rash too.

If more hives appear, or you suddenly feel light headed/dizzy/nauseous, or feel like your lungs can't fill with air like they should, get thee to a doctor-like person, STAT! Those are the signs of anaphlaxis, which can kill you if it's not treated. Considering how quickly you broke out in hives and the intensity of the pain from 1 to 3 stings (the little *****es keep their stingers for a couple of shots, unlike bees that end up bleeding to death after one good shot), I'd talk with your GP about getting tested for a sting allergy and keeping an Epipen handy from here on out. Yes, they're expensive, but even a $50 copay is better than a few thousand dollars for an emergency room trip.

 

[AZChins]

I have a prescription for an epi pen somewhere for my food allergies...I really ought to get that. I think I have it. I have a milk allergy that really keeps me on my toes. I don't like going out to eat at all if I can avoid it.

The hives are almost gone now. I only got them on my arms, that seems to be the place that they always show up first.

My husband is close to take me in to the emergency room. But, we're an hour into it now...so I think I'm alright. Hopefully...

Thanks for the info.

 

[3CsMommy]

NP. I have a bee sting allergy (along with cigarette smoke, strawberries, and 80% of commercially made soaps/detergents) and since I work in a pharmacy, I get to hear the treatment for this kind of situation weekly at least.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

It's still daylight where you are at 10pm?

Wow...I've been stung by a yellow jacket before. it was in the curve of my foot...it hurt really bad but I doubt it hurt as bad as yours. Never got hives from it though

 

[Brittney]

Susan, I'm allergic to bees, you would DEFINATELY know if you were having a allergic reaction. For me, the sting spot swells double that of a normal sting and my airway shuts. I have an Epipen and you have 30 min to get to a hospital. Just keep taking the Benadryl and compress it with ice. Just watch out for the killer ones out here!

Nevermind! Just read everything, you got it covered!

 

[AZChins]

It was 7 pm when I got stung and it was light out.

It still throbs a bit now. I just had no idea that they were that potent. My poor scalp must be full of wasp venom. My husband thinks that I got stung by more than just one.

The saddest thing is that this prevented me from getting my work done and now I have to work twice as hard tomorrow and tuesday to do everything I need to do.

 

[Lmbswimmer]

Ask your doctor for the twin pack for the epi-pens since you live so far out. That will at least extend your time some. I am also allergic to dairy - it does keep you on your toes, and I don't eat out either. That whole - "oh so you're lactose intolerant?" Ah no, I said I was allergic - BIG difference.

I am currently not allergic to stinging insects, but with how quickly I go downhill with foods I make sure my epipens are on me at all times. A twin epipen pack fits in a Garmen GPS holder that clips to your belt. A single one fits into a minimag flashlight holder that also clips to your belt. If you go into any army surplus or law enforcement based store you can find all kinds of nifty holders. My GPS holder actually holds 2 epi pens, my prednazone, maxair, insurance information, and my allegra (I'm allergic to benedryl). What is nice about the Garmen holder is that it is soft and therefore pliable, but on days I don't want it on my belt it keeps my meds together and it fits as a unit into my purse. I am thinking of having a seamstress at some point sew me a small kit the same size as the garmen holder, but in red and put the white medic symbol on it, so people automatically know it's meds, vs. a lumpy gps unit.

 

[tunes]

If that was your reaction to your first sting, look out for the second one. Usually the first sting is a light reaction, the next one will not be so easy.

Getting stung in the head, I was told many years ago, is one of the worst places to get stung. I don't know if it's because the brain is there or what, but I remember working in a clinic and a man got stung. He'd been stung many times in the past, never had a problem. Got stung on the back of his head, at the top, and went into shock and had to be rushed to the hospital.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I would still watch for sign of extreme swelling. When I get strung by yellow jackets my worse swelling is the day or 2 after and then it last for several days. I am afraid for the next 'attack' becuase the last was pretty bad. Also be very careful when working in the same spot you got attacked. There is a nest somewhere near there. probably in the ground

 

[mishellyshel]

wow, i always thought the yellow jackets were just annoying and wanted to be in your soda can! i didnt know that they really stung. now those brown & black wasps.........they scare me to death.
i have never gotten stung on my head, but i can imagine with the lack of skin it must hurt like heck! i did get stung once on my breast while i was in the pool and with all that extra flesh it still hurt!
i definitely think you should follow everyone's advice and have an epi pen on hand.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

yellow jackets are much more than annoying - They are a different type of wasp (stings just like a wasp and 1 can sting over and over). There are 17 kinds of yellow jackets. I know because we have a nest in my rose garden (in the ground) and my husband google about them and how to get rid of them