Epipen or Benadryl

[froggy]

Hi, been told That I should always carry,,,,,, Epipen or Benadryl while working with the Bees. my question is, if so, which one ? cheers Terry.

 

[For want of a better word]

Hi, been told That I should always carry,,,,,, Epipen or Benadryl while working with the Bees. my question is, if so, which one ? cheers Terry.

WHOA !



PLEASE read some of the threads about Eppipens

Death could follow quite rapidly IF used in WRONG situation to someone with a predisposed heart condition
Adrenaline is used to raise blood pressure in the event of SHOCK

whoever told you to carry an Eppipen is misinformed


What more can I say!

Mytten da

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What clown told you that? Unless you have previously experienced a severe reaction to bee stings and your GP has advised you that you should carry one - I think that person is more dangerous than the outside chance of having a really bad trip after a bee sting

 

[froggy]

Wow,,,,,,,,,,,cheers guys!

 

[sipa]

if you have concerns about your reactions to bee stings, take professional medical advice.

That is the only safe route.

 

[B+.]

take professional medical advice.

Epipens are for emergency medical attention. They are not a toy or an accessory. However, if you need one...you need two.

 

[froggy]

ok cheers

 

[Swarm]

Froggy, have you been stung? If so, what was the reaction? My experience with Epipen issue (my daughter and her MIL) is they are prescribed usually after a bad experience, normally a hospital trip.
My GP would probably have prescribed something or other after my last incident with a defensive colony because my left arm was swolen from elbow to fingertips, I couldn't bend any of the fingers. I lost count of the stings, so I was quite happy (not really the right word) with the reaction as it wasn't much worse than my normal reaction to a sting in this area, however I did initially have a rash, armpits and groin which didn't last long. I put this down to the number of stings and took antihistamine.
Reactions can vary considerably, the stings I took to my body vanished after a couple of hours. A follower managed to sting the back of my head on my next visit and apart from knowing she'd got me, there was little else.
It's a serious subject and not to be scoffed at, my daughter was rushed to hospital and put on a drip, her MIL was severely ill, passed out and revived by a paramedic. I'd say monitor your reactions and act if you think you need to.

 

[For want of a better word]

My GP would probably have prescribed something or other

... probably NOT an Eppipen.... adrenaline is used specifically to increase blood pressure in a case of SHOCK ( when BP falls dramatically)
Shock can ... but dose not always... follow anaphalaxis.

Best aftercare for a serious bee sting episode is antihistamine and possibly steroid.. and rest.

IF you are in doubt dial 999 and let the paramedics deal with the situation

PLEASE

Nos da

 

[Swarm]

Read the whole post, your point is precisely the one I was making. The quoted statement is quite true, IF I'd gone to the GP. I didn't for reasons already explained.

 

[froggy]

many thanks for all your helpful replies

 

[For want of a better word]

Read the whole post, your point is precisely the one I was making. The quoted statement is quite true, IF I'd gone to the GP. I didn't for reasons already explained.

Perhaph I should reiterate
EPPIPENS are for TREATING SHOCK.... not for relief of beestings or "mild" anaphalaxis!

Mytten da

 

[B+.]

Perhaph I should reiterate
EPPIPENS are for TREATING SHOCK.... not for relief of beestings or "mild" anaphalaxis!

Mytten da

Perhaps I should reiterate: If needed, these can save lives. If you don't have them, no amount of talking to someone on the phone (who's only reading a script) will help you. If you have them, they can give you a few extra minutes while waiting for an ambulance.
As I have explained before (and no doubt will again) my son died because we were unprepared. I wouldn't want anyone to suffer a loss like that

Quite honestly, I don't know what "mild anaphylaxis" is:
"Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop rapidly." NHS definition (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspx). People should stop trying to muddy the waters by talking about things like localised reactions as though its anaphylaxis. Believe me: if you ever saw true anaphylaxis you would be in no doubt!

 

[drex]

If in doubt talk to your GP. Taking an antihistamine before you inspect can lessen any local irritation if you get stung. Epipens are prescription only, and used to treat anaphylactic shock, which is a life threatening reaction to stings, affecting the whole body. Not to be used lightly.

Dr. Ex

 

[For want of a better word]

If in doubt talk to your GP. Taking an antihistamine before you inspect can lessen any local irritation if you get stung. Epipens are prescription only, and used to treat anaphylactic shock, which is a life threatening reaction to stings, affecting the whole body. Not to be used lightly.

Dr. Ex

Anaphalaxis and shock are two different things
Anaphalaxis can lead to shock
Shock can be from many other causes... ie blood loss

I completely understand where B+ is coming from, but I do think that misuse could lead to greater problems.

I reiterate... Eppipens are for shock, and would not be a solution to the general swelling and sometimes quite painful aftermath of a bee sting... antihistamines are for that!


Apologies if I come across as pedantic.....

AND 7 years study of medicine did not teach me to spell!

Yeghes da

 

[Swarm]

Apologies accepted, you pedant.

 

[GlenJ]

"Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop rapidly."[/B] NHS definition (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspx). People should stop trying to muddy the waters by talking about things like localised reactions as though its anaphylaxis. Believe me: if you ever saw true anaphylaxis you would be in no doubt!

I'm with you there, I'm so sorry you lost your son that way. There's no good way for a parent to lose a child.
Anaphylaxis is not necessarily a killer, I'm still here for a start. (Not bee stings).
But real anaphylaxis is NOT to be belittled!

 

[B+.]

Anaphalaxis and shock are two different things

By differentiating the two, you are missing the point that this all happens so fast.
You can split hairs all you like with medical terminology, but, these things rarely happen with a medic on hand. You do what you can with what you have. If you don't even have an epipen, you can't do anything. If you think you have time to call 999 and go through the system, you've already made the choice to watch that person die.

 

[For want of a better word]

I can only agree with you B+

I think that everyone should have training in first aid.
I campaigned for a defibrillator to be held at our local village hall... and training for its use.

Possibly beekeepers should have training in anaphalyxis and the use of Eppipen.

I have now had to use adrenaline on two occasions.... first time in Aquaba in the Red Sea when a diver/ marine biologist got severely stung by a lion fish ( Pteris vollitans?)... went into shock, fortunately survived.

and a second occasion when my poor wife suffered anaphalyxis followed by shock after a single bee sting... she was ( still is) undergoing treatment and had been issued with the pens.
I HAVE received training in their use.

Perhaps the buzzword here is TRAINING?

My wife says it is not easy living with a pedantic beekeeper!


Mytten da

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I can only agree with you B+

I think that everyone should have training in first aid.



Mytten da

My wife, a St John trainer, did a day's First Aid course for our BKA on Saturday.
[She was very, very good, I have to say!]

At present, St John in the north west are doing a thing called, "Community Challenge" - offering free basic first aid training for community groups.

Worth BKAs exploring this. Runs till next March or April.

Dusty