First Sting!!

[ratty4moley]

After having my bees for almost a year and captured one swarm, I have at last received my first sting. I had checked the swarm in their new hive and then my original colony with no problem at all, but when I went to unlock my shed to put my bee kit away I didn't notice one of my ladies on the binder-twine that holds the shed keys together. Result one damaged (and soon to die) bee and my first sting. After initial jump I examined the sting with sack attached and I decided to leave it for a few seconds to see the result, then removed it. Since starting with bees I have always been concerned as to how I would react, after all, bee keeping is not a cheap hobby and I if reacted badly should I continued? Thankfully not too bad, a spray with Sting Relief and some swelling/ burning etc. but this morning tender but OK. Glad that one is out of the way but sorry for the bee.

 

[enrico]

That is the sort of reaction I had for years and then one day all reactions just disappeared.
It does make a difference where on the body you get stung though. There are some really tender parts!

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

That is the sort of reaction I had for years and then one day all reactions just disappeared.
It does make a difference where on the body you get stung though. There are some really tender parts!

Me too and with any luck you are headed in the same direction. I have dispensed with gloves (most of the time) on that basis and it makes it all a lot easier on me and the bees. Now I tend to feel them before trapping (sting) or squishing (both = alarm pheromone) them.

 

[bontbee]

you get stung though. There are some really tender parts!

I found out this week that the edge of your nostril rates pretty highly on the tender scale!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

That is the sort of reaction I had for years and then one day all reactions just disappeared.
It does make a difference where on the body you get stung though. There are some really tender parts!

Finger tips with lots of sensing nerves seem much more painful than other common parts.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

One sting in a year...haha !!

 

[madasafish]

One sting in a year...haha !!

12 yesterday..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It does make a difference where on the body you get stung though. There are some really tender parts!

But I try not to wave those around in the open - bees present or not

 

[enrico]

But I try not to wave those around in the open - bees present or not

Spoilsport!

 

[birdsandbees]

I found out this week that the edge of your nostril rates pretty highly on the tender scale!

Yes, been there too! Eyes were watering for some time and I looked like bleeding Rudolf the next day... They weren't even my bees!

 

[snelgrove]

Ankles are really painful, got stung about 4 times on each Monday night. Own fault bad weather and no protection. No reactionapart from initial pain.

 

[ratty4moley]

One sting in a year...haha !!

Yep just the one and only wear gloves if the weather look iffy and with the swarm I got the other day. But I do have long sleeves and jeans under a full bee suit if I am to open a hive... what makes it silly is the fact that I was no longer working with the hive, it was some time afterwards when putting the kit away, so I was not looking or expecting any bees, I just grabbed the keys and ZAP a bee was waiting for me.

 

[GlenJ]

It's pretty common for at least one to be hitching a ride on my suit when I go back to the house - so I disrobe carefully - they do seem to wake up when being squashed by fat (soon to be fatter) human fingers!

 

[Briarfield]

After having my bees for almost a year and captured one swarm, I have at last received my first sting. I had checked the swarm in their new hive and then my original colony with no problem at all, but when I went to unlock my shed to put my bee kit away I didn't notice one of my ladies on the binder-twine that holds the shed keys together. Result one damaged (and soon to die) bee and my first sting. After initial jump I examined the sting with sack attached and I decided to leave it for a few seconds to see the result, then removed it. Since starting with bees I have always been concerned as to how I would react, after all, bee keeping is not a cheap hobby and I if reacted badly should I continued? Thankfully not too bad, a spray with Sting Relief and some swelling/ burning etc. but this morning tender but OK. Glad that one is out of the way but sorry for the bee.

The first sting isn't the problem. Anaphylaxis requires previous exposure, even then it can be years later the switch flicks.

None of us ever knows what the next one brings.