Pinching or Flicking Stings - Makes No Difference!

[malawi2854]

Whilst researching how stings work, and the related physiological effects it appears to have on me (namely, quite a lot of swelling, pain, and quite often infection), I found this article in The Lancet, which suggests that pinching or flicking the stinger out, makes little difference!

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(96)01367-0/fulltext

 

[johnandyrob]

Iv read this before but have given up on telling people because they have all read a book or have bean told by an old time beekeeper to scrape them out so don't believe me

 

[malawi2854]

Well, I have to admit - the old "don't pinch, as it will release more venom" does seem to make sense - but equally - I can't help but feel the stinger has probably evolved to deploy it's venom rather quicker than you can usually remove the stinger, otherwise it would be rather a useless defence!

Who knows - just thought it was interesting!

 

[huntsman666]

Okay, so then why does it continue to pulse after scratch removal if not to inject more venom? Nature wastes nothing!

Also the action of the bards is to drive deeper, not in one thrust. Stopping this early has to be to our good.

 

[Nose Ma]

I think the point it's making is that people take longer to remove a sting by scraping, giving it longer to inject venom. pinching is the fastest way to remove it, and the extra venom forced in by pinching isn't as much as the venom pumped in by delaying and scraping.

"get it out as fast as possible, the method is somewhat irrelevant" seems the advice.

 

[Rosti]

One thing is certain though, it won't get better if you picket. Arthur Scargill proved that with some research back in the 70's

 

[Ely]

I thought scraping could increase chances of infection. If you scrape across you could leave the tip off the sting still in your skin if it breaks off.

 

[drstitson]

sting apparatus injects venom in a series of pulses over quite a long time period.

if you have a hand free to remove at first "scratch" you may well get little effect. leaving it in to pump a full load is a different matter.

DOI: a sting on edge of foot in a wellington boot is a case in point - you can feel the pulses of venom being added.

 

[Ely]

On another note...they must have way too much time on their hands....

 

[nelletap]

has anyone else heard miraculous claims for a product, like a sort of pen (not epipen) called After Bite? O new bee mentioned it had dispatched her first sting very quickly (no after effects at all) and on holiday had dealt with her grandchildren's stings (or possibly mosquito bites). Another one or two people mentioned it as the best and then the chemist when I tracked some down, said they sold a lot of it (yet I've never seen an advert for it). I don't want to deliberately get a sting to find out but I'd like to know whether teh security I feel by possessing some is deserved. Apparently it does smell - ammonia seeming to be an ingredient.
Tricia

 

[furnitureman]

has anyone else heard miraculous claims for a product, like a sort of pen (not epipen) called After Bite? O new bee mentioned it had dispatched her first sting very quickly (no after effects at all) and on holiday had dealt with her grandchildren's stings (or possibly mosquito bites). Another one or two people mentioned it as the best and then the chemist when I tracked some down, said they sold a lot of it (yet I've never seen an advert for it). I don't want to deliberately get a sting to find out but I'd like to know whether teh security I feel by possessing some is deserved. Apparently it does smell - ammonia seeming to be an ingredient.
Tricia

I've not tried it on bee stings but it does work really well on other types of bites and stings if you put on asap. It does smell but only for a minute or so.

 

[Mike a]

After seeing a really aggressive bee spray its venom over my veil like a water pistol I doubt it makes any difference scrapping or pinching. For some time afterwards the increase numbers of bees flying around and crawling on my veil was surprising, the suit got a thorough wash that night.

I would hate to think what it would feel like if it got in my eyes.

 

[beeatshellards]

always keep some in my kit . after bite is the best i have found and to hand when at the apiary

 

[Headnavigator]

I shall get some, thanks.
Either way, pick or flick, it seems vital to get them out. Had a number of stings on Sunday, all removed I thought, then woke yesterday with an extra 'jowl' and found another in it. It's the only one giving me any irritation, swelling or even redness still.

 

[Headnavigator]

Got some, relief! I does work!
Recommended.

 

[Ely]

Am I the only one here that enjoys the pain of a bee sting?

 

[malawi2854]

Am I the only one here that enjoys the pain of a bee sting?

Given my 2 recent hospital visits with the last 2... I'm afraid so, yep!

What's most annoying, is that I used to be absolutely fine - got stung last year several times, no problems at all - this year, first few OK, next 2, hospital overnight, now this one, and hospital shouldn't be necessary, but needs to be kept an eye on!

I envy you!

 

[Ely]

Bloody hell. Wonder what brought that on?

 

[malawi2854]

Not a clue - trying to get a straight, coherent answer from the medical professionals is proving rather challenging.

I could really do with finding a beekeeping doctor... any out there?!?

The problem is, I speak to a beekeeper, and they can tell me in depth how the sting works... but not a clue about how my body reacts to it.
I can speak to a doctor, and they can tell me vaguely how my body reacts to the sting... but without any real knowledge of the stinger part!

I've got one doctor telling me I am absolutely fine, and to stop going on about it, and that my reaction is a little more serious than most, but nothing to worry about... i.e. - shut up and go away... NEXT!
I've got another doctor telling me I am only inches away from anaphylaxis... and that if I have so much as a bunged up nose when I get stung, I should phone an ambulance!!!

I've decided to go with a happy medium between the two - but crikey, it would be a lot easier if they could just agree on what the problem is!

Am in talks with an "immunotherapist" at present... hoping she might be able to "cure" me!

 

[Alabamaeee]

Are you taking any new medicines since last year?

There is a very interesting post in the forum from a long time bee keeper who had a nasty incident when he was taking anti-inflammatories or Ibuprofen (can't remember which).