Five years getting stung and then last year at an open hive demo we were doing for the county parks I got popped and ended up in the hospital. It was a head hit and I thought it was because of location and activity and the fact that the beek next to me accidentally squeezed the venom sack in removal.
Two weeks later I had a similar reaction and another trip to the emergency room.
My problem was that I was not having a full blown reaction in terms of restricted breathing, but that I was going into shock as my blood pressure dropped dangerously low.
I have not given up beekeeping though and have been increasing the size of our farm's beekeeping business. I simply enjoy it too much. I started sting therapy since I also tested positive to reactions with several other venoms, especially those that are similar to bee venom (yellow jacket and wasp). I had a bad reaction in the allergists office one day. I have been stung int the field three times now the first was right when I started therapy and had a mild reaction that I managed to weather through OK and the last two stings were this year where I had a mild reaction and the second was as we were pulling spring honey this year.
I now dress head to toe in a suit unless I am just pulling pollen. I tape my ankles. Even with my more aggressive bees that does the trick.
I am now in the upkeep stage of therapy and I have no idea just how allergic I am or if am at all till I have another reaction.
I carry an Epipen with me pretty much anywhere I am on the farm and when I go hiking/camping. Any time I know I will be in the bees I take a 12 or 24 HR antihistamine which does a lot. You will NEED an prescription for the EpiPen. The EpiPen is what keeps your blood pressure from tanking.
Go See An Allergist.
Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio
An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855
(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com[log in to unmask]
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