When I first kept bees many years ago I would get some reaction to stings.  Local swelling and some itching and mild pain that lasted a day.  But, after the first year the reaction dropped to nil other than the mild pain of the jab itself which only lasts a few minutes.  Generally now I can only see a tiny red spot where the stinger went in 20 minute after the sting and perhaps a minor pin head size infection the next day if I broke off part of the stinger and left it behind in my skin.  The red dot is mainly due to bleeding under the skin as a result of the aspirin a day my Vet has me on.

I have nasty arthritis in my right knee.  I am living on alleve (four per day) and ibuprofin (two to four per day) to make it to late fall for a replacement.  At this point a cortisone shot gives some relief for about five days and is gone.  Vet will only give me a shot once every couple of months so it basically is a waste of money.  I still get nil reaction to stings.  Never swells and never itches and never hurts an  hour after the sting.

Conclusion:  Everybody has somewhat different biochemistry and getting old is not for the weak.

 
 
 

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html