Hives as a reaction to a bee sting are a systemic reaction, and if you get a
case of them after a sting, you should see your doctor ASAP.
I had a problem like that several years ago, and I was successfully
desensitized to bee stings. It's a long process, but I wasn't told to abandon
my bees in the interim.
W. G. Miller
Gaithersburg MD