Hi all.

I am keeping two colonies of bees.  Just began this spring and am having
what I suppose is the typical learning curve. Hard pressed to keep up with
enough equipment to keep the girls at home.

Over the past four months, I have been stung a total of 3 times.  The first
went away within a few days with less redness than a mosquito bite.  Three
weeks ago, I was stung on the thumb.  At first, it appeared to be nothing.
The following day my thumb began to swell. By that evening my thumb had
ballooned. By the next morning, it was purple and ITCHY! and my doctor put
me on antibiotics in addition to antihistimines because she suspected it was
infected. (Also insisted on updating my tetanus shot.)

 Later that day, I received a sting on the shin which didn't swell, but did
over the course of the next 3 days become quite red and ITCHED! for about a
week.

Does anyone have experience with local bee sting reactions?  Will they
continue to get worse?  Will I need to get a perscription for an epi-pen?
Will my doctor start nagging me to get rid of the bees?

So far, I have been working my bees wearing only a veil and occasionally
gloves.  (They are very gentle Starlines.) The day I got stung on the shin I
was in shorts and sandals.  Obviously, I'll have to get somewhat more
serious about protective gear.  Any suggestions as to what's "sting-proof" ?
Has anybody tried the Tyvek suits?

Thanks for the help and advice.

--Amee Abel

Abel's Apiaries
"Happy Hives Making Wholesome Honey"