The recent lady chairman of our County Association is prone to anaphylactic
shock when stung.  It doesn't seem to bother her a lot as I had to walk past
several hives to get to their front door when visiting a few years ago.  Her
husband officially keeps all their bees in out apiaries but as he is one of
our Grand Old Men of beekeeping he always ends up with swarms or is asked for
queens etc.
Margaret told me that she had to build up from minute doses over many months
until she had completed the course and then took the final test: a proper
sting.  She failed and needed medical treatment.  I think she told me that she
was in hospital for a while but this was some years ago and my memory is hazy.
It was after this that she was elected chairman and she has always run our
County Show magnificently.
Another lady, a member of our local association has had to give up keeping
bees herself through extreme allergy.  However she has offerred to keep with
us in our showing and education activities.
The moral of this missive is don't let a trivial matter of allergy stop you
playing with bees and beekeepers, just be careful and possibly redirect your
approach.
Having re-read your mail I notice you experienced the beginnings of
anaphylactic shock.  Are you quite sure that this is what it was?  It is quite
rare.  Margaret's stings bring on unconsciousness within about 30 seconds.  I
wonder whether perhaps you experienced the onset of hives; pain, swelling,
extreme itching and rash all over the body, possible flutterings in the chest,
lasting in all about 2-3 hours and not anaphylactic shock after all.  Hives
(I've had it myself and seen it in others)  can be nasty and distressing but
is not in the same league.  I know it is silly of me to question a medical
judgement at a distance of several years and thousands of miles but my doctor
told me to give up beekeeping about 18 years ago because of my adverse
reaction to two stings.  Sometimes I wish I had taken his advice: I would have
a lot more time to spare on other interests.
I hope it works for you.
Chris Slade