Doug, because you asked for comment, I will give mine, although some
(particularly MD's) may be offended.
Don't play around with a TRUE allergy to bee stings - you may only have 30
minutes to live!  See an allergist, who specializes in bee stings like Drs.
Golden and Valentine of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, because MOST allergists
know LITTLE about bee stings and primarily deal with hay fever, rag weed, and
pollen.
Most beekeepers know my story, but I will repeat it here.  I started keeping
bees as a scientific study 65 years ago, 1933, and 31 years later, 1964, then
working about 60 colonies, making a shake swarm, I suddenly got about 30
stings, and went into a mild anaphylactic shock.  A shot of adrenalin quickly
restored me and the local MD advised me to "get rid of bees".  I sought out
medical specialists in bee stings, went through 130 shot program of
desensitization, and told to get stung OFTEN to maintain my new immunity.  For
the last 33 years, I get stung once each day on purpose even in the winter,
and if I get 20, 30, or 40 stings all at once, I do not swell, itch, and blood
pressure does not change, BUT THEY STILL HURT!  I am a retired scientist, not
a MD, but this is my lay man's understanding.
When I started in 1933, stings produced swelling and itching which lessened as
I got more stings; but 30 years later, I had learned so much BEE BEHAVIOR that
I was not getting stung very often and my developed immunity titer lost its
volume from lack of use. Then I suddenly got a bunch of stings, and my body
could not handle it. My choice was to continually pay allergist charges for
venom shots, or get stung myself by my bees on purpose FREE.  My wife of 54
years is diabetic and takes insulin shots to stay alive, so why can't I get
stung every day and continue enjoying studying beekeeping procedures with my
100+ colonies?
      There are other examples of this same body response, e.g. a charter boat
fishing captain, out on Chesapeake Bay 12-14 hours every day, never gets
sunburned.
      I repeat, most local DOCTORS know very little about bee stings (JUST GET
RID OF BEES), and most allergists are definitely not well informed about bee
stings.
If you ever have breathing problems a few minute after a sting, locate an
allergist who specializes in bee sting therapy.  If you were bitten by a
rattle snake, surely you would find a doctor who specialized in snake bite
therapy.  Why not a specialist in bee sting therapy - there are not on every
street corner, but they are out there.
     I have said enough, probably too much, as usual, but a strong nectar flow
is on, so I have to run out to my home apiary and "supervise" my Carniolans.
                                                                                        George Imirie