Are You Allergic To Bee Stings?
It seems everyone I speak to thinks they're allergic to bee stings! What they then go on to describe is a normal reaction to a sting!
There are people who get anaphylaxis from bee stings. This is a severe and potentially life threatening allergic reaction. Thankfully this is relatively rare. If you know you have this reaction, you probably already carry an epi pen, and you'd be a fool to go anywhere near bees! NHS Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Likewise, any sting inside the mouth or throat is particularly dangerous due to the swelling - dial 999 immediately.
When a bee stings you, it pushes a barbed stinger into your skin. This has two tiny venom sacks at the top, that pump the venom (even after the bee has gone!)
Often the bee is unable to pull the stinger out of your skin, and it ends up pulling it's insides out instead. This is why people say a bee dies after it stings you. It will run round and round in circles trying to get the stinger out before resorting to this!
So it stings! It's painful for about 60 seconds, then it fades. To be honest, it's the surprise of the sudden sting, more than the actual pain!
If you're very quick, you can remove the stinger before the venom sacks pump too much into you. So speed is the essence.
DO NOT pinch the stinger out - this will simply squeeze the venom into you! Instead scrape it out with a finger nail, or something with a sharp edge like a bank card. To be honest, speed is more important than the right tool!
If you're quick, you end up with a sting, and perhaps a little heat and swelling near to the sting. If you leave the stinger in, you get the full amount of venon, and the after affects of the sting, the swelling and itching, are far worse than the sting itself!
This swelling, redness and itching for up to a week afterwards, is normal. It doesn't mean you're any more allergic to bee stings than anyone else!
Where you get stung also determines how uncomfortable it is! The nose, tips of the fingers, and anywhere near your eyes are particularly uncomfortable.
Incidentally, as a beekeeper, I get used to being stung. At the start of the season I swell up and itch just like everyone else. But as the season progresses I get less and less reaction. It still stings just as much! But the swelling and itching doesn't happen!