What can i do about a bee sting? I got stung yesturday on my arm. My whole arm is swollen and it hurts real bad. I don't have any Medical Ins so if anyone knows any home remedies please let me know.
2006-11-11 00:54:24 · 17 answers · asked by dj 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
* STEP 1: Remove the stinger as soon as possible. Use your fingers, tweezers - whatever works best.
* STEP 2: Wash the site with soap and water, or clean it with alcohol.
* STEP 3: Put ice or a cool, wet compress on the inflamed area.
* STEP 4: Soothe the inflammation with a paste made from baking soda and water. Apply calamine lotion to help relieve itching and pain.
Tips & Warnings
* There are many home remedies for bee stings. They include sprinkling meat tenderizer on the sting area, using a slice of raw onion and using papaya slices.
* If you have a history of severe reactions to bee stings, or if you start feeling lightheaded, break out in hives, have nausea or vomiting, begin coughing and wheezing, or have other respiratory problems, seek medical attention immediately. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
2006-11-11 00:59:03 · answer #1 · answered by sandrao_0 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ok- here's the deal:
If it is swollen and hurts bad- you NEED to go to the emergency room. Sorry about the lack of Med insurance, but this is life threatening, as you may be allergic. Guess what- if you are, you will need an epipen for future just in case.
If the stinger is still there, scrape it out using a stiff card- cue cards or credit cards work great. DO NOT USE TWEEZERS. Honestly- people, if you don't know for sure, don't say it!!!
Tweezers will squeeze the remaining poison from the stinger into your arm. Judging on your symptoms, you are allergic, and that could cause you to go into anaphylactic shock. NOT pretty, and definately extremely life threatening.
As for what you can do until you get to the emergency room like you NEED TO DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE- take benadryll or other antihistamine. This may take some swelling down, but not much.
The onion trick works as well- you can use the onion or vinegar even to lessen the swelling and dissolve any of the stinger that is too far down to scrape out.
Now, I will reiterate that you NEED to see a doctor. Elevating your arm will send more poison to the rest of your body- and again, judging by your description of the problem, that will be definately NOT good.
I know it sucks not having medical insurance, but this is one of those situations where you will have to figure out how to pay for it (thank God I live in Canada... we don't have to worry about that...), and it is imperative that you go as soon as possible.
Sorry for being the bearer of bad news, but well... this is a necessary thing.
2006-11-11 03:44:16 · answer #2 · answered by kiwi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was it truly a bee or a wasp?
Stingers of the bee needs to be removed ASAP as the stinger keeps pumping venom even though the bee has fallen away.
Course,if you were stung yesterday and the stinger should still be there,by now it has probably done all of the venom disperseal it is going to do but I'd take it out anyway.
Benadryl is a great idea,so is the baking soda idea and so it the ice pack and elevation idea.
2006-11-12 03:33:02 · answer #3 · answered by Just Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a reaction to a bee sting. You'e lucky your throat didn;t swell up and kill you. Still can happen.
Benedryl tablets are part of the antihistimine treatment. Normally the doc would provide a fast acting shot.
2006-11-11 01:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to tell you this- But as a veteran of many stings, I've never had a whole limb swell. Go to the emergency room.
Next time, try a paste of salt, vinegar, and baking soda to draw the poison out. Immediately.
2006-11-11 10:05:30 · answer #5 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is normal for it to swell with pain and some heat in it. A bees stinger is very contaminated with bacteria and germs, that is what causes the reaction of swelling and such. Take Benadryl. This will last for up to 3 days then it should be gone. Good luck.
2006-11-11 01:25:16 · answer #6 · answered by btyboo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
even if you dont have health insurance get to a hospital if it causing severve swelling and painful, bee stings usually are only sore for an hour or so.... you must be having a severe allergic reaction. for pain take a tylenol or Ibprofin it also helps with imflamation
2006-11-11 01:01:58 · answer #7 · answered by VEE 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Benedryle for the swelling. Remove the stinger if it left it in you.I am not a doctor though. When i get stung thats what i do.
2006-11-11 00:59:12 · answer #8 · answered by kindaworried 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take benedryl. It will help reduce the reaction you are having and some advil to reduce the inflamation and pain. You can also try putting an ice pack on it. But wrap a towel around it first.
2006-11-11 00:58:14 · answer #9 · answered by Beam274 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
alrite....take an onion and rub it gently on to the stung portion...see... the sting which remains in the body will come out a little and then with a pick pull it out...only then the pain and swelling will ease....
2006-11-11 00:58:56 · answer #10 · answered by Spirit of ~^Spirituality^~ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋