BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?

Subject: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 03:52 AM

8 days ago I got stung 22 times when I stepped on a ground nest of hornets (yellowjackets). I did the proper first aid, but all 22 hornets died. Then I did the proper first aid on me. IT helped for a while, but yesterday, one week later, the pain and itching became very intense and both legs started swelling.

I went to the doctor (he's fine, by the way). He decided I'm still having an alergic reaction to the poisen and I also have developed infections. He is treating me for those.

But, after trying all the tricks in my quiver, I can'e stop the intense skin itching. It's very, very bad.

Here's what I've tried: Cortozone 1% ointment, baking soda paste, all of the world's skin cremes, vinegar, 70% Isopropyl alcohol, and probably other things I don't remember.

Any ideas? Bob (still scratching in Seattle) Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: I don't know
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 04:09 AM

try aloe vera cream

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 04:54 AM

Have you tried antihistamines, both topically and in tablet form? If the itching is an allergic reaction they might help.

If, however it is like an eczema, then you probably want a stronger steroid cream, like Diprosalic or Synalar-C. Those are UK names and they are prescription only over here.

Ask the quack again.

The juice of an aloe vera plant might well help but probably not for long at a time.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 04:59 AM

Deck, try Aluminium Sulphate, it will help. Always best to talk to the doctor first though.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:09 AM

Give household ammonia a shot. I know it works well as first aid immediately after a bite or sting. Whether it'll work in your situation? You'll just have to try it to find out.

And ice packs couldn't hurt. Itching, inflamation, and localized skin temperature increase are all inter-related. Ice will help cool the skin temperature and decrease the inflamation which should help with the itching.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Monique
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 07:07 AM

I'd use green clay poultice to be replaced as soon as it gets somewhat hot.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:51 AM

Sudocrem is good. Thick, very greasy...chemists or supermarkets keep it. It certainly won't harm...and it'll heal the dryness which may follow the itching and infection.

I hope you feel better really soon. It must be awful for you.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:59 AM

Bob,

I had something similar happen last spring. I didn't see what stung me, it was just under the edge of my pants leg, but it stung like the dickens and then after a week the infection set in and that's what itched. I had an antibiotic for the infection and just had to live with the itch as it subsided. But I agree with others - taking Benedryl is probably your best bet or another antihistamine (if you can stay awake on the stuff).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:12 AM

Now I know what caused the infection. If those damned kritters had just cleaned their needles with alcohol BEFORE they injected me, I probably wouldn't be fighting an infection! %*%#%$%*^*% bugs. bob

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:29 AM

Get thee to a dermatologist.

Your condition sound serious. I believe it deserves a specialist.

If the bites are infected, I don't think you want to be using salves and ointments, because they will block access to the air, which I have always understood to be helpful in killing infections. (Just a thought.)

I do like BWL's ice idea. But how long can you keep doing that?

I'm sorry to hear about the incident, Bob, and I hope you get better soon.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:37 AM

Calamine lotion (zinc oxide (ZnO) with about 0.5% ferric oxide)works for some itches. It may be worth a try?

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:47 AM

Benadryl makes a cream that works pretty well. There's probably a generic version (diphenhydramine), BUT with that many stings, the oral stuff may be better. Decide whether you'd rather be dopey or itchy.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: olddude
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:59 AM

White Vinegar, it always works for me on those dang things

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 11:03 AM

Even after 8 days?

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Bert
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 12:50 PM

Try self hypnosis.

Tell yourself it doesn't really hurt, it's all in the mind

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 01:18 PM

The last time I tried self hypnosis ... I woke up married!

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Megan L
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 01:22 PM

I knew there would be a sting in the tale

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:14 PM

I'm definatly improving now. I tried many of the fixes you suggested, and I'll you my results. But first let me say that I think the reason my TERRIBLE ITCHING is going away is because the meds the doctor gave me are starting to kick in. It was interesting: after the steriod and the anti infection drug started working, each individual hornet sting became visible. I had four different clusters of hornets on four different parts of my legs and ankles.

Now, as to the suggested fixes:

Alcohol didn't do anything.
Epson salts didn't either.
A slurry of baking soda and water helped a little, but only briefly.
What seemed to help the most was a serious, and repeated, slathering of pure Aloe Vera sunburn jelly. I'm still using it and likely will all night.

I appreciate every one of your suggestions. Hopefully this thread will help others in the future. KITTOS, bob(deckman)nelson ... still hiding indoors in the Seattle area!

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:38 PM

Ice. I "suffer from itch" (the quaint medical phrase for We don't know why you itch so badly) and really, ice is the best. I have a lot of those soft keep-in-the-freezer things, and a lot of sandwich-sized ziplock bags, and have slept with ice - just double-bag the baggies or you wake up all wet half the time.

I have tried ALL the anti-itch creams, drugs, and mental therapies, and ice is really the answer.

But I agree with the above that you should hie thee to a better doctor, or at least a different one.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: GUEST,Mark-s(on the road)
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:04 PM

Deckman
In all seriousness - and I know from personal experience.
The allergic reaction will only get worse in the event of an encore performance. You are risking something nasty called anaphalactic shock.
In Summer months (particularly in Fall), I carry a nifty gaget called an Epipen - an epinephrin auto-injector. Its got so bad with me that a sting on an extremity leads to a doctor visit and a sting on the neck or shoulders leads to a trip to the ER.
You need at least:
A scrip for decreasing dose steroids taken over a period of a week
A scrip for (and excuse the spelling here and above) Flocinonide cream - another steroid.
Finally:
Always look before working in the garden or lifting anything in the woods, etc. You will develope an instinct for caution.
AND - declare war on the little yellow bastards. Find the nest if you see any of them - follow them to ground - and let somebody else deal with them.
Believe me, brother 'catter, this could be worth your life.
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:32 PM

Thanks for the tips. I've already had a bug guy out here. He's going to capture them, alive, as soon as the weather cools. He sells them to the medical lab for money and they turn them into anti-venom. I learned a lot from meeting with him. bob

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 11:18 PM

We had to spray three nests which showed up in our front yard. I would also suggest witch hazel for the itching, but I also second the ice. The other thing which helps itching, at least from chicken pox, is a blow dryer set on cool. Worked with all three of my kids.

The other thing I would use immediately, but it's not too late even now, is iodine. Just use a cotton ball or q-tip and dab it on each sting. It will kill germs without suffocating the skin/healing process. I had a vet recommend it to me as a first aid for any critters injured, though cut with water. I never use an antibiotic as it does suffocate the healing process as someone said up thread.

Get better!:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:09 AM

Mark, I think he described both drugs (steroid and antibiotic) already.

The sting I had (lucky it was just one, probably a Texas yellow jacket) did the same thing - the doctor said the stinger had a bacteria on it that resulted in the infection a week or so after the sting. The steroid helps with the itching and they can also give an Rx cream (I've had that for poison ivy along with the steroid shot). The third episode from that stupid sting was that after the powerful antibiotics had been in my system for a while I developed a yeast infection (ask Judy, Bob, if you need more information) and had to treat that with Diflucan(sp?). All from one sting a month earlier. It was a pain in the arse, literally. I seem to recall when the infection stage was there they gave me a steroid shot along with the oral meds.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 02:29 AM

Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, put it directly on the sting. It will draw the poison out! if you do it on a bee sting, it will draw out the stinger, as well!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Max Johnson
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 11:30 AM

Are hornets related to wasps? If so, please don't apply ammonia to a hornet sting. Ammonia works on bee stings. For wasp stings you want vinegar.

Of course, neither will do anything for an infection, they just alleviate the pain of the sting.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Bert
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 09:47 PM

One thing that helps prevent being stung, is to talk nicely to them. So if they bug you on your picnic just say "hi there waspy, want a bit of bread and jam" and they will often let you hand feed them.

Of course that doesn't help if you've just stepped on their nest.

Subject: RE: BS: HELP ... Hornet stings ?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 11:51 PM

Bert ... there's really a LOT of truth in this. I learned a lot from the bug guy I had come look at things. He explained that hornets/yellow jackets, bees, wasps are all just like us ... social creatures and they live a close family life. They all have their respective jobs to do. There are the workers, the defenders, the queens, probably republicans and democrats if you look closely enough. Of course my stepping on their kingdon caused quite a dissruption. bob