Stung By A Wasp

So, I was doing an intro 25 mile ride after coming back to my hometown for cooler cycling weather when I got stung. The good news, most of the hills were gone. The bad news, I had 7 miles left to ride - 3 of which was city. I want to ride to Michigan tomorrow and following that, I am doing a charity recovery ride - 10 miles with my Dad - Saturday and a 48 miler out to the lake and back sunday. Blargh.

I realized a stinging feeling as I was on a straight away trying to shift and pick up speed. I was going about 17 mph at the time. I saw it on my shorts. It got me right through the shorts. I was clipped it, so I just dealt with it - it stung me 5 times I realize now. When I stopped, I got it off of me (that was hard). It didn't hurt terribly yet, so instead of calling my father or cousin as a way out, I rode back home. Fastest 7 miles of my life. If I kept it above 17 mph (mainly I think it was cadence), I didn't feel it a too much so I just spun and cried. When I got into town, I HAD to slow down and stop because of traffic. It KILLED. I was sobbing by the time I wobbled back to my house.

I'm now sitting with ice and I took a benadryl. It's VERY VERY red and swollen. How do I get back to normal? Right now it hurts VERY badly. I figure since it got me when I was in the middle of using my leg when it happened, it's like getting a shot when you are tense. Any other ideas?

The reality was that while this route used to KILL me with all the hills, I plowed through it as I have been training on REAL hills. I am in great shape. But man that hurt!

benadryl, ice... and time. sorry you are hurt. 5 stings! OUCH every day it should get alittle better.

Thanks, Trek.

I took a nap (benadry does that!) and it is not AS swollen. I guess only time will tell. It was kind of a freak accident. I really don't know how it happens. lots of ice, though.

A little cortisone cream should help with local swelling too. And it never hurts to take an NSAID to help with tissue inflammation. Benadryl will keep your body from releasing histamine, but the NSAID will deal with the inflammation that's already there.

Ow ow ow ow. Hope it feels better soon.

West tex,

I took some ibuprofen, but it doesn't do jack. I suffer complex migraines and take narcotics for them, so it generally has little effect. The icing as been helpful though. Still swollen, but not as bad.

Was hoping to make it out to Mt. Baldy today, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I still hope to make it up to Michigan tomorrow even if it is just a straight up and back. I didn't get to do the ride last year and I am making it this year, dang it!

Oww. Hopefully it'll feel better soon.

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Originally Posted by colorisnt

West tex,

I took some ibuprofen, but it doesn't do jack. I suffer complex migraines and take narcotics for them, so it generally has little effect. The icing as been helpful though. Still swollen, but not as bad.

Was hoping to make it out to Mt. Baldy today, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I still hope to make it up to Michigan tomorrow even if it is just a straight up and back. I didn't get to do the ride last year and I am making it this year, dang it!

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Sorry to hear that! Even if it doesn't take the pain away, at the very least it should inhibit the pathway in the body that makes inflammation happen.

Here is to hoping that you find something that works and it gets better soon!!!

Owch!!! It is nasty when it is happening and not much fun after. Many symapthetic waves.

I seem to attract wasps and bees so I never ride without chewable benedryl in my under seat bag. I also check the bite as soon as I can get off the bike in case any part of the wasp got left behind and rub it down with a wet wipe while I am chewing the benedryl.

Ice helps as well once I get home.

I don't think there is a solution, either they seek you out or they don't but you hit them flying along peacefully minding their own business and they get irritated and bite. It's like learning to savor the taste of the various bugs you swallow, and another war story.

feel better soon and heal fast.

Yeah, I am pretty sure he just hit me. It wasn't really malicious, but instinctive.

I may travel with benadryl from now on. I *am* going to ride up to Michigan today since it isn't bothering me too much. I can do 39 miles and then do recovery tomorrow. But before I go and ride a 48 mile ride, I would like to do this long one first.

Ouch! I hope you're feeling better.

I've gotten stung a few times while riding. The first was underneath my helmet on my forehead. It got infected and I had to take antibiotics. It felt hot to the touch even days later and the swelling got worse not better.

Not long thereafter, I got stung under my jersey on my back during the last 10 miles of the 160-mile Ride Across Indiana. I was with a woman who had just finished a cross country tour. We were so determined to finish the ride that I remember shoving a Benadryl that she had in her bike bag into my mouth and getting back underway in about a minute's time.

OUCH!!!

I think my throat closed up a little just reading about that. I have to carry an epi-pen with me whenever I ride because I'm allergic to bees/wasps. I would have had to stab myself and then call 911 and get to the hospital STAT with 5 stings. HOLY MOLY- that's a lotta stings!!

SO glad you didn't have a horrible reaction (well, other than the obvious pain and swelling).

You poor thing- I'd probably still be sobbing. You're a tough cookie for riding all the way home!!!:)

Well, I sucked it up and went out on what was supposed to be a 38 mile ride. It ended up being 50 when I ended up in New Buffalo and NOT Three Oaks. I rode a 10 mile ride with my Dad for charity this morning and am riding a 50 tomorrow again, so I think I am okay.

The icing really helped. That and the fact that I have a really high pain threshold, but MAN that hurt!