A bee stung my...

[Running Mommy]

UGH! Just seeing that gives me the willies!! Yeah, it was one of THOSE!!

Sorry for the thread hijack!

[latelatebloomer]

There is a "weed" called "plaintain that grows in most unsprayed lawns and vacant lots.* As a kid, you probably shot the little dried flower heads in the air for fun. One indian name for it is "white man's footprint" because it quickly appears wherever soil has been disturbed. It is GREAT for stings. I got chin-stung last week on a ride, pulled the bike over to the first lawn I passed, pulled a leaf, chewed it a bit, and rubbed it on the sting. The sting ebbed and was a minor itch in minutes. If I can find a good picture, I'll post it.

*Hmm, I'm talking about the east coast. Don't know about the deserts, etc.

[bikerchick68]

oooh... hurts huh? I was out riding one day and felt a trickle of sweat in my cleavage... pushed in with my jersey to absorb it and YOW! WASN'T sweat tickling but little bee feet... well, little SMASHED bee feet... I was with my brother, and screeched to a stop on my bike, screaming like a banshee... jersey off over the head, bike stuff flying out the pockets... completely stopped traffic... must've been pretty funny to see some cyclist disrobing while hopping around by the side of the road...

I had not been stung before and had no idea if I was allergic so he insisted on following behind me so he could keep an eye on me then entire way home... I think he just wanted to draft...

glad you're OK Susan... it was bad enough between the "boo-bees" as the ladies here kindly dubbed them after my write up... can't imagine having one in my mouth

[ladyfish]

I rode with my son to a bike rodeo for his Cub Scout Pack in June. While he was doing the rodeo stuff, I felt something biting my leg. I grabbed it, and thought it was a tick. It hurt, but I didn't think much about it. It started itching too. Luckily my DH was picking us up because I didn't want my son riding in the dark.

Leg got swollen, and was warm to the touch at the point of the bite. My husband said it wasn't a tick, because they don't hurt when they try to latch on. Leg continued to get red and warm to touch--then the red tentacles started spreading out from the wound.

Time to go to the doctor!!! I still never figured out what bit me, but I had to take antibiotics and it continued to itch and be swollen and uncomfortable for several days.

I sure hope that doesn't happen again! Wish I knew what bit me!!!

[corrine]

I was riding my bike in Rock Creek Park and came up on the backside of a bee that ended up stinging me on the edge of my nostril. My eyes watered so much I could barely see. My husband didn't have much sympathy for me and wouldn't listen to me whine. I got a few minutes break and then it was back on the bikes. It was bad enough on my nose - I am very glad it wasn't my mouth!

[aka_kim]

All these stories make me realize it's been a few years since my last bee sting while riding, so I must be overdue ... My more interesting stings (from about ... hmm, 7 or 8 incidents):

While on a 25 mph downhill a wasp flew right at my jersey zipper. I felt it crawling around inside my jersey, then sting #1. I unzip about half way and start patting around but continue riding ... sting #2. Then it crawls around to my back as I claw away at my jersey and yell bad words ... stings 3 and 4. By then I finally wise up and stop, and almost remove my jersey. Problem is, I don't wear a sports bra, so passing motorists probably got a good laugh from the crazed, partially undressed, flat-chested cyclist doing odd things along the side of the road.

Two years ago while riding through a park I was stung on the finger by "something", probably a yellow jacket, that hurt like hell - more than any sting or bite ever did before. Never having had any type of allergic or swelling reaction to stings I didn't think much about the ring on that finger. An hour later I got home and removed my gloves to find that the finger was already so swollen I couldn't remove the ring. Ice packs did little to help the swelling, and I woke up that night to find the ring was starting to cut into my finger, which resembled a hot dog more than a finger at this point. The next day my doctor cut off the ring and prescribed antibiotics, but it took nearly a week for my finger to return to normal size. Now I know - bite or sting on finger, remove ring at once!

[newfsmith]

I was prepared with Benadryl Allergy, Advil (another anti-inflammatory), and the Prednisone all on hand! No problems at all with that sting....but BOY! was I sleepy!
But anyway...if your swelling's down, you may want to confirm that with your DR and/or pharmacist.
Regina

I don't know human medicine at all, but in dogs we are very careful to never use NSAID's (Advil being one) and steroids (Prednisone) at the same time because both can cause GI bleeding, and together they almost guarentee it. Please be sure to get your MD's OK before taking Advil and Prednisone on the same day. In dogs we want at least 3 days between.

[Susan Otcenas]

I don't know human medicine at all, but in dogs we are very careful to never use NSAID's (Advil being one) and steroids (Prednisone) at the same time because both can cause GI bleeding, and together they almost guarentee it. Please be sure to get your MD's OK before taking Advil and Prednisone on the same day. In dogs we want at least 3 days between.

That's interesting because I asked the doc about what I should take for the throbbing (since the prednisone was just for the swelling). And he said ibuprofen (Advil), 800mg. I did that only the 1st day, as by the end of the day the prednisone had done it's job on the swelling and I didn't hurt anymore.

As a side note - the prednisone seems to have done wonders for my neck. I have terrible neck issues, which had been particularly bad the past two weeks. Cycling, regrettably exacerbates it (my recumbent friends are trying to woo me to the dark side, but I digress...) Since starting the prednisone,my neck has felt soooo much better.

So, how irresponsible of me would it be to quit taking the remainder of my prednisone, and keep it for my realy bad neck days??

Susan (who is apparently hijacking her own thread!)

[mary9761]

There is a "weed" called "plaintain that grows in most unsprayed lawns and vacant lots.* As a kid, you probably shot the little dried flower heads in the air for fun. One indian name for it is "white man's footprint" because it quickly appears wherever soil has been disturbed. It is GREAT for stings. I got chin-stung last week on a ride, pulled the bike over to the first lawn I passed, pulled a leaf, chewed it a bit, and rubbed it on the sting. The sting ebbed and was a minor itch in minutes. If I can find a good picture, I'll post it.

*Hmm, I'm talking about the east coast. Don't know about the deserts, etc.

How's this?

[Running Mommy]

Susan-
Prednisone is a tricky creature.. Your suppose to taper yourself off of it. I was on it one year while mary training and had some funky reactions when I ran while taking it, so I wanted to stop cold turkey. My doctor was adamant that I taper off of it as she had prescribed.And my cousin- who has every health issues known to man- so also had a history with it- agreed. So i did the step down does thing.. Not fn. Personally I hate that stuff. My body did not play nice with it..

[7rider]

It was my doctor also who handed me ibuprofen while calling in a prescription to the pharmacy for the prednisone.
Granted, it was 2 pills and that was the end of it....
Perhaps long-term might cause problems....but my doctor (and Susan's from the sounds of it) didn't seem overly concerned about that.

[Susan Otcenas]

My doctor was adamant that I taper off of it as she had prescribed.And my cousin- who has every health issues known to man- so also had a history with it- agreed. (

The prescription was written with a taper. 4 days of 3 pills, 4 days of 2, and 4 days of 1. So, I guess I will be a good girl and take as prescribed. I'll enjoy my pain-free neck while it lasts!

Susan

[7rider]

Susan-
Prednisone is a tricky creature.. Your suppose to taper yourself off of it. I was on it one year while mary training and had some funky reactions when I ran while taking it, so I wanted to stop cold turkey. My doctor was adamant that I taper off of it as she had prescribed.And my cousin- who has every health issues known to man- so also had a history with it- agreed. So i did the step down does thing.. Not fn. Personally I hate that stuff. My body did not play nice with it..

How long were you on prednisone???
Sounds like a long time.

[Dianyla]

The prescription was written with a taper. 4 days of 3 pills, 4 days of 2, and 4 days of 1. So, I guess I will be a good girl and take as prescribed. I'll enjoy my pain-free neck while it lasts!

Yep, definitely do the taper thing. But then go back and tell this to your doctor - maybe you can get a local cortisone shot for your neck to help with inflammation?

[Duck on Wheels]

I used to keep bees. Until I developed an allergy. First big allergy reaction was when I got stung through the beehat veil -- right in the middle of my upper lip. It swoll up to the point of my having trouble breathing. Goose egg size, or maybe even baseball (not softball, though, luckily). I looked like a cross between Daffy Duck and Mick Jagger. I thought it was to save me embarrassment that the ER staff let me right in with no wait, but there could also have been good medical reasons for that. They REALLY turned sympathetic when I filled out the patient card. It was my birthday. And I was alone -- DH in India, daughter in the mountains, in-laws possibly dropping in expecting cake.

Now I keep an adrenalin injection kit with me when biking. Thanks for reminding me why. Sorry for your pain, though!