Hi all,
This is my first post on here, I’m just looking for some advice/ if anyone has had any similar experiences re allergic reactions. I’m unsure if I have an insect allergy- I’ve been stung by a wasp/bee several times during my life and each time the reaction has become worse than the one before. When I was a young child, I was stung by a wasp and my body was really swollen after it and I couldn’t walk on my leg for about 2 weeks after it. I know swelling is normal however it was as if I had a grapefruit under my skin, it was really big. I never had any breathing problems or hives so my parents put it down to a bad reaction but not an allergic one. Since then, I’ve been stung a couple of times and the swelling has been worse each time- the last time I was stung on my arm and my face swelled up pretty quickly, aswell as having red itchy skin. I tried to ignore it (stupid I know!) however it wasnt getting better so I attended A&E- by this point my lips and eyelids were swollen. I didn’t require any epipens or adrenaline because I could breath perfectly well although it felt as if I had a really itchy/tickly cough which appeared from nowhere. It took about 2 weeks but it eventually came down and my face returned to normal, however it was scary as I’ve never had swelling like that. I’ve never had any sort of breathing problems after being stung, which obviously is the hallmark of a severe allergic reaction, but my concern is that the reaction is getting worse each time I’m stung and I’m scared about what will happen next time, especially if my face is now swelling up when I’m stung. Last time when my face/neck/arms swelled up, I felt like I had a tickle in my throat and chest but it couldn’t have been that bad as I know that a severe allergic reaction will leave the person unable to breath, but I definitely feel like my body is reacting worse each time and I’m scared about what the next sting will result in.
I’ve been to the GP a while ago and was told my body is slightly intolerant but it’s not a full-serious allergy however I’m now living terrified about insects and being stung because I know my face will swell up and become itchy and I’m scared the reaction is worse next time. If it makes any difference, I never used to have hayfever/pet hair intolerances but that’s definitely worsened as I’ve gotten older, but I’m not concerned about those as they never cause swelling on itchiness in the same way as the insect stings seem to.
Does anyone have any advice or had anything similar? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, I want to be able to sit in the garden in summer without being terrified anytime I hear an insect nearby!