Bee sting

[honeydew44]

Earlier today I stepped on a bee or a wasp while barefoot in the garden. I don't know which it was but I'm presuming it was one of the two as I was stepping over some plants that I've seen them on regularly this summer. It really hurts! At the time it was intense, typical sting pain for about 10 minutes then it calmed down. But now about 4 hours later the sole of my foot feels very sore, possible soreness spreading to the ankle too. I have looked thoroughly and can't see a sting or even a mark left there but my god it hurts! Am I being a baby? I haven't been stung in years so I've forgot how it's meant to feel 🙈
No allergy symptoms, just painful to walk on. Is there anything I should do? Dh being very eye rolley and unsympathetic which is nice...

If it's a wasp sting you put vinegar on it. For a bee it's ammonia I think.

Though he might be more eye rolly when you reek of vinegar OP 😊

Really not sure which it was. It's so sore I'm paranoid the sting is still in there but I can't see or feel anything. Would it be obvious?

I honestly don't know, I've never been stung. My cat has though and one of her feet swelled up to around 3 or 4 times its normal size. The vet searched all over for a sting and couldn't find a mark on her. I wonder whether the sting might not have gone right into you? Though you'd think you would still see a red mark on the skin. I'm not sure what to suggest other than the vinegar etc...

Have you tried an ice pack?

Now I've looked closer I can see a tiny pin prick mark but still no sign of a stinger so hopefully there's nothing nasty stuck in there. Bloody summer!

You'd think if there was anything in there you'd see it as being a bit darker. Like a splinter. Hopefully it will get better on its own. 111 maybe if it gets a lot worse?

I was stung on the foot a few years ago. It took a good 12hrs to stop hurting like a B, and the swelling remained for a day or two. The sting was left in mine and it was like a black thorn - very noticeable. I was able to pull it out with my fingers - not like the size of a splinter you have to dig for.

Elevate it and keep off your feet if you can. Apply antihistamine cream and an ice pack if needed.

No stinger means it was more likely a wasp - therefore, vinegar, lemon or any acidig substance to neutralise the acid, though by now it may be a bit late for that.

Not many bees sting and live to tell the tale, most get their guts ripped out in the process as the stinger sticks under your skin - wasps get to keep theirs, so are far more stabby in general.

*acidic

It's been a long day...

Rub a cut up onion on it. (For wasp stings) got told this by the bloke who removes our frequent wasp nests!

Bee and wasp stings hurt like fuck.

Remember bicarbonate on bee stings and vinegar for vasps!

DD was stung twice recently after a bee flew up her skirt, it looked like a tiny red pin prick

Bee stings are barbed so tend to stay in, and kill the bee in the process. Wasp stings are not barbed so stay with the wasp to user again. So if you have a red mark but no sting then it's probably a wasp.

As others have said, Ammonia - Bee, Vinegar - Wasp

Ice pack and antihistamine (it will help with any swelling).

The acid/alkaline thing is generally considered to be an old wives tale. I’m allergic so feel your pain.

Unless we're talking bumblebees. They don't have barbs, either.

Same thing happened to me recently.

Toe swelled up to 4 times the size and the redness spread to my ankle over a period of 5 days.

Then gradually started to get better

Took 12 days for it to go back to normal

I elevated leg, applied ice packs, anthestimane and ibuprofen for 4 days and ended up having antibiotics too. (By the time I got the antibiotics the redness had started to decline anyway)

I was stung by a wasp the other day - they don't leave their stings behind. Hurt for a good 24 hours. I think it depends on the location - mine was the underside of my arm so quite a sensitive spot.

The vinegar thing does work. I’ve been stung twice by wasps. One was in my bed and stung me on the back. As I swatted the jaggy arsed bastard away his arse broke and left the sting I my back which kept sending an agonising pulse into my back with each movement. I was about 16 and my mum rubbed cotton wool with vinegar over the sting, the sting came out and it was instant relief. Another tile I got stung on the neck at the bus stop, when I put my hand up a wasp fell out of my hair. Again vinegar stopped it hurting. I hope your foot is better soon.

What you’re describing is a totally normal reaction to a bee or wasp sting. Some people get a more noticeable local reaction than others (I’m one of them, so I sympathise!) but it’s not unusual. Last time I got stung it was really bloody sore and my whole upper arm swelled up and I had a red, itchy patch for a week. Whereas when my DP got stung, he basically just got a small red bump that disappeared in 48 hours.

Ignore any advice to put stuff like vinegar or bicarb on it. It doesn’t do anything and NHS specifically tells you not to.

Your best bet is an ice pack and keeping your foot elevated to ease swelling. Antihistamine might help too, and/or ibuprofen for the inflammation. Hang in there! A foot is a rotten place to get stung - you poor thing.

Me too! Exact same circumstances, too! We are bee twins.

Brought me to my knees. I could feel the pain in my bones, I swear it. I haven't been stung since I was a child so I forgot how painful it is.