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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Husband has been stung by a wasp

202 replies

Wokeuptired · 21/08/2023 14:52

He was stung in the chest while on a bike ride, his mouth has swollen and said he feels like he has just been to the dentist.
I told him it's not right, his arguement is that it happened an hour ago, he won't even take an antihistamine but I think we at least need to call 111
Aibu?

OP posts:
MixedTocopherols · 21/08/2023 15:15

Kind of sounds like his judgement is a little bit impaired because why not take an antihistamine?

Original poster
Wokeuptired · 21/08/2023 15:17

He has left for the beach, yes we are in the UK on holiday and the nearest hospital is 13 miles away.

OP posts:
BringOnSummerHolidays · 21/08/2023 15:17

This is not normal. He has a allergic reaction. I got stung last week and it's just a painful rash around the site.

Pluffe · 21/08/2023 15:18

He can’t mess with this. He needs to take the antihistamine and get to hospital immediately. Ds suffers with a severe allergy that involves anaphylaxis and this doesn’t sound good.

Summerslimtime · 21/08/2023 15:20

How ridiculous not to even take the antihistamine.

Davros · 21/08/2023 15:24

Speak to a pharmacist if he won't go anywhere else

GingerIsBest · 21/08/2023 15:26

He's being very silly not to at least take an antihistamine.

I was stung under my toe by a wasp a couple of years ago. No big deal, not my first sting - painful but fine.

The next morning - about 24 hours later, it was really sore and a bit swollen. Irritating, but still fine.

By mid morning I was really feeling uncomfortable and it was a bit more swollen. Sent a picture to my BF. Agreed I should perhaps go to the pharmacist.

2 hours later, it was twice the size, realised I should see a doctor, not a pharmacist. Booked appointment.

By the time I had the appointment at 5pm, the swelling was now up past my ankle.

Doctor wasn't sure if it was an unusual allergic reaction or an infection... so lots and lots of antihistamines AND a big fat dose of antibiotics. I saw her at about 5pm on a Friday... she said if I hadn't come to her she expects I'd have spent a large part of the weekend at A&E.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 21/08/2023 15:27

Men 🙄

Not much you can do though, it’s no better if you are a HCP they still don’t listen.

Merryoldgoat · 21/08/2023 15:28

What is with all of these stupid men?

SapphosRock · 21/08/2023 15:34

Are you with him OP or has he gone to the beach alone?

Would definitely keep an eye on him. What a plonker.

Georgiepud · 21/08/2023 15:35

He surely needs antihistamine at least from the pharmacy, and visit a hospital if he gets any worse.
There are at least 8 A & Es in Devon and Cornwall, not just one major hospital. Also lots of walk in centres attached to health centres.

RosemaryDill · 21/08/2023 15:35

Anaphylaxis isn't always instant and dramatic.
Niece has a nut allergy and ate something with nut in on holiday. She didn't feel ill immediately, went to the beach for a while but started going red, she thought sunburn so came back to hotel. Some 5 hours after eating the nut she collapsed and ended up in hospital.

3luckystars · 21/08/2023 15:35

He is not well enough to make a decision so you have to.

Bring him to the hospital NOW while he can still get into the car.

TheHappyCarrot · 21/08/2023 15:39

So, he's going to wait until his airways are too swollen to breath? That sounds sensible eh?

Clymene · 21/08/2023 15:42

Wokeuptired · 21/08/2023 15:17

He has left for the beach, yes we are in the UK on holiday and the nearest hospital is 13 miles away.

Strong contender for the Darwin Award

Surplus2requirements · 21/08/2023 15:42

He needs watching in case it gets worse but if the symptoms subside he still needs to see a doc ASAP because you usually only get one warning of developing a life threatening allergy.

JFDIYOLO · 21/08/2023 15:43

Do it yourself.

I once came home to find my OH googling 'what should I do about this pain in my chest?'

Most put out when I called an ambulance.

One week stay in hospital, a stent and a lifetime supply of medication later ... a grudging concession that I was right.

A bit of huffing is preferable to the expense and faff of a funeral.

DorasAuntie · 21/08/2023 15:44

If he is still okay now, nothing is likely to happen this time.
I'm allergic to wasp stings. I carry an Epipen.

If he was going to die, it would happen in under 10 minutes- anaphylatic shock. It's that quick.

BUT he needs to report this to his GP when home and get equipped with an Epipen.

ElizabethBest · 21/08/2023 15:47

What a twit. Does he have life insurance? Hmm

horseyhorsey17 · 21/08/2023 15:48

I got stung by a wasp on Saturday and had almost no ill effects, it was just mildly annoying. So it sounds like your husband is having an allergic reaction and at very least he should go to a pharmacy, tell them what happened and see what they say.

Cucucucu · 21/08/2023 15:49

It happened to me twice on holiday , one on the mouth qnd this year in a boob 😂, both girls extremely swollen, a& e only worries if it’s restricting his breathing and only gives piriton , it might still get worse for a couple of days , the boob one hit a lot worse overnight . I’m like your hubby so won’t criticise

GingerIsBest · 21/08/2023 15:50

DorasAuntie · 21/08/2023 15:44

If he is still okay now, nothing is likely to happen this time.
I'm allergic to wasp stings. I carry an Epipen.

If he was going to die, it would happen in under 10 minutes- anaphylatic shock. It's that quick.

BUT he needs to report this to his GP when home and get equipped with an Epipen.

I can't comment on dying, but as per my story above, no, the fact that it didn't happen instantly is not a sign he isn't in need of medical attention. that was what so weird about mine - it was a good 24 hours before any reaction beyond the normal happened. Although it is very likely it was an infection rather than an allergic reaction.

Iwasafool · 21/08/2023 15:51

Andanotherone01 · 21/08/2023 15:11

If you're in Devon or Cornwall you might like to remind him that there is only one major hospital for the two counties.

That isn't true. In Devon we have RD&E, Derriford, Torbay and NDDH in Barnstaple.

BlastedIce · 21/08/2023 15:52

My DHs work colleague had a heart attack last week, after being stung by a wasp.

CrunchyCarrot · 21/08/2023 15:52

He will probably be fine this time, but would be a good idea to take an antihistamine. Next time, maybe not because he could develop anaphylaxis.

One of my delivery drivers was stung like this and got swollen up a lot, he went to a pharmacy and took some strong antihistamines but he said it was already going down.