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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:
mummymayhem18 · 21/08/2023 17:04

I think as it's been at least a few hours and he hasn't gotten worse then he's I would of thought ok. Should t least take an antihistamine though.

almostoverthehill · 21/08/2023 17:18

Do you really need to ask FFS 🤦🏻‍♀️

NewNextOfKin · 21/08/2023 17:28

I once had an allergic reaction to a sting come up after two days. Seems it can be delayed.

HelpMeGetThrough · 21/08/2023 17:32

I've had an allergic reaction to a spider. My hand did go a fine shade of red and I had one of those itches you just couldn't scratch.

Original poster
Wokeuptired · 21/08/2023 17:43

Eventually found him, his mouth now feels fine but I will talk to him a bit later as he has an unrelated incident at the beach that we are now dealing with.
Bloody men!

OP posts:
Carpediemmakeitcount · 21/08/2023 17:46

His tongue sounds fine if he's had a to do.

BrownBoxes · 21/08/2023 17:46

He may be okay now but this reaction is a warning and he needs to get an EpiPen and carry it with him from now on.

A colleague's husband died 5 minutes after being stung by a wasp. He was just sitting on the sofa at home with the patio doors open one warm September afternoon. No previous signs of allergy. Fit healthy guy in his forties. The ambulance didn't get there in time. He left a wife and two young kids. It was devastating.

It's serious and people die every year.

TenderDandelions · 21/08/2023 17:46

Ironically, since I typed my last reply I've realised that the bite I felt last night has suddenly started swelling on me! Elbow is currently very red and warm and swollen.

But, because I don't have a swelling in my mouth or airways, 111 online tells me to go to a pharmacy. I've popped an antihistamine instead, as I'm sure that's all they'd tell me to do, and I'll keep an eye on it.

Fizzadora · 21/08/2023 17:52

Deathbyfluffy · 21/08/2023 15:07

Repatriation? The OP mentions calling 111, so I assume they're in the UK.

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Ah right. Missed that. He's still a stupid twat.

Luciansmum6 · 21/08/2023 17:53

Call 999 insist he gets seen. He could be having swelling on the brain making him act like a knob

Dramatic · 21/08/2023 17:55

Wokeuptired · 21/08/2023 17:43

Eventually found him, his mouth now feels fine but I will talk to him a bit later as he has an unrelated incident at the beach that we are now dealing with.
Bloody men!

Ok my nosiness has overtaken me, what happened at the beach?

beachbitch · 21/08/2023 17:55

Ask him if he would take your DC to hospital if they had the same reaction. If so, why would he not do the same for himself ? Men are truly a mystery sometimes 🙄

Distantbells789 · 21/08/2023 17:56

NettleTea · 21/08/2023 16:14

this is not strictly true. Allergies are strange things. He may not have an anaphylactic reaction, which yes, would be pretty quick and usually why those around you are trained to use the epipen, but it sounds as if he is having a systemic reaction, which is a pre-cursor to later anaphylactis.

I had this when stung within a few months. First on my hand, which was a bit painful. Then about 9 months later again on the hand. About an hour later my lips started to swell up, and I felt wierd. I was taken to the nearest hospital and on the way it felt as if I had strapped a bottle of poppers to my nose. I ended up on a drip and had an overnight stay until I had stabilised. Epipens then for years.

Move on about 15years I got stung again. Nothing much happened. A couple of years later stung again and a slightly systemic reaction. Dr referred me to a specialist unit to do a therapy which would involve a gradual exposure of toxin to rid me of the allergy, but a blood test showed that it had gone, and that it wasnt uncommon as I had not been exposed for such a long time and had also given birth twice, which can sometimes change things. He couldnt promise that it wouldnt come back, but at least for now Im in the clear, and would be likely to have a systematic reaction before anything major.

OP your husband is a dick. If airways are swelling then you dont mess around. It can be a slow progression, it really all depends on how his body decides to react, and that can be really unpredictable

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I agree that you can’t really predict the way the reaction will go. Severe anaphylaxis can take place very rapidly but twice now I have had a reaction where I felt strange and had redness and severe swelling tracking up a leg and an arm (separate occasions) over three days. Antihistamines didn’t touch it. I needed a strong dose of steroids and abs to calm it all down. And the steroids made me feel very odd indeed. The point is, you shouldn’t take chances where swelling of the nose and mouth are concerned.

JudgeAnderson · 21/08/2023 17:57

OP I really feel for you, he's created a very stressful day for you by the sounds of it.

IcakethereforeIam · 21/08/2023 17:58

@TenderDandelions if it's an infection, you should probably get antibiotics. Does that entail a doctor visit or can you get them from pharmacists now?

SirVixofVixHall · 21/08/2023 17:58

GingerIsBest · 21/08/2023 15:50

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.

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The later swelling is usually infection, wasps can carry a hefty bacterial load, they crawl over carrion as they feed meaty things, eg animals, insects , to the larvae. So you are being injected with bacteria when they sting and infection is common.

SleepyRich · 21/08/2023 18:01

Paramedic here, lips and eyelid/orbit can swell in a mild allergic reaction as this is the thinnest skin, you're right normal treatment is antihistamine like piriton and wouldn't call 111 in this instance as they'll panic and send an ambulance. Going to a local pharmacy would be a good plan but sounds like he preferred to wait it out.... Personally I would have gratefully taken a piriton!

Any sudden server worsening, tight chest/difficulty breathing, wheezy breathing, difficulty with swallow, swelling within mouth would be concerned via anaphalxis and don't spend any time second guessing or debating that's 999/attend a&e direct if you're close by and know where to go (anaphalxis is a cat1 response should be in 7mins if you're in a populated area but typically upto 15mins, longer if you're rural so I'd always advise making own way if you know you can be their quickly) .

Nanny0gg · 21/08/2023 18:14

He sounds like a liability!

BlastedIce · 21/08/2023 18:20

Georgiepud · 21/08/2023 16:09

Thank you for backing me up. It is scaremongering to say otherwise.
My son was treated at A & E in Newton Abbot after a serious football injury in July. They provide urgent care and refer on if worried. There are others in Devon and Cornwall.

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So much scaremongering on MN! Utter nonsense!

DonttouchthatLarry · 21/08/2023 18:24

My husband was stung during the first lock down and had anaphylaxis. I was going to drive him the 30 mins to A&E as he was struggling to breathe but then he had vomiting and diarrhea so I called 999. His breathing was much better in the 30 mins it took for the paramedics to arrive and I apologised for wasting their time but they said he still needed to go to hospital for observation for 3-4 hours as there was a chance symptoms could return. He now carries epipens (most of the time 🙄).

jazzhands84 · 21/08/2023 18:31

Perhaps start calling him your 'first husband' if he's not going to take sensible advice to seek medical attention....

Hibiscrubbed · 21/08/2023 18:31

will talk to him a bit later as he has an unrelated incident at the beach that we are now dealing with

What the bloody hell has happened now?

NowItsSpring · 21/08/2023 18:33

My DH is allergic to wasp stings and gets a lot of swelling - think hand like a boxing glove after a sting there. As a minimum he needs to take antihistamines and a lot higher dose than for hayfever etc. Pharmacist will advise. He has had to go to A&E on occasions when his breathing has been affected, eg after a sting on his head or if he has more than one sting in a summer season.

Justhereforaibu1 · 21/08/2023 18:40

Keep us updated OP

Dontworryrelax · 21/08/2023 18:41

Take an antihistamine before anything else and see what happens.