Wasp sting - swollen & painful again weeks later

[Moonchild5]

Hi, I was stung by a wasp about 2 weeks ago. Hand swelled like a ballon was really painful. I felt tired & weak afterwards as well. Phoned nhs told me to take anti histamine & put hydrocortisone cream on it which I day. It’s gradually subsided over a week. Was still aware of the sting still had a slight itch/throb.
yesterday i woke up & it was really itchy & some bumps appeared after scratching it. Went away a while after i stopped. Took an anti histamine & put cream on it. Today I’ve woken up & it’s painful & swollen, also itchy again. I feel like I’ve been stung all over again but the swelling isn’t as bad. I’ve took annother annti histamine & put cream on it angain. Anyone had this happen or do I need to anything? Is this normal? I’ve never been stung by one before. I just never expected it to get worse weeks later.

It needs seeing if it’s still reacting 2 weeks later

Following as the same thing is happening to me. I've never reacted to a wasp sting before. Hope you get sorted.

This is how it looks just now. Will need to phone doctors at 8 tomorrow all the appointments will be gone now

When you prod the sting site can you feel any lump that could be some stinger remnants? Wasps don't lose stingers like bees but wonder if that's what's happened. It does look red though and like could need antibiotics. If you think there might still be a bit of stinger in there I would go to a Minor Injuries Unit over GP as they may be able to dig it out using a needle, etc.
Is the redness spreading? I would draw around it with a pen to keep an eye on it, if spreading then should have antibiotics.

It’s raised where I was stung where that brown dot is, always has been since I was stung. My arms now red as well. I’m going to phone the doctors when I’m home shortly I am quite worried.

Also the wasp was sat on my hand when it stung me I went to hit it away & noticed the stinger in my hand I had to pull it out. The wasp landed on my daughters blanket & was still crawling about

It looks and sounds like cellulitis which requires antibiotics.

If it hasn't gone down this time with antihistamines then yes seek medical advice

Definitely will since I noticed redness on my arm as well. Looked up cellulitis symptoms & my skin is tight & glossy as well so will get seen today even if I need to phone nhs if doctors don’t have any appointments left which I doubt they will

Based on latest photos I think you definitely need antibiotics but should have a proper review to make sure tablets are okay and don't need any potential stinger bits excising.
Where are you in UK? As bank holiday in England so would need to ring 111 or access walk ins (check they are open first!)

Scotland, doctors are open but need to phone before 10 to get same day appointment but I’ll phone anyway. I think I may still have something inside

I’ve been to the doctors & they’ve prescribed an antibiotic to be on the safe side

That is good service! Did you say you were worried about cellulitis? Receptionists do seem to find appts for certain buzzwords haha.
Hope the antibiotics sort it out, and even if any stinger still in it will work it's way out as the infection and inflammation settle down 🤞🏻

No but I told them I had phoned NHS when I first got stung & that they told me to phone the GP if it got any worse. I’ve noticed that they’ve always gave me an appointment if it’s something that really does need seen that day. It’s so itchy it’s unreal I’ve never felt anything like it

This is my hand now theres an obvious red circle on my hand now was more patchy earlier trying my hardest not to scratch it might need to put a glove on it’s driving me mad

Any chance it was a hornet rather than a wasp? That can last 10 days but should slowly get better.

I would get it checked.

I saw it quite closely as it was crawling on my daughters blanket after I was stung looked more like a wasp but it got better after a few days now got worse after just over 2 weeks now. It’s hurting my bones/muscles & my hand feels hot inside now

try an ice pack on it

That looks very painful OP, but good that you have antibiotics. However from your above quote, I think it's more likely a bee than a wasp. Wasps don't lose their sting, and unless you swotted it, they don't tend to crawl around after stinging, but fly off PDQ! Whereas bees do lose their sting, and then crawl around because they die soon after losing their sting (the ivy bee is easily mistaken for a wasp).

Agree it sounds like a bee. Stings take ages to go down on me and tend to be okay for a few days and then flare up. Sympathies as I know how much they hurt and itch. If you get anymore symptoms go back to the Dr and ask them to rule out serum sickness.

It was definitely a wasp. It was longer & skinnier than a bee. I’ve been stung by a bee before but never a wasp. I swatted it as it was stinging me because I noticed it was on my hand so I think it’s detached as I’ve done that. It looked like it was dying off when it landed on the blanket. I pulled a large needle looking thing out & had a gel like substance on it.

Another vote for an ice pack. I tend to react to bites and find ice really helpful. If you can keep your arm elevated where possible too that will also help.