Wasp sting

[Justwingingit2005]

Hey
After some reassurance or head wobbling....
I got to 46 without a sting then got one on Monday and one Tuesday, walked dog by a brewing wasp nest. Both stings are near each other.
Leg has a red itchy area around 10cms.
Taking cetirizine and GP today have me antibiotics as 'wasp stings can be dirty'.
Here's my worry. I think the reaction area looks large, but I was stung twice. I'm worried as someone said each time your stung you reactive more and could be life threatening.
I love walking but since it happened I'm not I have to walk my dog but I hate it now I'm constantly checking for wasps.....
Please talk some sense into me....

I got stung a few weeks (second time in my life -55yr old) Leg swelled pretty impressively. I got a cortisone cream from the pharmacy and took an antihistamine. She told me if it got bigger I would need to see a dr - it did slightly but felt ok and then it took about a week to go down. Chances of getting stung again sp quickly are slim. Take the dog out and be vigilant . Just think you have been unlucky . Goodluck

I was stung with 5 stings from one wasp and had anaphylactic shock. It really was a shock. I carry EpiPens now. You just need to watch out for them. Maybe take some antihistamines with you.

I get a big swelling reaction from wasp stings, but the reaction when I was 25 is the same as when I was stung 2 weeks ago. Antihistamine tablets and anthisan cream both help a lot. And don’t panic about it - I’ve gone 20 something years between stings.

I got stung in Greece on my thigh.

The reaction was impressive!

We stopped at a Taberna to ask about nearest pharmacy and they put vinegar on it!!! It actually works to my amazement!

(the Taberna staff - not the pharmacist! They gave me antihistamine cream!£

I’m allergic to wasp venom and the reactions got worse each time, as you say. I now have an EpiPen and take it, and antihistamines, everywhere with me in the summer and autumn. Last sting took me to hospital.

I made it to my late 40s too before I was stung, then had 5 stings at the same time.

Also dogs off lead in woods that disturbed a nest and came back covered in wasps.

Vinegar gives a lot of relief, house smelt like a chippie that night with both me and a hairy Labrador dotted with vinegar 🤣

You have a large local reaction it’s not spread, that’s normal for two stings. Also, that "every sting gets worse" thing is not true for everyone, your risk of a severe reaction next time is still incredibly low. Your GP is just being sensible with antibiotics because wasps are scavengers.

Make sure you don’t wear any perfume or strong smelling hair products such as hair spray while walking your dog as that will draw wasps to you. Other than that you should be fine.

Wasp stings are actually quite nasty and do swell badly.

An allergy to wasp stings is relatively rare but the swelling from a wasp sting is dramatic enough to look like an allergy.

I was stung years ago - 30 years or so - by a wasp in October! It was on my finger and my whole arm swelled very rapidly and I freaked out (was in my mid-20s). In those days you could call your GP surgery for an on-call GP to come out in an emergency (imagine that!)-? and he gave me an antihistamine injection! Took a good few days to go down and it felt quite tender as well.
Ive been nervous of being stung again in case I get another bad reaction. I thought I had developed an allergy as had been stung in past and been ok.