How to make a bee sting lose its puffiness?

[TallBill]

Yesterday while playing football i FELL on a bee while making a play. The stinger was all the way in my arm when i pulled the bee out. I still have like a 4 inch welt on my arm now.

 

[vi edit]

Ice?

 

[Viper GTS]

Aspirin.

Get it wet, hold it against the sting.

Viper GTS

 

[kassy]

Stings are alkaline and can be neutralised by vinegar or lemon juice.
If you're far from home, apply mud; as it dries, it will draw out some of the toxin.

 

[Moonbeam]

Make sure you don't get stung again especially on the neck. The swelling can close off your wind pipe. also some people can go into anaphylactic shock and die. I know. I guess that's why I kept bees for a while.

Sounds like your are somewhat allergic. It can be worce a second time, so maybe don't bee alone if you get stung again for a while so somebody's there to get help.

A bee dies to sting you leaving his guts behind encluding the poison pumping gland so you need to get the stinger out as fast as possible using a swiping action like with a credit card. If you grab the sack and stinger between your fingers you squeeze more poison into the wound.

From the net:

Large local reactions are much more extensive; a sting in the finger may produce swelling in the wrist or entire forearm. Treat with an ice compress and in time the swelling will be reduced. In some cases antihistamines may be recommended by your doctor for large local reactions. If you have a large local reaction, caution is necessary as many people develop systemic or generalized reactions with future stings.

 

[911paramedic]

If it was yesterday, forget about trying to denature the toxin, it has been absorbed long ago and now you have the residual effect. Just ice the area, and watch it to make sure (you said it was about 4" already which is pretty big...) you don't get cellulitis from it. Watch the red area to make sure it does not get too big, it will feel very hot to the touch as well.

The welt (wheal) is probably warm to the touch already, just watch it to make sure it does not keep getting larger. Cellulitis will have to be treated by a doctor.

 

[TallBill]

well, it was all the way in.. cuz i fell on it. there was a lot of poison pumping going on.

btw, my sister had to go to the hospital after being stung

 

[TallBill]

yeah, the area is a little red.. and a little hot to touch.. its really not a huge puff, but it itches, and if i push down in the middle, the skin stays depressed.

 

[guyver01]

you can always try to suck out the poison

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: bob970
yeah, the area is a little red.. and a little hot to touch.. its really not a huge puff, but it itches, and if i push down in the middle, the skin stays depressed.

That is called "pitting edema", there is more fluid between the cells/tissues than there should be. Should only be there for a day or two.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

My mom used to do this:

take some tobacco (1/2 cigarette) and wet it down. hold to sting for while.


really takes away the hurt, but I am not sure if it will reduce swelling.



ps. the stinger may still be inside your arm.

 

[Howard]

Time for amputation...

 

[amdskip]

Cut an onion in half and rub the onion over it. I've always done this and it works great!

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Ice ice baby....

Vanilla Ice, RN

 

[linster]

I second the vinegar treatment. It worked great for my uncle recently.