Stings and Bites

[slugcatcher]

Last year before I had my plot I was hospitalised when I got bitten or stung by something on my chest, that I had an allergic reaction to and got a rash that spread rapidly.
The doctor said it was celulitice (sorry about the spelling)
So after this they told me I was more likely to be affected again.
When I got my allotment I asked about one of these Epipens that have adrenalin in them for self injection.
Yes I had to use it the other day. (and boy does it make you jump)
I was bitten on my adams apple and it swelled and spread quickly.
I used the pen and it seems to have work very well 2 days later it has gone down and is feeling better.

Reason for this post is for any one else that may be liable to an adverse effect from anything like bites stings or even cuts when in the soil, should see about getting one of these pens, I didn't want another 4 days in hospital, on drips.

Sorry its so long

Ron

[slugcatcher]

[Tulipa]

I am so glad you had the epipen for your bite.  I have used a dummy one and I am sure they hurt, they have quite a force behind them don't they as they are designed to go through thick jeans.

I have wondered about one myself as twice last year I had a huge reaction to a bite or sting, the second time it was a bee went up my jeans and my leg was very swollen.  It seems a lot more people react to these things these days.

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you're leg swelled that's a'normal' reaction toa bee sting, i can't comment on the others. If you ever have a generalised reaction to a bee or wasp sting - coming out in hives, turning seriously faint, anything like that, that's the time to get an epipen. The two use different poisons so it would be highly unusual for anyone to be allergic to both.

[Mrs Ava]

I keep piriton handy at all times, due to daughters severe egg allergy, and because I come up in a burn like rash whenever I am stung by nettles, and the sap from certain plants.

[SpeedyMango]

When I got my allotment I asked about one of these Epipens that have insulin in them for self injection.
Yes I had to use it the other day. (and boy does it make you jump)

I think (hope) you mean adrenalin, not insulin? Insulin is for diabetics, and if you stick yourself with an epipen full of insulin and you're not diabetic, you're likely to kill yourself.

Glad to hear yours works though - I have a few friends with nut and other allergies that carry them around - I've never seen them have to use one but it's good to know they work!

[slugcatcher]

My apologies SpeedyMango you are quite right, I should never have written about it until I had woken up proper, thanks for pointing it out

Ron

[rosebud]

Ron do you have to get the pen on prescription??

[slugcatcher]

yes rosebud you do but if you have had a reaction to anything in the past you will get one.

Ron

[slugcatcher]

Speedy Mango I have edited the thread thanks again for bringing it to my attention

Ron

[SpeedyMango]

That'll confuse anyone reading the thread from the top!  ;D ;D

I was just a little worried that someone might think that a friend's insulin pen would work for anaphylactic shock. Not that it's likely to happen, but you never know...

[BAGGY]

Anyone got a remedy for nettle stings?  I know you can vinegar a wasp sting and use bicarbonate soda on a bee sting (vinegar = vasp, bicarb = bee)but wondered if there was something that could be used that does not come from a chemist.  I am a cub scout leader and we are not allowed to apply anything chemical so to speak.  Even plasters, savlon etc are a no no.  Also a remedy for red ant stings would be good.  There is only so much the magic packet of frozen peas or a damp flannel can cure before they get wise.  Boys will be boys and building camps in the woods has it's hazards. ::)

[honeybee]

Baggy to relieve  nettle stings, the best method ive always found, taught to me by my dear old mum, and forty years on, i am still using it. ;)
Select a big dock leaf-the biggest that you can find, and crack it a couple of times and rub the back of the leaf onto the nettle sting.
It does a great job, and brings almost immediate relief. :)

We get terribly stung when we ride the bikes on the canal, so i usually gather a couple of dock leafs on the trip, just in case, to have at the ready.

Good luck :)

[Roy Bham UK]

:-\ I wonder if you can take cuttings or buy seeds in great quantity to plant/sow around the perimeter fence of our lotties ??? ;D

[BAGGY]

I know the dock leaf trick and it does work well.  last time out with the kids they were using what they thought were dock leaves which turned out to be horse raddish - pooh.  Just need the ant sting remedy now.