Of course I would get a bee sting on my LE arm and not the other

Options
hugz4u
hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
edited June 2016 in Lymphedema

hi all,sorry I have posted in a while.soooooo I was gardening yesterdayand I am pretty sure I got a baby bumble bee sting. It only hurt slightly for 5 min and hasn't swelled,

I can't even see the stinger but it was something black round and fuzzy that came at me. Probably not a wasp which is the other possibility. I washed and dressed it.just wondering if I will create a bigger problem by having the doc go for a dig to get the stinger sac out.i don't want cellulitis ( no flu like symptomsbut digging could make it worst. Going to doc in the morn.its on the top of my shoulder just above my sleeve band.i need to be an indoor girl.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited May 2016

    Sorry to hear that, hugz. I hope it turns out to be a total non-event (beyond the sting). Don't let bc and/or LE deprive you of the pleasures of gardening! Hugz back to you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2016

    Hugz, being an indoor girl is too depressing to contemplate--don't even think about it!

    On the other hand, once these things happen we have to weigh all these impossible strategies for dealing with them. So, how smart is your doctor about LE? Do you trust him to be able to consider the situation as a whole? If not, maybe check in with a LE therapist first.

    Do you see or feel a stinger? Might not be one there at all, in which case digging around would be pretty awful. If there is something to be dug around after, your doctor will hopefully use best practices for avoiding infection. If the digging turns out to be extensive (which I can't actually imagine, but stranger things have happened), then ask about having an oral antibiotic on hand.

    As for simply controlling swelling that might be a reaction to either the sting or the doctor's efforts, you know the drill: stay well hydrated, deep breathing, elevate a lot, do some gentle self-MLD, and use compression carefully. (Chocolate too, of course--goes without saying.) Sigh!

    Do keep us posted, please! Be well, and gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited May 2016

    Yes I do have a new doctor that listens to me about LE. I'll try and text my therapist to and hopefully get a answer before I go to doc in morn. Yup got the drill down, just got to increase my lebed opening cause I suck at Mld and can't do it right. The sting is above compression sleeve band so I've been wearing my sleeve, I do feel a tiny bump and want to leave it alone but am wondering if that stinger sac will empty one day causing cellulitis. Only God knows for sure

    Thanks Binney for a quick reply

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited May 2016

    doc can't see stinger. Said put bacitracin on it not polysporin and watch. Also to try hot water soak on it to see if anything pops out.I requested keflex 500mg incase I develop cellulitis and cant get to emerg asap. She gave prescription which is good because I'm travelling to bug country this summer and need it for emerg.

    Reminder. Do we all have our antibiotic just in case prescription filled. Very wise to

    Thx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2016

    Hugz, you have a really good team there, and it sounds like wait-and-watch is a good plan for now (however frustrating!!!) Might review the infection information so you're clear on what you're looking for. It's here:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...

    Ah, Lebed! Works better for me than self-MLD. Just have to turn the sound way down so she doesn't drive me nuts.

    Great reminder on the oral antibiotics! And it pays to check the expiration date if you already have some on hand, too.

    Please keep us posted! Hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited May 2016

    great I'll go in to stepup, yes will keep all posted.so busy these days,retired last year but seemed to pick up extra time consuming things to overfill the gap.

    Yah that Lebeds music is so irritating.once when I went camping I videoed my own lebeds to tai chi music and birds tweeting in background.was beautiful but had to delete .it took up too much G

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited May 2016

    Hi hugz,, hope you are doing better!! What a great idea to record your own music to the Lebed,, I find it annoying too,, and those pasted on smiles,,,, that one blonde woman,,, holey moley,, I can't watch her.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited June 2016

    didn't get the stinger out but it doesn't look red any more but there is a tiny bump. I'm thinking one day the cellulitis beast may bite me there.good thing it's on the shoulder up high I guess. Watching it like hawk,and dressing it still. Why do bees love me.i don't even wear bright colours outside when gardening.BTW. My desire is to learn beekepping. How silly is that

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paintThesky
    paintThesky Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2016

    Glad you are doing ok! I got stung last year, and got cellulitis. It was the straw for me, my LE got much worse after that. Do be careful when you are working outdoors! ;)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories