topic Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝 in Community Chat

Yellow Jacket 🐝

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 20:43:53 GMT

A few days ago I disturbed some yellow jackets that were in an old lawn chair on my side porch. They swarmed me and stung me in several places. I googled what to do and after a day the pain subsided. Then the itching started , it went away , but now it is back with a vengeance. Is there something that will help, or do I need a prescription ? I've never been stung before, so this is new territory. TIA.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

Azcowgirl — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 20:53:19 GMT

Did you try Benadryl? Late summer early fall they tend to be more active and aggressive. Hope you get relief.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

ceekay — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:02:30 GMT

@QVCkitty1 - try making a paste with baking soda and water and plaster it on for a little while (15-30 minutes). You can also make a paste using meat tenderizer and water. I have found both work. Hydrocortisone cream should also work. I got chased through my yard by a herd of angry ground wasps a few years ago - I must have looked like a cartoon running around. Good luck, I know the stings can be painful.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

fthunt — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:02:37 GMT

Bet I won't be the only person expecting to see a Recent on Air = Jacket in yellow (period)

Motto: don't bug the bugs.........(dots).........and they won't bug you.

(get some burn spray at the drug store. it eliminates (stove type) burns immediately.

Soothing Aloe

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

AuntG — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:34:13 GMT

The sting I got last year kept itching long after the pain subsided.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

qbetzforreal — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:41:47 GMT

Benadryl, but it might make you sleepy.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

cindyNC — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:51:21 GMT

I itch like fury when I get bit by bugs. My dermatologist told me to take Zyertec for 3 days after being bitten. It does help with the itching. And helps me sleep better at night.

Hope you are better soon!

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:53:50 GMT

@cindyNC wrote:
I itch like fury when I get bit by bugs. My dermatologist told me to take Zyertec for 3 days after being bitten. It does help with the itching. And helps me sleep better at night.

Hope you are better soon!

@cindyNC , Thanks , this itching is horrible, it is almost as bad as when I had an allergic reaction to Bactrin. I will try anything.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 21:56:49 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
Bet I won't be the only person expecting to see a Recent on Air = Jacket in yellow (period)

Motto: don't bug the bugs.........(dots).........and they won't bug you.
(get some burn spray at the drug store. it eliminates (stove type) burns immediately.
Soothing Aloe

@fthunt @If I knew those little @#$&* we're there I wouldn't have gone near them. They are nasty critters.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

Still Raining — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 22:53:08 GMT

They are nasty business!

Ice and hydrocortisone might help.

They go after fur babies too, so take care.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

Lilysmom — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:02:48 GMT

@QVCkitty1 , we use vinegar (white). Takes the sting away and no itching. LM

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

Buffalogal47 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:31:30 GMT

Try Benadryl ointment or gel. That works better than hydrocortisone for the itch caused by insect bites or stings and it makes the swelling go down too.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

songbird — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 16:49:01 GMT

Yellow Jackets are bikers of the bee world. Though they aren't bees, but wasps. I always use Aloe. We have the plant at home. I was only stung once, walking across the lawn. I stepped on a yellow jacket nest. One flew up my pants leg. The rest swarmed. I ran inside and slammed the screen door on them. But I was in time. I sat in a bath for a while, then smeared the Aloe.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 14:40:24 GMT

Well it took a little over a week, but the itching finally subsided . It's weird because two days ago it was so bad, itching, swelling, etc. and this morning I'm almost back to normal. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I must be weird, because nothing I tried worked , just time.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

SharkE — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 19:36:46 GMT

I mowed over a ground nest of some kind of horse fly. Forgot about it after awhile then red spot showed up and fang marks still there. Went to a dermatologist thinking I had skin cancer (LOL) he did a biopsy, sent it off came back "bite from noxious venom" then it dawned on me 'a horse fly'?

Still have marks on upper arm.

Common pests can take a chunk out of arm.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

KatieB — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:09:04 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
A few days ago I disturbed some yellow jackets that were in an old lawn chair on my side porch. They swarmed me and stung me in several places. I googled what to do and after a day the pain subsided. Then the itching started , it went away , but now it is back with a vengeance. Is there something that will help, or do I need a prescription ? I've never been stung before, so this is new territory. TIA.

I had it in my mind that baking soda paste would take it away, so I googled it to make sure.... this is what was stated:

Mix a spoonful of baking soda with water, and then apply with a cotton swab or ball to the yellow jacket sting to help neutralize the venom. Use vinegar to reduce itching. Simple vinegar can act as an astringent and keep you from clawing at the bite, which could lead to further infection or inflammation.

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

candyagain — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:35:13 GMT

You have my sympathy, I was yellow jacket swarmed too. About 30 bites. A hurricane was approaching and I was moving things from the backyard into the basement. One of the items I wanted to bring in was a chimney brush for the wood stove that hadn't been needed for a year or so. Well, there was a nest in the brush and the little devils went after me!

My first total instinct was to go to water....we have a very shallow creek in the back (2 inche sof water on a rainy day...) luckily I realized that wouldn't help. I ran up to the front door to escape the swarm, pulling wasps out of my hair between my fingers. They followed me all the way. I was quick but at least four or five made it into the house. Got them all but one with an electric buzz zapper and a rolled up newspaper.....one of them went up to the top of my cathedral ceiling and dived bombed me coming down rear end stinger first and bit my on my chest through a t shirt. Like a cartoon bee!

Luckily I'd not gone into the basement with the swarm as my young daughter and I had to shelter in there during the hurricane for 5 or 6 hours. Very worried, it was a strong storm so tough to get emergency aid.

I was afraid that I'd have a severe allergic reaction but I just felt achey and uncomfortable. I used vinegar to calm the stings right after and the next few days. I was also a daily Claritin user which helped. Claritin is good for hives.

I had the same delayed itchy-stingy reaction as you did after that day. The venom was still in my system and working its way out as swelling went down. I was under an allergist's care so went to see that doctor. Luckily, all was well. I had an epi pen for awhile in case the event had set me up for a stronger reaction if future bee/wasp stings in future. I don't carry it anymore.

Scary event! Not a common occurence tho' . I'm glad you're feeling better!

Re: Yellow Jacket 🐝

Spurt — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 22:01:25 GMT

@QVCkitty1

If there is redness and swelling go to a doctor you need antibiotics.....