ouch!

[asciibaron]

got stung yesterday on the end of a finger, now that finger and most of my hand is swollen.  man this is painful.  i've never had a reaction like this.  i'm thinking of using gloves from now on.

[kathyp]

different places seem to give different reactions.  i wear gloves because i always swell up like that, but some places like the wrist are really bad. 

[Irwin]

I know what you mean Kathy got stung on the inside of my wrist the other day boy did it burn like I got hit with a branding iron. Never had one burn like that before

[Cindi]

Ascilibaron, ouch, ya, know what you mean.  I have had a sting on the tip of a finger once, and it really hurt.  I think that this time of year the bee stings hurt more, no clue why, but yes, a sting in September....have that most awesome day, love and live it with great health.  Cindi

[Creamhorses]

Got pinned on the forehead after saving an ungreatful lady & a few of her friends from the tray under the screened bottom of one hive.  I don't [DIDN'T] wear gear for such  a thing, but may re-think that after still feeling the effects from yesterday.  She was on a mission from the get-go.

I need to find out how the bees are gettiing on that tray. 

[David LaFerney]

I wear gloves so much at work that I'm used to them - can open a pocket knife or use a camera - so I just don't see any reason not to wear them most of the time.  Everybody always says that they can't do anything with gloves on, but they just take getting used to.

[sc-bee]

>got stung yesterday on the end of a finger, now that finger and most of my hand is swollen.  man this is painful.  i've never had a reaction like this.  i'm thinking of using gloves from now on.

That happened the first few stings I took on hands and fingers ---- now hardly any swelling @ all. Maybe a few more stings and you may be over it???

[asciibaron]

the swelling is mostly gone now - when my finger was swollen, i could see the puncture marks from the two stings on the same finger last season.  i didn't realize how scarred up my fingers were, the swelling highlights the "flaws"

i don't wear gloves because i fear i will be too aggressive with the bees and the gloves would only enable more violent handling of them.  i got stung because i was not moving in a deliberate manner and allowed a bee to get between my hand and the handle of the bee brush.  it also was the result of not planning out what i was going to do with the frames of honey as i removed them from the super which was still on the hive.

i need to refine my process for removing the supers.  any suggestions on getting the frames of honey off the hive?  my "one at a time" method leaves much to be desired - i'm basically carrying it to the house and brushing the remaining bees off as i go.  there has to be a better way.

[NasalSponge]

Try a bee escape http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Escape-Screen/productinfo/774/ .

[Creamhorses]

I don't think that's what I want....I'm happy with the screened bottom board and the slide out tray beneath it. It looks like the bee escape is an alternative to what I have.
 I need to find out how the bees are getting through the screen.....maybe it has a rip in it.  If so, it's gonna have to wait a week or two.  I was just in that hive a few minutes ago.

Thnx

Dave

[kathyp]

I need to find out how the bees are getting through the screen.....

they may be crawling under if they smell any syrup or honey drips.  mine can get under in the back easily.  i have to watch it when i pull the slider out or i end up with bees in my face.

[Creamhorses]

That's exctly wht happened to me.  There were 4-5 in there today....but I was looking through a veil, and spuddered some unmentionable as they flew away.  No pinger in that crew.

What is this deal where I'm supposed to get stung once or twice a week....supposed to ward off the IRS or some foolishmess?  Anti-bodies or a new cure for something?  :^)

My neighbor Beek got hit 50 + times last week.....he just stood there and grinned when he told me....I picked my lower jaw off my belt and left. 

[melliphile]

You have to keep up with the stinging to reduce the inflamatory reaction.  I would think 2-3 stings a week would do that, but I don't usually get stung on hive visits.  Besides the reputed health benefits of bee venom, the tolerance to stings is important to me so that my hands don't swell up like sausages if I get stung on the finger  .  I now sting myself to acquire this resistance.  Stinging on the bicep seems work since they are not extremely sensitive and it is easy to self administer with tweezers. One sting a day, alternating arms, for a week, should reduce the acute swelling from a sting to almost nothing, perhaps just a small wheal. 

[sc-bee]

Stinging on the bicep seems work since they are not extremely sensitive and it is easy to self administer with tweezers. One sting a day, alternating arms, for a week, should reduce the acute swelling from a sting to almost nothing, perhaps just a small wheal.  

I choose to go natural ! Never had a problem getting a few stings.

[kathyp]

some people do build up a tolerance to stings.  others don't or even get worse.  over the years i have stayed the same.  lots of swelling, heat, itching, but not death.  i'll live with that and carry the benadryl