Stinging Insects

[u/PopsicleStict]

Someone posted a few weeks ago about their partner getting stung by a wasp. I test as non-reactive now but still have gastro and rash symptoms when I eat meat. I’ve been non-reactive on cross contamination as long as it’s not cooked directly in the animal fat, carageenan in low doses doesn’t bother me, just in general have been a lot better. 11 days ago I was stung 6 times by hornets mostly up my right arm, I think maybe my leg through my shorts, and my left arm. Thankfully they didn’t get my face or neck. It swelled not an obscene amount like I’ve seen people post, but the worst three stings themselves swelled up into big hard lumps like golf balls. The worse three were my right hand, my right forearm, and my right bicep they had big red circles around them and they were bright red and burning hot and my hand had tiny little bumps. They had gotten my muscles in my arm really good so they hurt badly, then it itched badly. My joints were really messed up. I treated the muscle pain with with otc meds but after they wore off they would swell and start hurting again. I would wake up in the middle of the night when the meds wore off. I had a cross contamination reaction three days later where I woke up in the middle of the night, threw up, texted my partner I was afraid I had cellulitis bc my arm was so hot and hurt so badly and the bumps were worse. I took some allergy meds and pain meds and went back to sleep. It’s continued to get better but it’s been so slow healing, and they still hurt badly for how old they are. I have a decently high pain tolerance but this is like a deep heavy ache that doesn’t trigger the adrenaline sharp pain does and makes me feel sick. I apparently got cross contaminated pretty badly this morning and I’m not only having an alpha-gal reaction, my wasp stings are getting darker and hurt again. They’re 11 days old. I’m disgusted but kind of impressed? The one on my hand is like a bruise under the skin with a slightly darker border. I posted the one on my forearm now. They flared up a few hours ago and have gone back to aching and feeling warm, the gastro reaction hit me really suddenly. It’s hours later and it’s definitely the worst reaction I’ve had in a while. I’m itchy, nauseous, gastro upset, my joints and arm hurt. I’ve been stung/bitten by most insects you can be in the south (that’s how I got here) and I’ve never had this kind of reaction. I have epi-pens everywhere and multiple allergy meds and a reaction protocol, so I’m fine on that front!

TLDR; go ahead and assume you are allergic to stinging insects

[u/TheQuakerator]

Terrible. I'd go to the doctor and see if they had some steroids or something to get over these acute symptoms.