What A Day

Well, I got stung again. This time I was getting carts from the parking lot at the store and saw a bee buzzing around so I walked away as quickly as possible to no avail. It got me right behind the ear and it hurt like hell. I walked into the store and got my epipen from the Managers’ office, I keep one in his desk, and gave myself the shot.

I let someone know about what happened and went back into the office to sit down. As soon as I hit the chair I started shaking uncontrollably. This has never happened before and, as I was also sweating so much ,I started to hyperventilate. I couldn’t catch my breath for my life. I asked someone for some water and as they brought me the bottle I put it to my mouth and was shaking so much I think I chipped my tooth on the top of it. Our pharmacist brought me 50 mg. of Benedryl syrup and I drank that but couldn’t stop shaking. She told someone to call 911, as we weren’t sure if the shaking and loss of breath was from the Epinephrine or a reaction to the sting. You never want to take the chance so I can’t complain.

When EMS got there they asked me to get on the stretcher, and as I got up I remember asking Paul, our Grocery Manager, where I put my glasses. I kept feeling around the desk for them until I realized that I was wearing them. They helped me to the stretcher and as I was laying down on it I noticed that I was starting to cry. I don’t know why but the tears were rolling down my cheeks. I truly knew I was going to be all right but I was a bit more concerned than usual because like I said before, I’ve never had the shaking and sweating like this before.

Once in the ambulance, they hooked me up to a couple different drips. I have no idea what they were and started taking my vitals. I can’t explain the feeling of embarrassment I felt. I just felt so foolish about the whole thing. I know it’s not my fault but I couldn’t help but feel I could have avoided this whole thing somehow. I know the Benedryl was kicking in and my breathing started to get back to normal. And again, I knew I was going to be all right. They took me to the hospital and put me in a room. Let me say this about the EMS guys. Absolute professionals, they did a great job and made sure I was as comfortable as possible.

The concern in the hospital seemed to be why I was sweating so much. I was freezing but my shirt was drenched. They put some monitors on me and kept the drips going until they were sure I was ok. I got home and pretty much slept the day away.
It’s now the following morning and I still feel a little dizzy. I’m alright and I’m hoping the down feeling goes away soon. I’m working today and it’s Christmas Eve. Even though I’m Jewish it’s still one of my favorite days to work on. My next mission is to find a way to stay away from the bees. I’ll have to study up on getting my immunity system a little stronger against the venom. We’ll have to see what happens

What's A Guy To Do?

I came home from work the other day and took Lucky out back for a few minutes and came upstairs to change. As I was taking my shirt off I felt a little pinch on my cheek and rubbed it a bit. It started to hurt pretty bad, not really hurt, it was like when you get fiberglass foam on you. It was tingling and really started to bother me.

I splashed some cold water on my cheek and started rubbing it while looking in the mirror to see what was going on. I think it was at this point that I started to feel that familiar feeling that’s happened so many times in the last two years. My thoughts were confirmed when I saw the bite on my cheek and noticed the swelling had started.

I went and got my epipen and shot that into my thigh and started going down the stairs to get some ice. I heard Maegan down there and yelled to her that I had been stung. As she tells it, it was more like one long slur instead of words but she eventually got it and hung up the phone. We got the ice and I came back upstairs to take my Benedryl cocktail. I then buttoned down for an evening of groggy bliss.

My left cheek swelled to the point that people thought I had some chew in there. Friday night it felt like my teeth on that side were being pulled out. It was only after a few beers that the pain subsided. I was really surprised how much it hurt. I was out with friends and probably should have just come home but I go out so seldom that I really wanted to stay.

I was taking ibuprofen and that was really effective for the pain during the day and I would do the Benedryl thing at night. The problem with the Benedryl is how groggy it left me during the day. I wonder if the venom has something to do with that?

It’s now Monday morning and I’ve shaved for the first time since Thursday. The bite is still visible and it’s still swollen. It doesn’t hurt like it did and I’ll keep taking ibuprofen until the swelling is gone. I didn’t take any Benedryl last night because I have to work today and I was groggy all day yesterday. I have to think clearly today, as I have to work.

There has got to be something in my chemistry that attracts these things. Being allergic is one thing but ask yourself when the last time you were stung by a bee. I can bet that it is nowhere near the frequency that I do. Maybe it’s my sweat or something that I give off that attracts them but it’s pretty ridiculous. I’ve looked on the web to see if there is anything I can take or do to help but it looks like I’m just flat out of luck.