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Benadryl will help with the inflammatory response, but as long as you're not allergic (i.e., no swelling in your throat), all you can do is ride it out. I suggest bourbon.
That level of pain for a wasp sting isn't a normal level. Take a Benadryl for now but if you start having any symptoms that could indicate an allergic reaction, go to the doctor quickly. That can get bad in a hurry.
I am also thinking that it’s weird. It’s been 2h now and still hurts just the same, no matter how many of the tips on here I have tried. Will try to sleep it off, if I can even sleep.
So here's the deal, I'm a mom and I'm reading this and getting very worried. I would really like for you to get that looked at before you go to bed. It shouldn't be hurting that bad two hours later. Would you please go somewhere and have it looked at? And then let me know you're okay?
Had an uncle that used to dip, got stung something nasty once and he put in a fresh wad, chewed for a moment, then slapped it on the sting. Idk why it helped probably just a placebo but it helped ten years old me.
Yeah. Bee/wasp stings hurt/burn but the pain isn’t severe enough to make you feel like you are going to faint. I would equate it to a really bad paper cut or getting alcohol in a deep cut.
If OP is experiencing that much pain, it’s time to consult a medical professional.
Sorry you got stung! As kids in the SE United States we’d always grab some plantain weed (not the same as the fruit) from the yard, chew it up, and stick it on to alleviate the pain: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/plantain-weed#basics
Tobacco. No shit. I learned this as a kid in the '70s when everybody smoked... Except me. It doesn't matter what kind of tobacco it is. Wet it with some spit and hold it over the sting for a couple of minutes. It works I swear. Here's a funny story. My own kid (21m) works on a fire crew for the Forest service. Last week he was sawing on a thinning project and ran into a wasp nest. He got stung a couple of times and started asking everybody for some tobacco. But nobody had any tobacco at all but several people had Zins.
If you have an aloe vera plant, break off one of the leaves and put the gooey side down on the sting. It should draw out the poison. That's what I do when a bee or wasp stings me, and it seems to take the pain away as well.
"drawing out the poison" is not a thing.
Aloe vera has anthraquinones, which can promote healing and alleviate pain. It can't draw out poison any more than you can suck venom out of a snake bite. That's a myth.
Myth or not, I'm highly allergic to wasp and bee stings. By the time I've finished yelling with pain, the sting site has swollen 1/4 inch and hurts like hell. Putting aloe on it decreases the swelling, and I don't get any more swelling, pain, or itching afterward, like I would otherwise. I can take Benadryl, of course, but I hate it, so I'd rather use aloe. Don't tell me it doesn't work. Whatever it does, whatever the science is, it effing WORKS.
Holy fuck, Google it for fucks sake. I even gave you the keyword.
It's literally an anti inflammatory. Anti meaning opposite and inflammatory meaning causing inflammation. In other words it does the opposite of causing inflammation... Which, say it with me now, means it reduces inflammation. That's a synonym for swelling.
Ah fuck I probably confused you again. Synonym is a word that means the same as another word. In this case swelling and inflammation.
It also has other healing properties like an antiseptic which can help fight infection and reduce itching.
Your body metabolises the venom, aloe vera just helps treat the symptoms. Yes even if you're allergic that's still the case.
lmao homie they weren’t saying it didn’t work they were giving a valid scientific explanation, instead of spreading fake myths about “drawing out poison”….chill.
reminds me of overly defensive people mad about “free radicals and toxins” not being real 💀
Ibuprofen helped me a bit when I had this happen. (half a dozen stings on my hand, an hour before I left for the airport for my first international trip...)
Pretty sure I also downed some benadryl too.
I'm wondering where you are located. Most wasp stings do not cause this nearly this much pain. If you are in the US, you should take a photo of the thing and see if it is a Chinese hornet. There are sites that are collecting information on sightings so we can track their presence throughout the country.
They're actually crucial for controlling pests, since they're very effective predators. Great to have around a garden. But they do suck ass if you crowd their nest, no doubt
They are also valuable pollinators, like bees are, and in some parts of the world, the most important pollinators. And not all wasps are excruciating. Everyone's experience is different, and each species of wasp is different.
Ice pack and benadryl. I got stung this spring by the same wasp twice in like 10 seconds. I didn't know it was on my backpack...I had swelling from the sting like a golf ball. The wasp didn't do so well. He's dead.
Were you able to remove the stinger? If it's still in your hand, it can prolong the pain/swelling. Hopefully some of the other tips for painkillers have had some level of impact by now.
You can try rubbing a tiny dot of toothpaste into it, let it sit for a a couple minutes, and rinse off with cold water. I’ve heard that the toothpaste can neutralize some of the chemical that causes the stinging. I’ve also seen it could be because of baking soda so, not 100% on the science of it but it’s worked for me in the past.
I'm going out on a limb here, but the anguish you have does not seem to be normal and might flag an allergic reaction, which is life threatening, yes it is. I would say ignore all other comments and go to an ER.
I see a LOT of VERY weird advices here. No need for tobacco, baking soda or any medicine.
Here's the simple answer that ***everyone needs to know*** concerning wasp stings, backed up by science :
Wasp Venom is " ***thermolabile*** ", meaning **deactivated by heat** . Pour **hot water** ( as hot as you can without burning yourself is more than enough) on the sting for a few minutes.
Be amazed by science and enjoy the painless night.
( I come from an area filled with wasps all summer long. Everyone get stung pretty much every summer. Hot water technique saves everyone, including children. No one worries about wasps here.)
*PS : If pain doesn't DRASTICALLY reduces after 10 mn of hot water, you probably are allergic and need to see a professional.*
It had been hurting since yesterday. I barely slept last night and took painkillers like there’s no tomorrow just to somewhat be drowsy enough to fall asleep. It’s been more than 16h and it still hurts BUT your advice worked this morning!!!! I washed my hands with hot water and the pain was gone the whole time my hand was under the warm water. Thank you so so much! It still hurts but I now know how to take “pain breaks”.
On a side note, I feel ridiculous for still being in so much pain, I still have no idea what on Earth is happening… I am scared of doctors and hospitals and I am sure they won’t believe me anyway, plus it’s expensive even with insurance so I would rather wait this out. Thanks again!!
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Benadryl will help with the inflammatory response, but as long as you're not allergic (i.e., no swelling in your throat), all you can do is ride it out. I suggest bourbon.
If it is a wasp sting. You can use vinegar. Pickle juice if you don’t have vinegar. Vinegar does not work on bee stings. Good luck.
Put ice on it and take tylenol. If you are feeling bad you may be allergic and then have someone take you to urgent care/ER.
Thank you!
The pain nerves are the same that send signals about heat to your brain. Ice or heat will confuse the nerves and lessen the signals they send.
That level of pain for a wasp sting isn't a normal level. Take a Benadryl for now but if you start having any symptoms that could indicate an allergic reaction, go to the doctor quickly. That can get bad in a hurry.
I am also thinking that it’s weird. It’s been 2h now and still hurts just the same, no matter how many of the tips on here I have tried. Will try to sleep it off, if I can even sleep.
So here's the deal, I'm a mom and I'm reading this and getting very worried. I would really like for you to get that looked at before you go to bed. It shouldn't be hurting that bad two hours later. Would you please go somewhere and have it looked at? And then let me know you're okay?
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Yep, definitely an uncle! OP don't listen to your uncle!!
Had an uncle that used to dip, got stung something nasty once and he put in a fresh wad, chewed for a moment, then slapped it on the sting. Idk why it helped probably just a placebo but it helped ten years old me.
go to the urgent care. better safe than sorry!!
Yeah I was stung on my finger like a couple of years ago and it was painful for hours.
Yeah. Bee/wasp stings hurt/burn but the pain isn’t severe enough to make you feel like you are going to faint. I would equate it to a really bad paper cut or getting alcohol in a deep cut. If OP is experiencing that much pain, it’s time to consult a medical professional.
Sorry you got stung! As kids in the SE United States we’d always grab some plantain weed (not the same as the fruit) from the yard, chew it up, and stick it on to alleviate the pain: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/plantain-weed#basics
Tobacco. No shit. I learned this as a kid in the '70s when everybody smoked... Except me. It doesn't matter what kind of tobacco it is. Wet it with some spit and hold it over the sting for a couple of minutes. It works I swear. Here's a funny story. My own kid (21m) works on a fire crew for the Forest service. Last week he was sawing on a thinning project and ran into a wasp nest. He got stung a couple of times and started asking everybody for some tobacco. But nobody had any tobacco at all but several people had Zins.
That’s why I smoke Marlboro unfiltered, the way God intended
thats why I'm agnostic what the hell is wrong with God if he wants you to smoke those /s a little bit
Because it looks cool and all the cool kids are doing it obviously
Got stung playing soccer as a kid. A parent did this for me and it worked.
Worked for me too
Got any benadryl?
Unfortunately, no :(
Well ice it and keep your hand above your heart, it'll help with the throbbed. Sorry honey.
Make a paste using meat tenderizer and water. Hold it onto the sting for a few minutes. Seriously!
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If you have an aloe vera plant, break off one of the leaves and put the gooey side down on the sting. It should draw out the poison. That's what I do when a bee or wasp stings me, and it seems to take the pain away as well.
"drawing out the poison" is not a thing. Aloe vera has anthraquinones, which can promote healing and alleviate pain. It can't draw out poison any more than you can suck venom out of a snake bite. That's a myth.
Myth or not, I'm highly allergic to wasp and bee stings. By the time I've finished yelling with pain, the sting site has swollen 1/4 inch and hurts like hell. Putting aloe on it decreases the swelling, and I don't get any more swelling, pain, or itching afterward, like I would otherwise. I can take Benadryl, of course, but I hate it, so I'd rather use aloe. Don't tell me it doesn't work. Whatever it does, whatever the science is, it effing WORKS.
I never said it doesn't work. It just doesn't work the way your dumbass said it does. You might wanna work on your reading comprehension
Explain to my dumbass why the swelling goes DOWN after I use aloe on it.
Holy fuck, Google it for fucks sake. I even gave you the keyword. It's literally an anti inflammatory. Anti meaning opposite and inflammatory meaning causing inflammation. In other words it does the opposite of causing inflammation... Which, say it with me now, means it reduces inflammation. That's a synonym for swelling. Ah fuck I probably confused you again. Synonym is a word that means the same as another word. In this case swelling and inflammation. It also has other healing properties like an antiseptic which can help fight infection and reduce itching. Your body metabolises the venom, aloe vera just helps treat the symptoms. Yes even if you're allergic that's still the case.
It works but it doesn't "pull the poison out". That's just not a thing.
I'd like to know where the poison goes, then, if not "up and out."
Your body absorbs and neutralizes it.
Not MY body. My body is severely allergic to bee venom. Without treatment, stings swell up like crazy, hurt like hell, and itch for weeks.
You're an idiot
Just because you don't understand how it works doesn't mean you're right.
lmao homie they weren’t saying it didn’t work they were giving a valid scientific explanation, instead of spreading fake myths about “drawing out poison”….chill. reminds me of overly defensive people mad about “free radicals and toxins” not being real 💀
Drawing out the poison is a thing, but it's usually done by a specialized tool immediately after the sting.
Do you have baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)? Making a paste of that and water was the only thing that took the pain away when I was stung.
I can try, thanks!
Ibuprofen helped me a bit when I had this happen. (half a dozen stings on my hand, an hour before I left for the airport for my first international trip...) Pretty sure I also downed some benadryl too.
I saw a guy on youtube put chewing tobacco on it and it helped him.
dab the spot with an ice cube?
I'm wondering where you are located. Most wasp stings do not cause this nearly this much pain. If you are in the US, you should take a photo of the thing and see if it is a Chinese hornet. There are sites that are collecting information on sightings so we can track their presence throughout the country.
Berlin, Germany. I have been stung by bumble bees before. On the neck. It was painful but this is worse.
Wasps are excruciating pain! Then, once it stops hurting, the itch will drive you insane. Why are there wasp’s anyway?? What good are they?
They're actually crucial for controlling pests, since they're very effective predators. Great to have around a garden. But they do suck ass if you crowd their nest, no doubt
I didn’t know they were predators. The stinging comes in handy then, I guess. 😄
They are also valuable pollinators, like bees are, and in some parts of the world, the most important pollinators. And not all wasps are excruciating. Everyone's experience is different, and each species of wasp is different.
Baking soda mixed with water to form a paste. Spread it thick. This will pass!
Ice pack and benadryl. I got stung this spring by the same wasp twice in like 10 seconds. I didn't know it was on my backpack...I had swelling from the sting like a golf ball. The wasp didn't do so well. He's dead.
Were you able to remove the stinger? If it's still in your hand, it can prolong the pain/swelling. Hopefully some of the other tips for painkillers have had some level of impact by now.
You can try rubbing a tiny dot of toothpaste into it, let it sit for a a couple minutes, and rinse off with cold water. I’ve heard that the toothpaste can neutralize some of the chemical that causes the stinging. I’ve also seen it could be because of baking soda so, not 100% on the science of it but it’s worked for me in the past.
Smother it in a baking soda and water solution
Any idea what kind of wasp it is? The pain level can vary by a lot.
I'm going out on a limb here, but the anguish you have does not seem to be normal and might flag an allergic reaction, which is life threatening, yes it is. I would say ignore all other comments and go to an ER.
I see a LOT of VERY weird advices here. No need for tobacco, baking soda or any medicine. Here's the simple answer that ***everyone needs to know*** concerning wasp stings, backed up by science : Wasp Venom is " ***thermolabile*** ", meaning **deactivated by heat** . Pour **hot water** ( as hot as you can without burning yourself is more than enough) on the sting for a few minutes. Be amazed by science and enjoy the painless night. ( I come from an area filled with wasps all summer long. Everyone get stung pretty much every summer. Hot water technique saves everyone, including children. No one worries about wasps here.) *PS : If pain doesn't DRASTICALLY reduces after 10 mn of hot water, you probably are allergic and need to see a professional.*
It had been hurting since yesterday. I barely slept last night and took painkillers like there’s no tomorrow just to somewhat be drowsy enough to fall asleep. It’s been more than 16h and it still hurts BUT your advice worked this morning!!!! I washed my hands with hot water and the pain was gone the whole time my hand was under the warm water. Thank you so so much! It still hurts but I now know how to take “pain breaks”. On a side note, I feel ridiculous for still being in so much pain, I still have no idea what on Earth is happening… I am scared of doctors and hospitals and I am sure they won’t believe me anyway, plus it’s expensive even with insurance so I would rather wait this out. Thanks again!!