Some stings are worse than others

[Bakersdozen]

I know that this topic has been posted before, but I have a question regarding different reactions to stings.
1.  Are sting reactions worse at different times of the year?
2. Are sting reactions different based upon your well being? (Hydrated, for example)
3.  Are sting reactions different based upon the location of the sting?
4. The more stings one takes in the beekeeping year, the less the reaction?  True or false
5.  Or is it all chance.

My beautiful, red headed, fair skinned step-daughter was helping me harvest honey yesterday.  She has 1 colony of her own, but has only been stung a hand full of times.  She put her arm down on a stray bee and got 1 sting.  She put some Bakers Venom cleanser on it right away, but swelling and redness soon started.  Next her face turned beet red and her eyes, hair, underarms and so forth started itching like crazy.  I gave her a generic Benadryl.  She rested for a bit, but called it day so she could take a cold shower.  Her boyfriend left work so that he could monitor her and she got better after the benadryl and cold shower.  We suggested drinking plenty of water to flush her system out.  I think she might have been dehydrated a little.  She was drinking coffee, but not water.  She had just told us that she was in a fast food restaurant last week, with family, and fainted.  The paramedics said she was fine, but dehydrated.  So does anyone have any thoughts?
Hopefully, riverbee will chime in with some "been there, done that" knowledge.

[Lburou]

B12, I'd be asking an immunologist about your daughter's response to the sting -she is probably not actually allergic, but that can change...maybe with the next sting.  The immunologist might have an opinion about that fainting spell last week.  Benadryl was a good idea, in my layman's view. My guesses to your questions are as follows:

1)  Bee venom can vary in potency with the seasons.

2)  Don't have a clue...But I'm sure dehydration has several downsides to our health.

3)  Yes.  Reactions are worse in areas with more blood circulation.

4)  I don't think this is a yes/no answer.  If you are not allergic, true.  If you are allergic, or becoming sensitive, false, (talking about stings here, not venom therapy).

5)  It is complicated.   

JMO, your results will vary. 

[Jen]

I don't have solid proof, but I believe that the age of the bee has something to do with the potency and/or reaction of the sting. In learning bee venom therapy, it is said to go into the middle of the hive where the brood is, that is where the new bees are and they are going to pack the most bang for your buck.

I know that stings on fleshy parts of the body like stomach, back, and booty, or bigger muscles such as thighs, don't have as much reaction, that is because the swelling from the sting has much more tissue to spread out in. Unlike, a knuckle, ankle, or face where the bone is close to the surface of thinner skin, can cause much discomfort because the swelling is more condensed and local, more pressure ensues.

More importantly, good to hear that your lovely red headed daughter's reaction ended up with a good recovery 

[efmesch]

Any time you get a reaction to a sting on an area of the body not directly related to the site of the sting, it MUST light up a red warning light about allergy. 
A sting on the arm leading to a reaction on the face is, in my opinion, such an instance.  Sometimes we get a warning reaction that prepares us to get treated for a developing allergic sensitivity.  Riverbee can tell you all about it.
A full blown allergic reaction usually gives one a rash-like hives on the chest or the back.  I went through this with three of my children, who eventually had to take the full two year desensitization treatment.
I don't respond to the other questions you asked.  In my opinion, they are irrelevant at this point.  My immediate response is, get your daughter to a doctor to be checked, and be prepared for any emergency with epinephrine (epi-pen).

[riverbee]

"Hopefully, riverbee will chime in with some "been there, done that" knowledge."

bakers, i am just catching up on threads after a 2 week vacation.

my 'been there, done that knowledge' is exactly what ef said and couldn't have said it any better.  i agree with ef, if the reaction occurs away from the sight of the sting.........RED FLAG. "Next her face turned beet red and her eyes, hair, underarms and so forth started itching like crazy"

with this description of the reaction i would be seeking the advice/getting tested by an allergy/immunolgist doc.  life ef mentioned i was given a 'warning reaction' that i ignored and subsequently suffered increasing abnormal reactions and as everyone knows, wound up in an emergency room.

sting reactions really have nothing to do with what we consume or hydration, it's all about the complexity of the immune system.   i hope this helps and i really would make an appointment to get checked and at the very least, if she does not have an eppy, i would get one. (need to see a doc for the script).

[Bakersdozen]

Thanks for you input, riverbee, and everyone else.   I think she is ignoring the issue, so I will talk to her again.

[efmesch]

Please, do not let her ignore this issue.  I don't want to sound melodramatic, but it can truly be a matter of life or death.  If, God forbid, your daughter gets a sting and has an allergic reaction with no immediate help to attend to her in her situation, she can forget about any future beekeeping --or for that matter, any future. 
She owes it to herself, to you, to her boy friend and to everyone who is concerned about her well-being.
Please, do not ignore.  This is not a phishing attempt or a practical joke.  Neither Riverbee nor I would joke about something this serious.