bc......
THANK YOU for the update. our immune systems are so complex and you really have been through a great deal. like ef said earlier, i think i would forego getting near the bees until next spring, or whenever you are stronger, it's not worth the risk......
that's just my thought......
i was posting an update to my injections when your reply came in, i almost deleted this, cuz i did not want to take away from any replies to your current situation and update from your oncologist. i decided to go ahead, but just know, please keep us posted!
just an update from me: i received my 3 injections last wednesday, all went well. it is sooooo good to have achieved a level of my injections so as not to suffer any effects from them, and also not have to take any antihistamines prior to or after. the honey bee injection does give me a small welt beneath the surface of the skin, and redness on the surface, but nothing like the reactions i used to suffer from.
i call my new shot doc 'needles'.......
she has done well since decemeber. doesn't forget or mix up my doses, epi washes the needles and remembers to deliver them to the muscular part of my upper arms rather than than the backs of my upper arms. most injections are given to the back of the arm (fatty part not muscle). for some reason this has always resulted in larger reactions for me. i believe there is an art to delivering injections........some folks not so 'gifted' have not been so good at it and i have requested not to have them deliver my injections. they forget to 'epi wash' the needles, mix up my dose and give me the wrong dose, or wind up and shoot me in the arm like baseball players delivering a pitch...
the 'art' of injections is NOT:
forget the epi-wash for all 3 injections. pinch the skin real hard on the upper arms til it hurts, wind up or wind back 2 or 3 times, guess and eyeball aim at the upper arm ya just pinched like heck, and then stab and poke real hard after giving it the wind up or wind back (or two or three) and a last good swing when the needle hits the skin......
i have yet to be stung naturally from my own bees, but this time of year for me is typically very minimal for any stings. the bees are busy bringing in the nectar and pollen, and i don't disturb them much except to check the progress of the supers. capped, uncapped, do i need to add another. taking honey off and fall preparations will be different. i only check them about every 7 days or so until the honey is taken off, unless there is some other problem. as always i am in full gear for these quick checks. epi pens two, are always in my pocket, and i do not check the bees without the 'prince' present and nearby. i promised him that i wouldn't so my checks of the bees are 'limited' to when he is present, and really, i wouldn't do it any differently. limited is not a good word, but just that i do feel much more 'safe and confident' when he is nearby; i do not want to be by myself until stings are behind me and i may never reach that level of safety, but for now i am very content. i so much enjoy being in the bees again.
to some earlier posts:
retroguy, thanks for posting and sharing what you said about your anaphlactic experience, whether it is from bee stings or other severe allergy, it does not matter, the end result is the same and is very scary. thank you. i hope you continue to post and enjoy our forum!
lazy shooter, my eppys are really a 'fixture' of my anatomy for two years or so and probably always will be......
i won't work bees alone and i have promised this. kind of a 'no brainer' for me......another time, some stories about where those epis have been and traveled............errr........or not traveled........
capn, thanks for your posts.....hmmm, errr, i have driven everyone bonkers about trying to educate about allergic reactions and epi-pens. i have and always will carry an eppy, and not depend on an expired eppy, and if i had children, (i do have grandchildren) i would and do ensure i have a child's dose available to give them. depending on anything less is foolish or for paramedics and/or er personnel to figure out how to reverse the adult dosage of an eppy (unless that is what you had available) can cause other problems. i don't want to gamble with my life or theirs and i don't mean to sound flippant or mean, but just get it right and get the appropriate prescription. thank you for re-posting the offer for free epis! appreciate it!
allergic reactions here in this thread, normal and what's not:
ALLERGY TO INSECT STINGS epi pen information sheet here: (don't think i posted this one....instructions that come with the eppys)
Epi-Pen Patient Information Sheetanyway, enough about me, let's give our support to beeracuda!
