My bees put me in hospital!

[@Beekeeping4Hope]

I’m a new beekeeper down in Portsmouth and I’ve been stung a lot. My reactions seem to vary.. sometimes it’s nothing, other times I go like a balloon. Hope you’re ok buddy and yeah it’s the best decision

[@EddieShepherd]

I hope you have a fantastic time with it, I’m sure you will, I loved keeping our bees, I’m just unlucky in the reaction. I think so long as your reactions stay local & don’t spread lots from the site that’s a good sign. All the best with it, I hope you are having a great time with your bees

[@michellebarnes7640]

Allergies are strange. I had a reaction a lot like yours, and it took a few days to figure out that it was celery...a vegetable I had happily eaten all my life with no issues whatever. Glad you are on the mend.

[@EddieShepherd]

Yeah it’s weird isn’t it, the sane thing happened to my brother with a sudden banana allergy. Weird!

[@schammond8993]

My husband had 2 stings on his hand during an inspection. He had been stung before and we had noticed he seemed to have a lot of swelling in the area but nothing like this particular day. He swelled and was itching all over in a matter of minutes. Then he could not hear me. As I was screaming at him to breath and pumping him full of benadryl, advice and water. I got him to Urgent Care and thankfully he is fine but he can not help me with the Bees. Yes. Now we have epi pens. Glad you made it thru it.

[@EddieShepherd]

Oh wow, that sounds scary! Glad you are both ok. It’s strange isn’t it how it can suddenly get more severe. Having the Epi-pens is a big relief.

[@TL50-r9f]

I have been stung 25 times in 1 day collecting frames for honey. No reaction just felt tired for a few days. My arthritis went away after a few years of stings. You must be sensitive to bee venom. Some allergist Doctors can reduce your allergy to bee venom using micro doses of bee venom. I know an elderly man who keep bees, never had a reaction till later in life. My son when about 8 years old stepped on a yellow jacket wasp nest I grabbed him up and ran through the brush to get them off of both of us. We both had 30 to 40 stings each. He started getting large quarter sized hive skin bumps and was getting lethargic. Gave him Montelukast, diphenhydramine orally and a used a wash rag soaked in 50/50 ammonia/water solution topically to stop the reaction.

[@EddieShepherd]

Interesting, I have heard about bee venom being used to tread other conditions like arthritis. I’m going to have a look into these micro-bee venom immunotherapy. Bland to hear you and your son are ok

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

You videography of beekeeping is 2nd to none. Wow!!! Amazing work!

[@EddieShepherd]

So nice of you

[@dustin2740]

I had the same thing happen two years ago during Covid, but because of the risk of virus exposure I skipped the hospital visit against medical advice and used an epipen at home. I’m now doing immunotherapy so I don’t have to give up keeping bees. Hope you and your bees can someday be reunited!

[@EddieShepherd]

Glad to here you are doing well, what country are you doing your immunotherapy in? I’d love to hear how it goes

[@RetroRecipesKitchen]

Such a wild experience, but I can relate since I know bees don't want to sting and the few times I've been stung have been unexpected like a bee in my shoe or stuck to the collar of a shirt. Glad you're better and hopefully you guys can find some fun way to fill their space!

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks man, yeah it’s a pity because they are not aggressive animals at all. Just a total accident and unfortunate that I’ve developed these bad reactions. But it was great having them and we’ll definitely try something else in the future :)

[@nedheadwyoming]

I'm glad that you are OK and shared such a positive attitude about it.

[@noelynelangston2411]

So sorry this happened to you. I just started keeping bees this year and it is a concern of mine. Have an epi pen ready if needed in the refrigerator. You are so lucky you are in a country that has healthcare for people it can cost thousands here in the USA.

[@EddieShepherd]

Aw you’ll love keeping bees, I’m so glad we had ours and I hope I’ll be able to come back to it soon. Great idea to have the Epi-pen just in case but hopefully you’ll never need it :)

[@threemothers]

O dear!! Lucky you. Glad you’re doing well. Whatever it is our NHS is the best thing that we have.

[@EddieShepherd]

Yes absolutely, they were incredible. Ambulance crew especially were brilliant

[@scotthenderson4376]

Glad your better and sharing this. I started last year and made sure to have a script to have epi pens on hand just in case I need one or someone around needs one. I think to many people (keepers) don't think of this very subject

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks Scott, great idea having those things ready nearby for an emergency, I think it’s good for people to know that it’s unlikely they’ll have an allergic reaction, but if they do it’s best to be prepared for it. I’m gutted we won’t have our own bees at least for a while, but I hope I’ll be able to find an allergy treatment too and come back to beekeeping in the future

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

I’m so sorry to hear that! I’ve become immune but my husband is getting more sensitive.

[@chrisdeakin5754]

Glad you are well, I keep bees and I know it is not always fun! The video is just beautiful. Could you share what camera and lens you used please? And any tips for filming bees?

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks Chris. That’s very kind. I did a video a few months ago about how I do my food photography and I basically use that same set up mainly for filming - canon r6, a sigma 50mm 1.4 prime lens and a 100mm macro lens. The bees were always hard to get good images and video off because the move so quickly

[@Deatarus51]

wow, thanks for sharing this experience. Glad you're ok. Still going to take a stab at beekeeping once I have a space for them. I've not had bad reactions to their sting.

[@EddieShepherd]

You should definitely go for it, I really loved keeping our bees, I hope one day I’ll be able to have them again

[@jack00scarecrow]

i remember my 3rd or 4th sting doubled the size of my arm, its quite common to have a bad reaction after the first few stings, most peoples reactions will settle down after that but it is a bit luck of the draw. i have 50 hives now and i don't react much to the stings. Remember get the stinger out quickly as it will keep pumping venom in until it is removed. i know someone who had immunotherapy against bee stings and it worked well for them. good luck and bee safe

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks, yeah my fiancés reactions have got less and less. We are going to look into the immunotherapy because I’d love to keep them again

[@doseofsanity]

I’m watching this as my arm is still swelled from a sting a few days ago. I’m wondering if bee keeping is for me. Have been stung 5 times in a couple of years. Not bad, but I really dislike being stung. Some people don’t seem to mind it at all.

[@EddieShepherd]

Oh I’m really sorry to hear that. That’s great you’ve been able to be Stu g so infrequently, I’m sure that’s a credit to how careful you are with your bees. My fiancé has almost no reaction to stings and I’m very jealous of her for that.

[@donaldsmith3048]

It is good that you talk about this. I would not know what happens when you react to a sting. I am sure I am not the only one that didn't know.

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks, it’s such a weird one because for me at least it was an allergy that slowly developed but my fiancé has probably been stung more times than me and is totally fine, barely reacted at all. I felt like I should share it though especially as I’ve talked about the bees and honey on here a few times

[@donaldsmith3048]

@@EddieShepherd I have been stung many times by all kinds of things without a problem. But there may be a time that I have a problem.

[@EddieShepherd]

@@donaldsmith3048 I hope you never do, but I guess it’s always good to be prepared just in case :)

[@charlesmaurer6214]

Most people don't develop stronger alergies to honeybee stings, about 10% unless from a major attack. My sister is like you with a worsening one. Normally the body adapts to limited exposure over time. I do agree with giving up that hobby in your case. Take care.

[@anrenes3459]

I still get itching feeling when I get stung…. I get one through my suit about every time I harvest honey. I don’t know if it’s gradually gotten worse but sometimes worse swelling sometimes not. I think it’s if I’m having allergy reactions at the time already. I don’t ever have tingly feelings thankfully.

[@theohiohousewife]

Me too. I take a supplement from France and carry an epipen just in case. I give myself a good coat of lavender body oil that avoids most stings or bites. If I do get it I only swell up at the spot now. It’s your choice but I wasn’t giving up my bees .

[@EddieShepherd]

What is the supplement you take? That sounds interesting and I’m actually in France right now. Yeah I hope we’ll figure something out for the future, but right now the space is so close to my work and home it’s just to risky, especially being self employed etc

[@lfietime1234]

Sorry to ask but gotta know because a local farmer of mine died because of bees even tho he was himself beekeeper for years. He did get the vaccine. So, here I am asking and hoping to get an answer; did u take the c0v1d vacc1ne and if so which one did u get and how many doses?

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

The reason you're NOW allergic to bees is precisely because you did NOT get stung enough by them. I've been stung so many times I no longer get swelling nor itching (the itching was always the worst!)

[@robertshorthill6836]

Bee stings were somewhat beneficial to me. A sting on the finger or hand never seemed to bother me that much, however a bald face hornet of yellow jacket sting was a different matter which would cause a reaction.

[@EddieShepherd]

That’s interesting, I don’t know yet if I’d have a bad reaction to wasps or hornets. I’m guessing it’s specific to bee venom, but at least I have the Epi-pen now just in case

[@zvipeshkess8536]

you should start a program where you get increasing doses of bee venom to build up your immunity ... we it here in the US not sure about the UK

[@EddieShepherd]

Yes we are looking into that at the moment, there are some in the UK but nothing I’ve been able to access yet, but I hope we will find something like this

[@rtxhoneybees]

I'd like to know more about this US program. I've not heard of it.

[@HUWG29]

Glad you're okay chef! Bet that was pretty scary for a bit there!

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks Huw. It was a bit hectic at the time but the NHS were so great, it really made all the difference

[@1Paulaner1]

You can be immunized from bees Venom. I, as a very allergic beekeper, have been treated for 5 years by having some amount of Venom injected every month . You dont have to quit beekeping . For me it all started when i fell on a open hive and got stung about 15 times all at once

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks, I’m looking into those treatments at the moment :)

[@anjusharma4193]

Take care chef 👍

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks, you too!

[@RF33MUSIC]

Bring your Bees down to us in Sussex mate we will home them for you and the hives will still be yours. Or start some new ones at our Apiary. X

[@EddieShepherd]

Aw thanks man. A local bee keeper has actually taken the bees for us now, and hopefully I will get immunotherapy at some point so one day we can keep them again

[@scheherazadebrathwaite8853]

An epi pen?! That’s so scary!! Really glad you’re ok!

[@EddieShepherd]

Aw thanks Shez, yeah a bit of a shock at the time but totally fine now. Just a putty to have to give up the bees

[@NolaSpiersMitchell-gu5iu]

Omg hope your ok what country and I’m starting I’m not elergic to them

[@Surindersingh-hi7tl]

I am glad you're okay Eddie now!!.its sound very scary.

[@EddieShepherd]

Aw thanks Surinder

[@jessicativendale1154]

I’m glad you made it through this! Geez!

[@EddieShepherd]

Aw thanks, it was all a bit dramatic at the time, but all fine now and I’m so glad I had the time with the bees that I had

[@jessicativendale1154]

Yes to both! I hope you can still use honey in the future!

[@busybeesfarm]

That is sad on your part. My bees are gentle and i have not encountered anything like that. I have only been stung once for I made a mistake and its my fault. But my handling is gentle so my bees are all gentle as well.

[@EddieShepherd]

Yes, the immunology expert actually said one of the reasons I could have become very allergic it’s because I was not stung very often only once or maybe twice a year with big gaps in between and apparently that can make the allergy develop faster in people prone to becoming allergic.

[@jimmyc451]

Bees or no bees, you should keep an epi pen on you

[@EddieShepherd]

Yeah now I’ve got one and I’m keeping one with me and one at home

[@NolaSpiersMitchell-gu5iu]

You can still do bees you have to get an epic pen on you all the time

[@timhull8664]

Tough luck, reactions to stinging insects are genetically driven, some ppl react, some don’t.. Glad the National Unhealthy Service worked for you.. it doesnt seem to for me.

[@EddieShepherd]

It was interesting that for me the reaction got worse and worse over a few year up to this point, at first I didn’t react too much, now it’s pretty extreme. I was very glad the nhs were so quick and helpful and that I didn’t have to consider medical expenses & dept to get treatment.

[@timhull8664]

@EddieShepherd True Eddie, sometimes though, and when you have waited 8 months for a 24 hour heart monitor, and you can go to spire and have one fitted in less than a week, then it becomes worth a bit of financial consideration when your life is at risk.

[@thedeafcattledog8608]

Glad you are okay, that’s definitely scary, but nothing is “free” - someone paid for it.

[@EddieShepherd]

Thanks, yes a little scary in the moment but all sorted now and the NHS were fantastic as always.

[@johnstockburn6396]

I bet you bore your boyfriends glass eye to sleep

[@EddieShepherd]

You sound great John, thanks for taking the time to comment