Author Topic: bee sting to the scalp and swollen lymph nodes? (Read 82189 times)

marliah · « **on:** July 23, 2008, 08:55:16 pm »

Just curious could a bee sting to the scalp cause swollen lymph nodes 24-72 hours after the sting?

I got stung a couple days ago (not to self, weeding the garden right next to the beehive and having bright pink hair do not mix well) and had an aweful headache for about 3 hours, which them subsided with only minor itching where the sting occured. But last night woke up to a dull ache in my neck and I have a lump near my hairline that is sensitive (I'm assuming a lymph node).

Is this a typical reaction to a bee sting? or should I be concerned? if it is a typical thing, how long should I expect that soreness and inflammation to last?

Thanks in advance!

Bill W. · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2008, 09:21:06 pm »

I have managed to avoid being stung on the head, but I imagine this is normal. Your immune system is mobilizing lymphocytes to respond to the toxins. In addition, the toxins are bursting a large number of your cells and the remains must drain from your tissues via the lymphatic system. Both can cause swelling of the lymph nodes.

Beaver Dam · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2008, 10:07:14 pm »

I've been a keeper for a little over a year now. My stings vary. Normaly if I get it on the hand, arm, waist area, I just have a little puffyness and itching like crazy for about 6 hours. Hell, I got bit by a rattlesnake and didn't swell as much as some times when I'm hit on the hand. If I'm playing with the girls and I don't get it once or twice I haven't played long enough. :-D

abates99 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2008, 11:51:44 pm »

Quote from: Bill W. on July 23, 2008, 09:21:06 pm

Your immune system is mobilizing lymphocytes to respond to the toxins. In addition, the toxins are bursting a large number of your cells and the remains must drain from your tissues via the lymphatic system. Both can cause swelling of the lymph nodes.

Well said!!

qa33010 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2008, 04:50:15 am »

Yes it can, does and will. Just remember the lymph nodes don't go back down immediately, it can take a while. So I have experienced.

wildbeekeeper · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2008, 10:27:09 am »

When I get stung I start to get a headache a few hours later followed by my body getting very hot almost feverish like followed by getting very cold then its all over by morning.

JP · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2008, 10:46:13 am »

Quote from: marliah on July 23, 2008, 08:55:16 pm

Just curious could a bee sting to the scalp cause swollen lymph nodes 24-72 hours after the sting?

I got stung a couple days ago (not to self, weeding the garden right next to the beehive and having bright pink hair do not mix well) and had an awful headache for about 3 hours, which them subsided with only minor itching where the sting occurred. But last night woke up to a dull ache in my neck and I have a lump near my hairline that is sensitive (I'm assuming a lymph node).

Is this a typical reaction to a bee sting? or should I be concerned? if it is a typical thing, how long should I expect that soreness and inflammation to last?

Thanks in advance!

What you experienced is very typical, you may find that at some point with more stings under your belt, your reactions may not be quite as harsh, as with more stings you may build a better resistance to bee venom.

Some people actually have a doctor administer bee venom therapy to help desensitize their reactions to bee stings.

My wife is diabetic and had a reaction once that continued off and on for three weeks, this is a little unusual but it does happen.

Some get a very warm area over the stung area that you can literally feel the elevated temps in that spot for a few days, I've had reactions like that myself, although its been quite a while, yrs in fact.

...JP

rast · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2008, 08:45:39 pm »

As you may have surmised, different with different people, the least annoying sting for me was in the back of my head, even left the stinger in for 30 min. Maybe that has something to do with hardness of head. Recent ankle sting swelled and itched for two days. Ankle was very stiff and painfull for one day.

johnnybigfish · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2008, 09:42:17 pm »

Yeh, Marliah, at first my ankles would be swollen and itchy for I bet over a week..They still swell more than the rest of me, but it doesnt last that long. Also, "I" think bee stings arent as bad in the winter as they are in summer for some reason. I bet your bees do like your pink hair though. I think it looks really nice on you!
Recently I read that bees can remember faces for 2 days.This might be true as I'm out there every day and the bees dont sting me anymore,(well, not in a few days at least!) and maybe they know i bring them food. :)

your friend,
john

lingrush · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2016, 11:57:09 pm »

Sorry for gravedigging, but this is my first post and I made it because I had the same thing and seeing this was such a relief. First year beekeeper with two hives, about to build the 2nd set of deeps and supers for them.

cao · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2016, 01:08:25 am »

Welcome to th forum.

GSF · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2016, 08:20:25 am »

welcome

KeyLargoBees · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2016, 09:56:37 am »

LOL...I am reading through the post and thinking to myself WOW who are these people?!?!....I have never seen any of them post and then realized its from 2008 LOL

Welcome to the forum and its nice to see people going through old posts searching for answers to their questions!!!

Blacksheep · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2016, 10:24:41 am »

Poor circulation in the lower legs and not enough blood flow to cleanse the venom as quick as else where on the body.

jayj200 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2016, 10:49:58 am »

Lingrush welcome to the forum.
with the general area you reside. better answers can be formulated for you.

RustyUPNY · « **Reply #15 on:** June 14, 2016, 11:35:41 am »

I got excited that I am finally qualified to answer a question on here (medical provider) then I realized it was from years ago!

GSF · « **Reply #16 on:** June 14, 2016, 12:25:20 pm »

...from years ago, but still a good point.

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 14, 2016, 12:32:50 pm »

As long as I am hive less, no odd swelling, and breathing fine I do not worry.

Rurification · « **Reply #18 on:** June 14, 2016, 01:54:08 pm »

Welcome to the forum!

In my experience, it depends on the location of the sting and what happens to be on the bee when she pings me. Sometimes I get ony a little itchy spot, sometimes a really big [hand sized] welt and bruising. Always an adventure.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2016, 07:08:47 pm »

Last year I took about 9 stings to my scalp when I shook a swarm over head. I had no side effects after 5 minutes. The reason for all of those stings was that my hair was dirty/oily and this hive had was rather aggressive.
Most times that I get stung in my head, I did not wash it that morning. Somethings to remember.
Jim

jalentour · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2016, 11:54:33 pm »

My lymph glands respond to scalp stings pretty strongly. The whole body doesn't do well.
The rest of the body tolerates the sting well below the neck.

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2016, 09:39:47 am »

Do you get stung often? I just got tired of getting stung so now I always wear my ultra breeze suit, gloves, and boots. I just had swelling that was aggravating and I hated the itch so I gave up even trying to wear less gear.

GSF · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2016, 09:44:28 am »

With me, after more and more stings the swelling and itching went away. About the only time I swell now is if it's under the eye or some other soft tissue. Even then the swelling is pretty mild.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2016, 01:05:57 pm »

Quote from: GSF on June 15, 2016, 09:44:28 am

With me, after more and more stings the swelling and itching went away. About the only time I swell now is if it's under the eye or some other soft tissue. Even then the swelling is pretty mild.

Same here, most of the time, within 5 minutes i can hardly tell where I was stung at. If it is a totally new area to bee stung, I sometimes have a sore spot that I feel when I rub it or lean on it.
It I do not get stung for a long time, like during winter, I start having problems with my shoulders and my right ankle.
Jim
Jim

little john · « **Reply #24 on:** June 16, 2016, 04:53:04 am »

As far as I know, beekeeping is not a popular pursuit amongst nudists - which might suggest that certain parts of the body are more sensitive to stings than others.
I shall leave you with that mental picture.

LJ

GSF · « **Reply #25 on:** June 16, 2016, 08:35:42 am »

LJ, go on you tube and search "The naked beekeeper". He's there, he's nude(blurred), no I didn't care to watch it.

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2016, 10:27:19 am »

Well a naked beekeeper is someone that I know I am smarter than.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2016, 07:51:03 pm »

He did a full inspection and never got stung.
Jim

bwallace23350 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 17, 2016, 09:26:13 am »

It is the possibility of getting stung in some places that are just not worth the risk

GotStung · « **Reply #29 on:** May 03, 2020, 03:03:33 am »

It?s such a relief to know this is normal. I got stung on the scalp two days ago, felt fine later that day, but felt a bit of ?soreness? in the back of the head (different spot from the sting) yesterday, and I?m feeling two lumps plus some dull pain today.

The lumps got me quite worried. It?s good to know that this is an expected reaction from the bee sting that?ll hopefully subside soon.

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #30 on:** May 03, 2020, 07:20:51 am »

Got rung,
Welcome to Beemaster.
As noted below, the more stings you get, the less it affects you.
I strongly recommend using Benadryl cream and hydrocortisone cream on the stings. This seems to help your body to not react to the stings and stops your body from over reacting.
Jim Altmiller

FloridaGardener · « **Reply #31 on:** May 03, 2020, 10:12:29 pm »

I'm going to pipe up again about applying lavender oil/ice pack every 10 minutes until pain & swelling are gone. Or else I go to sleep. This is absolutely the fastest cure I've tried, faster than topical or tablet Rx-strength steroids, or anything. And for me, no side effects.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #32 on:** May 03, 2020, 10:33:21 pm »

Quote from: sawdstmakr on May 03, 2020, 07:20:51 am

Got rung,
Welcome to Beemaster.
As noted below, the more stings you get, the less it affects you.
I strongly recommend using Benadryl cream and hydrocortisone cream on the stings. This seems to help your body to not react to the stings and stops your body from over reacting.
Jim Altmiller

Yes Jim, along with a Zantac tablet if still available. As told to us here a couple years ago by one of our members who was an ER Nurse. Your method Jim, along with the tablet soon made a dramatic turnaround in my case from stings, until I became immune, cured, or whatever the proper wording would be, getting me over the hump until I no longer had the reactions. Before that my concern was that I may be severely allergic to bee stings. In all fairness, I should go back and find that text giving credit to the nice person who told us of this.