How often do you get wasp/bee stings when cycling?

miurasv

I cycle for fitness, mainly in the summer months, about 4 or 5 times a week for about 10 miles each time which I do as fast as I can. My question isn't about fitness but if and how often you've been stung by wasps? I got stung about 8 years ago at home and ended up briefly in hospital with a reaction.

My worst fears have been getting a wasp caught in the vent of my Giro Atmos helmet and this happened last Friday and I got stung on the head. I cycled home about 5 miles and by the time I got home my arms were itching and very red with raised skin. I called 999 and was given a steroid by the paramadic and anti histamine at the hospital. The redness and itching went soon after and I was sent home within a few hours but then the area around my eyes swelled up and I looked like I'd gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson so I went back to the hospital and they gave me some steroids, penicillin and was told to carry on taking the anti histamine. The swelling went down wihin a few days and is more or less gone now.

I've covered all the vents on my helmet with cling film now but I'm wondering how often people do get stung when cycling and if they are to the body or to the head from getting wasps caught in helmet vents? Thanks in advance for any replies.

keith1200rs

None this year (I mountain bike) but some summers, maybe two or three times a year. Either on the chest or bare arms usually. Only once on the head through helmet vents.

Luckily I am not allergic!

Keith

Tom Butcher

About 8 years doing 5-6k a year never been stung or seen/heard of anyone else stung whilst cycling - in the same time period my son has been stung at least twice, daughter once - so I wouldn't say cycling is really a risk factor. Then again I don't often wear a helmet so that may increase your chances over mine - but I think you can get helmets with mesh in the vents ?

briantrumpet

I was stung on the lips this year, one friend of mine was stung under his helmet (several times by the time he got home - he didn't realise the little blighter was still there), another of mine swallowed one and got stung in the mouth, and someone I was talking to on a club ride had been stung on the eyelid the week before. So it doesn't seem that uncommon from my perspective!

Given that, is it possible to carry any sort of emergency dose of antihistamine, if someone knows that they are allergic? Or is that something that can only be administered by professionals?

miurasv

briantrumpet wrote:

Given that, is it possible to carry any sort of emergency dose of antihistamine, if someone knows that they are allergic? Or is that something that can only be administered by professionals?

The doctor advised me to carry some anti histamine tablets in my tool bag. He didn't say this but that may stop any reaction happening at all if taken immediately. I need to get some more advice on this.

elmsallmissile

Never oops should I have said that :?:

Matt the Tester

never been stung by a bee

ddmrcp

Of note is that you had mainly a localized reaction to a large part of your face, but you did not need any adrenaline?
As you described from 2 events - is likely that you will experience a similar reaction if stung again but less likely to develop as full blown anaphylaxis- the bad reaction that can kill in minutes.
An Epi-Pen is reserved for the latter, but before we get to it, best discuss with your GP.
Cycling related wasp stings are quite rare. Gardeners usually take the maximum numbers of stings

fernholt

Three times this year. Once last year. Once down an open shirt. Not nice.
The anti-histamine tablets sound a good idea. Would that work for you as someone who suffers bad reactions?

doyler78

Once a couple of years ago on the upper arm. Got stung through my jersey. Not adverse reactions though.

Rodrego Hernandez

3 in 20 years. Getting used to them now

luv2ride

Only once last year. Flew right through an intake in the helmet and stung me on the bonce, then on a finger when I tried to get helmet off. Had never been stung before and was miles from anywhere so was worried about having a severe reaction. Thankfully I didn't...

Immediately considered getting a helmet with a bug net fitted, but ended up wearing a mavic summer roadie cap under the helmet as a temporary solution, although I guess a bee or wasp could just sting right through it.

If I knew I was susceptible to having a severe reaction, I think I'd definately look at a helmet with a bug net, better that than seal up the intakes on the current one.

velocestrapture

I got stung on the lip a few months ago cycling along a rather busy A road with nowhere to pull off the road. I had to pull the blighter off my lip as it was clinging on after having stung me.

I was just thankful that a) stings appear not to be one of the several things I am allergic to and b) that it only stung my lip and I didn't get it in my mouth.

I had a fat lip for about 6 hours but that was it.

lef

The LAS victory helmets have a pad that is netted at the vents so should stop the blighters getting in. Atthough the amount of times I've either inhaled or swallowed a fly whilst cycling suggests it's only a matter of time before I swallow a wasp or bee!

Zingzang

Op talks about his "worst fears". Leaving aside the thankfully rare anaphylactic shock reaction, the worst fear about being stung should be losing control of your bike and having an accident far worse than a sting from a wasp. And yes, I have been stung by both wasps and bees whilst riding my bike. Oh, and apart from being a cyclist I'm a gardener too (by trade). Disturbed a wasps' nest once and got stung nine times, which I considered a lucky escape.

marksteven

got stung on my tounge cycling to work f@@k me it hurt, & by the time i got to work , my tounge had swollen up so much i couldnt talk , which my work mates thought was hilarious , my tounge was sore for about a week

furrag

Luv2ride wrote:

Had never been stung before and was miles from anywhere so was worried about having a severe reaction. Thankfully I didn't...

It's uncommon that the first time you're exposed to an allergen that your body reacts violently. Your passive immunity now knows how to react to such a sting, and its usually thereafter that a hypersensitive response occurs in the form of an allergic reaction, or at worst, an anaphylactic shock.

I got stung last year as a wasp flew into my helmet strap and got stuck. That was horrible.

TreeOfSores

Twice in three miles last month first one on the leg. Showed my mate and told him of my fear of one flying into my helmet vent, you can guess the rest...

miurasv

ddmrcp wrote:

Of note is that you had mainly a localized reaction to a large part of your face, but you did not need any adrenaline?
As you described from 2 events - is likely that you will experience a similar reaction if stung again but less likely to develop as full blown anaphylaxis- the bad reaction that can kill in minutes.
An Epi-Pen is reserved for the latter, but before we get to it, best discuss with your GP.
Cycling related wasp stings are quite rare. Gardeners usually take the maximum numbers of stings

Thanks very much for your replies, everyone. I appreciate them all. I had been stung by wasps and bees as a child but don't remember any reaction. However, when I was 11 (now forty eight) on a trip to Lebanon my face around my eyes swelled up badly along with the area between my legs. I have always put this down to an allergy to fish though I guess I could have been stung in my sleep or something.

The last 2 times my skin has gone red all over on the inside of my arms and around my arm pits and slightly into my chest, looks like its been scolded with raised skin and itches a lot and my mouth has gone dry though that may be due to panic/anxiety of what may happen. This more or less disappeared quite soon after taking the anti histamine. On the last sting the area around my eyes swelled up a few hours after my arms went back to normal and the itching subsided to a maximum swelling about 24 hours after being stung, above, below and to the side and my right eye was almost closed. I was stung on the head about 2" into my hair past my hairline though I may have been stung on my eyebrow too as it was sore there. Is this an allergy or anaphylactic shock? I asked the GP I saw when I went to the hospital if I needed an Epi pen and he suggested the Ant Histamine tablets. I'm worried now in case I get stung multiple times and the reaction could be much worse or if having had at least 2 reactions will any further stings cause even worse reactions?

TommyEss

I've been stung just the once (touch wood) - when a wasp got caught between my glasses arm and helmet strap - stung me two or three times. I'm not allergic though so just had the localised bumps. Didn't hurt as much as I thought it would...

Would take the cling film off and try and get some thin netting instead, as on the LAS helmets.

Moontrane

It happens that allergic reactions can worsen with repeated exposures to the allergen. Sometimes a moderate reaction can be followed by a near-death reaction. That you had to call 999 and go to the hospital make me think that you're a candidate for an epi-pen, and this is up to your doctor, but better safe than dead.

My son has food allergies that started mild. Though we knew which foods to avoid, unbeknownst to us a neighbor gave him a glassful of destruction, and we had to call the paramedics and have him transported to the hospital. His previous reaction was mild and controlled with antihistamine and steroids. There was no gradual ramping up of the allergic response.

I've only been stung by wasps and bees while riding. (All those years at summer camp and not one sting.)

I was stung by a wasp in the sternum. It was caught under my jersey - I felt something and patted my chest. OUCH!

Another time a wasp got me on the thigh and fled the scene - never saw it.

A bee was stuck between the temple of my glasses and my forehead. I thought a dentist was drilling into my skull. A riding buddy pulled the stinger from my head after I nearly went off the road.

And this summer…I was descending a hill when a bee struck my thigh, leaving its gut plug stuck in my leg pulsing. Not a good spot for losing control – I’m at 40mph, cars are at 60mph.

I fish-tailed to a stop and brushed the tool of torment away. Agony.

I get to the bottom of the hill two minutes later and ANOTHER bee stings me inches from the first one. This was through the shorts, so it didn’t leave its stinger.
But still, agonizing AGONY!

ianlash

Got stung at the back of my mouth/top of throat this summer. Gag reflex kicked in and got it up, which wasn't fun as I was doing about 40 mph downhill at the time. Then had to stick my finger down my throat to get the sting out. Luckily, only a bee.

TBH it wasn't too bad for me, just a bit scary due to the speed.

miurasv

ianlash wrote:

Luckily, only a bee.

What could be worse than a bee down your throat?

ianlash

miurasv wrote:

ianlash wrote:

Luckily, only a bee.

What could be worse than a bee down your throat?

A wasp!

miurasv

ianlash wrote:

miurasv wrote:

ianlash wrote:

Luckily, only a bee.

What could be worse than a bee down your throat?

A wasp!

Bees are bigger than wasps. Is the sting of a wasp more venomous and/or more painful than that of a bee?

ianlash

miurasv wrote:

ianlash wrote:

miurasv wrote:

ianlash wrote:

Luckily, only a bee.

What could be worse than a bee down your throat?

A wasp!

Bees are bigger than wasps. Is the sting of a wasp more venomous and/or more painful than that of a bee?

Definitely more painful, because they can sting multiple times. According to Wikipedia, the most common bees and wasps in the UK are the same size and have the same sting pain, but wasps can sting many times and they are aggressive compared to bees.

I definitely recommend to someone who may be allergic to stings to speak to a doctor to see if they should carry something with them.

miurasv

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumble_bee

I always (wrongly) thought bees were all like bumble bees with a yellow and black hairy body. I think that a lot of them may look like wasps or what I (wrongly?) thought were wasps. The bumble bee can sting more than once.

ianlash

Never heard of anyone being stung by a bumble bee, so I guess it is very rare, and there aren't many around these days unfortunately.

Anyway, isn't this a cycling forum?

miurasv

ianlash wrote:

Never heard of anyone being stung by a bumble bee, so I guess it is very rare, and there aren't many around these days unfortunately.

Anyway, isn't this a cycling forum?

I've been stung by one when I put on a pair of trousers with one inside and it stung me at the top of my leg. I heard it buzzing first, then felt it crawling and then as I panicked to get my trousers off it stung me. Not very pleasant I can assure you.

Yes, it is a cycling forum. Please read the original question which is very relevant to cycling, especially to people with allergies to bee/wasp/insect stings.

Quite surprised by your second sentence given your excellent reply above. :?

Christophenes

I got stung about 2 1/2 weeks ago on the knee, just below where my shorts ended. Now I have a golf ball size bruise there now that won't go away!

kevinn123

Not been stung for years but in the past 2 weeks I've been stung 3 times - twice on the legs and one inside the mouth - wind blew it in and I wasn't quick enough spitting it out.
For a few days it looked like I'd had botox.