Wasp stings and PMR?: Well I’ll be everyone’s... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Wasp stings and PMR?

Boss302Fan profile image
10 Replies

Well I’ll be everyone’s guinea pig with regards to wasp stings. This afternoon accidentally disturbed a hidden yellow jacket’s nest. Got stung 7 times before getting out of range. Above my lip, on my right thumb, three on my left bicep, one on my left tricep and one on my left side.

Did all the usual treatments. Washed each with soap and water. Made a paste of meat tenderizer and placed atop of each sting for 20 mins, then ice for 15’, followed by 1% hydrocortisone cream, and took Benadryl. Was able to hold the swelling & redness to a minimum. My lip still stings a little, the rest just itch like crazy. Today also was a Pred new dose (3mg) day so far no PMR flares.🤞🏻

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Boss302Fan
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10 Replies
MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

Sounds painful, was it just yesterday you were dropping your dose on a Slow Taper? As you were stung several times l personally wouldn’t taper for a couple of days.

Boss302Fan profile image
Boss302Fan in reply to MrsNails

I worded that poorly. Yesterday was day 1 of week 3 on DL’s simple taper. This morning only feel 1 of the 7 stings and it’s just itching. Swelling gone, still some redness at the sites.

123-go profile image
123-go

Try soaking a wad of something with vinegar/apple cider vinegar and hold to the bite for a while. This will help neutralise the acid in the sting... not near your eyes though.... and may help with the itching.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Ouch, and triple ouch…..like MrsNails I would put the taper on hold for a few days…a week is nothing in the great scheme of things…

GOOD_GRIEF profile image
GOOD_GRIEF

OUCH!

I've used toothpaste on bites and stings. Seems to work until I can get some cortisone cream.

pmr_nikola profile image
pmr_nikola

Must be painful!... I dont think PMR changes the reaction to wasp sting. As a kid I was around bees ( my dad did beekeeping as a hobby) and got stung many times That built immunity to bee stings to the point that now I have no reaction to bee or wasp sting and certainly less then mosquito sting :)

Boss302Fan profile image
Boss302Fan in reply to pmr_nikola

I wasn’t concerned about PMR changing a reaction to wasp stills, I was a little concerned about my immune responses to the wasp stings possibly leading to a PMR flare. However it didn’t and I’m fine. I guess my actions immediately after the stings helped a lot. After 24hr instead of having increased swelling at the sting sites, the swellings were gone and the redness dissipated and almost gone. Today is day 3 of week 3 toward 3mg/d I’ll see if any PMR symptoms surface tomorrow or Thursday.

Have an appt. this afternoon with my Rheumy, I’m sure he’s not going to be happy that I chose to stay at 3.5mg/d for 2 additional weeks (3 wks total) before starting a taper to 3. But had mild symptoms and was waiting to have a solid week without symptoms before trying a a taper to next new lower Dose. I’m not telling him my next attempted reduction will 0.25mg from here on out, lol, he’d probably have a baby. He wasn’t happy that I changed it to 0.5mg decreases (instead of 1mg) after being at 5.0mg.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Boss302Fan

Anyone who is complaining about your speed of reduction at this dose needs a reality check! It's working isn't it?

Boss302Fan profile image
Boss302Fan in reply to PMRpro

Have you ever seen the movie “The Stepford Wives” or “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”?

I think my Rheumy has been abducted and replaced! I kid you not, he asked how I was feeling first before asking me what dose I was on. Asked if I’d been experiencing any pain and I told him 6 weeks ago when first transitioning to full weeks at 3.5mg. My decision to stay at 3.5mg for 3 weeks before starting the taper to 3mg and why. He asked if my next Dose would be 2.5mg and I said no I’ll be trying 2.75mg. He said how you going to do that and I said cut 1mg, cut 2.5mg, + whole 1mg and he actually laughed and said ok do you need refills and I said 1mg & 2.5mg please and he was ok.

Asked me if had any pain in my hands, wrist, etc and palpated my fingers, etc and I said not since about 2 months after my carpal tunnel release. Asked about symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (and tic’d them off) I said no.

He says good, let’s make the next appt. in 4 months, if you have a problem or need a refill just send me a message thru the portal, or give me a call. I’ll give you a prescription for blood work up for early November.

Super friendly, and cooperative. I’m thinking who are you, what happened? Wow is all I can say. Wish I had met this persona sooner!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Boss302Fan

Make sure you reward him so he doesn't relapse!!!

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