TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 2:01:37 GMT
I was stung on the bottom of my foot yesterday before noon. It hurt like a mother. I took Benadryl and it was "ok" the rest of the day.
This morning I woke up and as soon as my foot hit the floor I knew it was going to be a long day. The bottom of my foot is swollen. It feels like someone stuck a hot dog in the sole of my foot. Lol!
I have had two doses of Benadryl today and it is still swollen, tender, and throbbing. It feels slightly warm and itchy in the area of the swelling.
So, is this normal? Should I just take more Benadryl, cut it off, drink Jose Cuervo, or call the doc in the morning?
|
|
eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
|
Post by eastcoastpea on Jun 21, 2016 2:04:08 GMT
I wonder if the stinger is stuck in your foot. It never hurts to call the doctor and see what they say. I hope it feels better soon.
|
|
TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 2:06:12 GMT
I wonder if the stinger is stuck in your foot. It never hurts to call the doctor and see what they say. I hope it feels better soon. I never thought of that! Of course dh is out of town and I am not a good contortionist. Lol!
|
|
|
Post by mom on Jun 21, 2016 2:07:13 GMT
I wonder if the stinger is stuck in your foot. It never hurts to call the doctor and see what they say. I hope it feels better soon. I never thought of that! Of course dh is out of town and I am not a good contortionist. Lol! Can you put a handheld mirror on the floor, and stand above it where you can reflect the bottom of your foot back up to you?
|
|
|
Post by cindyupnorth on Jun 21, 2016 2:08:32 GMT
I am going to 2nd the stinger theory. If it was an allergic reaction it would have been much worse by now, and more sudden. I have had a bee sting swollen for a day or so though, from just the venom.
|
|
johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
|
Post by johnnysmom on Jun 21, 2016 2:10:24 GMT
I'm guessing stinger too. But, if you decide to cut it off visit your old friend Jose first
|
|
TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 2:11:23 GMT
Okay, I sat on the counter and looked at it. I can't see anything. I can't even tell where the sting was.
I am going to soak in the tub in hopes that it helps to do something magical that makes it obvious where it went in.
|
|
|
Post by hop2 on Jun 21, 2016 2:12:47 GMT
A long time ago I stepped on a dead bee and the bottom of my foot too a week to be close 'normal'
I third the stinger still in your foot and see the Dr if you need to.
Hope you feel better soon
|
|
TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 2:12:51 GMT
I'm guessing stinger too. But, if you decide to cut it off visit your old friend Jose first Lol!
|
|
eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
|
Post by eastcoastpea on Jun 21, 2016 2:15:45 GMT
I wonder if the stinger is stuck in your foot. It never hurts to call the doctor and see what they say. I hope it feels better soon. I never thought of that! Of course dh is out of town and I am not a good contortionist. Lol! If you can cross your leg you can try stroking the edge of a credit card across your foot and see if you can feel it that way.
|
|
johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
|
Post by johnnysmom on Jun 21, 2016 2:16:39 GMT
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,458
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
|
Post by caangel on Jun 21, 2016 2:16:51 GMT
Could also be cellulitis. If the swelling continues and spreads go to the dr. Mark where the selling (draw around the area) is to determine if it is spreading. My DS had this both times he was stung and my friend had it to recently.
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on Jun 21, 2016 2:16:55 GMT
Sounds completely normal. The only reason you'd need to see a doctor for an insect sting/bite would be if you are having trouble breathing or if other vital signs are affected - rapid heart rate, low blood pressure BUT these are signs of a severe allergic reaction and would occur in the first hour or so after the sting. Pain, itching, redness and swelling at the site are completely normal and to be expected. Benadryl is probably overkill, but it will reduce the itch and swelling, but you don't need to take it. If you have any, you could apply some hydrocortisone cream to the area and/or some ice. Also some simple analgesic such a Tylenol will help with the pain. Most stings will be red and itchy for several days.
Rarely a bite might get infected, then there would be increasing pain, redness, pus from the site and potentially a red line running up the limb...then you'd need to see a doctor for antibiotics, but unless you have a compromised immune system, that would be unlikely to occur.
|
|
IAmUnoriginal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
|
Post by IAmUnoriginal on Jun 21, 2016 2:21:36 GMT
If you have any duct tape in the house, you can use a strip of that to try to get the stinger out. Soak your foot in warm water and some Epsom salts to soften up the skin, dry and then stick the tape to the sole of your foot.
I had a sting on the bottom of my foot in 6th grade. I still remember how uncomfortable it was to this day (I'm 42). The school nurse pulled the stinger out for me a couple days after I got stung. It got better within hours. Until then, it was benadryl and ice packs.
|
|
|
Post by mrsscrapdiva on Jun 21, 2016 2:33:44 GMT
If you haven't done so already, make the paste with the baking soda and very cold water. It really does help to take away swelling and if there is anything in there, it will come out.
It sounds really ouchy! Hope it is feeling better soon.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Jun 21, 2016 2:36:33 GMT
Girl, put down the Cuervo. I'll bring you some Patron. You won't even be able to feel your foot, much less worry about it.
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Jun 21, 2016 2:41:32 GMT
I have nothing to add (it's nice to have a nurse in the thread also ) -- but, isn't it amazing (in a bad way) how painful bee stings are?? I mean, the darn bee isn't very big really, yet they hurt like heck. The last time I was stung was a few years ago on my finger and I remember that hurt for ages. Hope yours feels better soon.
|
|
|
Post by bothmykidsrbrats on Jun 21, 2016 2:44:06 GMT
If you have any duct tape in the house, you can use a strip of that to try to get the stinger out. Soak your foot in warm water and some Epsom salts to soften up the skin, dry and then stick the tape to the sole of your foot. I had a sting on the bottom of my foot in 6th grade. I still remember how uncomfortable it was to this day (I'm 42). The school nurse pulled the stinger out for me a couple days after I got stung. It got better within hours. Until then, it was benadryl and ice packs. I grew up in MI, and it wasn't officially summer until you had your first bottom of the foot bee sting. We used duct tape to try and pull out the stinger. If that didn't work, my mom used black drawing salve. I hope it's better soon. Oh, and a little Jose' will save the day. At least that's what we said in college.
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Jun 21, 2016 2:47:59 GMT
In my not so humble opinion there is nothing that a visit with Jose won't fix.
|
|
TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 2:56:49 GMT
Epsom salt bath with lavender. Check! Jose. Check!
Currently sitting with a baking soda paste on.
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on Jun 21, 2016 3:23:51 GMT
but, isn't it amazing (in a bad way) how painful bee stings are?? I I agree, they do hurt. People seem to forget that and assume if something hurts and is red and itchy there must be something seriously wrong...but it's just normal. I've dealt with patients who completely freak out over bee/wasp/ant stings and want to rush their kids to ER! Yes in a few people they can cause serious life threatening allergies, in everyone else they just hurt and people seem to think that they should be able to take one dose of something and it should all be cured. The idea that something will be painful, red, itchy swollen for a few days seems to be a foreign concept and people mistakenly think something must be seriously wrong. I'm not referring to the OP specifically here - just from my interactions with the general public over the years. People also mistakenly think they "have" to take antihistamine...you don't. If it's particularly painful and itchy you can take some and it will help lessen the symptoms a bit, but it's not necessary, some ice and Tylenol are also fine and will reduce the symptoms as well. Where I used to work the protocol was to refer people to a doctor if they still had symptoms after a week. FWIW the recommended way to remove the stinger (which will often just look like a small black dot at the site of the bite) is to scrape across it with a firm action, you can use your nail or if you have one handy a bank/credit card, hold the card (or fingernail) at about 30deg to the skin and scrape over the bite gently but firmly in one direction. That's usually enough to remove the stinger and if the sac is still attached to the stinger this will avoid injecting the rest of the venom.
|
|
|
Post by kellybelly77 on Jun 21, 2016 3:48:27 GMT
Could also be cellulitis. If the swelling continues and spreads go to the dr. Mark where the selling (draw around the area) is to determine if it is spreading. My DS had this both times he was stung and my friend had it to recently. Dd had a sting last summer and eventually turned into cellulitis. But it took about a week or so. Even to this day she has a little sunken in spot on her leg about the size of a dime where she was stung.
|
|
marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,282
Jul 22, 2014 2:10:14 GMT
|
Post by marimoose on Jun 21, 2016 4:44:56 GMT
I was stung last year on my foot. It hurt like heck and my foot got really red and swelled up. Just when I thought it was getting better, it got worse and I learned that this is fairly typical. I did try the benadryl but didn't see much change. I did try the baking soda paste and also recently read that dabbing vinegar over the spot helps relieve some of the stinging. And I warn you now, the itching that follows makes you want to scratch your skin off - at least that was the reaction I had and heard it was quite common. I had issues for just shy of a month. Crazy, right?
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,458
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
|
Post by caangel on Jun 21, 2016 5:28:07 GMT
Could also be cellulitis. If the swelling continues and spreads go to the dr. Mark where the selling (draw around the area) is to determine if it is spreading. My DS had this both times he was stung and my friend had it to recently. Dd had a sting last summer and eventually turned into cellulitis. But it took about a week or so. Even to this day she has a little sunken in spot on her leg about the size of a dime where she was stung. For both my friend and my son it was only a few days. But basically when the swelling didn't go down after a couple of days we headed to the Dr. One of DS's was on his foot and he could barely walk. Antibiotics cleared it up quickly.
|
|
|
Post by pjaye on Jun 21, 2016 5:51:34 GMT
Cellulitis can develop - but it is a bacterial infection; most commonly staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. For that to occur you have to be scratching it, breaking the skin and introducing bacteria. It doesn't just occur from the sting itself.
So yes, logically do not scratch it or keep touching it and risk breaking the skin and/or introducing bacteria that can lead to an infection...but that's true of any skin wound and not specific to insect bites & stings.
|
|
|
Post by eversograceful1 on Jun 21, 2016 6:18:27 GMT
That's exactly how it felt after a bee sting under my little toe. I chocked it up to being an area with very little padding. It took about 7 days to subside. I hope you feel better soon. Oh, ice packs helped the most.
|
|
craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
|
Post by craftykitten on Jun 21, 2016 6:26:11 GMT
but, isn't it amazing (in a bad way) how painful bee stings are?? I I agree, they do hurt. People seem to forget that and assume if something hurts and is red and itchy there must be something seriously wrong...but it's just normal. I've dealt with patients who completely freak out over bee/wasp/ant stings and want to rush their kids to ER! Yes in a few people they can cause serious life threatening allergies, in everyone else they just hurt and people seem to think that they should be able to take one dose of something and it should all be cured. The idea that something will be painful, red, itchy swollen for a few days seems to be a foreign concept and people mistakenly think something must be seriously wrong. I am a beekeeper. You wouldn't believe how many people tell me they are allergic to bees. Actually so am I, I swell up like a balloon and it itches for days. But it's normal If you get stung in the face, it's just like free botox
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jun 21, 2016 10:28:45 GMT
If it was truly a bee, the stinger is probably still in there. If the stinger is out or it was a wasp, I think that reaction sounds pretty normal for a sting on the foot. DS has a localized allergy to insect stings- he was once stung on his hand and it was literally swollen to twice its normal size within an hour or two. If it isn't better in the morning, I would probably go in an Let the Dr look for the stinger.
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Jun 21, 2016 10:55:48 GMT
Oh TankTop, sorry your still feel like the hot dog is in your foot. I pray it is better today!
|
|
TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,774
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
|
Post by TankTop on Jun 21, 2016 11:05:17 GMT
Well, none of the remedies helped or offered any relief. Jose offered the best relief.
The swelling is worse this morning. The top of my foot is now swollen.
I know it was a bee because I had to pull the bee out of my foot. I can't seem to find the point of the sting. There are two "knots" in the bottom of my foot. Maybe I was stung twice? Dd and I looked for a stinger, but did not see one.
|
|