My brother has extreme allergic reactions to fire ants, bee, and wasp stings. Having seen him go into Anaphallactic shock and have extreme reactions what tone described was a very mild reaction and was probably more sick due to the number of stings. He will need to be very careful as he may have developed an allergy from his stings.
At the last Texas Cavers reunion I had to rush my brother off to San Antonio after he was stung in the foot by a single fire ant. within minutes of him being stung his face was BEET red, the color of someone with a severe sun burn. He began to have a rash and his breathing was deep. He immediatly ate 4 bebedryl and we loaded up the truck and sped off torward San Antonio as I called 911 to get directions. They wanted to know If i wanted emergency services but he was still coherent and had not crashed so I declined at that moment and told them that if we got worse I would call back. We got to San Antonio and by then his symptoms were better and rather than get stuck in the ER we opted to hang out in the hospital parking lot for the next 30 min to monitor his situation. Apparently the Benedryl had worked and he must not have gotten a big dose of the venom. We would up heading home later that evening.
On another occasion he was stung by a wasp and within minutes he began to have tunnel vision and nearly passed out. We were near a hospotal at the time and we tore to the ER. Within 10 minutes he was nearly totaly incapacitated and incohereant. At the hospital as soon as I told the attendant he was having a severe allergic reaction the doctors and nurses ALL came out and swarmed all over him. people were RUNNING through the ER and he was whisked away. Later I saw him in the back with a team of guys working on him with tubes jammed down his throat and the whole nine yards. We just got him there in time. These reactions cause the blood vessels in your body to all dialate as large as possible. the result is that your blood pressure crashes to the point where your heart cannot move enough blood through the now gigantic arteries and vessels. YOU DIE. The second is that your airways can become so swollen that you suffocate when your esophegus swells shut....YOU DIE. These symptions happen very quickly.
What tone had was a reaction but if someone has a severe allergic reaction their buddies need to be aware that that person needs to go to the hospital IMMEDIATLY. you may only have MINUTES to save their life. Call 911 IMMEDIATLY. This is a life threatening situation and lots of people die every year from this. Everyone should carry Benedryl in their cars or wallets. they now make it in foil packs and its taken by mouth like a breath strip. I have 4 in my wallet. You may never know when you or someone else may need it. If you think someone is going into a severe allergic reaction give it all to them. it will not stop the reaction but it might buy them alittle extra time. If you have time release caps break them open or chew them up.
Anyone can develop an allergic reaction at any time. Even if you have been stung a hundred times the hundred and first might be your last time. So just be aware when you are out there that if someone is stung and especially if they are stung multiple times you need to go over an emergency plan in the event that you have somene go into Anaphallactic shock on you. Find your cell phone or locate your Benedryl or their epi pen if they have one and ask them how to use it. If they are out the epi pen goes into the meat of the upper thigh only. Anywhere else could potentially kill the victom.
Cave safe.
Scott
From: "Louise Power" <power_lou...@hotmail.com>
To: billmi...@worldnet.att.net, texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Tone's adventure with bees
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:21:43 -0700
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.comHi Bill and all,
I've read all your comments on anaphylaxsis (sometimes called anaphylactic shock). Here, briefly, are the symptoms Tone described :
"David, Gary, and Matt decided to get some lunch before returning to de-rig the ropes. I declined the invitation as I wasn't much in the mood for food at the moment. After everyone decided that we were all ok, I headed home. After a shower, I fell asleep. It must have been around noon.
"Gary called me around 2:15 p.m. to see if I was ok. I didn't make it to the phone, but I did call him back shortly thereafter. I was in a sort of delirium, and I couldn't believe how nauseous I felt. I eventually went back to bed. David instant messaged me around 3 p.m. to see if I was ok. I told him "the welts aren't much bigger. In fact, they look much the same as when I left the parking area."
"As for me, I felt sick to my stomach and light headed from about noon to 5:45 p.m. I tried getting up several times only to lie back down."
Medicinenet.com describes the symptoms of anaphylaxis as:
What are anaphylaxis symptoms?
The symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction may occur within seconds of exposure, or be delayed 15 to 30 minutes, or even an hour or more after exposure (typical of reactions to aspirin and similar drugs). Early symptoms are often related to the skin and include:
- Flushing (warmth and redness of the skin),
- itching (often in the groin or armpits), and
- hives.
These symptoms are often accompanied by:
- a feeling of "impending doom,"
- anxiety, and
- sometimes a rapid, irregular pulse.
Frequently following the above symptoms, throat and tongue swelling results in hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing.
Symptoms of rhinitis (hay fever) or asthma may occur causing:
- a runny nose,
- sneezing, and wheezing, which may worsen the breathing difficulty,
- vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps may develop.
About 25% of the time, the mediators flooding the blood stream cause a generalized opening of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) which results in a drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, or even loss of consciousness. These are the typical features of anaphylactic shock.
Mayoclinic.com shows the following:
Signs and symptoms
An anaphylactic reaction is most likely to occur in susceptible people who've been stung by a bee, eaten food containing food allergens, or taken a medication that they are sensitive to. The effects of anaphylaxis aren't limited to the site of the exposure. Development of the following signs and symptoms within minutes of exposure to an allergen is a strong indication of anaphylaxis:
- Constriction of the airways, including wheezing and a swollen tongue or throat, that results in difficulty breathing
- Shock associated with a severe decrease in blood pressure
- Weak and rapid pulse
- Dizziness or fainting
- Hives and itching
- Flushed or pale skin
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Not everyone has all symptoms. Not all symptoms are severe. Not everybody has the respiratory problems when symptoms are not severe. But with the reaction he had, he should have been taken to the doctor. I would err on the side of caution, i.e., any out-of-the-ordinary reaction of this sort merits a trip to a doctor or emergency room. As I learned when I was an EMT, anaphylaxis is a true medical emergency.
I'm glad that this subject has evoked some discussion. Perhaps it will make everyone more aware of the danger.
Louise
From: "Bill Mixon" <billmi...@worldnet.att.net>
To: "CaveTex" <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Subject: [Texascavers] Tone's adventure with bees
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:16:52 -0600
MIME-Version: 1.0
Received: from raistlin.wokka.org ([69.56.185.90]) by bay0-mc11-f6.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2668); Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:18:00 -0700
Received: (qmail 69657 invoked by uid 89); 18 Jun 2007 23:17:58 -0000
Received: (qmail 69648 invoked by uid 31338); 18 Jun 2007 23:17:58 -0000
Tone's symptoms do not sound like anaphylactic shock. The most prominent and
threatening symptom of that is difficulty breathing or swallowing. When
people who are truly allergic to bee stings get stung even once, it's a 911
situation if they don't have an epinephine injector with them.
Being covered with a rash is also a classic symptom, as Don described.
If the bee has left its stinger in your skin, don't grab it to pull it
out. That may result in squeezing more poison into your skin. Scrape it off.
If it's any comfort to you, the bee dies after stinging you. It's a suicide
attack to protect the hive. -- Mixon
-----------------------
You may "Reply" to the address from which this message was sent,
but note the following permanent addresses for long-term use:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org, sa...@amcs-pubs.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com
For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Don�t miss your chance to WIN $10,000 and other great prizes from Microsoft Office Live --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
