I was just about to start a thread about bee's but since this ones already going I'll do my bitching here.
I don't know what it is about this year but I've had to tango with bees, hornets, and wasps way more than previous years.... and they're really pissing me off!!
I've had a bunch of big crane removals lately (at least 1 a week for last 5 or 6 weeks) and there's been hives in most of them. I get stung here and there but it usually irks me off more than anything else.... until yesterday.
We craned out a spooky cottonweed and a waisted elm without any problems. The crane was gone by 11:00 and all that was left was to prune an elm and a willow. As I was making a few cuts from the ground with my polesaw I got stung by 2 of em at the same time.... in the face. 1 on the cheekbone and 1 just under the jaw line, both on the left side of my face.
Normally getting stung just pisses me off for a bit and I'm over it. Not this time. Within 5 minutes I noticed the bottom of my feet were itchy... then my palms.... then all over. A rash started going up both arms and my face was red. I was starting to worry that it was going to effect my breathing next so I had a groundie drive me to the ER, just in case things got worse.
I haven't had to go to the ER or any doctor in several years but this was the 1st time a sting actually had an effect on me so off to the ER we went and it's a good thing we went when we did!!! As soon as we left I started feeling feverish and woosey. We got about 1.5 miles down the road and my eyesight went from fuzzy to gone in moments.
It was weird, my vision didn't "blackout"... it went whiteout instead. For about 5 minutes all I could see was bright white and my driver didn't know how to get to the ER.
Fortunately I was able to keep my composure and not panic. My vision started coming back so I could tell my driver where the damn ER was and once we arrived it was back.... thank God!! They checked me out.... gave me an IV of benedryl and 2 tylenol.... kept an eye on me for 45 min or so and I was out the door and back on the job.
So um, yeah.... I'm REALLY disgusted with bugs that fly and have stingers for the rest of the season!!