Babymakers - Yellow Jackets

Babymakers

This blog is written
by conservative,
unbrainwashed, kids,
raising a bunch of kids

Oct. 30, 2008 - Yellow Jackets

Tuesday morning when my 5 yo was putting on shoes she got stung in the foot by a yellow jacket that was sitting in her shoe. We have been stung by these before and got big welts. This time I did the ususal- a little garlic and some lavender essential oil.. we were in a hurry to get into town. When we got there I took off her shoe and wiped off the garlic and put her sock back on... her foot was just red at this point. Normally we use plantain but we were in a hurry and just grabbed what we consider second best for bites. We have used garlic many times before and when I took the garlic off it was just welting so I know the garlic didn't burn the skin and cause blisters. By the next day her foot was covered in water blisters and her foot was super swollen including the toes!! I have never seen anything like this.

That day (wednesday) she got bit again! This time it was on her thigh on the same leg! Poor thing. After seeing her foot I knew I would have to act quick. So I began applying garlic/onion/vinegar poultices with wet clothes and covering them with a warm water bottle hoping to drive the herbs in and get the poisin neutralized. I also gave her fresh garlic in honey, vitamin c, probiotics (full size adult capsules) and flax seed oil. This worked in not letting her thigh get so swollen and hot and covered in blisters as her foot had. Last night her foot was still so swollen that her toes were completely red.

I remembered a tincture I made that was in the cupboard for joints of people with arthritis and other swelling issues so I gave her some. She has also gotten a few salt baths. She has a high tolerance for pain and says it doesn't hurt (except when I clean them)and she is not itching the wounds. By this morning, Thursday, her toes were back to normal size. The blisters are broken and believe it or not her foot is getting better slowly. Her thigh just has a few small water blisters forming that came up not long after I took the photo. If you examined the photo close you could probably see where they were going to come up. There are three small ones that formed. And the darkness of the skin- I don't know if this is actually bruising or if this is the skin being discolored............ I am not so worried about the swelling, believe it or not I think I have it under control.

My question is this.... why did she react so bad when she has been stung by the same insects before and only gotten a welt? I have never heard of blisters and the skin looking like this before from yellow jackets. I know if you are allergic you can swell.... I am wondering if anyone has experience in the area of being able to tell if this is allergic reactions or if this is some form of a skin problem or infection entering the wounds.....?????? Any help?? I would like to know more in hopes of preventing problems in the future. After all, could you imagine if this was her face or something??

Comments

Oct. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon

Awwwwwwwww poor baby! I got stung by a YJ awhile back.... wouldn't leave me alone and then stung me right on my big toe. It BURNED for DAYS and I had to constantly keep it in either cold water or under a heating pad - hurt so bad, but it didn't swell up like that. OUCH! :((

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Oct. 31, 2008 - Ouch

Posted by bubbebobbie

From what I know, you can never have reacted before and then one day wham! And once you do react you will always react and each time more than the last. I have nreferences for this (and I hate that) but it is what I have seen and heard over the years. Wish I could be more helpful, but I will pray. We always used Baking Soda or meat tenderizer on our bites. Don't know if that helps.

I know this election is frustrating and all the issues are huge. I thought maybe this one issue I shared on the Homeschool Lounge might help you with your decisions. It is not abortion, not gay rights and not the economy. It is one I fought for and hid in my home for, it is your right to teach your children.

Here is part of what I wrote there.

Obama does not think you are capable. He does do not believe You as your child's parent is the most important person in their lives. It is not you loving them, No it is not YOU at all according to Barak Obama.

Obama said,
"the single most important factor in determining a child's achievement is not the color of their skin or where they come from; it's not who their parents are or how much money they have. It's who their teacher is."
I am sorry, but that is absolutely Anti-home education and Homeschooling parents better wake up before it is too late!

HSLDA sent out an alert earlier this year about Early Childhood Education Act .. this is something that affects your family. Consider this when you vote.

So that is something else to talk with your beloved about and pray over. I pray peace for you in whatever you do.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

Edited by bubbebobbie on Oct. 30, 2008 at 11:17 PM

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Oct. 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by hugs4Him

A great thing for insect bites of all kinds is the homeopathic remedy called Ledum. I have that & Arnica on hand at all times. Arnica is for bruising & would be good to take with it for the pain & swelling.

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Oct. 31, 2008 - ~ Ouch...~

Posted by SincerelyAmanda

Oh, I've been stung by yellow jackets several times in my life. Last year I was stung on the nose and my face swelled up (it looked horrible!). One natural remedy my mother discovered is apis mellifica (I think that is how it's spelled). It is probably most effective on bee stings since it is made from bee products, but I think it helped me with wasp stings too.

~Amanda~

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Nov. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by misskris

This is something that is quite common, actually. I spoke with my husband about this (he is in the pest control business) and he said your daughter is allergic to them. I would be extra careful to keep her away from them.

The thing about allergies is you may not have a really bad reaction the first few times you are exposed to the allergen, but later the allergy will come out with a really big reaction.

It's the same with mold. We had friends that had a bad mold problem in their home, but didn't know it until their second winter in the home, because it took them that long to develop the allergy to it. After that, they couldn't live in it at all, they were so sick.

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Nov. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by DanielleW

Aww, poor little one! I am not allergic to bees etc. But once when I was young I got stung and it did this. Maybe not that bad of a blister. But very swollen and I did blister.

Ever since then, I have had bad reactions to stings. I got stung on my finger and it was the size of a HOT DOG. It really looked one too.

I know this doesn't help at all because I don't know what to do for myself when I get stung. I just avoid it if at all possible. LOL (The best remedy that I used was mud)

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