----- Original Message -----

From: sethzondag

To: insectstings@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:51 AM

Subject: [insectstings] Re: Anaphylactic reaction, or panic attack?

Thanks for all of the responses, everyone! Here's an update: I talked with my allergist over the phone about a week ago and explained to her what had happened. She believes I definitely experienced anaphylaxis, but said I need to change my appointment for skin testing to a date at least six weeks after the date I got stung. Apparently there is a higher likelihood of getting a false negative if you get tested too soon. My husband is in between jobs right now, so I will probably have to wait until September to do the skin testing, when my insurance kicks back in. If I test positive, I'm pretty sure I will go ahead with the immunotherapy. Anyway, I do not leave the house without my epi anymore, and if I get stung again I will immediately take benadryl and then give myself an epi at the first possible sign of anaphylaxis.

On another note, my 10 month old baby girl was stung by a BABY wasp two days after I was stung. She immediately developed a rash on both arms and on one side of her face, but had no other adverse symptoms. I took her to her pediatrician last week and she was given the RAST blood test, but it came back negative. Her pediatrician gave us a junior epi-pen for her anyway, just in case. I know some people are against the prescription of epi-pens for "just in case" scenarios, but if my allergist hadn't given me an epi-pen last fall as a "just in case" precaution after my bad local reaction, I might not have survived this latest sting. I would rather not take any chances with my baby girl.

Thanks again everyone!!! Kim

---

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David, Thanks for the reassurance about my daughter's sting. Hopefully she will NOT end up being allergic. It did scare me though that she had such a widespread rash from a baby wasp - she probably would have been covered from head to toe if it had been a grown wasp! Sensitive, I guess...

Does anyone know if sting allergies have any genetic component to them? Probably not, but my uncle is severely allergic too, so I'm curious.

Thanks again, Kim

--- In insectstings@yahoogroups.com, "Insect Stings" <david@...> wrote:
>
> It is so sad when babies get stung - I remember watching as a wasp landed on my 8 month old daughter's hand, sticky with food, and before I could do anything it had stung her and gone. Evil little creatures!!
>
> On a positive note your daughter's rash would not be an allergic response since this was presumably your baby's first sting - you cannot have an allergic response until you have been sensitized by venom to start with. The response was the little one's reaction to venom but not a true allergic reaction so please be reassured about that. It is unusual to have such a widespread response though and just illustrates the sensitivity of baby's skin I guess.
>
> In any event, please do keep in touch with all of us!
>
> David
>
>
> From: Deb Fawcett
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:07 PM
> To: insectstings@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [insectstings] Re: Anaphylactic reaction, or panic attack?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Kim
>
> Good to hear from you. I was wondering what was going on. So sorry your baby got stung. Even a baby wasp sting HURTS ! Stay strong and in control. I still don't leave my house without my epi pens, antihistimine and charged cell phone. It's just a way of life now.
>
> Keep us updated.
>
> Debbie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: sethzondag
> To: insectstings@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:51 AM
> Subject: [insectstings] Re: Anaphylactic reaction, or panic attack?
>
>
> Thanks for all of the responses, everyone! Here's an update: I talked with my allergist over the phone about a week ago and explained to her what had happened. She believes I definitely experienced anaphylaxis, but said I need to change my appointment for skin testing to a date at least six weeks after the date I got stung. Apparently there is a higher likelihood of getting a false negative if you get tested too soon. My husband is in between jobs right now, so I will probably have to wait until September to do the skin testing, when my insurance kicks back in. If I test positive, I'm pretty sure I will go ahead with the immunotherapy. Anyway, I do not leave the house without my epi anymore, and if I get stung again I will immediately take benadryl and then give myself an epi at the first possible sign of anaphylaxis.
>
> On another note, my 10 month old baby girl was stung by a BABY wasp two days after I was stung. She immediately developed a rash on both arms and on one side of her face, but had no other adverse symptoms. I took her to her pediatrician last week and she was given the RAST blood test, but it came back negative. Her pediatrician gave us a junior epi-pen for her anyway, just in case. I know some people are against the prescription of epi-pens for "just in case" scenarios, but if my allergist hadn't given me an epi-pen last fall as a "just in case" precaution after my bad local reaction, I might not have survived this latest sting. I would rather not take any chances with my baby girl.
>
> Thanks again everyone!!! Kim
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.70/2177 - Release Date: 06/15/09 05:54:00
>