Beware the yellow jackets!

An incident while I was weeding.

I guess I’m on some kind of bad luck streak, because the flood was just a couple weeks ago, and on Tuesday, I stepped in a yellow jackets’ nest.

These creatures (in the wasp family; they are not bees) get very angry when you disturb their home.

I was innocently weeding in the yard, under some pines, when surprise! Lots of stinging feels on the lower end of my leg. Yellow jackets. They love in-ground nests.

Swatted one off my leg, and one that was in my shoe. Ran as fast as I could into the bathroom and downed some Benadryl. Sprayed some alcohol on my leg, mainly my foot. (Not sure that was a good idea.)

Took the Day 1 picture you see here. Put my foot in some ice water. Drank some wine.

It was a long night. More Benadryl. Lots of itchiness and pain, skin started to swell and feel really tight, and was getting quite red. I noted that I slept about four hours.

The good luck is that I had an already scheduled appointment with my dermatologist for a routine skin check at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. This was a blessing. She prescribed prednisone (tablet) and clobetasol (cream), and advised icing and staying off my feet as much as possible for the day or so, and continue Benadryl. 

Both of these are steroid products, and while side effects (hypertension, weight gain) are bad, the meds work well. And fast. Within a couple of days, my foot was returning to the world of the living. I am convinced the steroids were the reason.

I have no idea how many stings I got. I think just a few. But one yellow jacket can sting repeatedly. At least that’s what my internet research showed. Here’s some online info.

The dermatologist said it could have been worse: something like this had happened to her, which resulted in years of allergy shots. She also suggested calling an exterminator.

I am not allergic, and I know this because at least once every summer, I am stung by these critters. This year was worse than usual. It’s more dangerous if you are allergic, of course. For me, it’s just a seasonal yard hazard.

But if you are eating outdoors, be careful. These guys love proteins and sweets, so they’ll go for your food, and you too. They are more aggressive in late summer and fall because they are hungry. A more thorough explanation here from northjersey.com.

Now it’s Saturday morning as I write this, and though improved, the foot is far from normal. Skin is still open, as you see in Day 4, so no swimming for me this weekend.

I am heading to the hardware store for some wasp killer. Just to have on hand. (Right!) I’m doing some internet searches for exterminator, too. I’ll let you know what happens. I might go either way.

I also want to add this: During the week, I had the chance to speak to my primary doctor (about something completely different), but I did mention my condition. He said he always keeps a bottle of Adolf’s meat tenderizer on hand. He doesn’t eat meat, but uses it for insect bites and stings. It has an enzyme in it that reduces pain and swelling. Sure enough, Johns Hopkins confirms.

Apply a paste of nonseasoned meat tenderizer and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.

It’s on my shopping list.

P.S. As a last note, my friend Donna very gently suggested maybe it would be a good idea not to wear shorts while weeding. No doubt about it.

And for some scientific info, here’s a link to entomologytoday that offers up some interesting facts, including how yellow jackets are aggressive toward honey bees, too.

Who knew?