Written Monday: (New update below)
On the deck this morning around eleven a.m., cleaning up and trying to de-cobweb the back side of the house, I jiggled a light fixture with the broom. As the top portion of it fell, I reached for it and was stung on the fourth finger of the right hand by a yellow jacket. It hurt like a $#^%$!@#&*+# and I immediately made a paste of meat tenderizer and water and applied it to my finger. The pain eased off a bit, but it kept coming back. I noticed that every time I washed my hands, the cool water made it hurt more, and I wondered why.
I looked for a stinger, but the point of entry was not evident. Now and then it hurt, but didn't itch. I kept re-applying the paste of meat tenderizer and that helped a bit. Later in the afternoon, mr. kenju and I went to our health club to work out, and afterward, we went into the hot tub. I noticed immediately that the hot water did not make the hand hurt more (as cold water had), and I wondered why.
Now it is twelve hours later, and I am hurting like all hell has broken loose. The swelling, which had subsided earlier in the day, has puffed up again and now a part of my hand is also swollen. It hurts to move it or to try and flex it and the skin itches terribly. A friend told me to apply Ben*dryl cream, but I didn't have any, so I used the gel form.
I finally read a medical book to check out what to do and it said to ice the injured part. Fully realizing it is really late in the process to be doing that, I am alternately typing this and holding an ice pack on my hand, which really does hurt like hell. I took a Tylen*l and drank beer (which I know I should not do) and it still hurts.
I looked for a stinger, but the point of entry was not evident. Now and then it hurt, but didn't itch. I kept re-applying the paste of meat tenderizer and that helped a bit. Later in the afternoon, mr. kenju and I went to our health club to work out, and afterward, we went into the hot tub. I noticed immediately that the hot water did not make the hand hurt more (as cold water had), and I wondered why.
Now it is twelve hours later, and I am hurting like all hell has broken loose. The swelling, which had subsided earlier in the day, has puffed up again and now a part of my hand is also swollen. It hurts to move it or to try and flex it and the skin itches terribly. A friend told me to apply Ben*dryl cream, but I didn't have any, so I used the gel form.
I finally read a medical book to check out what to do and it said to ice the injured part. Fully realizing it is really late in the process to be doing that, I am alternately typing this and holding an ice pack on my hand, which really does hurt like hell. I took a Tylen*l and drank beer (which I know I should not do) and it still hurts.
UPDATE: It is now 6 am Tuesday morning. My itching hand woke me up an hour ago. Topical Benadryl has allowed it to ease off a little, and the application of another ice pack has helped a little, but not much.
Second Update: It is now 12:43pm. I took 2 Dr*mmam*ine about 6 am and slept until noon. It still hurts and itches! I just called my doctor's office and they are closed for the remainder of the day. What to do? What to do?!
Third Update: It is 10:17 pm. My hand is still swollen and it still hurts. Tomorrow morning I am going to call my doctor's office and see what she says to do. I'll keep you posted. For now, all I can say is keep away from the darn little buggers!
Second Update: It is now 12:43pm. I took 2 Dr*mmam*ine about 6 am and slept until noon. It still hurts and itches! I just called my doctor's office and they are closed for the remainder of the day. What to do? What to do?!
Third Update: It is 10:17 pm. My hand is still swollen and it still hurts. Tomorrow morning I am going to call my doctor's office and see what she says to do. I'll keep you posted. For now, all I can say is keep away from the darn little buggers!
