Do I go to the dr. for a yellowjacket sting?

[maylips]

I got stung last night around 5:30 between my wrist and elbow. Currently, there is a puffed up circle where I was stung and 1/2 inch - 1 inch circle of red surrounding it. It's also swollen. I have a little swelling in my hand and my arm is very painful - almost like carpel tunnel in my wrist and palm.

I've read online about "delayed" allergic reaction but I didn't know how delayed is delayed. It caused me a lot of pain since I was stung but I was able to sleep through the night fine. It just hurts like the dickens now.

We don't have great insurance so I'm the type to typically wait it out but I'm wondering if I should go to the doctor to get checked out. WWYD?

[HIU8]

Can you call the dr. and talk to a nurse first before you decide to go in? I have no idea about reactions to bee stings. I've only been stung once and had no reaction (not sure about severity of reaction etc...).

[LMPC]

Personally, I wouldn't go at this point. I might put some ice on it to reduce the swelling and keep an eye on it. Maybe take an anti-inflammatory for the swelling if you can. Sounds like it's in the normal realm of reactions to me (or at least what I have experienced with yellow jacket/wasp stings).

[Tenasparkl]

I had a similar reaction to a sting a few weeks ago. Try some caladryl lotion (I liked the clear). That and some tylenol got me through the swelling, itching and little bit of pain. You should be OK without going to the Dr.

[infomama]

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/insect-stings

Yours sounds like a normal allergic reaction so I would self treat unless it worsens.

[yournamehere]

Last year I got stung by a yellow jacket and WOULD NOT go to the doctor even though my husband told me to b/c it swelled up pretty bad. I told him it is just a bee sting, I'm tough no need for a dr. Well after 5 days my ankle was so swollen and I could hardly walk so I went to the dr. Yellow jackets live in the ground and are the dirtiest of bees b/c of it and carry lots of infections. I had not had a tetenous shot in a while so he gave me that and then told me to get some zyrtec and also gave me a subscription itch cream. After the tetenous it cleared up and then I got stung about 3 weeks later and had no swelling at all but I did have that great cream for the limited itching compared to the first time.

[maylips]

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/insect-stings

Yours sounds like a normal allergic reaction so I would self treat unless it worsens.

Thanks for sending the link - I definitely have many of the mild allergic reactions but since I'm not really interested in a tetanus shot (!) I'll avoid the doctor until I can't use my hand like yournamehere. :)