About 12 miles into a 45-mile group ride this Saturday, I got stung on the lip by a wasp. I decided the prudent thing to do, even though I don’t normally get bad reactions to stings, was to turn around and go home. I had some ice left in my water bottle and held it between my lips most of the way back. Although I had some swelling at first, by the time I got back it was barely noticeable. What would you have done?
I would have done the same. Fortunately you didn’t swallow the wasp and it bit you in the throat. I know of a guy who died because of that. I got bit on the forearm by a wasp on a century ride with about 25 miles to go a few weeks ago. I had no choice but to soldier on to the finish, but it made a misearable ride.
When I was a kid I was stung in the mouth by a wasp. Nasty, I can tell you.
If you didn’t know for certain that you might get an allergic reaction, then you did the right thing. Allergic reactions can kill surprisingly quickly, it’s rare, but does still happen.
You done good.
J.
I do have bad reactions to stings and I would have gone back at double speed.
I know of 2 people who have died from stings to the face and neck and they did not have any bad reactions prior. I think that you did the smart thing in turning around.
While racing bicyles in Spain in 97, I had just bridged to the winning break when a bee flew in my mouth (which was open and gasping for breath) and stung me on my uvula. It started to swell up, and I began to ask myself if I should drop out. But I thought that 1) this is possibly the winning break and 2) my director sportif would not be pleased, and 3) I didn’t know how to say “a bee just stung me on my uvula and I can’t breathe.” So I hung in and finished 5th.
I didn’t suffocate, but my damn uvula was so big (a bit bigger than my thumb) it kept gagging me, especially that night when I slept on my side. It hung all the way down on the side of my throat, giving me the constant urge to clear my throat. But like I said, I got 5th.
The only thing I’d say is to make sure your withdrawal was a smart withdrawal…you could put yourself in more danger by leaving unless you had a cell phone, knew where there was medical help at every mile along the way, or at least took along a buddy with a sharp knife that knows how to do an emergency cricoidotomy. IOW, leaving the safety of a group to go on your own could be a bad thing if you got into respiratory distress. And, just because it didn’t bother you this time, it doesn’t guarantee you won’t have problems the next time…be careful out there, even when you’re trying to be careful!
I don’t think you wussed. If anyone is concerned about having an allergic reaction, you should be carrying an epi pen and 50mg of Benadryl. Actually carrying 50 mg of Benadryl should be standard in your bike bag, not only is it good for bee stings, but it helps if you have any type of allergy attack. If I show up to assist you for an allergic reaction, that is what you are going to get is epi and benadryl. If you are concerned about having a reaction now, make an appointment with your PCP and discuss with her/him about your concerns and your PCP may either have you tested or prescribe an epi pen for you.
Take acer and be safe,
John
That is incredible…yesterday I was stung on the lip by a wasp as well, we were about 10kms into a 130 km ride, my lip got big real fast but I decided to sip cold water and decided I’d continue on until the first refueling stop then see if I would turn back or not…we stopped at about 50 kms and the swelling had started to go down so I continued on and did the full 130 kms. It’s bad here today though, all kinds of skin peeling off the inside of my lip. Last week a bee flew into my mouth and luckily I spit him out before I got stung…unfortunately I spit him into the guy riding next to me…it was pretty funny actually. There are more bees and wasps this time of the year for some reason, it seems every ride we go on lately someone gets stung…usually on the arm or hand though…perhaps I talk too much while riding 