Desensitisation Treatment

[Christabella]

Hi, my son has developed an allergy to bee stings and been advised by the Dr at A&E to see his own GP about getting an Epipen and desensitisation treatment, just wondered if anyone has any experience or information about this. Thanks

[Patrick]

Simple answer is no I don’t but as it must have been a frightening and worrying thing to have to go to A&E, a couple of thoughts in the absence of other responses for you.

Not knowing any details so apologies if a crass question, but are you absolutely sure it was an allergic reaction? I am no Dr, but depending on the location of the sting, the normal response to a sting on the face for example can appear quite extreme but does not necessarily imply an allergy.

I only know the desensitisation process can be over a quite prolonged period so is a reasonable commitment. Unless no room for doubt, I would seek a second opinion as I have encountered a lot of people who believe themselves allergic when in fact they can just swell up in response to a sting which is certainly unpleasant but a relatively normal response.

Best of luck with it.

[AdamD]

I know that it DOES work; as Patrick says it can take a time. I think I am correct (or my mind may be failing me) that Gavin Ramsay who runs the Scottish Forum went through the process a few years' ago.

[Lua Lua]

I do know a little about this. I had a reaction in May when I was stung and developed tingly lips and incredibly itchy hands and feet before needing to lie on the floor suddenly. All classic analhylactic responses. I have 2 adrenaline pens now (these are in very short supply as manufacturing difficulties). The adrenaline treats the drop in blood pressure causing the collapse, not the itching, swelling etc. My GP referred me to a local allergy specialist and I had a 5 month wait for this as the appointment has been offered for early October. I now find out that the consultant is long term off sick until his retirement in November and the clinic will not be happening, although they have not yet informed me! An alternative hospital is offering ‘mid December’ appointments. So, all in all, difficult to obtain treatment in a timely way on the NHS. There aren’t many clinics and specialists.

That said, bee and wasp stings, like nut allergy, can be very serious and I suspect the clinics are full of people who have vague allergies, bit of swelling etc so you should ensure your GP mentions on the referral letter that yuor son has had an anaphylactic response and that you keep bees, so he is at higher risk and shuold be seen quickly. Desensitisation involves an injection a week, initially then once a month for up to 3 years but probably does work well.

Meanwhile, keep Piriton (chlorpheniramine) close by and give 1 or 2 (off licence) to chew immediately if he is stung & use the adrenaline pen if he suffers any dizziness, faint, extreme swelling, breathing difficulties etc.

[CalvinP]

Having only just joined the Forum I am late to reply to this but hope I can help.
Having kept bees for 2 years I became allergic after a double sting last July and this was diagnosed at a hospital in Oxford. Thankfully I got on their desensitisation program quickly and have already been through the initial 3 months after which I can now withstand an injection that is equivalent to a full sting. However, this is always done after taking antihistamines. I now need to continue having injections for another 3 years (every 2 months). I have read around the subject a lot and have found that many beekeepers can return to their hobby and stings have less effect than before, but they still recommend that you carry an EpiPen just in case. As I have yet to get back to beekeeping properly I would love to hear first hand from beekeepers who have also been through densensitisation to hear how they have practically managed beekeeping after treatment. I am hoping to get the allergy clinic consultant to take part in a survey of their past patients to get this kind of practical information. I'm seeing her next week.....

[AdamD]

Hi Calvin, welcome to the forum. I am pleased that the treatment appears to be working for you. I don't have any experience of anything more that swelling which was a few years' ago; I don't get much of a reaction now at all. I would be devastated if I had to give up beekeeping. I guess I should point out that anyone with concerns should seek advice from a doctor (as you have done of course) so they know the advice is appropriate for them.

[thewoodgatherer]

Agree with most of what’s already said in the main Patrick’s comment about normal reactions. I get very varied reactions to bee stings ranging from not being able to locate the spot that was injected to a blown up arm having been stung near the arm pit. Apparently my daughter who is a vet commented that the stings near the lymph nodes of the armpit and the subsequent massive inflammation is not unexpected.
I also have an intermittent allergy to what I believe is one of the constituents of propolis which causes contact dermatitis but only for a limited few months early in the season.