Wasp sting - not fun
October 21, 2006 
Two weeks ago I was pushing my way through the bamboo in our back yard and 'discovered' a wasp nest. It was about the size of a deck of cards. My first clue was the searing pain on my right arm. After flailing wildly while running inside, I doused the sting area with some vinegar to help neutralize the venom. The image here was take 2 days later (10 Oct) when the discomfort was the worst. You can't really tell here, but my arm was quite red from the sting site down about halfway onto the forearm. I was working from home when I took this picture, and spent a good part of the day typing with my arm resting on a bag of ice. I was also downing antihistamine and some acetaminophen. That night I had some liquid anesthetic ;)
Well, after administering the immediate first aid on Sting Day, I had to exact my revenge. I grabbed a can of wasp spray in each hand (basically nerve gas for bugs - bad stuff - and very cool, since it shoots a stream about 30 feet) ...and then went back to the scene of the crime and kicked at the bamboo. The wasps came swarming out and I blasted a steady stream out of both cans, criss-crossing the poison jets as the poor little guys dropped to the ground. That's when I spotted the nest that I had dislodged. Until this time, I'd thought the nest was intact, and I'd merely disturbed it.
Wasps, unlike bees, do not die when they sting. They will sting and sting and sting until they no longer feel threatened. My guess is that it was a single wasp that got me, but the angry little warrior had a bit of a field day on my arm and jabbed a few times before bidding adieu. By Wednesday (11 Oct) it felt like I had a small pillow under my elbow ...since it was a bit swollen and rather mushy.
So now it is 2 weeks after the sting. The discomfort is completely gone, and the discoloration is almost gone. It's amazing the effect these little critters can have!
Florida
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