Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
As I sit here waiting for my first LLMD appointment tomorrow I just remembered something.
About six summers ago I stepped on a bee's nest while walking my dog along a path. I got over 30 or 40 stings (I can't remember now exactly how many).
The bees went down my shirt, up my shirt and shorts legs, in my hair, all over me. I think I went into shock, but I am not allergic.
It took a few days to get over the horrible pain and a couple of weeks for my body to feel half-way normal again.
Does anyone know if maybe bee stings can cause Lyme-like symptoms?
Should I ask my LLMD at my first appointment tomorrow?
Thanks,
Leelee
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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sparkle7
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posted
Some people actually use bee venom to help with pain. It's called bee venom therapy.
Doctors or practitioners apply the venom either through live bees stinging accupunture points, using accupunture needles, in ointment to apply to the skin, or as honey taken internally.
It probably depends whether you have an allergy to bee stings or not. I don't see it would be(e) a problem... but it's a good idea to ask about it.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Starfall1969
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posted
I wonder if maybe having that many stings might have done something to your immune system that might have brought out dormant Lyme.
I really don't know...it sure wouldn't hurt to ask your LLMD.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
I would also wonder whether, after the initial shock, the bee stings may help you fight the lyme- maybe your experience is some kind of "herx"- very interesting.
I was allegic to bees when I was young, but once I was past about 17 the reactions seemed to diminish. I probably would have been apprehensive about intentional therapy with bee venom (for one thing, for some bees it kills the bees!), but it looks like you are a "guinea pog" now, so keep making notes about what happens! (I hope it ends up uquestionably helping you!) You should definitely mention this to your doc. He or she may know of possible interaction between bee venom and other drugs. Good luck! DaveS
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sparkle7
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posted
I think some bees actually eat or kill ticks. I remember reading an article about a specific type of bee that preys on ticks.
The author was considering if it would be good to get more of the bees to limit the tick population in the author's area (I think it was Fire Island, NY).
It was an old article - I think it was from back in the 1990's.
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
quote:Originally posted by sparkle7: [QB] I think some bees actually eat or kill ticks. I remember reading an article about a specific type of bee that preys on ticks.
Oh, dear. I don't know what to think about that since I hate both bees and ticks!
I live in the country and people out here have all sorts of ideas about what works to keep ticks away. Some people up the road have a bunch of guinea hens in a fenced in portion of their property right next to their house. They swear the hens keep the ticks away. I wouldn't want all those hens near my home, but I really wouldn't want more bees either! LOL! I may never win!
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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map1131
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Member # 2022
posted
I do know that after I was lyme infected, a bee sting become much more than I had ever experinced before.
My body is now so super sensitive to insects, spiders, mites everything that bites. Your post made me wonder if you were carrying lyme prior to the bee stings. Trauma & stress!
Trauma, stress etc can bring out lyme & company hell in one's body. We've seen it over and over again on this site.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
I have used bee venom ointment (called Venex) to combat lyme, and it worked really well. Probably as well as Penicillin G, in my comparison.
I would bet on the theory that the multiple bee stings killed off lyme in your system, and the overwhelming die-off toxic reaction caused you so much pain.
We keep chickens to eradicate insects on our property. We let them out every so often, and it makes a huge difference. Works far better than insecticide. Plus, we like the fresh eggs.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Hi bejoy,
I think you are right on target with your theory about the bee venom causing a die-off reaction.
The more I put pieces together, the more I am certain those bee stings had some impact on my (then undiagnosed) Lyme.
I forgot to mention my stings at my first LLMD appointment yesterday, but since I am in for the long haul I will have plenty of opportunities in the future.
The fresh eggs you get sound wonderful. Not so sure the chickens would last a minute at my house, though, what with my three crazy dogs and all.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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