We used to use ichthammol ointment (available at the pharmacy OTC) and it really reduced the sting. I've also read that MSG such as Accent! reduces the sting as well.

WebMD says it might take 2-5 days to heal.

Have you tried hydrocortisone cream directly on the sting?

Socks, I don't think that this is unusual at all for a sting on the finger.

I wouldn't continue taking the benadryl or anything else but a topical hydrocortisone cream.

Meat tenderizer, such as Adolphs, is something I swear by, but is only effective immediately after the sting or bite, as in the case of mosquitoes. The enzyme papain, is what works to neutralize the venomous proteins.

Thank you everyone. I just thought it should be better by now. Will definitely use the hydrocortisone cream. Not a major problem, just an annoyance I'll be glad to get rid of!

Caladryl or Benadryl gel should help a lot. I stepped on a wasp and it stung the arch of my foot and it hurt and itched for about 10 days. Ice right after the sting helped a lot for the immediate pain. Then I used the gel.

My hand was VERY swollen last month, when I got stung. My girlfriend suggested putting onion on it. Thick slice, tied on with a bandana. It took the sting out, and made the swelling go down. I re applied onion several times.

Since then I got another ant bite. I swell up and get blisters from those. My daughter said, use a qtip soaked in bleach to swipe the area, after scratching the blister open.

Man, that worked GREAT. I will from now on use bleach for bites.

Moni

I first read that "tied on with a banana!" Love those home remedies, Moni! Thanks.

Bee stings can get infected so keep an eye on it.

I got a wasp sting and it took a week for things to get bad. Started with itching. The next day my wrist was red, swollen and hot. Since I'm on an immune-suppressing drug I decided it was time to see the doc. He gave me a shot of cortisone and put me on antibiotics for a week. So yes, infection is a very real possibility.

Next time... waste paper towels and use a BIG wad of them! Not sure if true, but seem to remember that some bees/wasps can sting even if dead??

As a bee keeper, my advice is never swat at them or they will sting. I have two hives and there are swarms going in and out, and I walk right between them as they fly. A foot away from both hives. I never get stung. I also rescue them if they fall into the birdbath with my bare finger. Again never stung. However, wasps and yellowjackets are a way different ballgame. Honey bees are sweet, they are definitely not. I have heard of the bleach and baking soda treatments. Make sure the stinger is out. Use a credit card to scrape it out.

I got stung 2 days in a row on the same foot and spot. I think it lasted about 2 weeks. I made a paste of vinegar & baking soda to put on it. then bought some benadryl gel to put on too.

I never knew these stings could be painful for so long. Joann, how awful that was for you, and everyone here who has suffered a sting. I think the cortisone cream is helping. My sting sounds minor compared to some.

Lily--beekeeping is just fascinating to me. Actually it's on my bucket list to help a beekeeper. Do you get the honey, that's why you have them?

I think it was a wasp or hornet, found on the kitchen floor. I tried to pick it up with a wadded paper towel, but it was too smart for me and got me anyway.

Yes, Socks, we do get honey, and we like that aspect ,but they are fascinating little beings to watch and if they were bigger, would rule the world. A real matriarchal society..lol. No doubt it was a yellow jacket or wasp you encountered. They can be very nasty.

Start saving up now in case you might need an Epipen in the future.

Oh dear God I almost needed my inhaler just looking at that nest! I would move out of the house till it was gone lol. I am extremely allergic.

Lucille....lol....really!

Oh, Yikes FlamingO. In a fit of frustration, very busy and tired to be climbing around on a ladder after dark, I called the exterminator to come and remove one of those last month. It just appeared out of nowhere, huge all at once it seemed, on a cherry limb right above where a friend always chooses to park in our circular driveway. I knew they would only get more aggressive as Fall approaches and wanted it gone. The most painful and lasting sting I've had has been from bald faced hornet.

I've since learned of a company not too far from here who will come and vacuum up all types bees and wasps, hornets, remove the nests - for free, and only if you have not attempted to treat first with some kind of spray including a water spray. They will handle all but yellow jacket ground nests if called at a time where they feel they can make a profit. Their profit is selling to labs who make serum from the venom. It sounded like a good deal for all involved, the homeowner, the contractor and for those in need of serum too. I bookmarked the name for future reference.

I wish I'd known before I called the exterminator. He was really nice, prompt and efficient, suited up head to toe he used two different products not particularly harsh to the environment - but he wasn't cheap.

If anyone ever sees a swarm of honey bees, there will always be someone to call to gently remove them and transfer them to a hive. They swarm when they get too crowded and won't hurt anyone ,but they attach to a tree and figure out where to move. That's how we got started 30 years ago. I had an antique barrel on my porch and saw honey bees going in. We found a bee guy and he helped transfer them into a hive we purchased. If we lose our bees , we

If we lose our bees , we lose our food.

I don't know if it works but after my stings I hung a brown paper bag on on a string on my front and back porch/deck. Its suppose to keep other wasps/hornets away.

I have an irrational fear of wasps, and am deathly afraid. I had to do light breathing exercises reading everyone's responses. Now regular bees, I'm fine with. They're not satan's henchmen such as wasps, hornets, etc.

4 days ago I got stung by a yellow jacket 3 times on my cheek and not the cheek on my face. Still itches like crazy but the swelling has gone down. I used hydrocortisone cream

Honey bees only sting once and then they die, so they never do it unless provoked by swatting. Wasps and hornets sting over and over and don't die.

Honey bees' stinger very often stays stuck in the target and pulls out of the bee with the venom sac attached. The bee dies afterward. That little venom sac can sporadically pulse up to 30 minutes after the initial sting. That's why a bee sting keeps periodically giving you a jab of pain; you're continually being injected by spurts. That's also why it is important to remove a bee stinger as quickly as possible to limit the amount of venom. When removing the stinger, never squeeze the outer end, the end with the venom sac. That would inject the entire load of venom. Use tweezers and grip the stinger at skin level. The object is to remove the venom source without further injection.

A bee stinger is barbed giving it holding power. Stingers in the wasp family are smooth and can be used by the insect multiple times. Wasps, who do not loose their stinger, continue to live to refill their venom supply and sting again another day.

Several years ago I ran over a nest of yellow jackets with my lawnmower and got multiple stings. I had socks on and they actually clung to the socks and I ran inside and into the shower to get them off of me. I ended up really sick and in lots of pain. This was on a holiday so I had to wait to see my dr for a day and by the time I got to see him my legs were totally black and blue and swollen. I also had poison ivy on my face at the time so was given steroids and that helped both situations. I still have about 8 spots on my lower leg and ankle which appear to be deep bruises. Those little buggers are nasty! I used toothpaste on the stings the day it happened but it didn't do much..

So sorry to those of you who have had horrible stings, much worse than mine. Thank you to everyone here; the information has been helpful, interesting. My finger is still swollen, quite sensitive and itchy but might be a little better, hard to tell, but definitely not worse.

I've been told to make a mud paste on stings to draw the poison out. It's an old timer remedy. I realize a lot of people would probably be horrified by that, but it might be useful until you could get back home to the medicine cabinet.

Juice from a fresh aloe plant will cure stings immediately! My son got into a wasp nest when cleaning out roof spouts - swiped the area with cut open aloe plant leaf and within minutes was cured. Many keep an aloe plant in their kitchens because it is also an instant cure for burns. Please treat yourself to an aloe.

A couple of weeks ago I was stung on the ankle while mowing. Within 30 seconds it was hurting so much, I could barely hobble to the house. I used benydryl cream, lidocaine cream, and iced it and wrapped it, and even with all that it was still throbbing as I went bed 10 hours later.

When I was stung by the bald faced hornet a few years ago, I was so uncomfortable (and feeling a little ill) I called my friend who is our public health nurse. She said ice, Advil, oral Benadryl immediately. It already wasn't quite immediately, but I thought her instructions helped. It still took a couple of days for the swelling and redness to go away - behind and a little below my ear.

I got stung by some kind of bug two years ago. The next day it was still very itchy but didn't really hurt. Two of my golfing buddies insisted I see a doctor immediately. I thought they were crazy....it's just a bug bite. They kept on insisting, I planned on ignoring them but for some reason or other, after lunch I headed to Urgent Care. They were right, I had cellulitis! I would get it checked out. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it can't hurt any to see a doctor. Cellulitis, if left unchecked, can be very serious and very painful. A little antibiotic now, will take care of it.

George, I had no idea about that. Thank you for the info. I'm keeping a close eye on the finger and will head to an urgent care if I don't think it's easing.

When DH got stung between his thumb and pointer finger, his hand swelled up and the doctor put him on antibiotics as a precaution against infection.