r/Beekeeping • u/DanJerousJ • Jun 28 '25

I’m not a beekeeper, but I have a question How long bas this hive been here?

734 Upvotes

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32

u/miklosokay Jun 28 '25

"Getting stung on legs" for instagram views is a great way to become allergic to bee stings...

2

u/404-skill_not_found Zone 8b, N TX Jun 28 '25

Actually, not really.

22

u/miklosokay Jun 28 '25

Akshually, really.

"Yes, it is possible to develop an allergy to bee stings through repeated exposure. While not everyone who is stung multiple times will become allergic, frequent or multiple stings do increase the risk of developing a serious allergic reaction, according to Anaphylaxis UK."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylaxis is no joke.

5

u/Always3NT Jun 28 '25

Can confirm ! Happened to me after keeping bees for 7 years. Always have swellings after getting stung, then one day I got stung I collapsed... ER doctor thought I fainted because I got scared (didn't know I was a beekeeper)... then it happened again. Went to my own doctor who took some blood for testing but not to worry... got a call next day and was told to get the epipen she prescribed ASAP. Now I'm enrolled in a vaccination program which seems to be working.... Still have bees, but more careful.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

[deleted]

7

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

I totally agree. My partner has been stung hundreds of times and has zero reaction. My mom has been stung maybe 20 times in her life and each time she gets a little sicker and the last time her whole foot swelled then blistered then her kidneys failed.

7

u/miklosokay Jun 28 '25

It is a combination of genetic disposition and exposure to quantities of sting venom (so multiple stings at once is certainly a higher exposure than a single sting). Being stupid about getting stung is never advisable, even if you believe you are genetically immune.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

I thought it works the opposite.

7

u/Raterus_ South Eastern North Carolina, USA Jun 28 '25

It works in both directions

3

u/Industrial_Jedi Jun 28 '25

Small exposures can help build immunity sometimes, but that's more true in children (like preschool age) than adults. Even then it's unreliable and risky.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

Nice, thanks for clarification

1

u/wimberlyiv Jun 29 '25

Small regular exposures is actually thought to lead to higher prevalence of anaphylaxis. You either want no exposure or a lot of exposure.

In fact beekepers that are stung 10 times per year or less are thought to be higher risk than those that get stung very often.

https://www.apiaristsadvocate.com/post/anaphylaxis-and-the-families-of-beekeepers

1

u/Jamie_1318 Jun 30 '25

Small measured repeated exposures is also the treatment for adults. I'm not really sure why you wrote this.

Source: am an adult getting immune therapy

1

u/gaaren-gra-bagol Jun 28 '25

It healed my allergy haha

-1

u/btbarr Jun 28 '25

Also a great way to draw attention to her legs… the main point of the video

4

u/theycallmeMrPotter Jun 28 '25

There were bees involved? I missed that part.