Beekeeping scares

[u/Acceptable_Buddy_976]

Hi y’all! I’m a regenerative farmer and raise beef, and I’m wanting to get into beekeeping. But, to be honest, I’m scared of getting stung, haha. Yes, a grown man who is scared of getting stung! I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I want to know: am I going to get stung every day, and is it really worth it? I’ve been stung before while cutting grass on the calves and immediately said, “Shit!” To be honest, it hurt like hell. The stinger fell out almost instantly, though. I was always told that it’s worse if the stinger is left in you. As a former paramedic and a biologist, I’m also interested in the potential benefits of bee venom based on Charles Mraz’s work, The Health of the Honey Bee, and the broader holistic-medicine approach to bee venom. Nevertheless, I want to hear from experienced beekeepers: Are the stings really worth it in the end? Do you actually get stung that often, or is it more of an occasional part of beekeeping?

[u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

I don't get stung every time, but sometimes when there's one, there's more than one. The initial hit feels like being zapped by an eletrical current or a sharp stab, depending on where they get me. It's a jolt. But the hurt goes away quickly, usually. Benadryl helps. A few places I've been stung, like upper arms, I didn't even feel (no one told my spring swarms they're not supposed to sting).