Yellow Jacket sting

Boy, this evening, as I was lying in bed reading, I realized there were 2 yellow jackets in my bedroom on my window screen.

I am not real fond of yellow jackets, and wasn't sure how they got in or why they were just hanging on the screen. So I decided it might be a good thing to slip a glass over them, and a paper between the screen and the glass, getting them caught and then open the door to the balcony and let them out. I had my pillows from my bed underneath them, stacked up, so I very carefully moved the pillows, when bam, a yellow jacket on the back of a pillow that I wasn't aware was there, got me on the back of my middle finger of my left hand.

I never saw a stinger, but I could sure feel the venom pulse with each heart beat. So I picked up the pillow and got it outside. Then I immediately went downstairs for the unactivated MMS. I put a few drops on directly over the sting, and when it rolled off, a few more drops on. Within 5 minutes, the sting was practically gone. The swelling, which had started just as I was putting the MMS on it, went down. I left it on 5 minutes, as per instructions and then washed it off. You could see the little red mark where the stinger had gone in.

I went back upstairs moved the other 2 yellow jackets and turned off the lights around 8:30. Woke up at 11pm. Came in here to send a message on the computer – no swelling, no residual discomfort at all, I can rub the back of that finger and can't feel anything – I can't even see the mark where the stinger went in. It is as if it never happened. The last time I got stung by a wasp, it was many HOURS before the swelling and pain went.

Pam

Pam;

You're a swell person to trap and liberate yellow jackets. And very interesting to hear your experience with treating the sting - I will give it a try - I always get stung at least once a season and it used be from my bees as well as yellow jackets.

But watch your bee's!! I had my 2 hives wiped out last summer by yellow jackets. I can't afford to get started again this season - unless I happen upon a swarm.

As we get further along in the season, fourfingerz, I'll put up an entrance reducer, which should help. I hope. I'm not sure how these got in - unless they came down the ventilation tubing from the top of the berm.