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Treatment for a bee sting on arm with lymphedema

Zestforlife
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I was stung yesterday morning on palm of hand in my affected arm - stage 2 lymphedema

Ive been trying to get help since and have gone round in circles, which is infuriating but I wont waste your time with the saga.

I am expecting a call from my practice nurse between 1 and 3 today.

My hand is very swollen. The back of hand is very red. It is painful. I cannot make a full fist. Ive been taking Piriton and using anthisan cream, no improvement yet.

Being realistic, I will be lucky if the nurse I speak to will have good experience with lymphedema. What is the best course of action? Oral steroids or antibiotics or both. 

Any advise greatly appreciated. 

  • Hi Zestforlife,

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome back to the Online Community.

    I can appreciate your concern with how to manage your bee sting symptoms due to stage 2 lymphoedema. Sorry to hear that you are struggling to get help with this.

    If you have not received support from your GP surgery via the practice nurse, I wonder whether you have spoken to your hospital team about this. If not, then it would be as well to do so. We would always advise letting them know of any new or worsening symptoms so they can be assessed to ensure appropriate treatment.

    If you have a contact number for a breast care nurse or lymphoedema nurse then you could give them a call. Alternatively, if this is not an option and the symptoms worsen, we’d advise seeking urgent medical attention.

    There is also help and support available through our lymphoedema forum.

    If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch. You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

    Best wishes,

    Jo

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    Ref/AKR

     

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