Allergies and Allergic Reactions

Mike_H · Sep 8, 2026

I spent a part of my Labor Day in the ER. Apparently, I've developed a pretty nasty allergic response to yellowjackets. Got stung, once, on the finger, and went through the whole allergic reaction thing, short of having difficulty breathing. I've been stung before, numerous times and NEVER had a reaction like this. Last time I was stung was the beginning of summer, right behind my Right ear. I've heard the Dr's and doing web searches, and they are confirming this can develop at any time, and now that it has, the next one will be worse (Great!).

Couple of things though...Can this be triggered by stress? Its a thought I've had, as I'm pretty stressed at work right now...and I've got some other stuff that is happening in my health that makes me wonder (I have Arthritis in my ankle and its flaring more frequently).

Does the Venom that the yellow Jacket inject become more potent later in their life cycle? Like, Maybe there is a threshold tolerance that was overcome yesterday and not in June last time I was stung?

Just trying to figure this stuff out, as I don't seem to get any "real" answers from my med team. Like my ankle needs replacement, but they won't do it until I'm 60 (at least) and their opinion is " there is nothing they can do." As a patient, that type of news is incredibly defeating. Now, for the rest of my life, according to the ER doc, I'm carrying an epi-pen and Benadryl. I don't want to live in fear of a GD bug that could tag me at any time...

Thanks in advance.

WVJeep304 · Sep 8, 2026

Mike_H said:
Couple of things though...Can this be triggered by stress? Its a thought I've had, as I'm pretty stressed at work right now...and I've got some other stuff that is happening in my health that makes me wonder (I have Arthritis in my ankle and its flaring more frequently).

I'm not aware of this being a possibility, but I couldn't completely rule it out either. Stress can definitely trigger or cause flares for many things. I've been allergic to bees since I was a kid and have been told one day it could kill me. I believe that like other allergies I suffered from over the years, the effects have began to lessen, as I've been stung a few times in the last 10 years and worried each time, but ended up with nothing more than some pain and itching (the ITCHING!).

But allergies can certainly develop overnight. You can have shrimp for dinner today and be perfectly fine. Have it for lunch tomorrow and go into full anaphylaxis. Carrying an epi pen and benadryl is honestly a good idea for anyone. As an FF-EMT, I've run many calls where people didn't have those meds and had a reaction to something in their environment and the level of fear and suffering they go through is immense.

My fiancée had an allergic reaction to something Friday (we believe an ingredient in the Chinese takeout we had). She's a medic, so knew immediately what was going on. Took some benadryl and was fine. The next day, she got to work and it flared back up, swelling her airway. A trip to the ER and a few meds later, she's mostly ok. But now has an epi pen, benadryl, and an epi inhaler (which is OTC) she carries with her. The reaction is still affecting her a little bit and she had to use the inhaler last night.

LukesfirstJeep · Sep 8, 2026

My grandfather and my mom were allergic to stings. My mom's reaction got worse as she got older, where untreated required an ER visit. She carried an epi pen, and used it once when she was in her 80's, no ER visit required. Carrying the epi pen became routine and didn't slow her down.

Mike_H · Sep 8, 2026

They way the Dr's and nurses describe the epi pen is that is just a first step to GET you to the ER. Like, use the pen, then call 911. All my first responded training I've had through the years says the same thing, but it feels different when you're the one needing the injection, LOL.

WVJeep304 · Sep 8, 2026

Mike_H said:
They way the Dr's and nurses describe the epi pen is that is just a first step to GET you to the ER. Like, use the pen, then call 911. All my first responded training I've had through the years says the same thing, but it feels different when you're the one needing the injection, LOL.

Absolutely.. Effects of the epi pen will wear off. Once that happens, you may or may not be in the clear. If not, you may require further treatments to counter breathing problems, airway constriction, and a drop in blood pressure.

What makes it difficult is this stuff affects everyone differently. It can be more or less severe, happen quickly or slowly over time, can last a few minutes or a few days/weeks. It can be mildly irritating or deadly.

Having a known bee allergy (or any allergy), always err on the side of caution. Bees, nuts, and shellfish always seem to trigger the most severe reactions. Using the epi pen may be all you need to get through a bee sting, or it may be just enough to get you to the nearest hospital alive.

Edit: Also, look up what epi does to you. The side effects of that medication alone may make you want to go to the hospital.

cliffish · Sep 8, 2026

I developed a shellfish allergy in my 40's and each new occurrence does get worse. I carry (actually my wife) an epi pen, benadryl and is always a trip to the ER.

freedom_in_4low · Sep 8, 2026

Mike_H said:
I spent a part of my Labor Day in the ER. Apparently, I've developed a pretty nasty allergic response to yellowjackets. Got stung, once, on the finger, and went through the whole allergic reaction thing, short of having difficulty breathing. I've been stung before, numerous times and NEVER had a reaction like this. Last time I was stung was the beginning of summer, right behind my Right ear. I've heard the Dr's and doing web searches, and they are confirming this can develop at any time, and now that it has, the next one will be worse (Great!).

unfortunately that's how allergic sensitization works. Once your immune system decides something is a threat, it's response intensifies for each successive exposure. It's the same mechanism that keeps you from getting chicken pox again, and the reason COVID and Flu are never as bad as the first time...only it's misdirected at something that isn't a significant threat.

Mike_H said:
Couple of things though...Can this be triggered by stress? Its a thought I've had, as I'm pretty stressed at work right now...and I've got some other stuff that is happening in my health that makes me wonder (I have Arthritis in my ankle and its flaring more frequently).

They're only beginning to understand the full range of the impact of stress. I don't think anybody could rule it out, but they also couldn't confidently tie it in, either.

My question is what are you doing to so frequently attract the ire of yellow jackets? I hear they're aggressive but we literally camped with a nest right in the middle of our campsite (we gave them a wide berth once we realized they were there, but we didn't move) two weeks ago and nobody got stung.

Mike_H · Sep 8, 2026

freedom_in_4low said:
unfortunately that's how allergic sensitization works. Once your immune system decides something is a threat, it's response intensifies for each successive exposure. It's the same mechanism that keeps you from getting chicken pox again, and the reason COVID and Flu are never as bad as the first time...only it's misdirected at something that isn't a significant threat.

They're only beginning to understand the full range of the impact of stress. I don't think anybody could rule it out, but they also couldn't confidently tie it in, either.

My question is what are you doing to so frequently attract the ire of yellow jackets? I hear they're aggressive but we literally camped with a nest right in the middle of our campsite (we gave them a wide berth once we realized they were there, but we didn't move) two weeks ago and nobody got stung.

In June, I bumped a fence they were nested in with the mower. That was enough to signal the attack. This time was admittedly my fault. They were pestering me all day and I swatted it. Well, it must have been a glancing blow, or there was more than one and the pheromone they secrete that signals threat to the hive came into play. Another (or the same) came at me and I swatted that one too...but he stung me. I've ALWAYS been able to kill them that way. Knock them down and step on them. Honestly, it's the only time I've remember getting stung doing that. Normally, a sting happen incidentally, usually while mowing and I touch or get too close to a ground nest.

I typically apply the "don't bother them, they don't bother me" rule, but after having them buzz me all weekend, I was OVER it!

Rickyd · Sep 8, 2026

WVJeep304 said:
I'm not aware of this being a possibility, but I couldn't completely rule it out either. Stress can definitely trigger or cause flares for many things. I've been allergic to bees since I was a kid and have been told one day it could kill me. I believe that like other allergies I suffered from over the years, the effects have began to lessen, as I've been stung a few times in the last 10 years and worried each time, but ended up with nothing more than some pain and itching (the ITCHING!).

But allergies can certainly develop overnight. You can have shrimp for dinner today and be perfectly fine. Have it for lunch tomorrow and go into full anaphylaxis. Carrying an epi pen and benadryl is honestly a good idea for anyone. As an FF-EMT, I've run many calls where people didn't have those meds and had a reaction to something in their environment and the level of fear and suffering they go through is immense.

My fiancée had an allergic reaction to something Friday (we believe an ingredient in the Chinese takeout we had). She's a medic, so knew immediately what was going on. Took some benadryl and was fine. The next day, she got to work and it flared back up, swelling her airway. A trip to the ER and a few meds later, she's mostly ok. But now has an epi pen, benadryl, and an epi inhaler (which is OTC) she carries with her. The reaction is still affecting her a little bit and she had to use the inhaler last night.

That sounds a lot like my yellowjacket allergy. Last couple times i was stung out on fires it didn't even restrict my breathing. Not that I'm counting on it being a thing of the past,but it was a relief when you are are an hour from the hospital including an expensive helicopter ride(assuming you can get to an lz and the smoke lets them land).

Gotta be careful looking for nests. One time i had to abandon a fully gassed up chainsaw in a tree so i could run from a swarm. Watched it idle there for a long time. Next morning i came back and dropped a 3 foot diameter fir right on top of their nest!

freedom_in_4low · Sep 8, 2026

WVJeep304 said:
I believe that like other allergies I suffered from over the years, the effects have began to lessen, as I've been stung a few times in the last 10 years and worried each time, but ended up with nothing more than some pain and itching (the ITCHING!).

true, but you need time in between exposures for your immune system to "forget".

AOSJ · Sep 8, 2026

yes absolutely stress can cause allergies - the mechanism involves corticotropin releasing hormone, AKA CRH. I study a lot about stress and physiology and that introduced me to a field of health referred to as "bioenergetics" - which is the study of the body's ability or inability to make, use, and store energy.

Stress generally inhibits cellular energy and there are some papers out there about how that can worsen allergies.

I have read a lot of Ray Peat's writings about stress and a common over the counter substance you can supplement with is pregnenolone, which is something that reduces CRH activity - pregnenolone fyi is a "mother hormone" your body makes, which is the root of androgens, estrogens, etc.

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Allergies and Allergic Reactions

Mike_H

autos are better - WRWD508

WVJeep304

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LukesfirstJeep

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Mike_H

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WVJeep304

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cliffish

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freedom_in_4low

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Mike_H

autos are better - WRWD508

Rickyd

Nevermind!

freedom_in_4low

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AOSJ

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