Am I allergic to wasp stings?

Wasp stings - am I allergic because of this?

• 10 years ago, I got stung many, many times - I mean like close to 80 or so. Yes, really. My family and I were camping, and I stomped on a wasp nest by accident. It was the end of summer, when they are already really agitated. They stung my (bare) legs, over and over. There were little clusters of stings, in groups of 2 or 3, all up and down my legs. Now, given how many stings I had, I did not react that badly. I wrapped my legs in ice-cold towels, took antihistmenes, and slept through the worst of it. I don't remember my symptoms, exaclty, because, as I said, this was 10 years ago. I may have been very sleepy, and had a mild fever, too - I'm not sure. But whatever it was, it wasn't that bad, considering the amount of stings! Now, a friend of mine, who is GP, claims that I'm probably allergic to wasps now. He claims that, since that was the first time I was bitten, 10 years ago, and it was so much venom, that my body would naturally freak out about it, and become allergic. I have not been bitten once, since that time camping. Now, I'm afraid he's right - he is a GP, after all. But I'm not going to take his word, without some solid evidance....and I can't find any evidence of it online. I need your expert opinion, please. And it would be really nice if you had a link or something to back it up. And if you're just guessing, please don't bother answering. I'm not trying to be rude...but I need real advice here. I might have a life-threatening allergy, for all I know, so, frankly, I need more then a guess. Thank you!

• Answer:

  listen to your friend the more times you were stung the better the chance you can react badly the next time people don't out grow allergies..they are taught to stay away from triggers..so many think they have no problems...then get into real trouble when in contact or stung I had 6 series of immunology shots growing up...the last time they tried to skin test me for another series..I went into anaphaylaxic shock within 2 minutes.. it took the drs 6 hours of IVs to bring me back around. now my allergies are so severe I need to take 50mgs Benadryl & 60mgs Predisone orally asap,then get to an ER within 20-30 minutes or I pass out..now my kidneys start to shut down...I can't use an EpiPen because they contain a form of sulphur I am allergic to. to extend the shelf life...so have to take 60mg Predisone & 50mgs Benadryl orally as soon as I feel the first signs of a reaction...then get to an ER PLEASE listen to your friend...they are sssooo right about what they are telling you...keep some Benadryl on you at all times...it could save your life I have lived with severe allergies since I was 2 weeks old..first reaction was due to the soy in the baby formula...life has been a challenge...but it has allowed me to explain allergies & reactions to many people...guess that's my purpose here,since I have had reactions so bad my heart has stopped & kidneys have almost failed several times You are blessed to have a friend who has the knowledge to share with you Life experiences for over 51 years...treated by Pulmonary/Allergist since I was 2 weeks old at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center...West Lebanon ,NH my son has severe allergic reactions and is seen at DHMC also