I am a 45 year old male, and was sitting at my computer desk emailing when stung by a wasp on my left ankle. The pain was very intense, and the swelling started immediately. I killed the wasp and have it in the freezer in case my wife has to take me to the hospital. I was stung at 11:30 PM, and it's now 2:00 AM, and the pain finally started to recede after putting a penny on the sting site for about 10 minutes (thanks to the person that posted the comment about the penny--it really worked). The penny didn't take the pain completely away, I still have intense pain surges, but not as severe and it (penny) took the constant throbbing pain away. I just put hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin w/pain relief on the bite area--hoping to get SOME sleep tonight. I have been bitten a few times as a younger man and child, and have never had this kind of pain from a wasp sting. I think the poster that commented about the wasp's poison getting stronger was correct, the pain is so much more intense, and not just because I'm older either, as I'm in great physical shape. My breathing is a little ragged now, so I'll lay down after taking some antihistamine medicine. Good luck to any that have this kind of hellish sting.

Yesterday I was out running with my son and two dogs when I felt a horrible sting on my right cheek (not the one on my face.) I turned around and saw a bush I had just run by was swarming with red wasps. I turned around and started back for my home and one wasp followed me. Luckily, it didn't get me. The last sting I had was when I was a kid and I am moderately allergic to these types of stings, so I was scared without a cell phone and a half a mile from my house. As I got closer to home and time progressed, the pain got worse and I was barely able to keep going. My tongue felt swollen, I was getting chills from head to toe, and I could feel the venom spreading down my leg. When I got home, I immediately took Benadryl and waited to see if I would need medical attention. At this point, my chest felt tight, like a rubber band was wrapped around it, making it painful to breathe. Eventually, the Benadryl kicked in and I fell asleep. This morning the site is far less swollen and painful but my tongue still feels somewhat too big for my mouth and my throat is very sore. I appreciate the information on this site although I think there should be more information out there for people who don't go into anaphylactic shock when stung, but do have minor to moderate allergic response to stings. The symptoms are very painful and very scary.

My husband got stung by wasp while working in the backyard. Actually, he was stung twice by the wasp: once above his heart, the other on his back of calves. The reaction is very scary, never like before. His chest, then neck, face and mouth turned red, then red spots all over his body. Sensitive areas, like underarm, groin area, arm - especially where he got burned two weeks ago. Hives and itch... At the hospital, they gave him antihistamines right away, but it was several hours until he was better. I mean just OK, but not good. Now his ankle has swollen to three times its normal size on the leg where he was bitten 24 hours ago...These stings are nasty.

Simple relief for bee stings (I have never tried it with wasps or hornets) can be found for a Penny. Yes, the 'good old' useless penny that can be found in almost anyones purse, pocket or car. Place the penny on the sting and hold it there for 5 to 8 minutes. Usually in less than 10 minutes the sting, pain, and swelling will go away, in most instances, completely. A simple cure, especially when you are out and without all the traditional medical cures recommended.

I was recently stung over 20 times by what I learned were ground hornets. I was taking my trash to the curb and when returning I began being stung. These aggressive creatures followed me up three flights of stairs into my apartment stinging me in my hair and into my clothes (long sleeved and long pants). I was able to get to my car and drive to my workplace, a Health Center. There my colleague, a nurse, had me remove my clothing because she spotted even more wasps that had ridden in my car stinging me all the way. I was treated with an injection and orally. I also was given cold packs. I returned to my apartment after it had been scanned for more hornets. I experienced being highly irritable, sensitive to noise and magnified emotional sensitivity. I am still dealing with several more severe sting sites, increased heart rate, irritability, decreased itch and muscle soreness!! This was nasty. I am over 50 years old and have NEVER experienced such an aggressive response from any living creature and I am a therapist who has dealt with aggressive creatures!!!!

I disturbed a Wasp nest and was immediately stung on my upper lip for 3 or 4 seconds. (I couldn't seem to swat him off right away).Within a few minutes my upper lip swelled, both sides of my face swelled up, my neck began to turn red, and the swelling moved up to my right eye and it turned red/purple underneath and it also swelled up. That was yesterday. Tonite the swelling is going down somewhat, but quite a bit remains.

I was swimming, when I was stung by a hornet. I immediately felt a burning sensation where I was stung on the inner thigh. Within minutes, my thigh swelled up to twice its size. Shortly after that, I got hives, my airway started constricting, and my tongue swelled up. I was brought to the local hospital where the doctor gave me three shots. To this day I carry an Epipen.