A Bug in the Ear
 

My large vegetable garden is an organic one, so pesticides are out. Quite a few years back in my farming days I realized that having a wasp nest or two around has its benefits. These little guys are predators of other bugs and most of all, they really go for the caterpillars that make a mess of the cole crops. So when a colony of wasps made their nest in the eve of my house I let them be.

It has worked wonderfully well because the cabbage moths and their pesky caterpillar larvae don’t last long around here. I often run into the wasps during their hunting expeditions while I’m tending to or harvesting the garden; especially the cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower.
We have been maintaining a respectful co-existence and although it is strange to say, they seem to recognize me and know that I mean them no harm. Oh sure, I’ve had a few dive-bomb me and have also received a few taps on the head through that means upon occasion; mostly for setting the sprinkler’s spray too close to their nest, but none had stung me…until today.

I hold no grudge, for it was all a misunderstanding and was clearly a collision of the wasp’s instincts and my own. A little while ago while I was out collecting some broccoli for lunch, I saw the wasp fly up from a nearby zucchini plant blossom. I simply recognized that he had likely been searching for some ants that seem to collect there, for the wasps like to eat those guys too.

Now I don’t know if this wasp was the equivalent of “Wrong Way Charlie” or if he mistook my ear for another flower blossom, but in he went :eek:. Upon feeling him in there and hearing the buzzing of his struggles to back out, without thinking, I instinctively gave my ear a swat and he instinctively planted his stinger…right into the canal of my ear. Thereupon Mr. wasp made a break for it and I went into the depths of self-concern while making a stumbling speedy walk for the house; hand over my ear of course (as if that would help :rolleyes:).

I’ve been wedging fractured ice cubes in there and it seems to be settling down so I’m sure it will be fine; but initially it felt like instant Trigeminal Neuralgia. My cheek is still aching as is the ear; the latter of which has taken on an angry red hue. Yet, I’m grateful for the adrenalin and histamine surges that followed the sting because I think that is what got rid of the headache that I’ve had for 3 days! :)

I’d been praying for some relief of that stupid thing since the wee hours of this morning; and never being short on a sense of humor with me, He graciously answered my prayers.
I'm also praying for relief from the heat wave, but I've now added that I'd like to survive whatever method He chooses to use to accomplish that :D.

Hope that this brightens your day as it did mine.

With love, Erika

Try putting some hydrocortisone or Benadryl cream in the ear canal, and perhaps taking some Benadryl orally as well.

OWIE, that sounds painful! Hope you are feeling better soon.

Great idea! Never thought of that. Thanks so much.
I'll skip the oral but I'm sure that the topical will help. It is feeling better and I think that some of the redness is from the cold pack. Will let it thaw out a bit and see how it looks.
I'm not allergic to stings so it should be OK.

With love, Erika

Eeewwwwww, the only thing funny about that is, your
headache went away.:D

Kinda like smashing your thumb with a hammer to make your stubbed toe stop hurting! :D

All kidding aside, though, I hope you're okay, Erika. You're much braver than I'd be. Bee stings have got to be one of the most painful things ever....well, besides labor. :rolleyes:

It is coming around just fine. The cortisone gel helped. I feel bad for the wasp...he got quite a swat. He was probably telling all his buddies about it back at the nest just like I did here :D.

Oh, and the headache has just remained a dull background thing. Way better than it was :). I'm so glad about that because there is a rock concert in the park by my house tonight as part of the festival.

I remember someone telling me that people that kept bees didn't get arthritis; apparently because they got stung often enough to have a good supply of natural cortisone circulating in their system.
Hmmm....maybe there is something to that, but like Kitty said, my situation was more likely trading one pain for another :winky:. Maybe with a few natural on board chemicals thrown in for good measure.

Thanks for your concern my friends. I'm just fine. Pretty much used to something hurting, pretty much all of the time. A change is a good as a rest as they say :D.

With love, Erika

Yikes Erika!! :eek:

I also have a peaceful co-existence with my wasps, and I bet they are the reason I never get tomato worms anymore! :)

I stepped on a bee once and it felt like my foot had been beaten and smashed, it was that bad. I can't imagine anything worse than a sting in the ear other than maybe a sting in the nostril or eyeball! :eek:

I hope it heals fast! :hug:

Maybe there is something to the bee sting therapy we hear about occasionally.

I'm sorry you got stung, Erika, but glad you don't react adversely.

Hey, there is that bee theory for treatment of MS. Just saying.:D

I'm glad you are ok.