Last night, my mom had a weird looking bug bite on her arm. It was reddish purple, and kind of ugly looking. My mom couldnt remember if anything had bit/stung her.

This morning, she woke up and her tongue was swollen and she had a few hives on her leg and arm. She took a shower (I know from experience that if you're having an allergic reaction, warm showers/baths are not a good thing)

My dad (a nurse) wasnt sure if she was having an allergic reaction right away. He was thinking that her tongue was swollen because she'd bit it (she does that a lot sometimes)

I havent seen my mom yet today. She was taking her shower when I got up, and I went to take one before she was done. My dad had asked me thru the bathroom door if he thought he should take her to the ER, I told him to ask my aunt (another nurse) who might have more experience with it. She came over, looked and said take her to the Urgent Care up the street from here. (that's where they are now)

The only big allergy that I know my mom has is a bee sting allergy.

Does anyone know if you can be stung by a small bee and not know it?

My mom is home now. The doctor told my dad that normally they'd admit her to the hospital for something like this, but he gave them the option of going home.

My dad's a nurse, so the doctor figured my dad would be able to watch her, and my aunt across the street is a nurse practitioner, and already ran over here now that my mom is home to see if my mom was alright.

They gave my mom a shot of solumedrol and a shot of benadryl, and then gave my mom a 3 day taper of prednisone. (hey! I want some!)

She can barely talk, but can still drink water. I guess she's having soup for dinner tonight. I'm going to be paranoid about her choking or something now for a few days.

No idea what caused the allergy tho. But, I'm guessing the flowers in the front yard that have been covered with a swarm of bees and butterflies might have something to do with it.

I have bee sting allergies and it doesn't sound like a bee sting allergy reaction. For me, it's excessive swelling, redness and overall faint feeling. Shock is a major concern with it. Don't quote me though since everyone is different.

Because you said it was redish purple colored it sounds more like a spider bite. Whatever it was I am glad she's going to be OK. I carry a shot kit in case I get stung. Maybe you could ask the doctor to prescribe her one since she is having such a reaction.

Same with me Sandy. When I get stung, the area swells up and continues to swell well beyond the area and I get the same reaction that you describe. Anaphylactic shock is a huge concern.

I carry an epi pen with me too so I can get something in my system long enough to get me to the hospital.

agreed. i am allergic to bees, and the swelling wONT stop till I get epi/bene run on me. BP drops, pulse races, and I sweat and get faint. very weak.

your moms sounds like something else. whatever it is , I hope the steroids and TLC help.

i agree with all of you in that it is probably not a bee sting ... bee stings will swell from the point of the sting out ... sounds to me like she is having an allergy reaction ... swelling of tongue tells me that it could be something she ate, drank, or breathed in ... i know ... not much help ... anyway ... i hope you mom is ok ... sounds like she has lots of helping hands there with her ... keep us posted ...

benadryall(sp?) is whats in those sting kits, so keep that in mind take some and or get to ER a reaction usually happens right away but not always, be careful erin

my epi pen, which is what I have to take when I get stung, is epinephrine, not benedryl...benedryl may help some people who are not severely allergic, but for me, it's a waste of time!

http://www.epipen.com/

Mine is like yours too Cheryl. I used to get a kit that included alcohol wipes, Benedryl and the shot. Wonder what ever happened to those and why I only get the pen now? Hmmm.

that's what the doc rx's me.