Re: [at-l] Bee Stings

[W F Thorneloe <thornel@attglobal.net>]

First, your real world doctor knows a hell of a lot more about you and the 
relative strengths and weaknesses of treatment options for you. Yet for all 
treatment and medications, there are contraindications and side effects. 
For instance, people drown in water, yet we tell you to take your medicine 
with water.

Grab your excessively conveniently available PDR and read up on the drug. 
Worshippers of the PDR, turn to page 257 of the 2000 PDR, we find in the 
Book of Dey Pharmaceuticals, Chapter 1 of Epipen and Epipen Jr. The key 
problems occur in inappropriate use or by patients inadequately trained in 
the use of the injector. I would expect the usual "fright & flight" 
reactions of adrenaline.  Yet there will be the rare but dramatic events of 
cardiac arrhythmias, cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, and other 
complications, These are unlikely to occur in a healthy fit hiker who 
remembers how to use the kit. But the fact that you do not recall a similar 
discussion from your real world doctor illustrates how hard it is to hear 
and recall all the things we throw at patients, particularly after they 
have had the fright of their life! Obviously, I suspect your good doctor 
told you more information, particularly that there was more risk of demise 
from the bee sting than from the treatment.

Plus there is some controversy regarding such interventions, but little 
opportunity for double blind studies and consensus. Would you want to be in 
a study where you receive a yellow jacket sting on the top of Mt. Albert 
with a 50% chance of receiving Epipen or a placebo?

The point is to stay cautious, avoid stings, wear the appropriate clothing, 
keep your first aid kit well stocked and current, and let your hiking buddy 
know of this risk for you and how to assist if necessary. And remember to 
stock plenty of Gatorade powder!  ;-)

OrangeBug

At 04:29 PM 8/24/2000, RoseMarie/Al Sarra wrote:
>...The doc never
>indicated that there were any contraindications associated with this as long
>as it was used as prescribed.
>
>Would you please expand on your statement that, in reference to the allergy
>kits, "This can be life saving or a disaster on its own."

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