The Yearly Wasp Sting

There is a high probability that we well get stung at least once per year. When I am cycling I often notice bees, bumblebees and wasps bounce off of me. Sometimes I feel something hit me but luckily I’m fine. Yesterday I wasn’t that lucky.

Yesterday I hit a wasp, bee or something else and it stung me. I went to my lip to pull the stinging insect away and threw it away. I continued to cycle for a bit, and then I stopped in the shade to send a message that I had been stung.

I then continued cycling and I considered turning straight back, but I continued for a bit. In the end I cycled towards Versoix stadium and up towards France, before turning and heading to Chavannes centre with one clear goal, to stop by a pharmacy and get something for the swelling.

Is it affecting your breathing, are you having trouble swallowing. “nope” to both questions. I was given three pills, including antihistamines, and then I cycled home.

This sting was especially bad. It’s not just that my lip swelled, but that my cheeks and jaw did as well. I really got myself to look like a caricature.

Last time I was stung I didn’t go to a pharmacy, in part because it was still the pandemic. This time I had no reservations so I went. The second reason for going is that when you’re stung, it lasts for a few days and it hurts. By going to the pharmacy I dealt with the worst of it, and now I simply need to recover.

This morning I went for a bike ride for a simple reason, first, because I felt that running would make things worse, and second to ensure I don’t develop a phobia of cycling and being stung. I think I was lucky not to be stung multiple times with all the riding I do.

What’s funny is that I really expected that today was the day I would be stung. At breakfast wasps were attracted to us, and then the same afternoon I got stung.

I don’t know whether it was a wasp or hornet but my reaction was magnitudes worse than usual, so it could have been a hornet.

I slept fine, and when the swelling went down I could eat normally, so that is a relief. I hope to be healed within the next day or two.