Understanding Allergic Reactions to Bee and Wasp Stings

Question
Hi!
My husband had a severe reaction to yellow jackets stings when he was about 14 and inadvertantly got into a nest. He is 41 now and  he has kept honeybees over the last couple of years (a funny hobby for him, don't you think!)anyhow,he has been stung alot since and at first there just was alot of swelling at the site and then he must have gotten used to it because he had very llittle reaction.  He said that when he got stung on the neck, he may have gotten a little light-headed.  Well, he is down to one hive and last year didn't mess with them much.  He was feeding them last night and got about 8 stings on the back of the neck and one one each leg.  He started feeling pressure and pain in his chest that became worse when he lay down.  He was light-headed and his arms got very weak.  He has an Epi-Pen and I didn't know whether to use it because his breathing was ok.  He didn't want to go to the emergency room and eventually the pain subsided and then he felt very tired.  This morning he went to the doctor and got his heart, lungs and blood pressure checked out.  Even though he still has a bit of discomfort in his chest, he checked out fine.  I still don't understand what made the pain in his chest and if the epi-pen would be the thing to use if the chest pain happens again.  Is it actually the heart that has a problem?  If he has the same reaction sometime - could he go into cardiac arrest?  Could he fall over without warning?  If the heart is involved would the epi-pen make it worse?  At the first sign of this pain should he be rushed to the emergency room?  I need to understand how it involves the heart.  If you could put my mind to rest, I would be so grateful!  Thank you!

Kathleen Ogburn

Answer
Is it actually the heart that has a problem? Yes, most of us have some areas of coronary artery intimal thickening and thus are prone for heart attacks with stings.

If he has the same reaction sometime - could he go into cardiac arrest? Yes, he should at least carry several benadryl caps and take them if OK with his doctor.

Could he fall over without warning? Yes, after such a sting

If the heart is involved would the epi-pen make it worse?
Yes, it could.

At the first sign of this pain should he be rushed to the emergency room?  Yes, that would be good after you do the first aid rec by his doctor, such as a couple of benadryl caps.

He needs a stress echo heart test to check out the arteries since I doubt if they did that at the doctor.