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   As has been my routine since spring, on Saturday I mowed the lawn, including down by the bees. When I got done mowing, I went back and weed eated around the hives. The bees were coming and going and completely ignored me, as they usually do. Later in the day, my wife and I were going for a ride in the side-by-side. Coming back by the hives, I saw large numbers of bees returning home and decided to stop and see what kind of pollen they were bringing in. As I bent over and was watching closely, one bee took offense to my presence and stung me on the wrist.

   Since starting my bee keeping hobby, I have only been stung two or three times. I have found bee stings to be only mildly annoying as they hurt for a few minutes, and they itch for a few days. This time was different.

   I pulled out the Stinger, said a couple bad words at the B, and we continued on our way. We drove up the driveway to get the mail and back to the house. As I walked up on the porch, I began to feel a bit lightheaded. I sat down and started to become very short of breath. With a moderate amount of medical background, I recognize the symptoms of anaphylactic shock. I stepped in the house, I told my wife to get the Benadryl, and promptly passed out. I believe I was unconscious for only a few seconds but when I came to my wife was hovering over me with two Benadryl and a glass of water. I swallowed one tablet and chewed the other, placing it under my tongue, hoping for more rapid absorption. My wife suggested we go to the hospital NOW!. It sounded like a good plan to me. Usually, I try to avoid hospitals and treat things like small broken bones or moderate lacerations myself. This time I knew I was in over my head. At the rate my condition was deteriorating, I knew I would not survive long without immediate intervention.

   The trip to Davis County hospital would normally take 12 or 13 minutes from our place. I discovered with a concerned wife driving the distance can be covered in about 8 minutes. I called the emergency room on our way in and we were met at the door, rushed into a room, where I was given oxygen, epinephrine, and another antihistamine. My oxygen saturation level was extremely low, and my pulse and respiratory rate were both high. Within a few minutes of treatment, everything returned to normal, and I felt fine. I have always heard, with anaphylactic reaction, there is a very rapid onset and if treated before you die, there is a very rapid recovery with no long-term effects.

   I have decided I need to start carrying an EpiPen to give myself a shot of epinephrine in case this happens again. My wife has decided that my days of being a beekeeper have ended. I may have to agree with her this time. This is an experience I do not want to go through again.

   It seems in life; there is always something.

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