[pct-l] Yellow jackets and EpiPens on the PCT

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

If it makes you feel any better, my personal horror stories have all  
been in the Los Padres National Forest. I never got any kind of bee  
or yellowjacket sting on the PCT. I hiked in 2008, a high fire year  
and didn't see any yellowjackets and none in 2009 either. No special  
clothing, either. I hope you still carry the Epipen even after your  
desensitization process just in case.

Diane

On Sep 14, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

>  From: Don Jack <donaldjack at verizon.net>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 5:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Yellow jackets and EpiPens on the PCT
>
> Hi all,
>
> Thanks for all of the responses to my original question. They did  
> help me to
> sort out my thoughts and find a path forward. It sounds like it is  
> very
> likely that someone on the trail for an extended period of time  
> will be
> stung.
>
> When I mentioned in my original posting that the second incident  
> "resulted
> in a severe allergic reaction" I left out the details about  
> breaking out in
> hives, calling 9-1-1, going into anaphylactic shock,? losing  
> consciousness,
> being taken to the emergency room? in an ambulance, etc. After  
> pondering the
> responses,? I've now decided to pursue a desensitization program  
> with a
> local allergist. The treatment involves receiving increasing doses  
> of the
> appropriate venom once or twice a week for about 3 months and then  
> switching
> to monthly injections for 3 to 5 years. After the first 3 months the
> possibility of a systemic allergic response to a sting apparently  
> becomes
> very unlikely. In my case this seems like a better first line of  
> defense
> than just relying on the EpiPen and Benadryl, especially when remote
> locations are involved.
>
> There's a nice synopsis regarding allergic reactions from bees,  
> wasps, etc.
> and related issues at
> http://allergycases.blogspot.com/2005/06/venom-allergy-short- 
> review.html?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Don