Tweet
Organized a ride with a few buds Saturday- I rode the Bandit 1200, as I had not spent much time on it since Thanksgiving. Kevin on his Sprint ST, Sid riding his Vulcan 750, two new guys, too- Tracy on his Thunderbird, Imron riding his older Yammie YZ600. Great ride, found a new, tite but fun road in the GA. mountains. On Hwy 180, riding from outside of Helen, GA twards Wolf Pen Gap, I was bring up the rear, preparing to take some pics of the guys on their bikes on the road. Got everything ready, dropped the Bandit back into gear and took off. At about 30 mph, felt a sting on my left shoulder. Damn, I thought, this is gonna sting the rest of the day- I'll just have to ride with it, it's irritating but I'll be okay. Then...
A few minutes, I get a full-head headache. Then my face gets flush and hot. Hmmm, this IS a new helmet, but it's been okay all day, why now...? Then I realized I was having a reaction to the sting. Judgement was still okay, thinking clear... then the bottom of my left foot starts to itch... okay, things are not right. Hit the throttle, HARD, blew past Sid and Tracy, to catch up with Kevin and Imron. Found them at the next stop sign, according to our plan- ride till you turn off the road you are on, then wait there for the next rider. I had to be sure it was me who was the next rider, so that the group would all stop for me. Looked left, right, left, blew the stop sign, and came to a quick stop right next to them both. Stand down NOW and got off the bike. By now, I am itching more and more. Pull off the helmet, tell Kevin I've been stung by a bee or wasp, and start stripping gear and clothes off as fast as I can. Jacket zipper stuck- over the head with it, t-shirt with it. Boots and sox off, riding pants, I stripped down to the cycling shorts I wear when riding, and I'm reaching in them, scracthing my butt like I don't care WHO sees me- and I don't. Sid calls 911, tells them I have a rash over 50% of my body and it's spreading. I am itching and scratching like CRAZY, getting totally wacked out by the experience, completly stessed out and scared half to death. Kevin heads off to find some Benedryl, and he sees the ambulance go by just as he leaves the pharmacy, follows it back. The EMT's check my vitals, get info- age, medical history, age, know alergies (none, not even to poision ivy- this has NEVER happened to me before,) then get me on a stretcher and in the ambulance. Start an IV, get 25mg Benedryl in me, and get me to the hospital. I'm admitted to the ER, and kept for observation for the next two hours. I doze, sleeping off the benedryl, then discharged- the crisis is over. Given a shot of a steroid, to take over when the 'dryl goes off duty, so I don't need another shot of Benedryl. We go have a leisurely lunch, and 3 1/2 hours after the sting, I am back on the bike and riding again. Funny thing- the last thing to stop itching was the palm-side of my ring fingers on both hands.
I was lucky, could have been a lot worse. I'm gonna carry a first-aid kit on rides from now on- and it will include an epi pen. We hear of riders getting stung, but I didn't realize any of us could have a reaction to it- be prepared, folks. This could happen to you.
A few minutes, I get a full-head headache. Then my face gets flush and hot. Hmmm, this IS a new helmet, but it's been okay all day, why now...? Then I realized I was having a reaction to the sting. Judgement was still okay, thinking clear... then the bottom of my left foot starts to itch... okay, things are not right. Hit the throttle, HARD, blew past Sid and Tracy, to catch up with Kevin and Imron. Found them at the next stop sign, according to our plan- ride till you turn off the road you are on, then wait there for the next rider. I had to be sure it was me who was the next rider, so that the group would all stop for me. Looked left, right, left, blew the stop sign, and came to a quick stop right next to them both. Stand down NOW and got off the bike. By now, I am itching more and more. Pull off the helmet, tell Kevin I've been stung by a bee or wasp, and start stripping gear and clothes off as fast as I can. Jacket zipper stuck- over the head with it, t-shirt with it. Boots and sox off, riding pants, I stripped down to the cycling shorts I wear when riding, and I'm reaching in them, scracthing my butt like I don't care WHO sees me- and I don't. Sid calls 911, tells them I have a rash over 50% of my body and it's spreading. I am itching and scratching like CRAZY, getting totally wacked out by the experience, completly stessed out and scared half to death. Kevin heads off to find some Benedryl, and he sees the ambulance go by just as he leaves the pharmacy, follows it back. The EMT's check my vitals, get info- age, medical history, age, know alergies (none, not even to poision ivy- this has NEVER happened to me before,) then get me on a stretcher and in the ambulance. Start an IV, get 25mg Benedryl in me, and get me to the hospital. I'm admitted to the ER, and kept for observation for the next two hours. I doze, sleeping off the benedryl, then discharged- the crisis is over. Given a shot of a steroid, to take over when the 'dryl goes off duty, so I don't need another shot of Benedryl. We go have a leisurely lunch, and 3 1/2 hours after the sting, I am back on the bike and riding again. Funny thing- the last thing to stop itching was the palm-side of my ring fingers on both hands.
I was lucky, could have been a lot worse. I'm gonna carry a first-aid kit on rides from now on- and it will include an epi pen. We hear of riders getting stung, but I didn't realize any of us could have a reaction to it- be prepared, folks. This could happen to you.
Comment