"Bee stings,
While catching a swarm, the branch broke ~
Morrow's Almanac Branch.

Bradford, a friend, and I were cutting school
And ended up falling
On the ground (oops!).

I recieved a dozen stings.
I ended up in the Cornell ER,

Corner of eternity
& Vine ..."
~ E

"Sandwiched, likewise, between
Me & you.
~ Twittering

"I think I finally have control!
... but I can't sleep,

And maybe the devil is making me
Do it

(Flip Wilson
Was onto something)."
~ Pinecone

"Politically incorrect ~ ! But
Sheep nice."
~ Folly

"I understand, fundamentally, Christianity,
An obsession
For you,

And I have a lot of compassion
For you."
~ cp

"Well, yes,
A Crosse I bear."
~ Trembling Twittering

"Be careful.
Don't fall face down on the sidewalk,
Or an ending you may barely
Not see ..."
~ Folly

"Sandwiched, likewise, between
Me & you.
~ Twittering

"I think I finally have control!
... but I can't sleep,

And maybe the devil is making me
Do it

(Flip Wilson
Was onto something)."
~ Pinecone

"Politically incorrect ~ ! But
Sheep nice."
~ Folly

"I understand, fundamentally, Christianity,
An obsession
For you,

And I have a lot of compassion
For you."
~ cp

"Well, yes,
A Crosse I bear."
~ Trembling Twittering

Only an allergy test could tell, and that is not always a completely
reliable indicator of how you will react next time.  But it would give
you a good indication of how you would likely react next time.

It may be a reaction to the number of stings or simply a combination
of other factors.  I had a bad reaction to just 2 stings a couple
years ago, (nausea, felt like I had a high fever, etc.)  But since
then my reaction was much reduced from what it had been previously.
Before the incident it had been localized swelling, and much more
pronounced in the hands and face.  So much so that I learned never to
go without gloves.  Now my reaction (even on the hands and face) is
little more than a mosquito bite, if that.

That said, fortunately  my reaction got better after one bad reaction.
But some people will go the other way and become much more sensitive.

Looking back at my incident I'd guess other factors came into play.
it was a hot day and I was doing hard labor, likely with a higher
heart rate to start with.  Plus I was already having a reaction to
other allergens.  Hayfever, I had knelt in an ant nest earlier that
day, etc.

-Tim

In April 2004, I got 2 stings and ended up in the ER due to
anaphylactic shock.  I thought my beekeeping days were over, but on
vacation in London May 2004, I came across and bought Dr. Harry Riches'
book Medical Aspects of Beekeeping in Foyle's bookstore.  When I got
back I got tested by an allergist doctor and started receiving Venom
Immunotherapy (VIT) shots.  Now I get one every month and my doctor
says that VIT is 98% effective.  Dr. Harry Riches' book says about the
same thing.  My VIT will take 5 years at about $23 per shot per month.

See an allergist doctor.  It's worth it.

All the Best!
mac
Virginia Beach, VA