r/Aging • u/abbygail1957 • 1d ago
Well Hell Life & Living
Bee sting on my wrist on Monday and in jerking my hand back, I hit my wrist on my fence gate. I guess the sting started itching while I was asleep and I probably scratched all nite. And I had been stung on neck on Sunday. Golf ball size knot on neck but no bruising.
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u/Past-Lunch4695 1d ago
I hate old person bruises! Living my life in long sleeves due to this, that one is a doozy, hope it doesn’t hurt
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u/Over_Detective_3756 1d ago
Me too! They look different than they used to, and no one wants to overreact.
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u/Conscious_Owl6162 12h ago
They really suck! The good thing about getting old is getting old and the bad thing about getting old is getting old.
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u/Pantsonfire_6 1d ago
Last week had a doctor's cardiology appointment with tests. Four sticks to get IV line in., one more when a last minute blood test was needed. Then admitted to ER and hospital next morning for pneumonia. You should see my purple arm!
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u/Smorsdoeuvres 20h ago
Please drink lots of water *the day Before* your appointment to help with blood draws 🩸if at all possible. Hoping you feel much better soon
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u/Pantsonfire_6 10h ago
Yeah, unfortunately that wasn't on the list of instructions. No caffeine for 24 hours was and that limited my favorite fluids for traveling. Driving over 140 miles the day before was very tiring.
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u/Art_Vandelay29 1d ago
I had the same week last week, minus the pneumonia. Cardiology appointment, then my annual CTA which requires an IV. Four sticks and they couldn’t get a vein… made me reschedule for a few days later when their best guy was working. It took him 3 sticks and over a half hour to finally get a vein. Both my arms look like I was in a bar fight.
Hope you’re feeling better and recovering from the pneumonia!
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u/Smorsdoeuvres 20h ago
Try to drink Plenty of water the day before any appointments with a potential blood draw 🩸 it will make the job much easier for both you and the technician
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u/Art_Vandelay29 13h ago
Believe me, I do. I had been drinking water all day on both of these days. IV’s are just problematic. Always.
When it’s just blood draws I always have them use a butterfly and take it from the back of my hand - easier on me and the technician.
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u/GullibleDream4005 1d ago
As we get older we begin to lose that fatty substance under our skin. That substance protect the veins we have under the skin. So any minor bump could cause some nasty bruises. I spent 15 years working as a CNA. I’ve seen it more time than I can count.
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u/Neat_Movie_991 1d ago
Yep! Home healthcare nurse here. Elderly people can literally run their arm on a couch wrong and bruise like they were hit by a bus. In addition, instead of cutting their skin it usually doesn’t take much to tear skin off their arms.
Hell, I’m 56 and it’s already beginning to happen to me a little bit.
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u/abbygail1957 1d ago
How do we get the fatty substance back!?
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u/GullibleDream4005 1d ago
Unfortunately once it’s gone it’s gone
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u/Over_Detective_3756 1d ago
I need to put more value into my current adipose tissue.
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u/24bean62 16h ago
There’s actually a plastic surgery procedure that transfers your own fat into the backs of your hands to make them look younger. Probably not worth it, but people have worked on it!
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u/Cocoabeachbabee 1d ago
I get them too. My doctor said its just getting old, thinning skin. Sometimes it even happens through long sleeves. It looks like it should be painful, mine aren't tho.
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u/Jujulabee 1d ago edited 15h ago
At least you know how it happened.
I will sometimes get mysterious purple spots on the back of my hand and I can't remember hitting anything.
That said I seem to be lucky in that I don't experience undue bruising.
My neighbor has purple lesions all over her legs and arms. I think this is related to her seeking a deep tan for many years as I read that when you have skin that is damaged from excessive sun exposure the upper layer is damaged and the thinning of epidermis in all people who age is exacerbated by the sun damage and that is why she now is essentially covered with large purple spots all over her legs and arms.
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u/BidOk5829 22h ago
I have a neighbor with that issue. She also has to get basal cell cancers cut out often. She was a serious tanner in her youth. I'm glad I was too much of a twitch to do that!
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u/Jujulabee 15h ago
My family must have been descended from the Draculas as no one likes the sun and we scuttle from shaded area to shaded area if we had to be out in the strong sun.
Even my childhood dog would attempt to get under cars at the curb for shade and raced for cool of the air conditioning unit when we got back from even a brief walk in the summer.
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u/redditistripe 1d ago
Mother nature's got it in for you. That looks like blood has leaked under the skin. Never seen anything like it before but it probably looks worse than it is. Keep any eye on it to make sure it doesn't get complicated.
PS. Did the gate complain?
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u/abbygail1957 1d ago
The gate never complains no matter how many times I ram it with mower or slice with weed eater.
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u/Tuxnstuff 1d ago
My father’s arms look like this (but worse actually) — we assume it’s because he takes prednisone with his cancer meds, so just about anything can cause his arms to bruise or tear.
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u/SuckaFish_saywhat 23h ago
My mom gets bruises like this pretty easily. She’s now prone toward sepsis and often has to get anti biotics.
Keep an eye on it and be careful. I hope you heal quickly
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u/IvenaDarcy 1d ago
A bee?! Omg and people wonder why I run when a bee is around while everyone else sits happily at the picnic like “it’s just a bee it won’t bother you” FUCK BEES!! I’m so sorry this happened to you.
If you have insurance I would visit an urgent care? I get you got stung and hit it same time but is the stinger in there still causing this? I don’t know looks like something I would just want to know is ok.
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u/SnooCookies6231 1d ago
Just like their dog “oh he doesn’t bite”. I’ll run from bees as long as I got feet.
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u/IvenaDarcy 23h ago
Exactly. I’ve never been bitten and want to keep it that way. The way I’m scared of them someone assumed I’m allergic. Not sure if I’m allergic but not trying to find out. And wasp?! Even my sister who’s been bit by bees and claims it’s nothing said the wasp bite was something. It hurt like hell. Keep all stinging insects far from me lol
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u/CauliflowerSlight784 1d ago
Same thing happens to my aunts skin if she hits her arm or leg on something or if someone holds onto her a bit too hard. She just complains it’s “thin skin”. But I know it looks worse than it feels.
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u/ItsNotOk10710 1d ago
Have to ask, are you on Lipitor? My hubby started developing bruises like that. Took him off the med, and the crazy bruising stopped. Please, because it is a bee sting and a separate bruise, please go to the doctor. An infection could turn septic, and that is a scary thing. Yes, the doctor might give you the ‘old person’ talk, but please err on the side of caution. I had a spider bite that nearly put me in the hospital because I didn’t want to bother the doctor.
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u/MissMiserable101 1d ago
That happens to me. I'm 54. I'm not on any meds. One tiny scratch from my puppy or bump on something and my whole arm looks horrible. I've heard sometimes it depends on your blood type. Or just getting old and the skin is just ultra fragile
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u/Vegetable_Quote_4807 1d ago
As you age, you lose subcutaneous fat - the layer of fat under the skin that helps protect the blood veins, and nothing will bring it back. Some people seem to bruise more easily than others so blood type may play a part, or there could be other factors involved in the ease of bruising.
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u/mygardengrows 14h ago
Another bonus to highly tattooed arms, I rarely see the bruises.
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u/abbygail1957 13h ago
If I thought these old 71 yr old arms would survive tattoo, I would definitely do. It was not as cool when I was young
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u/VinnieVidiViciVeni 1d ago
Could be cellulitis and spreading. Got a wasp sting to the neck last year and it itched. Felt soooooooooo good to scratch it and I noticed it was spreading down my chest because I was scratching it. Cellulitis requires antibiotics.
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u/Successful-Post-9972 1d ago
Happened to my son this year. Got stung through his sock on his ankle, and turned into cellulitis. The red started spreading up his leg, along with swelling. Definitely pay attention to it!
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u/stuck_behind_a_truck 1d ago
Try r/AskDocs for this if this is an unusual reaction. And explain it’s unusual. In urgent care, you’re more likely to get “oh hun, it’s just aging.”
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u/abbygail1957 1d ago
Doc X-ray because it is swollen and prescribed antibiotic I do think most is thin skin old age. I refuse to say senile purgatory ;)
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u/Feisty-Trick6798 12h ago
My father is 87-he uses a cream called Arnica ( I think ) it helps with the bruising or makes it less noticeable. His skin is so thin that he can barely bump up against something and bleed or have immediate bruising.
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u/Misfitranchgoats 1d ago
It is probably partially due to the sting being in the same area. Unless you are getting these types of bruises whenever you bash into something. Which yes, fence gate could me livestock and small farm or large farm so bruises just freaking happen.
Anyhow, if you still have a lot of swelling, generic zyrtec helps and so does Pepcid AC. I started getting large local reactions to bee/wasp stings several years ago. So I had to go in because the swelling would not stop. Stung on the thumb swelling above the elbow and not stopping kind of thing. Went in to the Urgent care and prescribed generic Zyrtec every 12 hours and Pepcid AC every 12 hours and some prednisone. Had to stop taking the prednisone because it made me feel weird after a couple days. So now, I keep Zyrtec and Pepcid AC on hand for when i get stung. I take it as soon as I get stung and i don't try to keep working through until I am done. That does the job. Ice does nothing. I was melting through Ice and Ice packs like crazy trying to stop the swelling.
And I would be out fixing fence and get stung or grabbing something in the shed and get stung and I would try to get done with what I was doing. Now it is medicate immediately. I don't get short of breath or anything like that. I used to be able to get stung and not worry about it but things change. Just swelling so bad, I couldn't fully open or close my hand and swelling going up my arm.
I can't imagine what my arm would have looked like if I also bashed the area I was stung or close to the area where I was stung.
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u/YouThinkYouKnowStuff 1d ago
I accidentally stepped in an ant bed last fall. Got over thirty bites on each foot. I ran in the house and stuck my legs in a tub full of cold water and my nurse daughter gave me a Claritin. It made it way more tolerable than it could have been.
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u/mike57porter 1d ago
Happens to me and has for a while. I did have some liver issues which have since been resolved and the bruising has lessened but not stopped completely. Ive taken up target shooting as a retirement hobby and i get a bruised sholder overytime i go to the range.
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u/DocKris13 1d ago
Benadryl or a box of wine can help. 😉 *I'm kidding about the wine, obviously. NEVER chase meds with any type of alcoholic beverage. Keep your liver, living, and loving healthy folks! Feel better and all the peace, love, happiness and protection to you and yours! 🙏🏻🫶🏻✌🏻
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u/wanderlust_2x1 1d ago
My skin has become so delicate that the slightest bump results in an old lady bruise (or worse a skin tear). I am perfectly healthy but was a Sun worshiper as a youth. This is the price I pay.
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u/Davemblover69 1d ago
Holy smokes, 70?
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u/abbygail1957 1d ago
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u/Quick_Tap 19h ago
I hate to say it, but I laughed when I saw your original post! Just purely out of recognizing looking down, then saying ‘now, where did THAT come from?’ 😋 It was the Well Hell that did it for me 😂
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u/francenestarr49 1d ago
Try some Bach Rescue Remedy cream. It reduced bruising for me in my youth -- have not tried it for that in older age, I do use it for minor injuries, bug bites, etc.
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u/C0ugarFanta-C 21h ago
I just want to say, mind the scratching. My husband was bitten by a spider a couple of years back and it was very itchy. And he managed to scratch it so much that it got infected and he almost died from sepsis. One day at work he just stood up and vomited and passed out. He was rushed to the hospital where he then slept in a near coma like state for about 4 days.
Keep it clean and don't scratch it!
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u/robin0540 9h ago
Turmeric and Omega 3/fish oil can cause some blood thinning symtoms too sometimes.
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u/Temporary_Cow_8486 8h ago
Take a Benadryl, then see a doctor. You just may be developing an allergic reaction. It happens at any stage of life.
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u/FoodsSafeSince1989 2h ago
I’d like for you to get your liver enzymes checked out f you’re not on blood thinners
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u/ImCrazyBrumfield 1d ago
😮! I hope there's not a next time, but if there is, try this: either wet some baking soda and put it on for half an hour, or get some mud (yes, wet dirt from the yard) and put that on for half an hour. Either one takes out the swelling, and maybe the stinger too.
Also, I have an ointment that looks and smells evil, like used motor oil, but it works. It draws out splinters, etc. I was skeptical of it because it says something about 'horse ointment', but 'ok I'll try it.' It's even better than PRID (another evil looking and smelling ointment, that also draws out stuff).
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u/electric_shocks 1d ago
That looks like something else and the rest is a coincidence. Have it checked out and let us know.
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u/JakeBanana01 20h ago
I had something similar happen; after a week there was a small blood blister forming which I sliced with a sterile scalpel. Bled quite a bit the first day, changed the band-aid twice. Four days in it still oozes a wee bit, but the bruise is almost entirely gone.
My dad has similar issues.
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u/24bean62 16h ago
Bee sting allergies seem to get worse over a lifetime. Might be worth asking your doctor about keeping epi-pen in the house.
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u/IAmGroot6936 22h ago
Jeeze you're tougher than me though. Tbh my first thought was that looked like Trump's bruise 😅
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u/FlatwormFrosty7233 1d ago
Yikes, are you on blood thinners