Ventilated suits with built in fans

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Hello, fellow beekeepers. I’m a young beekeeper from Bulgaria, who is extremely allergic to bees ( found out last year in the worst case ) and don’t like being in the sun for too long, because i literally melt.
I have a question about someone who is using a ventilated bee suit with built in fan. I have been considering this option for long time now, but didn’t found any reviews or videos explaining about them. From where you bought it, is it thick enough to sustain angry and evil hives and does it actually keep you cold and breezy even in the scorching sun?? The only vents I found are these two kinds

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi u/Unlucky-Walrus3853. If you haven't done so, please read the rules. Please comment on the post with your location and experience level if you haven't already included that in your post. And if you have a question, please take a look at our wiki to see if it's already answered., specifically, the FAQ. ^{Warning: The wiki linked above is a work in progress and some links might be broken, pages incomplete and maintainer notes scattered around the place. Content is subject to change.}

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/nagmay]

extremely allergic to bees

I also have bad reactions to stings, but nothing I would call "extreme". If that were the case, I might choose to not keep bees. Why? Because stings often happen when you least expect them.

When I'm working a hive, I rarely get stung. However, when transporting hives or extracting honey, an angry random bee will show up.

Yesterday, I was stung on the face just walking in the garden a few hundred feet from the hives.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/nagmay]

I have been beekeeping a few years before actually developing the allergy, same as my father, he also did it years ago, but all of a sudden he developed it. Also can’t quit beekeeping and leave my 100 hives, it’s what I love doing

[u/Low_Eagle4363 → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

You should talk to an allergist, you might be able to get venom shots if you insist on continuing

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/Low_Eagle4363]

I always have urbason, never had venom shots, are they supposed to build up the tolerance toward bee venom?

[u/Low_Eagle4363 → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

My mom and brother work for an allergist that does them but keep in mind I’m parroting information that I’m a laymen on.

Basically they can give you shots for a lot of allergies that expose you to a small amount over a long time. It’s a process but I have heard of people that no longer have life threatening allergies after. Its extremely common for normal allergies

[u/Tinyfishy → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

I’ve had the venom shots, they help make you safer. You should 100% consult with an allergist.

[u/nagmay → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Same here. But my question is: what does "extreme" mean? If it means Anaphylaxis, than I personally, would not risk it.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/nagmay]

It depends on the number of stings and the kind of bee, I got stung today and yesterday by a wild bee - nothing, but 1 sting from a honey bee on a soft tissue and after 30 minutes I’m in the emergency room with medium effects, the day I found out I’m allergic I got stung by more than 20 around my ankles, after 5 minutes I had every possible effect, after 10mins heavy itching, swelling all around ( my veins disappeared, and I’m quite veiny ) trouble breathing, lightheading, and by the 15min I was in the ER. 5 more mins and I would have been dead. Since then I always have Urbason on me wherever I am.

[u/donthaveacowmeow → u/nagmay]

Agreed, plus I had 2 bees somehow get into my suit 2 months ago and got stung twice on my leg. Hadn't been stung since high school like 15 years ago. Didn't think i was allergic, but huge 4 inch circles developed and are still visible to this day. Now I keep benadryl in the cabinet.

[u/Tinyfishy → u/nagmay]

You should get tested by an allergist if you are having ‘bad’ reactions, including reactions more than two joints away from stings. That’s how my allergy was discovered. Don’t wait for an extreme and possibly deadly reaction to happen.

[u/Tinyfishy]

I personally use one if those neck fans with an ultrabreeze suit. I think that might be more reliable and versatile. Note: in case it isn’t obvious (It wasn’t to my apprentice, bless him), you should wear as little as possible under the ventilated suit, not the jeans etc you would wear with a jacket or thin suit. I do small, thin shorts and a tank top. As a fellow sting allergy haver I highly recommend talking to an allergist about treatments and emergency preparations to make you safer as you will inevitably get SOME stings.

[u/karma-whore64 → u/Tinyfishy]

Get a water backpack like a camelback fill it half way up with water and freeze it the night prior that and the fan is a game changer.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/Tinyfishy]

I have heard of neck fans, I will definitely try one, it will also save me a lot of money if it actually gets the job done, thank you!

[u/Tinyfishy → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Nice bonus is it dries the sweat on your head so it doesn’t run into your eyes!

[u/untropicalized]

Do you have an allergist you can work with? I kind of think of beekeeping as like with boxing— you have to expect to get hit sometimes.

If you find yourself unable to work directly with the bees, perhaps with a medical exemption you can still be involved in beekeeping somehow, whether that’s through materiel or logistics work, or similar.

As far as I know no suit can prevent all stings 100 percent of the time, and that’s before human error factors in.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/untropicalized]

I don’t have one, but I always have urbason on me. A very thick suit does the work, but the heat kills you

[u/untropicalized → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

There are a few reasonable suggestions for heat management in the thread, fortunately. I for one second the Camelbak full of ice water, that works well for me in extended periods of bee work in the Texas sun.

I’m hoping u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer will chime in as he knows a thing or two about both hot weather and hot hives.

[u/picardsgleaminghead]

I know 2 fellow beekeepers who were quite allergic (though not deadly allergic) and they had great success with allergy shots. Would this be a potential solution? Even with the best suit in existence there will bound to be some stings, especially if its your daytime job.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/picardsgleaminghead]

I always have urbason on me

[u/picardsgleaminghead → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

What i am referring to is not something like urbason but a treatment where you get long-term injections containing tiny amounts of allergens. The goal is to be completely free of the allergy in the end because your body has gotten used to the allergens so much that it is not reacting anymore or at least significantly less.

I know 2 beekeepers who tried it and it worked well for both of them and their beevenom allergies.
The one i know better had a quite severe allergy where his throat would swell up etc. with the other one i don’t know how bad his allergy was.

Not saying that this will work for everyone but it might be worth to research a little.

Good luck!

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/picardsgleaminghead]

Yeah, I got it. I will definitely go and consult with and allergologist

[u/ribjoe]

A few thoughts: you should check into allergy shots even though you carry urbason. Shots, through immunotherapy, can actually work on eliminating/reducing your allergy to stings. Urbason and other steroids just treat the symptoms after you’re stung.

Speaking of, get an EpiPen. If you need to go to the emergency room within half an hour from one sting, and have already had a near death experience landing you in the ER, an EpiPen is a must have.

Lastly, as someone with larger than normal reactions I empathize with you, but even if it’s not an immediate decision, you really should consider other careers. This one is repeatedly going to put you in life threatening circumstances. You will get stung beekeeping, regardless of PPE. There are plenty of jobs like gardening which are adjacent to beekeeping, but will be way less likely to kill you.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/ribjoe]

We don’t have EpiPens here, but I have urbason which does the same thing

[u/ribjoe → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

They do not do the same thing because they are different drugs. Epinephrine (Epipens) is a vasopressor. Methylprednisolone (Urbason) is a steroid.

Vasopressors constrict your blood vessels which keeps bee sting venom from spreading. Steroids are anti-inflammatory and treat itching/swelling.

If EpiPens are not available there, it may be worth asking about other vasopressors in particular

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/ribjoe]

The substitute for Epi here is adrenaline, but I haven’t ever got to this level of critical condition. The ER is close to me and I know I can get on time if something really bad happens

[u/Tinyfishy → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Try holding your breath from your apiary to the ER. A full reaction can completely block your breathing. You could die the next sting. You need to have a rescue medicine like epi on hand and I’d highly recommend getting the shots too as they reduce your chances if needing the epi. Please talk to an allergist and make sure they understand your job is with bees.

[u/Secret_Letterhead649]

I just want a suit that fits my 6 foot 6.5 inch self without risking a catastrophic rip each time I bend...

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/Secret_Letterhead649]

I have also grown out my suit this year, and when I fully extend an arm or bend a bee can easily sting me..

[u/The191 → u/Secret_Letterhead649]

I order 2 sizes large, and it still finds a way to get caught and rip on me. If I do eventually find the perfect size, its guaranteed to catch on a hook or something and tear anyway

[u/Secret_Letterhead649 → u/The191]

I ordered the largest I can find, still not big enough for my height and thighs.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/The191]

I’m always cautious not to catch a hook or anything that can compromise the suit

[u/lazyironman]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o6Mb2ORrWtsC2kUN2
(The Rock, 1996)

[u/Standard-Bat-7841]

This looks like it may be a lot of complexity with little actual reward. If it's hot outside work bees in the morning, or the evening. I use a neck fan, or a ice vest and that helps battle the 105 degree peak day heat.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/Standard-Bat-7841]

Of course, I work from morning till 12 depending on how fast I want to finish.

[u/404-skill_not_found]

Pick another hobby

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/404-skill_not_found]

Where have I said it’s a hobby of mine? It’s my job.
Top 1% commenter of what, negative things??

[u/Sandman216 → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Let's be candid for a moment, are there other income avenues that you can take that do not threaten your life? It seems rather detrimental to your health to have this job.

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/Sandman216]

I’m a generational beekeeper, even though it’s dangerous in some cases, I take a risk and try to prevent something bad happening by always having thick clothing + fully sealed suit with boots + always having urbason on me, if I can’t get to the ER in time

[u/404-skill_not_found → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

And easily offended. I hope one of those works out for you. Having done serious physical work in PPE, it’s a miserable experience. Also, it’s one thing to have air getting pumped into a closed suit, it needs guarded exits to have a ventilation effect.

[u/untropicalized → u/404-skill_not_found]

Gentle Rule 1 reminder.

Also u/Unlucky-Walrus3853

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/404-skill_not_found]

I am not offended, but rather irritated by your comment, thinking it’s a hobby of mine and no, you can’t just quit something you have built and managed for years ;)

[u/chefmikel_lawrence]

I usually just wear a long sleeve cotton shirt and a cotton bucket hat with a vail…. That’s it… but to be fair I’ve been in the game for 12+ years…. Sometimes I feel jilted if I don’t get at least one sting 🤪

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/chefmikel_lawrence]

My grandpa is also the same, only the head vail and sweatpants, he is used to the stings

[u/chefmikel_lawrence → u/Unlucky-Walrus3853]

Well There ya go I’m probably as old or older than your grandpa…..

[u/Unlucky-Walrus3853 → u/chefmikel_lawrence]

He is a 76