Running hot water over them feels so good when they are in the itch phase! Aaahh. I actually let the stinger pump away, instead of scraping it right out, because the old wives say that bee venom is a tonic. Swelling lasts 2-4 days for me, depending on the location, but listen to this.
I recently got stung on the wrist, and she must have hit a vein, because there was almost no local reaction, but my whole head turned bright red and was itching. My legs were itching. My eyeballs were bloodshot and watering. I couldn't swallow, and I was wheezing. That one sting was so powerful, I had to lie down for an hour. After about three hours, I was fine, and there was almost no swelling in the wrist at all.
That's what you could call a good dose.