So Marie, You are now initiated into the world of beekeeping. Did you get them on the hands? Stings do hurt. If I get it on the tip of the finger, which they seem to like or bottom of the foot(don't ask) I don't usually swell up but places like the knee or arm and I do. The thing I don't like is the itching. A friend got into keeping this year and has taken many stings so far for various reasons from not wearing any protection (she does now), not wanting to use smoke, or not being patient enough to wait for a good day to open the hive. But I've got to hand it to her, she's not afraid, she's determined, and she is learning a lot.