Poison something-or-other

[Smiles Jr.]

As I suspected the Dr. did not seem to be very concerned. He told me that it looks like some sort of Oak or Sumac and we viewed some pictures he has in a book. I'll look for the plant someday. He gave me two tiny steroid shots in the two worst areas of outbreak and told me to hit the road. He was pleased to see that several areas were trying to dry up and that I have not had any new pimples in two days. We think I just might live.

catjac1975 - DW and I discussed shingles last night. She was concerned because I had shingles about 10 years ago across my belly. It ran from my right hip to just passed my belly button. I don't think I have ever had anything as painful as that. I had to take two weeks off of work and it lasted about five weeks. It also took almost 18 months to slowly go away. What I'm experiencing now is nothing like my bout with shingles.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot . . . he told me to wash all affected areas four times a day with 91% alcohol. He also told me that the 91% (red label) alcohol is a much better buy than the 70% (blue label) alcohol which costs about the same. The reason for the alcohol wash is to reduce the chances of infection with so many open sores. And since I have so much rash on my hands and wrists I have to wear white tube socks on both hands/arms every night until all sores are dry. Oh what fun.

I'll be back to 100% in a few days. You can't keep an old crusty gardener down.

 

[catjac1975]

There is a new poison ivy wash that you can get at CVS. It is good for all of those allergic type plants. It is a bit expensive but it worked well for my husband. You use it on exposure before and after you see a rash-don't know the name -will try to find out worked better than any other product for the husband.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Well, glad you at least know for sure now. Glad you're on the upward swing and that you are going to make it!

 

[lesa]

Geez! You better identify that plant! I don't think you want to go through this again??

 

[897tgigvib]

Good advice for everyone who lives on planet Earth:

Thoroughly mesmorize what all varieties and forms of poison oak and poison sumac and poison ivy look like. Those 3, poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy are all closely related. They cross. So there is a wide variation of what the stuff looks like.

All are mostly deciduous, but can hang onto old leaves all winter.
The oil in them that is poisonous runs heaviest when they leaf and bud out in spring, and for a month or so after.
They appear to the inexperienced to blend in by summer's end, but still contain lots of poison oil.
Their leaves are shiny glossy in spring. Usually.
Their leaves are larger and dull, often red tinged, before summer's end.
Yes, their leaves are usually grouped in 3's.
Their leaves may or may not be shaped similar to Oak tree leaves.
No, they are not at all related to Oak trees.
They indeed are related to Cashew trees. Anacardiaceae family.
Anna car dee ash eee uh

Yes, it can look a bit like wild currant.
If in doubt, do not tempt fate.
Do not ever burn poison oak. The smoke does kill a few people every year.
Penn State's medical website has good true information

Yes, if hiking, it is better to be over careful than careless...if a wild blackberry looks like it might be poison oak, then don't touch it.

Yes, some folks are much less allergic than others.
However...
A person might not be allergic for 40 years, then suddenly become allergic.
Do not tempt fate.
Another person might be extremely allergic, and not know it, but become much less allergic.

Yes, SOAP AND WATER DOES WASH MOST OF IT OFF.
If possible, remove clothes in garage or porch.
Wash hands and feet first in sink.
Wash arms and legs at sink.
place all wash cloths and towels near clothes in pile that no person or animal will unknowingly touch.
Also wash torso and neck at sink.
Wash face and hairline at sink.

Get into shower.
Be prepared to use half a bottle of shampoo with this shower.
Wash hair, taking care not to run water onto face from hair.
Wash down body
Repeat until you tire from it!

Depending on how fast you were from exposure,
you might get it all off if less than 3 or 4 hours.
If later than that, still do the thorough wash.
It will reduce the severity.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

catjack - this may be the wash you are thinking of. This stuff is wonderful and I recommend it to everyone. A few years ago DW and I volunteered in the Florida Everglades National Park for a year. Wonderful experience, by the way. The National Park employees and volunteers get this wash by the case. Every time we were in the brush, woods, or even the marsh we always scrubbed our hands, feet, legs, face, and arms thoroughly with TechNu. I purchased this a year ago at CVS for when the grands come to visit. I'm sure this scrub product is mostly detergent to dissolve the poison oils and it also contains some grit to act as a scrubber on the skin. The label has some big 50 cent words that I can't pronounce.

We also had another TechNu product that some folks slathered all over exposed skin before going into the deep brush. There wasn't much of this to go around and I never did try it.

 

[catjac1975]

OMG -you must have seen the coolest and most dangerous wildlife!!!!

catjack - this may be the wash you are thinking of. This stuff is wonderful and I recommend it to everyone. A few years ago DW and I volunteered in the Florida Everglades National Park for a year. Wonderful experience, by the way. The National Park employees and volunteers get this wash by the case. Every time we were in the brush, woods, or even the marsh we always scrubbed our hands, feet, legs, face, and arms thoroughly with TechNu. I purchased this a year ago at CVS for when the grands come to visit. I'm sure this scrub product is mostly detergent to dissolve the poison oils and it also contains some grit to act as a scrubber on the skin. The label has some big 50 cent words that I can't pronounce.

We also had another TechNu product that some folks slathered all over exposed skin before going into the deep brush. There wasn't much of this to go around and I never did try it.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Charlos/1-GEDC0935.jpg

 

[dickiebird]

I use Fels Naptha soap to wash with anytime I think I may have been exposed to poison ivy. Of course I never knowingly go near the ivy but each summer at some point I end up in a patch.
I try and quit what I'm doing and at least go in and wash my hands, arms and face, using cold water, so as not to open the pores and let the oil embed.
The times I have ended up with the rash I've called my Dr. and he gives me a RX for some type of pill that I take 7 or so the first day and the amount decreases, by one, as the days pass. The first thing they do is relieve the itching and then they dry up the blisters.
I"ve been told they are a steroid but I'm not sure that is correct.

THANX RICH