Poison Ivy

B

bmilla35

Joined
Aug 29, 2007
Messages
1,601
On Sunday I went and roamed my camp property for a suitable piece of wood to make a bow out of. I had a hatchet and saw with me so while I was out, I decided I would cut the many vines that strangle my trees (for the record, next time i'm taking a chainsaw!). I knew that most of them were poison ivy, as they had the characteristic fuzzy "hairs". I made sure to avoid touching blades of the tools, and wore gloves. I was hoping that was enough to avoid getting poison ivy, but apparently it wasn't. Last night I was getting ready for bed and noticed some itch bumps on both my arms. My immediate reaction was, "Ohhhh #$@*!). Ya see, Memorial Day weekend I cleared a tree that fell at the edge of the field and it had vines alllllll over it. Before that point, I NEVER had poison ivy. So stupid me didn't wear gloves or anything (I dont even think I showered that night :footinmouth: A few days later I got itchy, and broke my poison ivy virginity. It lasted 6 weeks. It was pure agony. I tried hydrocortisone cream on top of my regular allergy medicine, but nothing worked. I could barely sleep at night. I desperately wanted to go to a doctor but my mom insisted they wouldn't do anything unless it was on my face or genitals.

So, do you knows know of any remedies to cure this before it gets out of hand? I would really appreciate it.
 
Lava type soap can help to remove the oils, but it sounds like it is too late for that. Calamine lotion. Don't scratch it because it may cause it to spread. If it's bad, go see a doc and get some cortisone tablets.
 
dttomcat said:
Lava type soap can help to remove the oils, but it sounds like it is too late for that. Calamine lotion. Don't scratch it because it may cause it to spread. If it's bad, go see a doc and get some cortisone tablets.
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Yeah i'm guessing it's to late. Last time I tried calamine lotion it didn't really have an effect. If i'm out though and see it at a store i'll buy some.

BA_Colt said:
Try aveeno. It worked for me.
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I would try that if I weren't stuck in a dorm :/
 
bmilla35 said:
On Sunday I went and roamed my camp property for a suitable piece of wood to make a bow out of. I had a hatchet and saw with me so while I was out, I decided I would cut the many vines that strangle my trees (for the record, next time i'm taking a chainsaw!). I knew that most of them were poison ivy, as they had the characteristic fuzzy "hairs". I made sure to avoid touching blades of the tools, and wore gloves. I was hoping that was enough to avoid getting poison ivy, but apparently it wasn't. Last night I was getting ready for bed and noticed some itch bumps on both my arms. My immediate reaction was, "Ohhhh #$@*!). Ya see, Memorial Day weekend I cleared a tree that fell at the edge of the field and it had vines alllllll over it. Before that point, I NEVER had poison ivy. So stupid me didn't wear gloves or anything (I dont even think I showered that night :footinmouth: A few days later I got itchy, and broke my poison ivy virginity. It lasted 6 weeks. It was pure agony. I tried hydrocortisone cream on top of my regular allergy medicine, but nothing worked. I could barely sleep at night. I desperately wanted to go to a doctor but my mom insisted they wouldn't do anything unless it was on my face or genitals.

So, do you knows know of any remedies to cure this before it gets out of hand? I would really appreciate it.
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I feel your pain. When I was a kid I could roll around in it and it didn't affect me. Now the wind can blow just right and I get it. I have heard you can use Jewel Weed to counter the poison ivy but I haven't tried it myself. When i get it I usually go to the doc and get a hydro-cortisone shot and follow it up by using Elidel cream. You will have to get a script for the cream but if you are at the doctors office getting a shot anyway it shouldn't be a problem. Elidel cream is the only thing i have ever tried that actually stopped the itching. After I apply the cream it takes about 2 minutes at the most and no more itch. This cream is one of the only medicines that i have ever used that i can say without a doubt that it works. It may not work for you but it is worth looking into because poison ivy will get everywhere you have skin...that includes places you don't want itchy.
 
I can check and see what the school can do for me...I dont know if she is a PA or nurse Thanks though!

I literally used to roll around in it years ago to prove I couldn't get it. It's weird...like someone just flipped a switch and BOOM! Now you can get poison ivy. Oh joyy
 
The doc i spoke to told me that if you ever get any of the oils into your bloodstream you are allergic for life. Basically, don't go messing with poison ivy if you have cuts or scrapes. I would also imagine getting some of the oils in your eye would do pretty much the same thing. How would you get oils in your eye? I can answer that. Using a weed eater without goggles. Although i am not sure I got poison ivy that way, i am 100% certain that i have had lots of juicy plant material thrown into my eyes over the years from not wearing goggles.
 
Ouch. I did a good job of not touching the blades...so I was pretty confident I wouldn't get it. Soooo I actually itched my eyes pretty heavily that day (I have REALLY REALLY bad eye allergies). Hopefully I don't get it :barf:
 
Poison ivy can take a few days up to 2 weeks to show up from what i understand. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Although when it comes to these things I tend to be proactive rather than reactive otherwise you end up sleeping in the floor so the wife don't get it.
 
I feel your pain....

I'm very allergic to poison ivy, I get it even when there's no trace of a plant left. I got it once in the middle of the winter cutting up a tree that fell after a storm. It takes 3 or 4 days before I get the rash.
A few weeks ago when I was weed whacking my yard I got hit in the face by some stinging nettle plants. Not as bad a poison ivy, the rash appeared in about 30 seconds, but lasted only a few hours.
 
Thanks man. I hope no more patches show up. The ones on my lower body showed up a few days later than those on my arms, so i'll just keep praying they don't show.
 
JPD1998 said:
I feel your pain....

I'm very allergic to poison ivy, I get it even when there's no trace of a plant left. I got it once in the middle of the winter cutting up a tree that fell after a storm. It takes 3 or 4 days before I get the rash.
A few weeks ago when I was weed whacking my yard I got hit in the face by some stinging nettle plants. Not as bad a poison ivy, the rash appeared in about 30 seconds, but lasted only a few hours.
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I've never had that...does't sound fun though! I wouldnt say i'm allergic, but it's still a nuissance.
 
Just thought I should mention, DO NOT use a chainsaw on poison ivy!!! You will atomize it, and it can then get into your lungs and everywhere else. Do some internet research before tackling the job again.
 
I stay far, far away from poison ivy. As a kid I contracted the itch so many times it isn't funny. I remember going to school with my eyes swollen shut. The genitalia and feet are the worst though. Oh, the itch between the toes and the crotch. It's pure torture.

The best relief I found was to scratch until the rash oozed and nearly bled, and then bathe it all down in rubbing alcohol. It burned like crazy, but it took the itch away for quite a while afterward. It may have something to do with the drying action of the alcohol.

Just stay away, far, far away from that stuff in the future. :)
 
...and be sure to never burn the stuff, because the smoke can kill you or other people around if they breathe the smoke. Getting that rash and swelling in your throat and lungs wouldn't be good.
 
my best advice for you, at least to help you sleep is piss off your Wife/mother/whoever and then hand them a cast iron skillet before bed

hopefully you should be out for a while
 
Get a shot it will dry up in a couple of days or the steroid pills that other stuff is waste of time and money and prolongs the agony.
 
Scott Free said:
Just thought I should mention, DO NOT use a chainsaw on poison ivy!!! You will atomize it, and it can then get into your lungs and everywhere else. Do some internet research before tackling the job again.
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I knew burning it was bad, but you can't use chainsaws? I assumed it was ok because in the 70's or 80's the state paid my father and grandfather to go out and cut the vines on trees with a chainsaw that they equipped and then spray it with some poison. I guess that's what you get wihen you assume lol.

Vege-Taco said:
I stay far, far away from poison ivy. As a kid I contracted the itch so many times it isn't funny. I remember going to school with my eyes swollen shut. The genitalia and feet are the worst though. Oh, the itch between the toes and the crotch. It's pure torture.

The best relief I found was to scratch until the rash oozed and nearly bled, and then bathe it all down in rubbing alcohol. It burned like crazy, but it took the itch away for quite a while afterward. It may have something to do with the drying action of the alcohol.

Just stay away, far, far away from that stuff in the future. :)
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I don't know if i'm tought enough for that! :eek:

Ken C. said:
Try Zanfel. My wife gets it all the time and this cures it.

http://www.zanfel.com/help/
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Thanks! I'll check it out.
 
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