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Here's to Your Health:  I can't seem to get rid of POISON OAK!  |
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0missy0
Farmgirl in Training
20 Posts
Melissa
Oklahoma
USA
20 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 06:58:23 AM
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Okay here is the LONG story
I was out at the farm.. hiking and just enjoying the day. I guess I didn't realize I had gotten into some poison oak. (My bad).
I wasn't itchy until maybe a few days later and then I got this rash on my hands,face,neck,behind my ears, scalp, and a little bit on my arms. I went to the doctor because my face was swollen and red (red as you can get). I couldn't talk or anything. That's how bad it was.
The doctor first gave me some steroids and told me to put Eucerine Calming Creme on my face (What the heck!). I felt like my face was on fire. He also ran a blood test to see if I had Lymes disease because I had found a tick crawling on me and he wanted to be sure.. he also said it was Poison Oak.
I went back a couple days later because it was just getting worse and a different doctor he gave me Hydrocortison 1%. That didn't help at all.. SO I dragged myself back down to the doctor's office and he gave me two different types of ointment: Hydrocortisone 2.5% and Prednisone.
THAT DIDN'T HELP!!
SOOOOOOOOOOO
I went back and he sends me to a dermatologist. He said yeah it's poison oak. I was like okay I know that! He gave me Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream .025%. PLUS Hydroxyz which is generic for Atarax 10mg.
That worked! But now it has started to come back and I don't like to depend on pills so I only use the Hydroxyz when I really HAVE to.
I went back a couple weeks ago and they gave me a cortisone shot. Which really seemed to help. It all went away. But now I have just a little bit between my fingers. It doesn't seem to be spreading.. YET..
Now I have washed my bedding twice a week, washed all my jewelry, changed hair brushes, new pillows, you name it I washed it or bought new. Plus I washed my dogs  .
Does anyone have any advice? I want to get on top of this before it gets worse. Sorry for the long story there  . The doctor's didn't seem to have a clue what to do. |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 8:15:45 PM
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Hi Melissa,
I have always gotten everything itchy or buggy under the sun my entire life. I just found something for my itchies, whether it's plant or bug, this week. It's called Coar Tar Soap in bar form at my health food store. It really relives the itching. You might try that and I'm sorry you itch. For me, this has to be the itchiest and bug infested year yet! Take care.
Tina
You can tell your dog all of your secrets and they'll never say a word!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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LindaEllen
True Blue Farmgirl
275 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
275 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 8:29:59 PM
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Oh Melissa you have it really bad. My sister gets poison ivy and she uses vinegar, keeps a soaked vinegar rag on her arms , it burns a bit but it seems to dry it up rather quickly for her.
Wash down your steering wheel of the car/truck, you might have some of the oil still on that, door handles, just about anything that you have touched, and shoes too. Hope this helps.
I need to tell sis about Coar Tar Soap, ths Tina
tc linda
Locust Trail Homestead
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/walkabout/
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 11:30:41 AM
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Melissa:
I'm itchy just reading your posting. I had poison oak years ago that continued to itch forever. One old lady advised me to cut my finger nails. I told her I washed my hands often and took a bath often. She just smiled. Well, I immediately (after the lady left) cut my nails. That did it for me. I hope it's as simple for you, too.
Marly |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2008 : 6:09:44 PM
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Hi Melissa,
I forgot one other sure fire way to get rid of any of the ivies. Get thyself to the nearest pool with clorine (sp?). If you go swimming several times a week, the pool water will dry up the ivy and be gone with. This really does work and I discovered it by accident. I have also tried adding 1/4 cup bleach to my bath water but the results were not as good.
Tina
You can tell your dog all of your secrets and they'll never say a word!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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0missy0
Farmgirl in Training
20 Posts
Melissa
Oklahoma
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2008 : 09:01:52 AM
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Okay BAD NEWS.. yesterday I was out working on my grandparents yard and I started breaking out in this again. So besides having it on my hands I now have it on my neck and behind my ears and it is trying to start on my scalp. 
My goodness I am so miserable!
I have washed my dogs, cleaned steering wheels, washed my shoes, new bedding, new pillows, everything. I guess I will have to go through cleaning everything again. I have cleaned with bleach && dawn soap.
Oh, I have tried swimming at the pool.. My rash wasn't all that bad at the time so I didn't notice a difference. The pool has closed for the year here in town... SO that idea is out
Well I am off to go wash everything again. Oh and I will try the vinegar and if that doesn't help I will try the Coar Tar Soap.
Please continue with more suggestions. I really need it! Thank you all so much. God Bless. |
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FroggyFarmer
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Jackie
Grass Valley
ca
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Sep 01 2008 : 08:53:26 AM
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Missy, probably it started acting up again because you got hot and sweaty. Poison oak is just in the pores or something, and if you have a little bit, or some that was "mostly" gone, it can act up again when you start getting worked up.
I used to get it bad like you describe (I can't believe it took your docs that long to give you cortisone! That's always the first thing my docs do when they see me come in with my face swollen shut. Ask them for some pills, too. I usually got some sort of pill- can't recall the name, which I took for a week and it helped get it gone quickly) and the best regimine for getting rid of it is to change your bedding etc once a day (I usually put down towels or flat sheets to make it easier) and cool showers twice a day with technu, poison oak soap, or something of that nature.
During the day, to keep the itch down and dry it out, I lather myself with aloe vera and Aveeno's itch relief cream, which is the best over the counter itch cream I've found- it doesn't work for a long time, but it does calm the itch pretty well.
Good luck! |
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Here's to Your Health: I can't seem to get rid of POISON OAK! |
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I can't seem to get rid of POISON OAK!
