Poison Ivy is the devil

jennyr

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When I was a kid in the US and got PI my mother always used calamine lotion on us, and also baking soda baths. The calamine really takes the itch away so you don't spread it by scratching. We didn't have the OTC medicines or the opotions of steroids that exist today, but stuck it out treating the symptoms until it went - around 6 weeks I seem to remember.
 

momofmany

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Calamine lotion doesn't work that well when you have a severe reaction from it. My brother is highly allergic to it and he had it all over his body once as you described. The doctor told him to use a new towel every time he showered otherwise the oils get on the towel and back onto you. Thank heaven's I'm only slightly allergic - it grows wild everywhere here.

I feel your pain and hope that you can find relief some how. I had a severe case of chicken pox as an adult and the itching was so bad the doctor prescribed a tranquilizer for me to lower the itch anxiety (along with the steroids). It was the only thing that finally helped me to sleep it off until it went away.
 
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sanctie

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Alright guys, it is worse than I even thought. It got so bad last night. It spread to my eye and ear, and my throat started to close up so I was admitted to the hospital around 3am. They doped me up and shot me full of steroids and sleeping meds. I am home now with that darn expensive steroid prescription. I couldn't go to work. At the hospital they had to put a tube down my throat until the swelling went down so I could breathe. I am still pretty bad, this darn stuff is everywhere! I hope the meds kick in soon and this stuff clears up, this is really not a good time for this to be happening. It is finals week this week, meaning it's seriously crunch time and I am covering in this junk and don't want to even move. Yuck.
 

MoochNNoodles

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Ouch that is awful! I hope it goes away soon! You deffinately don't need all this with finals on you!

Look on the slightly bright side...at least this weekend you don't need to worry about your clothing falling off you at work!
 
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sanctie

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Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

Ouch that is awful! I hope it goes away soon! You deffinately don't need all this with finals on you!

Look on the slightly bright side...at least this weekend you don't need to worry about your clothing falling off you at work!

Well aren't you just hilarious! LOL! Always looking on the positive side.
 

jennyr

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I am sorry it's so bad. I hope it doesn't affect your exams too much. Is htere any way you can sit special exams later?
 

gailc

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Oh man!!!!! I hope you are a bit better now...
As for the oatmeal I don't know how much to put in the tub ( I think its the slow cooking kind too) 1-2 cups??? A cool water bath too instead of hot.
DON"T ITCH!!!!! Wash your hands alot!!
 
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sanctie

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Yeah, I wash my hands all the time, I have cleaned and sterilized everything every day since I got it. Bathed Conner, the works. I haven't itched at all either. I have done everything right darnit, so it sucks that it spread the way it did. The Dr. told me that I once you get it so bad the urushiol is in your blood stream and will just erupt through your skin wherever it wants after that point. Ick. I hope these meds start working quickly! I am going to call the professors who's classes I have finals in on Monday and Tuesday and ask if they will just exempt me from the final, I already have A averages in both of those classes, maybe they will accomodate me. I just don't think this stuff will be gone by then, but I don't know.
 
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