Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
decided to dump there.

SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.

Wednesday. Itches even more, and ------ing. Even more caladryl lotion.
Every other hour.

It really starts to itch on thursday. REALLY BAD. More caladryl lotion.
It's barely working at this point. I know I'm in trouble. I've had it
before, but I know it's going to be real bad this time.

Friday morning. Wake up, itching real bad. Take a shower go to work. Legs
start to swell REAL BAD. Puss oozing out of my calves, literally pouring
down my leg. Actually had to carry a paper towel to continually wipe it up.
By 9am, legs look like tree trunks, and oozing bad. Touch my calves, and
the puss starts flowing, almost non-stop. I call my doctor, and she says to
get there immediately. The pain is excruciating.

At this point the smell coming from my legs is unbearable, just like rotting
meat on a hot day, but even worst that that. Puss is just running down my
legs. the pain and itching is almost unbearable. The hair is falling out
of my right leg, and the smell is making me sick, very sick.

I get to the doctor. she immediately gives me 2 cortisone shots, 60mg of
some sort of steroid, and 1000mg of Keflex. My legs are severely infected
at this point, very red, swollen, and painful. That is at 10 am. She said
that if I had waited 2 more days, I would be sitting in a hospital bed.

12 hours later and no itching. left leg almost back to normal, right leg
still swollen, and only oozing a little bit. I lost some skin on it, but
who cares. It doesn't smell as bad, but it still smells. At least I'm
comfy.

MORAL OF THE STORY. I had no Idea I walked through the stuff. It was dark
out. I should have taken a shower immediately.

matt






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Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

man.........guess you had it bad.........
Might I mention, I really do not like Calidryl (=calamine & benadryl).
Someone with a little education figured that benadryl, used topically would
be as effective as the oral form, but without the systemic effects
(drowsiness, etc). Not so. Nothing beats soap & water, straight calamine
lotion & 2 benadryl 25mg caps 4 times a day (store brand - diphenhydramine -
is good enough - 25mg = OTC - 50mg = Rx - so take 2 x 25's). A lot of
expensive concoctions are on the shelves but they are mostly a waste of
money. There will be an initial flare up & then it should be self limiting.
It was believed that when you scratched, the exudate (ooze) would be the
cause of the rash ------ing. This is no longer valid. If it is ------ing
(after the initial flare up) then you are being re-exposed to the oil. It
could be in your clothing, the jeep, the dog, under your finger nails, on
the couch, etc, etc. If you sit on the bumper of your jeep 10 yrs later &
the oil is there, you will have a reaction. If so - must search &
destroy.....(wash)
Sounds to me like you waited too long to see your MD. If you don't see
improvement after about 3 days (not necessarily gone - but at least
improved) Call the MD.
I'm wondering about the steroids & antibiotics. She did give you more than a
single dose, didn't she? A loading dose of Keflex 1000mg is not uncommon -
should also be taking about 500mg 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days. Should
also have a tapering dose of steroids for 5 or 6 days.

--
Carlo F. Serusa, Jr. RPh
carlo.jr@comcast.net
'98 Sahara TJ - '89 YJ - '79 Scout II
O|||||||O
'92 Explorer '65 Mustang


"Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.teranew s.com...
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday
morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> Wednesday. Itches even more, and ------ing. Even more caladryl lotion.
> Every other hour.
>
> It really starts to itch on thursday. REALLY BAD. More caladryl lotion.
> It's barely working at this point. I know I'm in trouble. I've had it
> before, but I know it's going to be real bad this time.
>
> Friday morning. Wake up, itching real bad. Take a shower go to work.
Legs
> start to swell REAL BAD. Puss oozing out of my calves, literally pouring
> down my leg. Actually had to carry a paper towel to continually wipe it
up.
> By 9am, legs look like tree trunks, and oozing bad. Touch my calves, and
> the puss starts flowing, almost non-stop. I call my doctor, and she says
to
> get there immediately. The pain is excruciating.
>
> At this point the smell coming from my legs is unbearable, just like
rotting
> meat on a hot day, but even worst that that. Puss is just running down my
> legs. the pain and itching is almost unbearable. The hair is falling out
> of my right leg, and the smell is making me sick, very sick.
>
> I get to the doctor. she immediately gives me 2 cortisone shots, 60mg of
> some sort of steroid, and 1000mg of Keflex. My legs are severely infected
> at this point, very red, swollen, and painful. That is at 10 am. She
said
> that if I had waited 2 more days, I would be sitting in a hospital bed.
>
> 12 hours later and no itching. left leg almost back to normal, right leg
> still swollen, and only oozing a little bit. I lost some skin on it, but
> who cares. It doesn't smell as bad, but it still smells. At least I'm
> comfy.
>
> MORAL OF THE STORY. I had no Idea I walked through the stuff. It was
dark
> out. I should have taken a shower immediately.
>
> matt
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003
>
>

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

man.........guess you had it bad.........
Might I mention, I really do not like Calidryl (=calamine & benadryl).
Someone with a little education figured that benadryl, used topically would
be as effective as the oral form, but without the systemic effects
(drowsiness, etc). Not so. Nothing beats soap & water, straight calamine
lotion & 2 benadryl 25mg caps 4 times a day (store brand - diphenhydramine -
is good enough - 25mg = OTC - 50mg = Rx - so take 2 x 25's). A lot of
expensive concoctions are on the shelves but they are mostly a waste of
money. There will be an initial flare up & then it should be self limiting.
It was believed that when you scratched, the exudate (ooze) would be the
cause of the rash ------ing. This is no longer valid. If it is ------ing
(after the initial flare up) then you are being re-exposed to the oil. It
could be in your clothing, the jeep, the dog, under your finger nails, on
the couch, etc, etc. If you sit on the bumper of your jeep 10 yrs later &
the oil is there, you will have a reaction. If so - must search &
destroy.....(wash)
Sounds to me like you waited too long to see your MD. If you don't see
improvement after about 3 days (not necessarily gone - but at least
improved) Call the MD.
I'm wondering about the steroids & antibiotics. She did give you more than a
single dose, didn't she? A loading dose of Keflex 1000mg is not uncommon -
should also be taking about 500mg 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days. Should
also have a tapering dose of steroids for 5 or 6 days.

--
Carlo F. Serusa, Jr. RPh
carlo.jr@comcast.net
'98 Sahara TJ - '89 YJ - '79 Scout II
O|||||||O
'92 Explorer '65 Mustang


"Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.teranew s.com...
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday
morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> Wednesday. Itches even more, and ------ing. Even more caladryl lotion.
> Every other hour.
>
> It really starts to itch on thursday. REALLY BAD. More caladryl lotion.
> It's barely working at this point. I know I'm in trouble. I've had it
> before, but I know it's going to be real bad this time.
>
> Friday morning. Wake up, itching real bad. Take a shower go to work.
Legs
> start to swell REAL BAD. Puss oozing out of my calves, literally pouring
> down my leg. Actually had to carry a paper towel to continually wipe it
up.
> By 9am, legs look like tree trunks, and oozing bad. Touch my calves, and
> the puss starts flowing, almost non-stop. I call my doctor, and she says
to
> get there immediately. The pain is excruciating.
>
> At this point the smell coming from my legs is unbearable, just like
rotting
> meat on a hot day, but even worst that that. Puss is just running down my
> legs. the pain and itching is almost unbearable. The hair is falling out
> of my right leg, and the smell is making me sick, very sick.
>
> I get to the doctor. she immediately gives me 2 cortisone shots, 60mg of
> some sort of steroid, and 1000mg of Keflex. My legs are severely infected
> at this point, very red, swollen, and painful. That is at 10 am. She
said
> that if I had waited 2 more days, I would be sitting in a hospital bed.
>
> 12 hours later and no itching. left leg almost back to normal, right leg
> still swollen, and only oozing a little bit. I lost some skin on it, but
> who cares. It doesn't smell as bad, but it still smells. At least I'm
> comfy.
>
> MORAL OF THE STORY. I had no Idea I walked through the stuff. It was
dark
> out. I should have taken a shower immediately.
>
> matt
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003
>
>

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

Glad you found a Doctor that could help you.
http://www.innercite.com/~hanson/poivy1.wav
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Matt wrote:
>
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> Wednesday. Itches even more, and ------ing. Even more caladryl lotion.
> Every other hour.
>
> It really starts to itch on thursday. REALLY BAD. More caladryl lotion.
> It's barely working at this point. I know I'm in trouble. I've had it
> before, but I know it's going to be real bad this time.
>
> Friday morning. Wake up, itching real bad. Take a shower go to work. Legs
> start to swell REAL BAD. Puss oozing out of my calves, literally pouring
> down my leg. Actually had to carry a paper towel to continually wipe it up.
> By 9am, legs look like tree trunks, and oozing bad. Touch my calves, and
> the puss starts flowing, almost non-stop. I call my doctor, and she says to
> get there immediately. The pain is excruciating.
>
> At this point the smell coming from my legs is unbearable, just like rotting
> meat on a hot day, but even worst that that. Puss is just running down my
> legs. the pain and itching is almost unbearable. The hair is falling out
> of my right leg, and the smell is making me sick, very sick.
>
> I get to the doctor. she immediately gives me 2 cortisone shots, 60mg of
> some sort of steroid, and 1000mg of Keflex. My legs are severely infected
> at this point, very red, swollen, and painful. That is at 10 am. She said
> that if I had waited 2 more days, I would be sitting in a hospital bed.
>
> 12 hours later and no itching. left leg almost back to normal, right leg
> still swollen, and only oozing a little bit. I lost some skin on it, but
> who cares. It doesn't smell as bad, but it still smells. At least I'm
> comfy.
>
> MORAL OF THE STORY. I had no Idea I walked through the stuff. It was dark
> out. I should have taken a shower immediately.
>
> matt
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

Glad you found a Doctor that could help you.
http://www.innercite.com/~hanson/poivy1.wav
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Matt wrote:
>
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> Wednesday. Itches even more, and ------ing. Even more caladryl lotion.
> Every other hour.
>
> It really starts to itch on thursday. REALLY BAD. More caladryl lotion.
> It's barely working at this point. I know I'm in trouble. I've had it
> before, but I know it's going to be real bad this time.
>
> Friday morning. Wake up, itching real bad. Take a shower go to work. Legs
> start to swell REAL BAD. Puss oozing out of my calves, literally pouring
> down my leg. Actually had to carry a paper towel to continually wipe it up.
> By 9am, legs look like tree trunks, and oozing bad. Touch my calves, and
> the puss starts flowing, almost non-stop. I call my doctor, and she says to
> get there immediately. The pain is excruciating.
>
> At this point the smell coming from my legs is unbearable, just like rotting
> meat on a hot day, but even worst that that. Puss is just running down my
> legs. the pain and itching is almost unbearable. The hair is falling out
> of my right leg, and the smell is making me sick, very sick.
>
> I get to the doctor. she immediately gives me 2 cortisone shots, 60mg of
> some sort of steroid, and 1000mg of Keflex. My legs are severely infected
> at this point, very red, swollen, and painful. That is at 10 am. She said
> that if I had waited 2 more days, I would be sitting in a hospital bed.
>
> 12 hours later and no itching. left leg almost back to normal, right leg
> still swollen, and only oozing a little bit. I lost some skin on it, but
> who cares. It doesn't smell as bad, but it still smells. At least I'm
> comfy.
>
> MORAL OF THE STORY. I had no Idea I walked through the stuff. It was dark
> out. I should have taken a shower immediately.
>
> matt
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

"Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.terane ws.com>...
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.

I know what you've gone through,(literally). My legs got pretty bad
exposute and I had to go to the doctor for some cortizone.

Now I know if I get into Poison Ivy, I take benedryl immediately to
relieve the itching and I shower as soon as I can. I learned that the
oil from the P.Ivy will soak into your skin within 2 hours and that's
when the allergic reaction occurs.
Lately, I had a bad case on my forearms from clearing weeds. It caused
those same blisters you spoke of. I put calomine lotion on them for
several days and it went away finally but now I have two scars on my
from the blisters. Never had scarring before.

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

"Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.terane ws.com>...
> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
> decided to dump there.
>
> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.

I know what you've gone through,(literally). My legs got pretty bad
exposute and I had to go to the doctor for some cortizone.

Now I know if I get into Poison Ivy, I take benedryl immediately to
relieve the itching and I shower as soon as I can. I learned that the
oil from the P.Ivy will soak into your skin within 2 hours and that's
when the allergic reaction occurs.
Lately, I had a bad case on my forearms from clearing weeds. It caused
those same blisters you spoke of. I put calomine lotion on them for
several days and it went away finally but now I have two scars on my
from the blisters. Never had scarring before.

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

Elflan wrote:
> "Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:<432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.terane ws.com>...
>> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
>> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
>> decided to dump there.
>>
>> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
>> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> I know what you've gone through,(literally). My legs got pretty bad
> exposute and I had to go to the doctor for some cortizone.

For some strange reason poison ivy doesn't bother me at all. I've walked
through it, pulled it by hand, and never had any rash.

Then again I can turn silver rings into black goo in a day, that's probably
why, higly acidic skin.

--
DougW

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

Elflan wrote:
> "Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:<432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.terane ws.com>...
>> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property, in
>> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power company
>> decided to dump there.
>>
>> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday morning
>> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
>
> I know what you've gone through,(literally). My legs got pretty bad
> exposute and I had to go to the doctor for some cortizone.

For some strange reason poison ivy doesn't bother me at all. I've walked
through it, pulled it by hand, and never had any rash.

Then again I can turn silver rings into black goo in a day, that's probably
why, higly acidic skin.

--
DougW

Re: Damn Poison Ivy. Gettting stuck in thick brush.
 

it was a good thing you didn't have to relieve yourself in the patch before
you started walking. that would have been most unpleasant.


"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message
news:kKY3b.105126$Ij4.15921@news2.central.cox.net. ..
> Elflan wrote:
> > "Matt" <emailmatt9@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:<432dc2616d8f0844a2024f1d1dee050e@news.terane ws.com>...
> >> Managed to get the jeep stuck last sunday, only feet from my property,
in
> >> some VERY thick brush. Got stuck on some old trees that the power
company
> >> decided to dump there.
> >>
> >> SOOOO, I walked through all of it to my house. I noticed on tuesday
morning
> >> some slight itching on my calves. So I put some Caladryl on them.
> >
> > I know what you've gone through,(literally). My legs got pretty bad
> > exposute and I had to go to the doctor for some cortizone.
>
> For some strange reason poison ivy doesn't bother me at all. I've walked
> through it, pulled it by hand, and never had any rash.
>
> Then again I can turn silver rings into black goo in a day, that's
probably
> why, higly acidic skin.
>
> --
> DougW
>
>


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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