AAArrrgggHhhh!!! Poison Oak

island_hopper · Post by **island_hopper** » March 20, 2007 9:27 pm

If I get it, it is usually just a small patch that goes away in a day or two. This time I managed to get it under my arm from about my elbow almost to my pit......you know that sensitive under arm skin. My arm is swollen to almost twice it's size and hurts like it's gonna explode. I don't believe it's ever been this bad.

I'm curious.....what do you guys who get it do to help relieve it? I've been dousing it with rubbing alcohol to dry it out and also plain 'ol calamine lotion. It is similar to poison ivy and sumac....

Thank you in advance!

Post by **SMLCHNG** » March 20, 2007 9:31 pm

Never had it. Hope it goes away soon!!! ((((IH))))

fruityparrothead · Post by **fruityparrothead** » March 20, 2007 9:35 pm

OH MY! I'm so sorry...........poison oak SUX. Phins up!!!!!!!!!!

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » March 20, 2007 9:37 pm

I get an annual case of poison ivy when clearing brush in the back yard, if it's bad the only thing that works for me is a trip to the Dr. for a steroid shot. Never found anything over counter that worked for anything more than a mild case.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » March 20, 2007 9:38 pm

that's bad..and it's poison oak...I'd either see the Dr. or call him...I ended up with a 'script w/poison ivy...

but I scratched it, and it weeps, it went from a very small spot on my leg to a huge area...

Ivy spreads by spores like mushrooms, and for me, I seem to be much more allergic to the spores than the oil from the vine or leaf...

CaladrylClear is good stuff...seems like I got Zithromax, but it might have been something else...

a 'script definitely clears it up a lot faster...

Good Luck..some people are more allergic than others, my grown children could sleep in it and never have it bother them...unlike their Mother...

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 20, 2007 9:39 pm

(((JTR))))
Sorry to hear.. I will call Dad...

conched · Post by **conched** » March 20, 2007 9:40 pm

Do go to the doctor and start a series of steroids before it gets worse.

And...get better soon!

Aveeno is soothing in the meantime.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » March 20, 2007 10:10 pm

Wash Everything in Clorex Twice.. Clothes, Sheets Blankets
evrything.. Dad said to call the Pharmacy and see if they have
an idea.. and Moonie?? I am like your Kids..

bixxx · Post by **bixxx** » March 20, 2007 10:30 pm

hot shower, as hot as you can stand it will release the itchieness for awhile i had real bad poison oak had to take the roids, but it was the hot shower that felt the best

ladyparrothead · Post by **ladyparrothead** » March 20, 2007 10:38 pm

(((JTTL))) - No helpful suggestions - just gentle hugs.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » March 20, 2007 11:33 pm

ragtopW wrote:Wash Everything in Clorex Twice.. Clothes, Sheets Blankets
evrything.. Dad said to call the Pharmacy and see if they have
an idea.. and Moonie?? I am like your Kids..

you lucky duck...rW

last time I got it really bad and I was standing a good 6 ft back from where it was being pulled up, bagged, and thrown in the trash...

the smoke from buring poison oak is more dangerous than the weed itself...

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » March 20, 2007 11:34 pm

Prednisone baby

Next time before you get into the vile stuff go buy some Technu. Keep it in the car and wash up, no H20 required as soon as the hike is over. Its magic stuff

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » March 20, 2007 11:39 pm

redwinemaker wrote:Prednisone baby

Next time before you get into the vile stuff go buy some Technu. Keep it in the car and wash up, no H20 required as soon as the hike is over. Its magic stuff

Yup, that's what the Dr. gave me....Prednisone, it certainly worked fast... I'll have to remember Technu

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » March 20, 2007 11:48 pm

Oh, Aveeno Oatmeal bath is supposed to make it feel better ... I dont get it, so I only know what I am sposed to tell Boy Scouts and their mothers

blackjacks wife · Post by **blackjacks wife** » March 21, 2007 12:46 am

My brother used to get posion oak, sumack, ivy and what ever else you can think of.

I know it sounds crazy but our Dr. used to tell him to go swimming in a chlorinated pool or the ocean. The salt water and the chlorine drys up the puss so that when the sores burst, there is nothing to spread the infection.

It's a wives tale that has worked for my family....

good luck...

island_hopper · Post by **island_hopper** » March 21, 2007 1:09 am

redwinemaker wrote:Prednisone baby

Next time before you get into the vile stuff go buy some Technu. Keep it in the car and wash up, no H20 required as soon as the hike is over. Its magic stuff

Yeah, when I did trail work in the lower elevations I was in it all the time and Technu was my best friend. I generally don't get it this bad, I think it's the sensitive skin of my underarm. I have a few small spots on my leg and lower arm and they are already almost gone.

I've got ice on it now for the swelling......

Bixx....in the past I've done the hot water thing....and also putting a hair dryer on it until the heat is unbearable and oooh oooh ooooooh does it feel good. Almost orgasmic, for a lack of better words! It seems to make it worse at first and then better faster.

island_hopper · Post by **island_hopper** » March 21, 2007 1:11 am

Moonie wrote:
ragtopW wrote:Wash Everything in Clorex Twice.. Clothes, Sheets Blankets
evrything.. Dad said to call the Pharmacy and see if they have
an idea.. and Moonie?? I am like your Kids..

you lucky duck...rW

last time I got it really bad and I was standing a good 6 ft back from where it was being pulled up, bagged, and thrown in the trash...

the smoke from buring poison oak is more dangerous than the weed itself...

Yeah, he is one of the lucky ones......I have this friend who used to taunt me with the fact that he could eat it.

island_hopper · Post by **island_hopper** » March 21, 2007 1:12 am

redwinemaker wrote:Oh, Aveeno Oatmeal bath is supposed to make it feel better ... I dont get it, so I only know what I am sposed to tell Boy Scouts and their mothers

You're one of the lucky one's too.......

Thank you all for the well-wishes, hugs and advice.....I'm gonna go to bed and dream of not having to call the DR.!

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » March 21, 2007 9:27 am

redwinemaker wrote:Prednisone baby

Next time before you get into the vile stuff go buy some Technu. Keep it in the car and wash up, no H20 required as soon as the hike is over. Its magic stuff

I get poison ivy very easily and rather severely. I always have a bottle of Tecnu with me during the season. The stuff is worth its weight in gold to me.

And to those who think they are immune...beware - I NEVER got it as a kid (and I spent the entirety of my free time playing in the woods, fishing, etc.). First time I got it was in my early teens, and have been prone to it ever since.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » March 21, 2007 9:29 am

redwinemaker wrote:Oh, Aveeno Oatmeal bath is supposed to make it feel better ... I dont get it, so I only know what I am sposed to tell Boy Scouts and their mothers

Another good one is a baking soda bath. Helps dry it out and certainly soothes the discomfort, albeit temporarily. Not sure it works on poison oak, but I do it alot with poison ivy.