Any advice for me? I'm stricken with nasty poison ivy.

[Ilsa]

I'll see the dr. this afternoon. I'll do anything for a cortisone shot or whatever they'll give me to help slow my immune response to this junk. The stuff has quickly spread from my leg to other parts of the body. I'm glad I don't have it on my a$$.

In the meantime, I'm taking benadryl and putting calamine lotion and triple anti-biotic ointment (alternating) on the vesicles. They are weeping and so am I.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Yikes!

I don't have any other remedy except the calamine and benadryl. Good luck!

I hope you find relief soon.

[Kolesar]

2. I have had great results with "Ivy Dry"

Look for it at your pharmacy.

[walkon]

4. I second that

The liquid worked best for me (I believe it comes in lotion/creme and liquid)

[radfringe]

16. Rhuli cream works good too

cooling and forms a "barrier" over the area

if real bad, then get thee to a doctor

[Beer Snob-50]

3. I had a nasty case this past fall

and my Dr perscribed me some steriods that calmed it right down.

[Crowdance]

5. Homeopathic Rhus Tox

If you can find a health food store or old fashioned chemist with homeopathic remedies, try Rhus Tox. Don't bother with the lower does (6 or lower). Try to take a dose that is 30 or higher.

[Mr. McD]

6. It sounds like you are taking the right steps.

I haven't had poison oak or ivy for a few years but I usually have to go to the Doctor for Cortisone Shots. I have had it cover 80% of my body on more then one accession.

[northzax]

15. so you stopped having sex outside?

how else do you get poison ivy on 80 percent of your body?

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Witch Hazel might bring it down...

...But I don't speak from experiance, so you might want to check with a herbalist/homeopath. Enjoy! ;-)

[TNDemo]

8. A hair dryer helped me.

I would blow the hot air on the itchy parts and it was like a great scratch without actually doing it. I found the spray on Benadryl worked better than the gel.

[readmylips]

9. Scrat!...Heat brings on the itchies...

Ice cold water and hydrocortize cream. Do not take a hot bath, shower or get in a Jacuzzi, and do not use a hair dryer.

[TNDemo]

19. It helped me.

It seemed to dry up all the oozing and made the itching go away.

[Blue-Jay]

10. All good suggestions so far.

I'd also recommend washing the affected area with Fells Naptha soap. It'll dry the infection out quickly. (be careful doing this, though. Don't scrub too hard, as it's very abrasive)

[Bush_Unemployed_04]

11. Trust me.....you need to get a tube of 'Zanfel' ointment...

Had an extremely bad case of poison ivy on my legs, went to the doctor who couldn't prescribe the cortisone shot because I'm diabetic.

The calamine and benadryl were failing miserably...
Discovered this ointment on the web...

First application got rid of the itch and pain COMPLETELY
The rash and scars starting healing within a few days...

This stuff works...

[sbj405]

12. Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap

worked well for me. you should be able to pick it up at whole foods or other natural food/health store.

http://www1.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=10156&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10001

[LynneSin]

13. DON'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR ME

Best advise I can give you!!

[Ilsa]

14. Thanks everyone. I had to cancel

a meeting this morning. I hope I can find some of these treatments here in town in south texas.

Cool feels much better than hot, which makes it itch. It's on my back, neck, earlobe, crawling up my face, legs. Can't figure out what to do with my hands which have vesicles now.

I am completely miserable with this junk.

[radfringe]

17. ouch - on face!!! get to doc immediately!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

18. You've done pretty much all you can do...

I used to get PI really bad, so I'm intimately familiar with the little bugger!. The cortisone shot will clear up the rash really quick (a day or so). The Benadryl will keep the itching down to a dull torture. :P My advice is: DON'T SCRATCH!! Breaking the blisters will only spread the rash and open you up to infection. Also, clean everything that may have been contaminated by the urushol (PI oil). Believe it or not, urushol can stay viable for 40 yrs. plus!

FYI: Did you know that poison ivy is in the cashew genus (Anacardium)? Think about that next time you order cashew chicken from Chinese take-out!

[tsakshaug]

20. Bleach

Soak body part in water bleach solution. This works for me. Takes a day to dry it up. My wife, the RN, does not approve, but it works

[Wonco_the_Sane]

21. Stay away from poison ivy :)

[Ilsa]

23. I may have gotten it indirectly.

The dogs may have been in it and then rubbed against my legs. I haven't been in the flower bed in ten days, so I'm not sure how I got it.

[commander bunnypants]

22. I feel your pain

but doctor now. You dont want that crap in your eyes


DDQM