Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Poison Ivy.......

Happier Times---Pickin' Blackberries on July 5
On July 5, as regular readers of this blog may recall, I wrote of my giddy experience of picking blackberries in my back yard.  Oh, what a wonderful cobbler we enjoyed!
Poison Ivy's Distinctive Leaves are Grouped in Threes, With Each Leaf Featuring a Notch
But, on July7, two days later, a small but tell-tale rash appeared on my right arm.  And, although the rash was only a single and seemingly inconsequential bump, I knew from experience that it was a harbinger of very nasty things to come.
My Right Forearm Today
I foolishly put off going to the doc, hoping that my body could just "fight it off".   But, apparently, when the good Lord made poison ivy, He had no intention of it being a harmless little plant.  In fact, it can cause misery like you wouldn't believe.
My Left Arm Has Just Begun to Show Involvement
Well, here we are 15 days later, and my body is hurtin'.  My right arm is covered up with the rash, which has now spread to other parts of my body, and there is no end in sight.
This Is a Shot From Google Showing What CAN OCCUR if Left Untreated
Since we just moved here, I do not have a doctor, nor do I know of any.  So, yesterday I got on-line and located one who is near our home.  I have an appointment for this afternoon. I know that Prednisone will knock this stuff  out quickly, so I can't wait to get a prescription and have it filled.
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22 comments:

  1. Cindy EllisonJuly 20, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    You have sure made a believer out of me! That Google image scares me to death! I wish we could hire someone, some kind of hazmat team to clear out that poison ivy! We are lucky we didn't get some kind of internal poison ivy by eating those blackberries that were all entwined with the poison ivy! I am anxious for you to start your medication.

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  2. kelliJuly 20, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    oh no! i've had terrible bouts of poison ivy and i feel for you, clint. two words - oatmeal baths! hope it clears up soon!

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  3. TexWisGirlJuly 20, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    i used to have TERRIBLE reactions to ivy. i think once you have a bad case, your body has no defenses to it and within days can have bloody sores. i used to end up in the primacare clinics to get steroid shots and creams within a day... no more. an herbal-ish friend of ours suggested trying a supplement to build up my immunity to this dreadful plant - and it WORKS!!! WONDERFULLY!!! i'm still exposed all the time to it here, but now with just a bit of washing up with Tecnu, then applying some cortisone creams, i can fight it off on my own.

    the herbal supplement is just like most vaccines - made from deritives of the plant itself - so that your body can build up immunities. it's available in pellets or tablet form at Whole Foods and similar stores. it's called Rhus Toxicodendron. Take it a couple of times a day for about a week, then every couple of days, then just every so often. i'm telling you, it saved my life. highly suggest you try it to give your body a fighting chance. :)

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  4. DawnJuly 20, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    Oh My Goodness!!! Ive never had a run in...that looks more than painful! Cant wait until you get that perscription.....
    (just keep thinking of the cobbler.....;)))

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  5. RHYTHM AND RHYMEJuly 20, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Oh Clint how awful, I have heard poison ivy can be nasty, but I sincerely hope it don't progress any futher,

    Take care.
    Yvonne.

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  6. Sabine GimmJuly 20, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!

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  7. IanHJuly 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Hey Clint, I too am sensitized to poison ivy. There is, however,a solution in the spring time. I used to get a series of three shots with poison ivy extract given in the muscle of the arm. It worked for me for many years. Instead of all the blisters and itch, it reduced the impact to just a mild rash, or nothing at all. Talk to a Doctor about this. They do use a big diameter needle as the extract is very thick. the nurses are also very careful about not getting any of the extract on your skin, or theirs either. Most of the ones did a double glove. Having said that, it works! PI is no longer a problem as i moved to a province that has none in the area that I am in. Good luck!

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  8. Jane @ Hard Work HomesteadJuly 20, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    When I first was reading this on my phone, I though those horrible google pictures were YOU! Thanks goodness it wasnt. If it makes you feel any better my Mother got it on her face quite bad a few years ago. When it cleared up and took that layer of skin with it, she looked like she had a chemical peel. Her skin looked great and the age spots were gone. So we always joke that poison ivy is much better than plastic surgery.

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  9. LisaJuly 20, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    oh no, please don't go wondering in the woods anymore.

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  10. KerrieJuly 20, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    Dear Clint,

    Praying for you dear friend. Although I've heard of poison ivy, I've never actually seen it, nor have I seen photographs. So I've learnt something new today.

    GOD BLESS!

    Smiles, Kerrie

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  11. MichaeleJuly 20, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    Oh my gosh! Who would leave something like that untreated? Hope you got what you needed and are on your way to healing. Geesh and I thought chigger bites were bad.

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  12. VilisiJuly 20, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    I've heard of poison ivy but I never expected it to be THAT bad. What a bummer! Hope the prednisone does a speedy healing.Take care, dear friend.

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  13. BevJuly 20, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    Oh my that looks horrid!! Have never seen anything like it!!

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  14. NovaJuly 21, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    Oh Jesus....I will hope that you are not getting those blisters, and you are getting well very soon.

    Take care of yourself

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  15. KenJuly 21, 2011 at 2:05 AM

    I never got into poison ivy and sure do not want to. Get that stuff taken care of.

    Take care and God bless,
    Ken

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  16. darlinJuly 21, 2011 at 4:26 AM

    Oh oh, no more playing in the poison ivy patch for you! I hope the doc gets you fixed up real soon, heaven forbid your arms look like that morbid photo you got from the net. OUCH! Here when I saw your first photo of your arms I cringed, my stomach flipped when I saw the last one! Take care and get well soon!

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  17. Karen Kyle EricsonJuly 21, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    I'm praying right now! Yikes! That's nasty stuff for sure.

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  18. judyJuly 21, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    YES.BE GLAD IT DIDN'T HIT YOUR FACE.IT GOT MY SON ONE YER-WE COULD HAVE MADE MOLDS FOR HALLOWEEN MASKS.I'M WITH JANE .I THOUGHT THOSE PICTURES ON GOOGLE WERE YOU TOO-YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO GET OUR ATTENTION.DO YOU WRITE HORROR STORIES TOO.

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  19. AnonymousJuly 21, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Oh my, that was some serpent hiding in your berry heaven. When I bought this place, the parting words by the previous owners as they prepared to leave the state were," I sure hope we got rid of all the poison ivy."
    I feel you pain and I have been working for 7 years to get rid of what they left.
    Itch cure I found. With a sink sprayer, spray the area with increasingly hot water to the point where you almost can't stand it. BE CAREFUL though for it is a very sensual feeling and some people have burned them selves being unable to stop the pleasure. I do the super hot for about 5 seconds then quit. Count to 10 and you itch is gone for about 6 hours. Honest.
    Arkansas Patti

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  20. A.QueenJuly 22, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    Oh my, I have neglected my blog, and therefore have not been reading my favorite blogs. (a list on which your blog falls)WOW, that has to be the worst case of poison ivy I've ever seen. I think I would require sedation. I'll pray hard for you to heal very quickly!!

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  21. A.QueenJuly 22, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    Oh my, I have neglected my blog, and therefore have not been reading my favorite blogs. (a list on which your blog falls)WOW, that has to be the worst case of poison ivy I've ever seen. I think I would require sedation. I'll pray hard for you to heal very quickly!!

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  22. boromaxJuly 26, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    Yikes, Clint! Glad to hear it is healing.

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