If you never hear from me again it may be because I’ve ripped my arms off and can no longer type.
Those bites from yesterday? Poison. Poison ivy, oak or sumac to be less than exact. At three in the morning, when the itching was so unbearable I went downstairs to rub vinegar on my arms because the hydrocortisone cream wasn’t working, it occurred to me that health/bodywise I just can’t get a break. Now I smell like a salad and just want to scratch my arms off. I’ve even been fantasizing about how I’d adjust to motherhood sans arms.
When does the itching stop? Who knows home remedies that work? Anyone?
Steph | 27-Sep-06 at 9:59 am | Permalink
If you haven’t already, GO TO THE DOCTOR. That stuff will spread to every one of your family members. When I was younger I had poison ivy, which I then gave to my brother. My mother, thinking it would eventually just go away, kept putting Caladryl lotion on us. Well, on both my brother and me it turned into infintigo which was horrible. What was worse than the itching and the disgusting looks of it was the location on our bodies… I had it on my upper, inner thigh near my nether regions, and my brother had it on his booty cheeks! Wherever it touches, it spreads!
Junkiegirl | 27-Sep-06 at 11:40 am | Permalink
Make sure you wash any clothes that have come into contact with it (initially). it doesn’t spread person to person (luckily!). Try drying agents in addition to hydrocortisone, like calamine, and/or aveeno products/soaks. Another idea, one that isn’t evidence based medicine exactly- I’m a huge believer in salt soaking (is there such a thing as “osmotic based medicine?”), as salt tends to draw out swelling, toxins, impurities, etc.. Kind of like jumping in the ocean. I don’t know if it will help with itching.
I’ll ask Derm doc for any other hints and get back to you. If you send me a pic I’ll have him take a look at it and possibly confirm.
Beth | 27-Sep-06 at 3:22 pm | Permalink
My mother-in-law gave me this one when I had a spider bite on my little toe. Since then, I’ve used it countless times, always with good results.
Run water as hot as you can comfortably tolerate on your hand. Put your elbow in it. It will feel a helluva lot hotter to the rash but persevere! Slowly, as it gets less painfully-hot feeling, increase the temp of the water. Don’t make it hot enough to burn, at any point, though. Goes without saying? Maybe, but still (consider it my disclaimer).
This hot water remedy can work for hours and there is no ‘daily allowance’ limit. Makes it better than meds anyday!
Good luck.
Beth | 27-Sep-06 at 3:28 pm | Permalink
For the record, I found this, incase you need more convincing. Halfway down the page is the listing for hot water.
girlfiend | 27-Sep-06 at 4:26 pm | Permalink
Clothes and sheets are washed. Once the oil has been washed off it’s not contagious.
Our hot water isn’t hot enough for the trick to work, unfortunately. My dad taught me that one as a kid and it’s one of my favorites.
I’ll try salt soaking later when the Fiendling’s asleep. Vinegar, witch hazel and rubbing alcohol weren’t especially helpful.
I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow if I still want to rip my arms off.
Lori | 27-Sep-06 at 4:37 pm | Permalink
I had poison ivy earlier this summer for the first time in my life. I bought caladryl lotion and it really helped me.
You should know that sweating makes it worse. So try not to do anything too physically tax, because when you begin to break a sweat, you will want to crawl out of your skin.
Best of luck!
Anonymous | 27-Sep-06 at 4:38 pm | Permalink
This isn’t a home remedy, and it’s quite expensive, at around $30 an ounce, but it works really well, with only one application. It’s a product called Zanfel. You can find it at most drug stores. Hope this helps!
HG | 28-Sep-06 at 6:22 am | Permalink
Totally unrelated, but I spilled on my girly bit doctor on Fraulein N’s blog.
And I hope that you stop itching!
Benedryl?
Fraulein N | 28-Sep-06 at 8:58 am | Permalink
I think an oatmeal bath is supposed to help with the itching.
Tiffany L. | 16-Feb-07 at 4:42 pm | Permalink
GO TO THE DOCTOR AND THEY WILL GIVE U TREATMENT