Get yourself some Tech Nu!

Here is a link that might be useful: Poison ivy/oak info

I know it for a fact. Here's my sad tale of woe ...

I was traveling with my sister, and we were staying with a friend's parents in Boulder, CO. My friend's father took us on a day hike in the Rockies, and I got diarrhea. With no bathroom in sight, I went behind some rocks and used the big leaves lying on the ground to clean up.

We stayed another day in Boulder, then drove (to what was then) home to Cleveland, Ohio. It took about 3-4 days, because we stopped to visit other friends on the way. When I got home, I started itching. Finally went to the doctor, who diagnosed the poison oak. Having rubbed it all around ... there ... I was unable to wear clothes for days, even after they gave me a steroid shot.

I hope you don't have it!

I'm so sorry, Jodi - hope it's not too bad if it does show up. Did you get all of the ticks off?

Next time this happens, head for the waterfall! Wash yourself off, with lots of "running water". Cold water and soap is best, but we have avoided getting poison ivy (which works a lot like poison oak) with that method (meaning just cold running water).

Warm/hot water makes the oil from the plant go EVERYWHERE! Use cold, and toss all clothing that could have touched it in the washer.

Our routine is strip at the washer, toss all in, then head for a cold shower. BURRRRRRRRR, just thinking about the cold water gives me the shivers.

Jodi, for us the rash always shows up within three days.

Moni

Oh my, I am not looking forward to the possibility of what might show up in the next few days. Even though my hiking pants are three-quarter length, I had a short sleeved shirt on and was exposed a number of times along the trail not to mention my pants got snagged on a log and I fell into a PO bush.

I'm not feeling even the slightest bit itchy yet. My only discomfort (and it's quite bad) is from sore muscles. OMG, I can barely walk and my arms ache from scaling large boulders.

And my scalp hurts where I removed a tick. ick. Ticks give me the willies, big time. I've never even seen a tick around here until a couple weeks ago when one was pointed out to me by a docent on a hike.

I'm going to get myself to a drug store today to find TechNu. I could barely get out of bed yesterday I was so sore.

But it sure felt good to conquer the hike. We'll see how I feel once I'm covered in poison oak and told I have some tick-borne disease.

Jodi-

Hopefully, you didn't get it. I hate to even say so...don't want to jinx myself, but I live in an ocean of it, and I've never gotten it, however, my friend who just passed away never got it either, until one day he did, and after that he was super sensitive to it for the rest of his life.

I think the ticks would scare me worse than the poison ivy...you hear so much about Lymes disease. Fortunately, though we have lots of woods, etc. here...I have only gotten a tick on me once, and you don't find them on the animals either. The chiggers used to be my worse nightmare, but even they seem to avoid me now. I guess I don't taste good.

My mom was immune to poison oak, I have been immune so far and it seemed like DS was immune. DS pushed his luck when he was in jr. high and we were camping. He wanted to prove to some other boys that he was immune and put a poison oak leaf against his neck. The next day it looked like he had a hickey. LOL.

If you should happen to get it now, or in the future, you might consider getting Oral Ivy. It is a homeopathic medicine for both preventing and treating poison oak, ivy and sumac.

Each spring I opt to get the set of 3 poison ivy prevention shots from my doctor. They are given 1 week apart and after a month, you are good to go for a year of pretty well being free of it. I used to get it really bad and be quite miserable a few times each year, and now if I do happen to get it, it is just a few little bumps that clear up in just a few days.

Cost of the shots has been $125 total, and there is no charge to just call in and have the Dr write the prescription, so it will be ready for me to come in and head to the lab for my shot. Sometimes the cost, or part of it, is either counted toward my deductible, or paid by my insurance, which usually doesn't pay for 'preventative things'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oral Ivy

Jodi, be sure to have your husband check your back for ticks. And do you have deer ticks in your area? They're much smaller than the usual dog ticks. I was sitting at my computer the other night when a tiny deer tick walked across my hand. I've heard it's gonna be a bad year for ticks.

Not to worry, I've been checked top to bottom and I have a call into my doctor as I am starting to itch from the poison oak.

I know next to nothing about ticks. Here is the one that decided to take residence in my scalp. The guy was really tough to kill. After trying and trying to squish him between a piece of cloth, I finally took a hammer and smashed him shortly after this pic was taken.

{{gwi:1358579}}

Jodi-

Girl....been there....done that hike! Black Canyon of the Gunnison.....climbing boulders, hanging by my finger tips....poison ivy everywhere....a splattered deer that fell off the cliff above us,no ropes(not tied off) we just came down...river roaring next to us(no way to cross). Memories...........no regrets....not everyone has done "that" one. :0)

Rubbing alcohol....all over your body will take off the poison ivy...DH washed off...I didn't....I was blistered within 6 hours of the hike. Took about 2 weeks for the spreading to stop and for it all to be gone....

For me next day,I was at a train derailment in the middle of winter,I was stsnding against a tree,Next morning I got up my eyes were shut,my face was huge.
Since that I had it like that 3xs.One time they were gonna hospitalize me but didnt then.If it does show its ugly face use rubbing alcohol,also to stop itch put under hottest water you can stand takes the itch out,when I went to specialist he gave me towelettes soaked in bleachI was to make them wet lay on my face & body.

Good grief you all have me so nervous.

SushiPup, I stopped by the drugstore tonight and picked up some TechNu and scrubbed down.

Yow Joann, I just can't stop thinking about your uncomfortable situation.

Moni, I wish I had thought to wash off at the waterfall, but truth be told, the water really didn't look all that inviting.

Marilyn, don't even get me started on chiggers ... picked some up in Little Rock, AK and didn't know what to do about them until FL, several days later. I was miserable.

Linda, if one leaf looks like a hickey, falling face first into a entire bush should be very interesting.

Chemocurl, if the TechNu doesn't work, I'll be out there looking for Oral Ivy. From the sound of it, $125 will be a bargin.

Nicole, wow, maybe we should just avoid canyons that start with Black.

Bulldinkie, hot, hot water? Bleach? Rubbing alcohol? At least I'll be totally sanitized when I'm done. :-)

Jodi-

Feeling non-itchy today after last night's scrub with TechNu. Crossing my fingers it works.

Jodi-

Hey my parents took me to a specialist,we didnt know what was wrong.Any way bet you never had it on your crotch...I did picture that oh my word, warm,itch you cant scratch I learned fast what to look for.Believe me you dont want it there.Gotty go visit rest room again,again and again.

So far, so good! Good luck!

Six days have passed and still no poison oak. I am feeling so relieved. Another week and I should be completely in the clear. Though I have to admit, I'm going back into poison oak country for a hike tomorrow. Will be wearing long pants and top this time though and am armed with TechNu for after the hike.

Jodi-

Jody, I was told by a doc whom I trusted I needed to get a tetanus immunization when I had been bitten by a tick.
I think you should check with your doc immediately about getting the booster shot unless it has been less than five years since your last.
Hoping you don't get poison oak!

Carol, my doctor sent me an email last Thursday asking me to make an appointment to see him about the tick bite, so I will do that next week. Because I travel so much I got a tetnus not too long ago, just not sure if it's been within the last five years. I'll find out at the docs.

Last night I bought some UltraThon Insect Repellent for tomorrow's hike. Hey, I'm learning. :-)

Never had poison oak, but my older daughter has pretty bad poison ivy several times. Steroid shots and prednisone pills and ointmwent help. As does washing all clothing with bleach and cold water. And ticks-Yuck! My younger daughter once had two ticks imbedded in her face, one was near her eye. I was able to pry them off without leaving the head imbedded in her skin. Gross, and a trip to the pediatrician just got me the advice that the tick was indeed gone, I should watch for a rash or faver. She was fine, Thank God. But I detest those little buggers. I use bug spray and tuck my pant legs in my shoes if I do any hiking in grassy areas.