I don't have a solution for you; just wanted to give you a hug from a safe distance. I hope someone can offer you some advice.

Linda

If you get throughout your whole system (systemically) it can break out any and everywhere on your body. I've had it like that twice, the last time was the worst and I had to go through two courses of steroid treatment. I try to be very careful now.

I get it very VERY easy. I usually have to resort to a dose pack of steroids too. How about your shoes? Could you have stepped on it, and if you use your hands to pull off shoes, you could transfer it. Do you have dogs who may run in it?
Leslie

I don't think it's on your things; I think it's in your system. You might want to see the doctor for some meds to knock it out.

After years of never being bothered by Poison Ivy, my aunt experienced a bad breakout. It reoccurred, with no plant contact, for several months afterward. She finally went to the doctor. I don't remember what he gave her, but the PI stopped after that.

My DD got it this summer for the first time and like you, washed everything but it kept breaking out here and there, was in her system. She finally got some steroids and is much better.

Sounds like you may need meds.

That sounds like you have an allergy to it. My DH reacts to it very sevierely and has to get meds. He recently broke out with it after clearing our ditch (most likely not poison ivy but a rash that started spreading.) This time the meds slowed it down, but by the time the meds were gone he was getting more spots.

I had him try taking Acidolphilis tablets. He started with 3 a day for a couple days, then tapper down to one a day for a couple weeks. After a couple days they started drying up and are now almost gone.

Acidolphilis works on fungus type things that can be carried throughout the body, like athletes foot, thrust mouth, itchy eyes. When I get a spot of athlete's foot I know if I don't take Acidolphilis for a while, the contition wil surely spread to those other areas.

If you react badly to poison ivy you should also avoid cashew nuts, they are in the same plant family.

I've never had it but have watched DH struggle with it. So sorry for you but I am no help! Hope it improves soon.

I just saw on a garden show, wash off with cold water. Warm water opens pores and makes it worse. I never knew that.

That's immediately afterward, don't know if it applies after a breakout.

Sorry. I know it's miserable.

One thing I do is as soon as I've been around it, and not necessarily in it, I go in and wash with soap and water, rinse, dry, and then wipe the area with alcohol. Alcohol cuts the oil.
Judy, I've never heard that about cashews. I eat them without a problem.
Leslie

Both my daughters are severly affected by poison ivy. The older one needs cortisone shots forom the doctor, and the younger one ignores it and it dries up and goes away by itself. I've never had poison ivy myself, but I pul it up and spray with Roundup if I find any in my yard. I'm sorry you are affected, hope you are feeling better.

I also think that at this point it's in your system.
It's too late now but, PI affects us because it's a stong alkaloyd; like lye. As soon as possible after coming in contact with it wash with a mild acid. When I got into some a few weeks ago I wiped down my arms and hands with vinegar. I had some mild discomfort for a couple days but nothing too bad.
I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

Ron

Thanks to all of you. PI has affected me most of my life but this is the first time it just seems to be coming out in places that I would swear hadn't been touched by it. I have a compromised immune system because of all the medication I use for arthritis. Maybe a visit to the doctor is in my future. One of my grandmothers could pull it out by hand- no protection. It never bothered her.

If you know, you touched it, or something that had been touched by it, wash right away with plenty of cold water and soap.

Never warm, nor hot.

You can get it via your pets.

But after 10 days, I would agree, it is in your system. Time for the dr.

Good luck.

Personally I take EVERYTHING off in the utility room, and put in the washer right away, before going for a cold shower.

Last time, I didn't even break out.

Moni

gmom74, I think you were just joking around when you said you have "washed everything but the cat" but it may just be that it is the cat's fur that has the oil on it. If you are really, really sensitive and the oil is on the long fur you could be reinfecting yourself over and over. Something to check out anyway.

Did you wsh your SHOES? That is how my SIL kept getting it!
Once she washed her shoes, she quit getting it.

don't take chances...see the doc. i ended up with a double whammy with mine, a skin yeast infection! it was dreadful...

Dilly, the cat was smarter than I was and napped inside where it was cool. She never came out with me. Tami and grammahony, I thought about the shoes, too, but didn't wash them. There were no new places overnight so maybe the infection has run it's course. If more break out I'll see the doctor. Thanks to all for your responses.

Just wanted to add that the first time I got it very bad, we were at a friend's house in the country. They were burning the ditches, and apparently I inhaled PI smoke. I also got it bad in the spring time when it was pollinating. You don't have to have direct contact with it to get it. Mom said my uncle used to tease her by pulling it up bare handed and rubbing it all over. He never got it and neither did my grandpa. Mom got it bad all the time.

Dirt, my mother was very allergic to PI, too. And I know that inhaling smoke from burning ivy can be bad. Everytime there are any woods fires around here I think about that and hope no one will be affected.

Be sure to wipe down all the DOORKNOBS. The washer/dryer - like if you let the infected clothes come in contact with the outside of the washer. The floor in front of the washer. The hamper. Garden tools, for instance the hoe handle, the rake, etc. Lawn mower steering wheel. Your hat or your sunglasses.

As you can see, I'm very experienced, unfortunately.