....you need to read this!! I found a near miracle prescription ointment that has saved me this year.
Now that summer is in full swing and we are all out in our gardens, poison ivy is a real threat. I started getting it yearly a few years ago and each season it was worse than the last. I say IF you are allergic because there are some people who are not. Like my husband and son. Frustrating.
My long-haired cat died last February. I did not get poison ivy that summer and I was thrilled. I credited it all to the fact that she was not rubbing it on me from being who knows where!
So my Miss Kitty is gone, and my two kitties now do not go outside. So how did I get it this time...in my eye?
My doctor thinks it was an airborne thing.
Crazy!
Here is what is left of my latest bout with poison ivy.
It started in my eye that swelled up Sunday night with redness, itchiness and large bubble blisters underneath. And of course, until you know you have it, maybe on your hand, you scratch or touch yourself and more blisters appear. I had it all over the back and front of my neck, my jawline and one random spot on my hand.
Monday morning I called the doctor and went right in. I've learned that I cannot manage the rash on my own and that I usually need a high dose of Prednisone to get rid of it. Last year I needed two courses of Prednisone.
But going on Prednisone does not take the affects of the rash away immediately. There is still immense burning and itching and the potential to spread it on yourself. It wasn't until I called my friend Stephanie from church to let her know that I couldn't make it to Bible Study at her house that my relief came.
She suggested Clobetasol Propionate Ointment. She has a horse farm and deals with poison ivy every year too. It also comes in a cream.
I knew that name sounded familiar and when I went into my cupboard to look, there it was! My doctor had prescribed it for another totally different ailment and I never used it. I was mad at the time that I filled the prescription because it cost $35!
I used that stuff on all the different places there was a rash and within 24 hours it was significantly better. Like 90% better.
I call that a miracle drug.
So, taking the long way around to tell you, which is usually my way, there you have it. Get this stuff ASAP and cut your pain and suffering down by 10 days.
I felt it was my duty to pass this valuable information on.
You're welcome.
AnnMarie xoxo
I am sharing with these parties:
AnnMarie, Thank you so much for this post. I get poison ivy...so I try never to get to close...but this year I have seen it in our flowerbeds of English ivy. My daughter Liz gets it lots and I think it's from the pets. I am going to inform her of this ointment. Blessings to you, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteOh my Ann Marie I was horrified as I was reading this... You poor sweet friend. I am very fortunate to not get poison ivy but my son used to. So bad he wound up in the hospital with it inside besides on the skin. Well my Grand Dane took after his Dad and gets severe rashes. Your eye? I am so sorry you suffered through this.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Vera
Hi Ann Marie, WOW I so hope you are healing and feeling better. I know it is a problem and so glad you were given that cream to help.
ReplyDeleteHaving it your eye has to be awful. I've only had poison Oak once many years ago but my son got poison ivy one year doing school grounds work as one of his first 14 year old jobs. He had it in the eyes, ears and so forth. I suppose it was hot and he wiped his face and eyes spreading it. They tell you also, not to burn it as you can breath the smoke from it and get very sick.
Thank you for sharing this post and passing on the info for the ointment.
Wishing you a great weekend and Happy 4th of July! xo
Oh no, AnnMarie. I am so sorry you are suffering. I have had poison ivy to the point that I needed shots as well. It traveled through my bloodstream and my arms blew up. It was awful. I try to be so careful now, but you just never know. Thanks for the tip. I am keeping this one handy. Feel better!! :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been in contact with poison ivy, thankfully. I'm sorry you are allergic to it. I'm glad you found a medicine that seems to be very effective for you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you are dealing with this, AnnMarie. I just made a note of this because my son gets poison ivy at least once a summer and has a terrible time getting it under control---even with the steroid treatments. He has a crazy immune system like I do. Hope this eases up for you really fast! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann Marie for sharing this important post on SYC.
ReplyDeletexx Jo
Oh no! Glad you found this miracle cream! I can remember getting poison ivy as a child from smoke when the neighbor was burning leaves. I am writing this down to keep in my medicine cabinet. Thanks for sharing and hope you are itch free for a happy 4th! xx K
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - writing this down. My son is extremely allergic to PI .
ReplyDeleteKnock on wood, I've never had poison ivy; but our youngest son had it when he was much younger and was it nasty! I'm pinning this, just in case!
ReplyDeleteI've have never had a problem with poison ivy, but hear that it is painful. We don't really have it in our gardens here, mainly in the mountains. Glad you are doing better! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
WOW! I have only come in contact with poison ivy once when we lived in Canada and it was NO fun. Here in the mountains we do not really have a problem but it is around.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to feeling better soon.
Have a blessed weekend in all it's glory~~
I've never gotten poison ivy. I'm not sure if it's luck, or just never came in contact with it, but my dad always says he could roll in it and not get it. This is great information, and if I hear of anyone who has it, I will definitely pass this info along. Glad to hear that you are doing better, AnnMarie. It must have been awful, especially in your eye!
ReplyDeleteAnnMarie thanks for the tip. I also have a tube of this stuff in my medicine cabinet, and for the life of me, could not remember why I had it. Mystery solved! So glad to hear you are doing better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, AnnMarie. Good to know.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks for the valuable info, AM. I've had it twice. Both times had to be on the prednisone regimen. I see it again in my garden. In fact, I tried pulling it out before I realized what it was. I came in a washed my hands like Lady MacBeth. I did buy RoundUp to do it in.
ReplyDeleteOuch! That is just a terrible thing to be so allergic to poison ivy! I'm glad that you found something that worked!!!! Thanks for sharing it with us :)
ReplyDeleteoh no I am so glad that the cram you are using is working out for you. I hope it heals soon. Thanks for telling us about this cream. :)
ReplyDeletePoison ivy is the worst, I'm glad you are feeling better. My 8-year old son and one of my 4-year old daughters are both allergic to poison ivy. I've already had to take my son to the doctor's three time this year for really bad cases (on the face, close to his eyes). Luckily the steroids they prescribe seem to do the trick, but I will definitely look into the Clobetasol Propionate Ointment that you suggest next time, thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip and I'll be saving it. I haven't had a case of poison oak in years, but I'll never forget the suffering. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been awful having poison ivy in your eye Ann Marie! My friend had a bad case of it last week but is better now. I don't think I've ever had it, but my husband gets it easily. Maybe I'm just lucky in that regard, because heaven knows we have lots of it here!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're better :).
Bless your heart! I can't even imagine. I'm not allergic and I'm thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found something that worked. Sorry about your cat♥
ReplyDeletesummerdaisy.net
Hi AnnMarie, stopping by to say hello and thanks for the visit to my new blog look. I hope you are healed from the poison ivy.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great rest of the week, xo
I'm writing the name of this cream down. I haven't had poison ivy in a few years but it was terrible when I did. It spread like wildfire. The steroid helped immensely and now I police my rashes like a mad woman. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteHi AnnaMarie, thanks so much for sharing this wonder cream with us, am definitely writing this down in the notes section of my phone. So glad you found a "cure" for your rash and how amazing you already had it in the cupboard.
ReplyDeletePoison Ivy is very bad and we appreciate this tip.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter in California just got over a bout of it, it turned into a infection!
I am glad that you are on the mend and thank you for sharing this information with us-it really is serious stuff.