Last Sunday’s cleanup efforts in our back yard had me scratching my arms on Monday and thinking I was allergic to the clasp on a bracelet I was wearing – unfortunately that wasn’t the correct diagnosis and instead I have a nasty case of poison ivy or poison sumac. Which one matters naught to me – I’m apparently allergic to both and while wonderful hubby knew the sumac was wrapped around a tree, he didn’t think I was near it. However, we burned a lot of debris and obviously burned some of this crap as it’s all over my arms and the Urishinol oil carries in the smoke.
I’ve gotten a hallway medical diagnosis from our Infectious Disease Specialist at the hospital and declined a script for steroids feeling that I can tough it out instead of putting unwanted drugs into my body – I do enough of that with all the chemicals in Diet Coke anyway. So I’m applying Ivy Dry and Itch X topically, wearing long-sleeved cotton shirts to absorb the weeping that goes with the healing process and periodically cursing my dilemna. Today it’s sunny (not warm) and I’d love to work in the yard but any use of my arms beyond the computer, reading or knitting sends blood rushing to them and just increases my discomfort. Guess I’m banished to the gym to use the Step Mill or EFX as I don’t even think I can handle Mulligan on his leash for my exercise today.
Warning to all you young un’s out there who say you never get this stuff – neither did I until about 10 years ago and I found out that once you get it, you are forever allergic to it. Another curse of the maturation process!
Well, I’m glad I’ve never experienced that! I’d probably resort to drugs because that’s what they’re for, but I’m not as tough and old as you! I am glad you weren’t allergic to the bracelet I gave you for Christmas. Hope you’re feeling better.
I may still give in to drugs but one of the side effects of steriods is insomnia and I don’t want to go 2 weeks without good sleep – and you have to stay on them for that long for them to really work. My arms look pretty gross – it will be a while before I can wear anything with short sleeves.