You have my deepest (and cool, smooth, whisper-light) sympathy.
Coupla years ago I got myself an Epic Poison Ivy all over … well, most of me that matters, and some that doesn’t. Took a year for the weird un-tanned marks where the worst of it had been to finally fade. Even got a spot on the tippy-tip of my nose, just as a final “fuck you” from the demon weed - the real one, not that piddly devil’s lettuce nonsense.
A sympathetic friend loaned/gave me a cheap kimono that was probably intended to be all sexx-ayyy but was instead the only thing my disgusting skin could tolerate. I looked like a leper, felt worse than one, and after a few days of zero sleep or relief from the itch lost what was left of my marbles.
Wound up at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. to buy something a Doper recommended for topical itch relief; also bought a live betta fish. Was full-on talking to myself at that point. Caught the overnight cashier giving ME that pitying look … and in that 'hood, you know she’s seen some shit.
ETA: I was not wearing the kimono to Wal-Mart. I possessed just barely enough faculties to have changed into itchy, heavy, unbearable “going out” clothes, namely a T-shirt and yoga/pj pants.
Benadryl does do that alright…set your adult beverages next to your chair, sit down, get comfy, then swill down big dose of Benadryl with liquid gold or ruby or silver. Then you’ll already be in the right spot to to snooze, hopefully itch free for a few hours. With the softest possible garments of course.
In case U of Michigan has any good ideas:
Their suggestion of non-drowsy Claritin instead of stupefying Benadryl makes sense, I just never thought of it. An anti-histamine is an anti-histamine, plus the newer OTC are more effective with fewer SE.
Here’s to and . Distracting Netflix or Hulu binge couldn’t hurt.
Boo who’s done pitched battle with dermagraphia too. Pretty sure that’s what happened with the Salem witches-it makes you crazy (and for me that’s always a short trip…)
It is a beautiful day here in flyover country! Sunflower and I walked on the pedestrian/bicycle path the runs along one of the creeks in our city for about three miles and had a Runza* for lunch. The walk back was just as lovely.
Two more rugs arrived today.
Kitchen door:
Dining room:
I am pleased. One more small one coming, but it’s not going to fit where intended, so we shall see where it ends up.
MIL isn’t moving. Period. End of discussion. FCD is pissed, but what can we do?? Stubbornness is a family trait. Doesn’t matter that it’s a major inconvenience for us to have to drive 800 miles. Maybe she’ll rethink it when FIL can no longer drive. I just hope he doesn’t end up killing both of them and possibly someone else because he really shouldn’t be driving. I shall silently grrrrr for a while.
Soup was good. Daughter and Roxy have gone home. I’m about to load the dishwasher, then assume the chill position.
Antihistamines that have never worked on my itching:
Claritin
Allegra
Dimetapp
Zyzal
Tavist
Antihistamines that used to work but stopped working after 10 years:
hydroxyzine HCL
Zyrtec
(and now) chlorpheniramine (time-release, so no drowsiness)
My docs tell me it’s not uncommon for people to become resistant to whatever antihistamine they’re on. I may ask about Omalizumab, a monthly injection.
So sorry you’ve had to deal with dermatographia. It’s the pits. I wonder if mine could be due to lupus. Once after a day in sunshine, I developed full-body hives that lasted 3 weeks. I was told hives that last that long in a lupus patient are usually due to lupus, so maybe chronic urticaria is, too?
I have a feeling my GP is going to refer me to a dermatologist. That’d be fine if it didn’t take so long to get in. I can’t deal with this much longer. The Salem witches have nothin’ on me!
I like the idea of getting in bed for a cocktail. (The sheets are less irritating than upholstery.) I may try that once cocktail hour arrives. It’s a little early yet.
The sun is over the yardarm somewhere in the Empire. Go for it!
Same problem with dermatologists here. Months to get in and then they want to start all over again at the beginning because of course mere patients or non-derm doctors couldn’t possibly know anything. And then there is always the fun of getting new treatments/meds authorized by insurers…
What if they convince him to move?
After all, you did used to live there.
(But then so did I, and I hope to never go back. )
Felgercarb - What you prolly need to rebuild if your Felger won’t start.
Nellie - don’t wait for cocktail time. We won’t tell.
I hope you get some relief soon.
I forgot to brag earlier: Our company, who was here earlier this week, brought us 2 pounds of crab meat that son unit and his mate caught at the coast last week. We’ve already had a quiche and a crab omelette and still have a pound in the freezer.
[/brag]
All sound good! I used to find slathering on (gently) copious amounts of cornstarch baby powder to be soothing. Strange, I know. I even kept the baby powder in the fridge for extra chill. Used to be little drifts of it in front of the fridge door. Just stash yours right next to the wine…
nellie, try some colloidal oatmeal in your bath. Colloidal oatmeal
I got a a mega bad case of poison ivy a few years back and that was the only thing that relieved the itch. It has worked for sunburn itch too.
I hope that you can rebuild your bike to it’s former glory Johnny. You’re like most of us who ride: the accessories and customization costs us more than the bike did.
shoe, try a little olive oil to get the stickem off Monkey. Peanut butter works too. It’s the oil that matters.
Irked, came home, took Nelson to the dog park and swung through Popeye’s for supper. My local Popeye’s is beginning to suck, so I’ll likely satisfy my chicken jones at a local dive or Bojangle’s from now on.
Our weather this week has been jacket style in the morning and by the time I’m off irk, it’s in the low 80s. I’m off irk until Tuesday, but Saturday and Sunday it’s supposed to rain, so any outdoor pursuits will have to take place tomorrow or Monday.
It’s been my experience that some antihistamines that I have become resistant to will eventually cycle back to working. I am on the third round with claritin for atopic dermititis (the world is my allergen) and it’s been working well for about three months. Knock on wood. So you might think of giving one of the old ones a try. I’ll be thinking of you.
Thank you! I happen to have some hydroxyzine on hand–a surgeon Rx’d it to me to help with the itchiness from post-op opioids. I tried one last night, and it didn’t work. Maybe I’ll go to the store and get some Zyrtec. It’d be great if that worked again!
I’ve taken Claritin for nasal allergies over the years and it works great for that. OtOH, it doesn’t do squat for anything that involves itchiness, be it eyes, skin or throat, so I take a nightly benedryl for that.
and 
. Distracting Netflix or Hulu binge couldn’t hurt.
)