I’ve always been susceptible to the woes of Poison Oak, which is essentially a weed in my region, and you can find it virtually EVERYWHERE. So it seems like about once every 9 months I’ll contract it, and the hell that ensues is nothing short of the description. I don’t puff up and swell and turn red like some people will, but I’ll develop some rashes, and read my words, THEY FUCKING HURT. Or itch. No, both.
What I usually do is wash up with some Technu, multiple times, and that will often end the bout with the Devil’s Weed after maybe three days. ANd that’s what I did last Satuarday, and Sunday, and Monday, and Tuesday (today), but it has only GOTTEN WORSE, which defies all realms of logic and reason. I’ve showered with soap and Technu 2 times a day for the past three days, and it keeps on me, viciously. It’s on my face – IT’S ON MY FACE! Holy shit! What have I done to deserve this? Calamine lotion has not done much, neither has locally placed Dipen…dramine (the stuff in Dramamine/Benedryl), aloe vera, nothing. I am ready to take a cheese grater and do unto my skin what cheddar seems to always require. This is hellacious. Hear me? LIKE PROMETHEIUS GETTING HIS LIVER EATEN BY A GOD DAMNED EAGLE, TWICE DAILY. I can hardly take more of this. I’m a good guy, what can I do? PLease help, if you can, otherwise I’ll shoot myself. Or call the doctor. How humiliating…
I was hoping for some home remedy/kitchen chemistry/intruiging-sounding stupid ideas, but oh well. I did go to the doctor today; “He’ll be back in about five days,” the receptionst said. She suggested taking at least 100mg worth of Bendryl each night to get to sleep, which I will (quite possibly double). Then my mother mentioned something about “some sort of soaking solution,” and left her answer at that, which only further aggrivates me. God damn it, I’m gonna go eat some ice cream now.
sorry I couldn’t help more, but the page I cited has lots of links to home remedies. Unfortunately, none of them are much use. My sister is terribly suceptible to poison oak, she gets severe reactions if she goes anywhere NEAR the stuff, she doesn’t even have to touch it. When she gets it, she goes straight to the doctor, I think they give her cortisone injections or something. You really should insist your doctor refer you to someone urgently, there is no reason you should have to suffer for 5 days while Doc is on Maui playing golf.
You might also be interested in this Staff Report from a year ago, or the thread commenting on it. They’re both on poison ivy, not poison oak, but the active ingredient in both is the same.
[sub]Wow, I just realized that we now have nearly thirty times as many threads as when I registered…[/sub]