You know how when you have a blister and it bursts, that the skin that was on top of the blister dies/dries out and flakes off?
Yeah, that. All over my arm. I could play a zombie in a movie without make up. Well, my right arm could, actually most of the rest of me looks OK.
Not painful, just icky, really. The signs of infections are pretty much gone, this is just injury with broken skin type ooginess.
In Asia, poison oak sap is traditionally used to makelacquer that is still used today for making quality Asian craft - workers develop tolerance to poisonous sap after a while. New trainees have to suffer until they build tolerance.
There is a mold that grows on evergreens that I am allergic to, or perhaps it is the sap. Junipers are on the list of plants to say away from. Naturally, my yard came with junipers so I have to badger someone else into trimming them for me.
The latest bandage change saw only a few blisters, and much less oozing. Still have red areas, and some of them are even darker than before but I think that’s because it’s raw skin with no clear blisters on top to moderate the vivid color.
My pet conure has been very interested in the bandages. He knows that aren’t a part of my arm, nor are they normal clothing, and he’s quite curious. So… he wants to stand on my forearm, his little feet with their sharp claws, and pry at the bandages because there MUST be something interesting underneath! Does not understand why these actions lead to the Family Cook leaping about making loud, interesting noises. But it’s so exciting! Look! Look! The human is waving and flapping her arm about just like when he gets excited and beats his wings. Oh, what a fun game! Fun, fun, fun–
— why have I been exiled to this cage?
That, and I have many fewer arm hairs than I did a few days ago due to the tape I’m using to hold the gauze pad on.
My energy has been low since all this started. I’m feeling a little better, but allowed myself to slack off this weekend and took a couple naps. I’m hoping that if I get paying work tomorrow I’ll have the energy to get through the day without exhaustion.
I’ll just bet you emitted a bunch of high pitched sounds your conure thought were pretty damn cool, too.
You realize, with all that skin healing you’re doing, you actually need to increase your calorie intake, right? ICE CREAM!
Hot dogs, chips, braunswieger, cheese, bacon…
I like grease and salt, what can I say? Don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but damn I like the grease and salt…!
Doesn’t help that my appetite is off since this started, just don’t have much desire to eat. Trying to keep the food going in of high quality. Towards that end, I made a big pot of beef stew today in the slow cooker, using carrots, turnips, and onions fresh from my garden. (As I don’t grow cows in the garden I had to get the beef from the local butcher shop.) Also had a couple bowls of noodles-n-greens in chicken broth, yum…! Greens also from the backyard. Yes, I’m being careful to identify said greens and make sure they’re on the “safe” list 
Cucumber and beet salad (yes, from the garden again).
Well, I am a mod, and I appreciate the sentiment, but I couldn’t see it even after taking out the spaces.
Really? How strange. OK, anyone want me to post that link without breaking it? If it’s OK with the mods and there’s interest I’ll do it.
Just put it in a spoiler box. This is all built up now, and I think I’m not going to be able to stand it if I can’t see it!
I’m planning to do some yard work this afternoon, and this thread has added to my contact dermatitis paranoia.
I made a special trip to the drugstore to get some of that special ‘wash off the urishiol’ soap just in case.
OK, in the spoiler box:
Might do an update photo on the next bandage change, might not - depends on whether or not I can get my spouse to wield the camera
For some reason, the tale of the pet bird reminded me of my mother a few weeks ago. On the Sunday of the Fourth of July Weekend, we’d gone downtown to hear a patriotic concert.
On the way home, Mom tripped and skinned her knee. The amount of time she spent picking at the scabs (sometimes until it started bleeding again) . . .
OK, got some update pictures at this morning bandage change. Still having ooze problems, but although it is red and weeping the swelling is almost gone.
Remember - it’s oogy skin problem so don’t click on what’s in the spoiler box unless you really want to see it.
picture
another picture
Since I’m having to work while this is healing I’m keeping it covered up thoroughly - bandage, the sock-tube, and when working with something wet one of those rubber kitchen gloves that go pretty high up your arm. So far it seems to be working.
Pretty oogie, all right :thumbs up:
Those rubber gloves don’t irritate the heck out of it?
I’m going to borrow your sock idea. I can’t tolerate adhesive so I can’t use regular bandages. Socks might be just the ticket for my annual arm rashes.
The glove goes over the bandages and sock thing.
Just remember to wash the sock thing, or have enough to use a new, clean one every day until you can wash them. Sad to say, the first two days I was using one I had leaks all the way through the bandage and the sock in a few places. Not that bad any more, getting more and more of it scabbed over.
Yes, yes, I am sucking down extra fluids, as obviously I am losing some through the raw skin.
Starting to feel some antibiotic side-effects - no appetite, slight tummy wrongness, fatigue… at least I haven’t had the “dizzy” listed on the sheet with possible side effects. Only one more day of the pills, though, then I should bounce back a bit.
Dear me - I forgot the update.
Well, last Thursday I went back to the doctor for an inspection. The infection was gone, but the rash was still horrible. I wound up on 20 mg of prednisone a day for 5 days, which finally jump-started the healing process, so it’s looking MUCH better now and I have actual skin on my arms again. Still a few scabs, but they’re healing. Lots of flaking skin.
Anyhow, the prednisone had the usual effect of making my ravenously hungry, thirsty, a bit moody, and as usual has been disturbing my sleep. However, I know how it affects me so I was able to take steps to deal with it (stock low-cal foods, drink water, reduce stress by not watching the news for a few days, etc.).
I’m done with the medications and just have to finish healing up. I expect it will be another month, though before the skin really gets back to normal appearances.
Glad things are improving, sorry you had to go on the 'roids. I have a love/hate thing with prednisone - it’s cheap and very effective, and the scarier side effects aren’t a huge problem with short-enough-term usage, but the less “scary” effects are annoying enough.
Like, it has the magical ability to cause a very localized increase in gravity (either that, or the weight gain is MASSIVE and instantaneous, LOL). Seriously, it feels like my weight has been switched from “normal-for-me” to “living on Jupiter”.
Yep. As you know, it takes a few days to work out of your system. I’m still having episodes at work ranging from wanting to burst into tears to wanting to laugh for no reason at all. It’s controllable, but it’s a pain in the ass. At least it’s winding down now.
Of course, now that I’m no longer taking the 'roids the water weight is coming off - the heat today let some of that out as sweat but I still had to pee mid-afternoon at work. Usually I’m OK with going at lunch and holding it until quitting, but not today, oh no! On a job site with no toilet (there are downsides to construction work). Was able to sneak off to a shed, shut the door, and use an extra-large McDonald’s drink cup.
