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From: tankus@hsi.UUCP (Ed Tankus)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Any cures for poison ivy out there?
Message-ID: <259@hsi.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Sep-85 12:53:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: hsi.259
Posted: Mon Sep 16 12:53:45 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Sep-85 04:30:11 EDT
References: <4305@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Health Systems Int., New Haven, CT.
Lines: 46

> This is the 3rd time I've gotten p.i. messing around with our garden/yard.
> Yes, (after the first time), I do what it looks like and I manage to
> avoid it most of the time. We have a lot of back yard and there is just too
> much to kill. Most of the time, if I shower with brown soap within 1/2 hour
> of gardening, I am ok. But a few times, I get going into exciting things
> like weeding, taking clippings to our local dump, etc. and I don't get
> to the brown soap cure quickly enough. (or I miss a spot and that pesky
> p.i. oil finds it!)
> 
> I use one of the cortisone creams for the itching and that helps a little.
> Once, when I managed to get it 4 days before a trip to Europe,  I went to
> the doctor who gave me prendisone. Worked fine but I am a little nervous
> about wonder drugs.
>  
> Does anyone know if you can be desensitized to poison ivy? That would
> be the easiest way for me. I hate the thought of giving up gardening and
> stuff but I don't care to have several bouts with p.i. either.
> Thanks a lot.

I get it a lot too and just got over a VERY(!) bad case. I get poison ivy 
that looks more like burns with extensive(!) areas of bubbled and red skin.

I was given Atarax for the itching and initially, prednisone. However, my
doctor switched me to a Medrol (tm?) dosepak which consists of decreasing 
dosages of steroids. He also suggested I use Domeboro. This is a powder
that you mix with water and apply in cold compresses. It dries up the 
blotches.

There are allergy shots that you can take which consist of some form of
poison ivy. However, some individuals (myself) become increasingly sensitized
after repeated exposures rather than immune. Maybe the best thing to do is 
see an allergist or at least go thru an allergy test to determine your
sensitivity to poison ivy.

No, there is no cure.



-- 

    "   For every word there is a song upon which inspiration lies ..."

    Ed Tankus
    Net  :  {noao!ihnp4!yale!}!hsi!tankus
    Snail:  Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511
    Bell :  (203) 562-2101