Help!! Poison Ivy- Leaving in 2 Days!!

[christianne]

Help!!!! Everyone has been fantastic on this board helping me get ready for our trip. We are leaving in TWO days and DH has come down with a nasty case of poison ivy-(or something resembling it) He has an appt w/ dermatologist tonight, but he is covered from head to toe! Does anyone have any remedies for making the outbreak ease quicker (!!!) or easing the symptoms. Obviously, he will take whatever the Dr. prescribes, but I'm worried the Dr. wil not see the urgency of the situation...it has to be better soon! This trip is for his 40th and he is recovering from major shoulder surgery six weeks ago, and is the first & only Disney vacation for a while. Thanks so much!!

 

[Aliceacc]

I would call my doctor and ask if some Benedryl would help.

 

[PoppyGirl]

Sometimes if the outbreak is bad the doctor will give steroids either in pill or shot.... here's hoping it's all better soon!!

 

[cerberus]

If it is poison ivy, ask the doc for prednisone/steroids, they usually will prescribe what is called a pred pack. My hubby gets poison ivy bad several times during the summer and the prednisone will help reduce the itching in about 2 days. It is a low enough does not have some of the bad annoying side effects, but it might make him a touch hungrier and more sensitive to burning when out in the sun, so make sure he wears suntan lotion

 

[Merriwind]

Pred pack and a shot of cortisone. The cortisone will provide a quick relief while the pred pack gets going. Here's to a speedy recovery!

 

[virginiamama]

While you're waiting for the doctor's appointment:

TECNU - Go to the drug store and get it! There is a wash and an ointment. The wash breaks up the oils on the skin from the poison ivy so that it does not spread further. It can also be used to clean contaminated clothing to keep from getting exposed to it again. The ointment helps to clear up the rash. We practice poison ivy precautionary decontamination! DH who works on our vacant lot that is covered with poison ivy comes home and washes with this stuff just in case he's been exposed to it. People I work with who have to do site visits in wooded areas swear by this stuff.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

I was going to suggest Technu too. My DH is very highly allergic to poison ivy and he gets it a couple of times a year. He swears by Technu. Hopefully your DH will get a steroid shot and all too and he will be fine for the trip.

GET SOME TECHNU though.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I am very allergic to poison ivy. Prednisone pills helps eventually, but beware of side effects. I get flaming red cheeks. For faster relief Zanfel is the best I have found. You have to ask for it at the drugstore in my town. They keep it behind the counter, but you don't need a prescription. Its expensive, but so worth it.

 

[Kenenitz]

Well, this might sound weird but everytime my grandmother needs her yard ( all 5 acres) cut and weedwhacked etc, she calls my dh.. lucky him. And everytime he does, he gets poison ivy all over himself. No matter what precautions he seems to take.. so we've trouble shot a lot..

He noticed that when he went in the pool the last few times it seemed to dry up and not weep, so the last time he got it all over his hands, he soaked them in bleach water. Yeah not exactly what the dr prescribed, but it worked. So he took a wash cloth and patted everything. Two days and it was all dried up. ALL of it, hands, neck, chest, arms, and back.. and a few spots on his legs. I will say did mention it burned like you could not imagine.. but he said getting rid of the itch and poison was WELL worth it!

Just a suggestion.. Hope something works!

 

[smschex]

A friend of mine swears by this.

http://www.poisonivysoap.com/

 

[tomthebarncat]

If you find you feel like you are on fire, fill the bathtub with warm water, take an old womans pantyhose, cut of the bottom and fill with 1 cup of oatmeal. Tie a knot on the nylon, throw it in the bathtub, have a stiff drink and get in and soak for as long as you can. I am severely allergic to poison oak and had never seen it before I went crazy in my Alabama backyard. I had an allergic reaction within 2 hours and ended up in the ER, they gave me shots of steriods and told me to take a oatmeal bath. FWIW, those packaged oatmeal bath products did not cut it, plain old cheap walmart oatmeal worked the best!!

 

[holly7347]

I get poison ivy bad and when I get it I just call my dr. and get a perscription for the steroid pills. They work very well for me but it still isn't an instant cure but that and some OTC cream did help well with the itching.

 

[christianne]

Thanks so much for all of the remedies! He purchased the benedryl and tencu (sp?) at the drugstore & will try more of your suggestions...unfortunately, he cannot be on steroids b/c he was on them for 15 yrs. straight due to ulcerative colitis and now is in danger of having both shoulders & hips replaced as a long-term side effect. However, nothing will stand in the way of our trip ...we're leaving ttomorrow!! Thanks again!!

 

[jamieT]

Thanks so much for all of the remedies! He purchased the benedryl and tencu (sp?) at the drugstore & will try more of your suggestions...unfortunately, he cannot be on steroids b/c he was on them for 15 yrs. straight due to ulcerative colitis and now is in danger of having both shoulders & hips replaced as a long-term side effect. However, nothing will stand in the way of our trip ...we're leaving ttomorrow!! Thanks again!!

Poor thing! My son had poison oak last week when we were in Colorado visiting my dad. It will clear up, but it will be visible (possibly your whole trip) No one has metioned that it is highly contagious and can spread easily, so it would be a great idea to wash everything!!! We got the lysol antibacteria wipes to help keep all areas safe. Especially the toilet since my son learned the hard way that peeing in the woods sometimes has consequences if you catch the location of his poison oak.....yeah.... It was interesting to say the least!

Anyway have a great trip!

 

[Narnia]

Go out and het him a large brimed hat and light long sleeved shirt. Sunscreen won't cut it he'll still burn. Go get him a disabled pass so he can wait out of the sun. Due to the rash even if he hasn't taken stariods he'll be photosensitive.

 

[Dopeyforlife]

Well, this might sound weird but everytime my grandmother needs her yard ( all 5 acres) cut and weedwhacked etc, she calls my dh.. lucky him. And everytime he does, he gets poison ivy all over himself. No matter what precautions he seems to take.. so we've trouble shot a lot..

He noticed that when he went in the pool the last few times it seemed to dry up and not weep, so the last time he got it all over his hands, he soaked them in bleach water. Yeah not exactly what the dr prescribed, but it worked. So he took a wash cloth and patted everything. Two days and it was all dried up. ALL of it, hands, neck, chest, arms, and back.. and a few spots on his legs. I will say did mention it burned like you could not imagine.. but he said getting rid of the itch and poison was WELL worth it!

Just a suggestion.. Hope something works!

Yes this works, I've done the same thing since I was a kid.