Poison Sumac! OH MY!

[mimif1]

OK, so I was picking blackberries with my DDs having the time of our lives. Got to love those berries! HOWEVER, knowing the old "leaves of three, let them be" rhyme, I looked closely for poison ivy and poison oak before we went in the berry patch and didn't see any. Safe...NOT! I guess I never did know what poison sumac looked like. Now I do. And guess what, it isn't a vine. Learn something new everyday. (Also called, HOW STUPID CAN I BE?)

Now, I'm still nursing my youngest daughter. Can you guess what unfortunate parts of my body are covered with a delightful rash? Not to mention my face, ear, spots on my arms and legs, and my entire neck! OMG, I'm dying here. I'm using a hydrocortisone creme and it's not cutting it. (Not to mention that I have to really wash the ointment off every time I go to nurse!) Oatmeal bath? Well it helps for about 30 minutes.

Luckily, this is the first time my baby has any exposure to anything like this, so no rash for her. My oldest only got a few very small spots because she is afraid of bugs and wouldn't go very far in the patch.

I've read this can last for a few weeks! Any good home remedies I can try? HELP!

 

[RNMOM]

I'll go into nurse mode here...you should call your doctor in the am. You need some systemic (oral) medications when you are affected to the extent you are. Give them a call and they can help you get better much faster.

And...what were you doing to get it in "those" places?????

 

[poohandwendy]

I'll go into nurse mode here...you should call your doctor in the am. You need some systemic (oral) medications when you are affected to the extent you are. Give them a call and they can help you get better much faster.

And...what were you doing to get it in "those" places?????

I agree, talk to your doctor because you may need a prescription. I would take some Benadryl tonight, that helps me a little bit.

One thing to remember, scratching it does not spread the rash (unless you still have the oils on you), but it can cause infection. So, try to keep from scratching.

And all it really takes is for you to transfer the oils to 'other parts' (before you washed them off)...it really does not take much if you are super sensitive to it.

Good luck to you, I am just getting over a bout of poison ivy from picking black raspberries a few weeks ago, LOL. The pie was wonderful, the rash...not so wonderful. The things we will endure for those scrumptious berries!

 

[mimif1]

And...what were you doing to get it in "those" places?????

Well, in nursing my toddler, she patted me and helped transfer the oil to other places on my body. Not to mention opening my nursing bra and, well you know, doing all the things that goes with nursing a wiggling toddler who suffers from poor muscle tone! Not realizing I had been climbing through sumac, I didn't change my clothes till the end of the day or wash my arms, legs, face, etc..

I guess I'll be calling my family doc in the AM. Thanks for the advice!

 

[mimif1]

The things we will endure for those scrumptious berries!

You're right! I keep looking at all those berries still out there in my yard and it's killing me not to get back out there and pick them! Blackberries...Yum!

 

[poohandwendy]

Just wanted to add, there are barrier creams out there that are suppose to help prevent the oils from attaching to the skin, so to speak. I would have used one of them if I knew I was vulnerable. I had a very severe bout with poison ivy when I was a teen and that seemed to make me immune, because I was exposed to it many times since then and never affected, until now. I guess my immunity wore off, LOL.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

I had poison sumac many years ago! It felt horrible, I was young then so I forget what my parents did. I do remember getting some prescription cream. All I can say is good luck!

 

[mimif1]

I've seen those creams, but didn't know how effective they are. Have you ever used them? Sure don't want anymore of this! Maybe next year.

 

[SplshMtn99]

One thing people forget about when washing all the clothes you had on, is that oils are on your shoes & shoelaces too. So, you've got to wash those too!!!!

Good luck.