poison ivy

[bobbygedd]

man, i got a bad azz case of poison ivy, both arms, legs, one ear, hands, and one spot where, well, i cant imagine how it got there. we were trimming yesterday and today, my man says, "is that poison ivy.?" i said, "yup". he says he cant touch it, i said no problem, i took care of it. it never bothered me before. when we were kids we went fishin in the woods alot, the other guys got it, i never got it. thought i was immune or some thing. well, i got it bad. i actually called the dr from my night job, he told me come right in, now. so i did. he gave me a shot of steriod or something, plus a prescription. any of u guys have problems with poison ivy? ive heard horror stories of people getting it in their mouth, throat, lungs. should i charge the $20 co pay, plus the $20 prescription to the customer? ;) ill sneek it in on the hourly somehow

[GLAN]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
man, i got a bad azz case of poison ivy, both arms, legs, one ear, hands, and one spot where, well, i cant imagine how it got there. we were trimming yesterday and today, my man says, "is that poison ivy.?" i said, "yup". he says he cant touch it, i said no problem, i took care of it. it never bothered me before. when we were kids we went fishin in the woods alot, the other guys got it, i never got it. thought i was immune or some thing. well, i got it bad. i actually called the dr from my night job, he told me come right in, now. so i did. he gave me a shot of steriod or something, plus a prescription. any of u guys have problems with poison ivy? ive heard horror stories of people getting it in their mouth, throat, lungs. should i charge the $20 co pay, plus the $20 prescription to the customer? ;) ill sneek it in on the hourly somehow


LOL, wouldn't you think that the poisin ivy being there is an act of nature? not the sinister work of the owner?

Sorry that you got the reaction that bad.

[bobbygedd]

yea, but it falls under "acts of god", and created an unforseen expense. should be easy enough to cover. add 5 min to every hour, at $1.25 per min, thats $31.25, and jack up the disposal a bit to cover medical expenses and pain and suffering.

[Rooster]

This website may help.

http://www.oralivy.com/

Rick

[GroundKprs]

You can be immune to the effects of poison ivy. However this immunity can erode over time if you are constantly exposed. I also never got it when out in the woods, and all the other kids did. 15 years ago, I decided to try just pulling it by hand, and it did not bother me. But a couple of years ago, I got a couple of infected spots after working with some, so I am a lot more careful now. Whether you are immune or susceptable, it pays to take care around it.

[bobbygedd]

amen, and good night. have a pleasant tommorow

[Turfdude]

Bobby,

One's body chemistry is constantly changing. Leaves of 3, let it be. I can only imagine how you got it there (thinking about that client hitting on you I bet). If you didn't know it was p.i. charging client okay, knowing what it was & using poor judgement - "If you're stupid - you deserve to suffer". Just MHO.

[bastalker]

I use to be amune...Not anymore. I get blisters lookin at it....My help on the other hand can swim in it.

My help can play in it, I'm not goin near it.;)

[grass-scapes]

I got it last week. I was covered everywhere but my forearms. Thought I wasn't touching it but with my gloves but while pulling out other crap from this mans overgrown natural area, It got all over me (well, between the wrists and elbows. My forarms swole up so bad, that I couldn't bend the wrist and elbow on my right hand. Doctor said it was the worst case he had seen. But the quack didn't give me a shot. 6 day steroid pack is all he would give me. I didn't sleep but about 3 hours in 4 days. Its finally dried up to itchy scaly skin, but I have to find a way to cover my arms in the 95 degree heat. Why don't people want their natural areas taken care of in the winter, when I can cover my arms with something and still be relatively comfortable.

[Enviro Green]

BobbyG,

Here, since I like you here's my $0.02:

Here's a little secret that I stumbled upon based on science. The active compound in poison ivy that makes you itch is called ronsinol or something like that. Anyway, its an oil based compound. So, when you get your hands wet or use water and soap on them, yup, guess what, you spread it even worse, unless you REALLY scrub.

The answer, use regular rubbing alcohol, straight from the bottle with a lot of paper towels, using a new towel for each part of your body so you don't re spread the oil. Do this RIGHT after you get out of the ivy and it will help. However, if you skin is broken or irritated, such as from chaffing of a watch band, wedding ring, etc., you will still probably get it. Then after the alcohol, wash with soap and water.

Try it, it works and it is CHEAP. We pulled poison ivy off a wall that was 10 feet high and 60 feet long, two pickup load, and I got one spot on my wrist where I scraped it along the wall.

Best luck,

EG

[GLAN]

My guys have used gasoline.

I will use gasoline to get pine sap off my hands

[Bluesteel]

I wouldn’t charge the customer any more than I would if I’d hit a stump on their property with my mower. That Poison Ivy is a hazard. You thought you could avoid it (because you were immune), but you were wrong. So it’s not their responsibility.

On the other hand, if you didn’t really know what Poison Ivy is, and they told you a pile of brush didn’t have any in it, but you got it bad, then I’d charge them for it.

I will spray it. That’s it. No mowing, or weed-whacking. If a customer wants it removed, it will have to be someone else. But I wouldn’t wish that stuff on my worst competitor.

[GarPA]

I'm with you Bluesteel. Last year I got a nasty case of it.Put me out of work for a week. After that I did some research on it and found:
1. you dont have to touch the plant to get it. Trimming it will release the invisible oil into the air and land on your skin. Thats why they say NEVER EVER burn posion plants
2. touching or scratching it DOES NOT spread it to more parts of your body. It is mostly spread by whatever body part you touch after you've gotten the oil on your hands
3. vigorous hand washing should be done more than once a day to make sure you dont have any poison oil on your hands
4.There are many 3 leafed weeds that look like poison ivy so be sure you and the worker bees see pics of it

Now I will only spray an area that has it....will flatly refuse to do ANY hand work in an area with poison. There is simply not enough money to go thru what I went thru last summer

[bobbygedd]

well, someone has to pay for it, its not me. anyway, yea, i got a 6 day steriod pack too, i hardly even slept last night, thats why im typing at almost 10 am. thanx for the advice. what do i do about it now though? its itchy, open, and oozing. its drivin me nuts. will the alchohol still work?

[A1 Lawn@Landscapes]

Bobby

Did the Dr. put you on prednisone ? Stuff makes me eat buffalo wings by the 5lb bag full. Everytime I get poison ivy and go on that drug I eat like a horse. With that drug I think you can still use a topical antihistimine like benedryl creme or caladryl. Ask your Dr first though. Take a bath in aveeno oatmeal bath stuff. Works well to help the itching.

[mower_babe]

Bobby, how long have you had it?:(

[bobbygedd]

3rd day now, and it got even worse aftyer cutting today. my arm is so infested, it looks like a big black and blue mark. does it go away after x amount of days?

[GarPA]

Bobby...I might be wrong about this so maybe one of our EMT type people can correct me . I am allergic to pollen(yeah I know I'm in the wrong business), bee stings and get poison just by looking at it. Somewhere I read or heard that allergic reactions to this kind of stuff has something to do with our individual immune systems...doesn't mean we're deathly ill but rather some of our immune systmes dont protect some of us from a severe reaction. One thing I do know for sure, as kid I had terrible pollen allergies and I'll never forget the doctor telling my mom that I needed to REST when I was having one of my allergy days....like any other illness, if we dont REST, our bodies can't fight off the germ, allergen, poison, as effectively.
So because you were out there working you were wearing down your body's ability to fight the poison. Most of us stupid men work no matter whats wrong with us ....then we just drop dead.

You'll be better in a couple days IF you slow down a little and allow your body to fight it off.

[mower_babe]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
3rd day now, and it got even worse aftyer cutting today. my arm is so infested, it looks like a big black and blue mark. does it go away after x amount of days?

ya, right after you see your arm laying on the ground. that sounds really attractive. post a picture.

go back to the dr, bobby.

[proenterprises]

Sorry to hear about that man....I would try some benadryll for the days.

AT NIGHT....

What really helps is go into the shower and run pretty hot water on the area for about 10 seconds until you can feel it burn. It will dull it out and wont itch all night.

This is what I have been doing, burn the shyt out of it @ night and benadryll during the day


GOOD LUCK!

[hubb]

I agree with LandscapeEscape, thats exactly what I do. The benedryl wears off really quick if you sweat alot. You can also eat benedryl at night. You might check with the pharmasist first to see if it would react with the drugs your taking now though.

[bobbygedd]

well, the hot water in the shower makes it itch real bad. u should have seen the girl at the store, i stopped for some spring water today, when i handed her the cash, she wouldnt even touch it, she told me to put it on the counter, then she just kind of dropped the change in my hand.

[jsr2741]

Well nobodys mentioned it so I guess I will. When I was farming I worked in that stuff all the time while building fence. The older I got the less I got it but when I first started working in it my grandmother had me pour a cup of clorox in the bathwater and then get in it and soak for ten or fifteen minutes. It worked.

Mind you, you have to do this when you come in from working in it at the end of the day. It won't do any good to do it once the poison shows up.

[Pecker]

I heard on the radio the other day of a product that is supposed to relieve Poison Ivy over night. Supposively it will be gone when you wake up. It is available at the pharmacist the radio said or they can get it overnight. I can't remember the exact name but I think it is Zanfur. I know it starts with "Zan".

[bobbygedd]

yea, my buddy was over tonight havin a beer with me, he kept tellin me to pour bleach on it. i think its too late for that, but i wish i had that overnight drug

[jsr2741]

For God's sake don't pour bleach directly on it, you have more problems than you'll know. Bleach will burn your skin real bad and it won't do any good anyway if its already started showing up. Just remember the next time you get in it, at the end of the day mix a cup in with your bath water and just get in and soak.

[Pecker]

Using a cup or so of Bleach in your bath tub water is also great for killing Redbugs. I get into them many times per year between lawn service and riding my 4 wheeler and dirtbike in the woods and this is how I deal with them every time. Its always good to get up out of the bath water and shower off the bleach when yer done though. It won't stop the itching immediately but when you wake in the morning its usually done and if not it should not itch by dinner time for sure.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally posted by jsr2741
For God's sake don't pour bleach directly on it, you have more problems than you'll know. Bleach will burn your skin real bad and it won't do any good anyway if its already started showing up. Just remember the next time you get in it, at the end of the day mix a cup in with your bath water and just get in and soak.

Bleach will NOT burn your skin if you are capable of comprehending this concept of RINSING IT OFF!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty tough eh?
YES, it will do its' good AFTER it's already showing up. How would you know you had it if it didn't show up???????????????????

here's the complicated procedure. Please take copious notes and print out the detailed instructions to prevent injury.

1) moisten cotton ball with STRAIGHT bleach
2) rub it on affected area
3) count to 15 (or to 5 three times if that's too difficult)
4)RINSE IT OFF (jump in shower if large areas, small areas a WET washcloth will do nicely.

I would definately NOT do this if it is blistering or open at all.
If it's the first day and the red rash has started, the bleach will "kill" it instantly and it will progress no further. It will start to dry out right away but will still take a week or so to go away. Oh yeh, the itching stops IMMEDIATELY. Occasionally a "tough" spot will require a second treatment, you'll know because the spot will still itch.
Take it from this 44 y/o who is NOT prone to stupid medical advice: this is nigh on a miracle solution to those of us affected badly by PI. I used to have to get the pills every year (and the bouts of grouchiness that the steroids brought on). Even then you suffer for days until it starts to work.
Bleach works INSTANTLY and has never caused one burn or any other problem with the 7 other guys I work with, all of whom use it fairly regularly.
I had a good bit of it last week and worked in it today taking down a big oak tree. None of it did/will bother me for more than 1 hour. By then I will have done the bleach (if needed) and it will be over...............:blob3: :blob4: :blob1: :blob2:

[Mike Bradbury]

to slam your post jsr2741! Just that we've had this discussion OVER and OVER. Anyway, nothing personal to you. apologies if it looked that way.:blush:

[bobbygedd]

ill tell ya what worked really good. all of your ideas are good ones im sure, but at this stage i believe ill just have to take it like a man, till it goes away. last night couldnt sleep, killing me, so i try the scortching hot water thing. got in the shower, turned it as hot as i could, and let it run on affected areas, yup, there too. it itched bad while the water was hitting it, but when i got out, not another itch all night. great advice, i needed the sleep

[jsr2741]

No offense taken MB, I've got pretty thick skin. However if you work in poison ivy/oak and I'm sure about 99% of the people on here know what it looks like, why would you wait till the blisters show use it.

Granted I've gotten it and not knew I was in it but after the blister came up the soak in the bleach did not work for me.

As for bleach not burning if you pour it on your skin outright, it will burn you prior to rinsing. I know because when I'd pour chlorine in my swiming pool and get some splash back it would start burning my skin immediately and liquid pool chlorine according to the pool supplier has less active chlorine in it than bleach thats used in your laundry.

[Pecker]

Also, poison ivy can get you even when it is dormant. Found this out the hard way by the doctor. I had gotten my 4wheeler stuck and had to winch out. The tree I winched on had it all over it but there were no leaves so I figured I'd be ok . . .the scar it left stayed for 8 months.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally posted by jsr2741
No offense taken MB, I've got pretty thick skin. However if you work in poison ivy/oak and I'm sure about 99% of the people on here know what it looks like, why would you wait till the blisters show use it."

Not the blisters, the red rash starting. On me the blisters don't come till a day or two later

"Granted I've gotten it and not knew I was in it but after the blister came up the soak in the bleach did not work for me."

We get it on before blistering.

"As for bleach not burning if you pour it on your skin outright, it will burn you prior to rinsing. I know because when I'd pour chlorine in my swiming pool and get some splash back it would start burning my skin immediately and liquid pool chlorine according to the pool supplier has less active chlorine in it than bleach thats used in your laundry. "

Well, you might want to try it with household bleach, cus it DOESN'T burn you prior to rinsing.
And liquid chlorine is a VERY inefficient (read expensive) way of chlorinating a pool. Very dilute for what you pay.

[bobbygedd]

ok, one last question: i had the contact with the plant on monday, and tuesday. its now sunday, WHEN IS THE SHEIT GONNA GO AWAY? i mean, is there a time frame? its killing me!

[GLAN]

hey Bobby how you doin with the rash?

Symptons must be less by now, no?

last I had it, if I remember correctly it takes around a week for the itching and all that to be minimal.

Ah.......................a month from now...................this will be a distant memory :)

[bobbygedd]

its terrible, and i got off the steriods, they were killing my stomach, and dont go well with beer.

[SCL]

The dang stuff kills me. i don't swell but it just spreads everywhere. How come you never see it till you walk out of it? I usually have it for 10-12 days. Have to sleep in sweats and long slleve tees to keep it in check. Usually a once a year thing. The first year I got it I was water skiing and jumped out on an island for a nature call. Yeah Bobby, I feel your nether pain:( I do the alcohol thing( topical, not oral) and find the best temp relief from Caldryl. Good luck and hang in there.

[Mike Bradbury]

to see the suffering you guys put up with that COULD be dealt with in 2 minutes. To each their own................:dizzy:

(why don't some of you skeptics try the bleach on your untainted skin NOW to prove to YOURSELVES that it doesn't hurt you ;)


( don't forget that crititcal step: Rinse it off!):cry:

[hansenke]

Sorry to hear about your pridicament. I too. used to think I was immune. Have had 2 really bad cases in the last 7 years. Both times, I got the steroid packs. The second time, I knew I was in trouble so I went to the doc right away. Even with the treatment, the affect areas still took 2 weeks to clear up. The steroids helped contain the swelling, ozzing and pussing, but it still a takes 2 weeks.

BTW, I tried bleach and gasoline, and niether one made a dent. So, try to get as comfortable as you can, and wait out the rest of the week.

[John Gamba]

Mike B.
Are You saying That if i Put Bleach On MY Poison ive That It Will Go Away. I Have It On My Arms But Its almost Gone.
John

[gr8pyrs]

Pricy but it works.

http://www.zanfel.com

Russ

[J J Landscaping]

YES SIR. Poison ivy is not fun. I used to have to go to get shots every year for that dog gone stuff. My agway dealer gave me something to try and IT WORKS. Oak-N-Ivy brand - Tecnu - I use the Skin Cleaner. It is the only one i found that will work. Jim

[GrassBustersLawn]

While checking over a job before leaving, I noticed that my worker hadn't pulled the weeds I had told him too. Having had previous problems with this worker not doing what I told him, I reached down and grabbed the weeds to yank them out. As I did, I thought CRAP, THAT'S POISON IVY. I went to the truck where I keep a small medical kit that includes individually wrapped alcohol wipes. I wiped my hand off real well with several of them. Thankfully, I didn't get a rash from it. I think the alcohol wipes did the job, because I know I'm not immune to it.

Needless to say worker was laughing his butt off about it.

Mike

[John Gamba]

I Just tryed That ZANFEL It Works! Thanks gr8pyrs!
J&J I Just Eed You.
John

[Duncan Lawn Care]

My doctor said it can last up to 5 weeks, depending on how bad it gets in your blood. I've had it for over 2 weeks now and it's just now starting to dry out. The hot water does work, but it sure itches like he11 just after you get out. I dry it off and put some anti itch cream on it, drop a couple benadryl and hit the sack.