Re: major swelling, bumps spreading|
Matt,
Man! You poor fellow. As everybody else stated, it will get better. It has taken me the better part of two weeks to get to where all the blister broke out and have finally dried up. Those nasty looking dark patches will disappear as well and shouldn't scar unless you really scratched them good and they got infected. I did start an antibiotic (Tequin) and it did seem to help. I immediately noticed that the firey red areas around the larger "host patches" quickly calmed down. The steriod shots are really nothing unless you have an allergy to them. They can make you feel a little sick at your stomach but they certainly help. The point is to get to the doctor quick and get the shot. The longer you wait, the longer you itch. It takes steriods either by mouth or injection about 24 - 48 hours to get a blood level. It will help heal the process and calm the itching down quite a bit.
I understand what you are going through. I've never had a reaction nor did I really know what poison ivy and oak looked like so I was just getting busy cutting back a hedge. It was an all day affair and I stopped several times to go use the bathroom and get a drink. I had it EVERYWHERE! In my mouth, eyes, groin, feet, hands, arms, legs. That was two and one half weeks ago and it is just now beginning to dry up.
I'm a big tanner so as with other forms of dermatitis I thought that getting into a tanning bed would help dry up the blisters. DON'T DO IT! Stay out of the sun. It may it spread worse and my doctor stated that it created more infection that way. Could be just coincidental but that was his suggestion.
I didn't try the topical treatment you tried but if I ever get again I will. I used a super-high power steriodal cream and it seemed to really zap those little boogers but it was a bit nauseating because of the steriod content of both the shot and the cream. I'm just chalking it up to a learning experience. You can bet your life I will NEVER clean out any overgrown area again! I will hire somebody and warn them that there is the possibility of poison oak.
Stay in, stay calm, and stay cool - be patient. It WILL go away and summer is really not totally here yet. You'll still have a chance to look good for summer. Promise!
My best,
Alan
Tullahoma, Tennessee
|
|
