My Horror Story: I haven't read of anyone that has had such a bad
time as I have, and I wonder if there are long term effects that
just haven't been written about yet. While I lived in the San
Francisco area I did a lot of hiking and got poison oak three
times. Each time was worse than the previous time. Each bout lasted
about two weeks and were over completely, with progressive
treatments including steroids. The last round included medication
to make me sleep so I wouldn't scratch and/or maybe lose my
mind.Later I moved to Arizona and got exposed to poison ivy while
hiking. I had such a severe reaction I was unable to wear clothes
for two weeks. I was on steroids, compresses, cold showers, the
works. I couldn't go to work of course. My dermatologist said he
had never seen such a severe reaction and thought I was allergic to
it, which isn't clear to me because I've learned the reaction is an
"allergic" reaction by the body. I had huge oozing sores
everywhere. After about a month, it subsided somewhat, however, I
continued to be afflicted with blistering rashes for nearly six
months. It would move from one part of my body to another the
entire time. I would wake up in the night, finding myself
scratching until my skin bled. Because I knew when/where I was
exposed, I had taken all the regular precautions to avoid
re-exposure (meaning I washed all the clothes, etc.) at the advice
of my dermatologist.To this day, I suffer from periodic small
outbreaks of raised small bumps that are extremely itchy.My
question is: I've read that poison stays in one's body permanently.
Since I've had such severe reactions to it, I'm wondering if any
research or recording of symptoms has occurred that may indicate
that cases of severe poisioning may have long term effects? Because
my reaction was so bad, I am now deathly afraid of the vines, and
have changed my lifestyle to do very little hiking.Please feel free
to pose my history/questions to others you may think have explored
this. I really am wondering about the long term effects of cases
like mine.
--"helen" ([email protected]) submitted 16/Apr/2002
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