I cleaned the ivy out of my trees and gardens and now I have a severe reaction...rash, swelling and blisters on my arms, stomach, legs, back, neck, and genital area.
I have read that the allergic reaction cannot spread by washing and scratching, and that it can spread from washing and scratching. I suspect that spreading can occur because there is no way that my genitals were exposed to the ivy, but as I shower it does not spread all over my body. Strange.
Also peculiar, I did not wear gloves as I was pulling and pruning the ivy so my hands had most of the contact, but I do not have an allergic reaction on my hands.
When I was refraining from taking a shower for fear of spreading the reaction, I was suffering from the intense itching and I got the idea that heat help dry the affected areas and maybe help the itching. So I turned on the electric burners on our stove, and the heat was a dramatic source of relief. However, the relief was so adictive that I kept using the stove and my arms are now read and swollen as if I had a bad sun burn. I think the heat combined with the ointment on my arms and caused a mild burn. This was not worth the short term relief.
Interesting, now I take hot showers twice a day and the hot water on the affected areas provides an intense, extraordinary, almost addictive pleasure. The hot water on unaffected areas is just hot, but on the affected areas it is intensely pleasurable. Strange.
Also peculiar is the fact that I get chilled easily.
Is it a good idea to use a towel only once and to change bed sheets everyday, or is that unnecessary?
I am especially careful not to touch my eyes, eye lids, ears or nose, but I do not know if there is a reason for this or if it is paranoia.
Some of my large blisters have broken. Should large blisters be broken while in the shower so they can be washed and cleaned, or should I try to prevent breaking blisters.
Sorry for all this trivia but I feel like I am going to go nuts.
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