Me too. Cleaning brush out of the yard as I have done many times before. Didn't notice anything with three leaves but lots of viney things, one with 5 leaves that I had been told previously was not to worry about. Pulled it out with my hands. Something that looked a little like morning glory only with a rounder leaf and a heayier vine, ripped it out with my bare hands. Something I thought were some kine of elm tree that I cut out of our bushes (again bare hands and shorts, short sleave shirt). Later on the web it looks a lot like summac. I am from the midwest and didn't think summace would grow here.
about 48 hours later, evening, something that looked like a chigger appeared on my leg, itched worse than chiggers. By the next morning it was accompanied with a long sideways scratch on my leg and two more "bites" on the underside of my left forearm near the wrist. Shortly later, another "bite" on the top side of same forearm near wrist. Also rihght leg several bites. Over the next couple of days these continued to GROW. Thought they were chiggers, went outside and pulled and cut somemore of the nasty weeds. Hot showers caused such itching that it nearly drove me nuts! Four days after first exposure a light went on--poison something! Went to the clinic (my doc is vacationing until July 2). PA confirmed it "contact dermatitis" (because they don't know exactly what I touched (may have been all three nasty ivy). I am now in my seventh day from exposure. Last night I was up twice to ice myself down (ice cubes). This really works for awhile. I am applying atopical cortisteriod (@ $40.00 a tube) twice a day (warned against more applications as it can do bad things to you as well if too much is absorbed in your system. Also taking antihistimine around the clock (24-7) at six hour intervals. PA recommended benedryl, but I had Nolohist on hand (for hayfever) which has always worked well for me. Alavert is not worth a darn for me (same with hayfever).
Little blisters appear several new ones a day, right now on each finger. Left hand has four, right hand one so far.
Planning a trip to NY in next couple of weeks. Will I make it? |
