Guess what I got ? !

[amboy49]

I've only previously used my pop up gound blind when hunting pronghorn antelope but thought I would set it up this year for whitetail. As I get older I feel less and less comfortable and confident sitting 16-20 ft up in a tree - safety harness or not. I knew the spot where I would set it - two separate fiields come together and both had this year's corn crop picked, the wooded property to the north (40 acres) is a privately owned residentce with no hunting allowed, there is a travel corridor that narrows down , and the prevailing wind would be good for most sits ! Figured I had the perfect set up location.

I went in two weeks ago and cleared away some brush, cut a shooting lane ( or two to be exact) and carrid in my camp stool, rattling horns, and decoy so I wouldn't have to carry so much in when I actually started to hunt. I sat the stand for the first time three days ago and while I had done a little interior clearing I spent the first 10 minutes getting rid of the ground leaves, sticks, and anything else that might make noise if/when I was sharing around.

Fast forward to yesterday morning. Woke up in the middle of the night ITCHING ! ! Apparently the short vines that I decided to pull up with my bare hands that were about pencil lead thickness or a little more weren't just "vines." Turns out it was Poison Ivy ! ! I now have it on my face, arms, and some places where you don't want me to describe it ! ! !

I'm about ready to try soaking in a bathtub full of oatmeal for some itch relief ! Not saying I won't be able to hunt but does take away from my ability to concentrate, that's for sure.

Anyone got got a good effective home remedy to relieve the itch and make the rash go away ? ! !

Thanks is in advance

 

[Double T]

Take some benadryl, it'll help with the inflammation.

 

[CPT Nervous]

Ouch. I've had it bad twice. Covered my whole body. Hydrocortisone cream works well. As for home remedies, I don't have any advice. It'll run its course. It'll suck.

 

[patience0830]

Wash well. Then alternate between benadryl and cortisone cream. Try hard not to scratch.

 

[CPT Nervous]

Wash well. Then alternate between benadryl and cortisone cream. Try hard not to scratch.

It's sooooo hard... Like not biting a Tootsie Roll Pop...

 

[Double T]

I meant to say inflammatory response. You know what I mean.

If you got any into your mouth, you probably need to go get a steroid shot. My mom was picking raspberries when the leaves were wet and she got it in her respiratory tract. not a good combo. Be safe...and if you don't know what something is, google is more than likely in your pocket.

 

[Gluemanz28]

Bite the bullet and go get a shot you will be glad you did.

 

[Mustang1911]

I noticed a lot more poison ivy vines in the woods under the leaves this year that previous years. Luckily I didn't end up breaking out but there sure did seems to be a bunch out. Unfortunately I haven't found a good remedy to make it go away faster but I usually some calamine lotion to take some of the itch away.

 

[halfmileharry]

It's been 55 years since I've had it. I remember sitting in the tub getting alcohol washed. Then the Calamine lotion.
I had it EVERYWHERE. Awful summer for me. I got hit by a rattler that year too. I was glad to get back to school that fall.
On a positive note....I know every poisonous plant and vine in the woods now.

 

[OutdoorDad]

You may want to consider washing your blind.
And all the clothes you were wearing (coat and footwear).

I kept getting small patches on my arms, until I washed my flannel "yard shirt" that usually just stayed outside. And the arms to my recliner. The oils stay active for a LONG time.
Hope you feel better soon!!

 

[tyrajam]

I remember laying in bed itching so bad I couldn't fall asleep and the only thing that let me sleep was caking calamine lotion on it, calamine gave me the only relief.

 

[chubbs]

As others have stated, get a steroid shot. I got covered in it, suffered for a day or two before going to the Dr. Wished I had gone sooner. It will suck still but doesn't last near as long with steroids.

 

[amboy49]

Here's what my eyes look like - trying to get in to see my doc now. Hope the pic shows up - not great with attaching photos !

 

[Mark 1911]

Not much to offer in addition to what has already been except hope you recover quickly and get that shot at a nice whitetail this season.

 

[jsharmon7]

My doctor recommended washing with Dawn dish soap to help remove the oil. If you've got a hair dryer around, I found this actually helped relieve the itching quite a bit. I would just blast it at my arms for a couple minutes and it felt much better. You could try Ivarest or one of the other similar products but they are pricey and I can't say how well they work. Good luck!

 

[Mustang1911]

If you think you've been exposed to poison ivy, wash with vinegar to the exposed are, the shower and wash well. The vinegar will break up the oil from the poison ivy plant as long as you wash it before you've broke out. If you apply vinegar and don't wash after, the vinegar will actually break up the oils and help it spread so make sure YOU WASH WELL AFTER. Unfortunately once you break out it pretty much just has to run its course.

 

[Treetoppilot]

A buddy of mine works for AT&T and gets into the stuff regularly when servicing drops. He provided me a product called Tecnu (from Tec Labs) - Google it. It stripes the oils away which will prevent it from spreading and really stopped it in its tracks. It really helps in "those" critical areas...

If it gets too bad, call your Doctor and request a steroid, otherwise your gonna knock your immune system down while your body heals.

 

[gtpilot21]

Man sorry to hear. That is some luck, but look at the bright side you have your spot ready!

 

[Nodnarb]

Man, that is definitely not good. I'm rather allergic and got into it up and down both legs during the summer. A trip to the doc for some prednisone and 3 weeks of covering it up with calamine lotion it finally started to go away. Be prepared for it to continue to itch even after the blisters go away.

 

[possumpacker]

go to CVS ask for Zanfel. Paul Harvey used to advertise it on his radio show. best stuff goin but kinda pricecy, like 35.00 a tube. but worth it.