No post tonight. I'm still battling with the poison sumac rash, and am cranky, cranky, cranky. At 3:00am last night, i was up googling remedies. One site recommended applying toothpaste with baking soda. I've smelt minty fresh all day. Tomorrow, I'm off to get a cortozone shot.
For more on tall chicks in bikinis and sports, read Ogged, Stephen Karlson, and Dan Drezner.
Cortisone is where it's at. I waited too long the last time I got a major poison ivy blistering on my arms (result of very foolishly aggressive brush clearing) and it got to the point where it oozed yellow fluid and more icky stuff besides. Cortisone worked wonders at that point, and apparently would have prevented things from getting to that point in the first place.
Posted by: Timothy Burke | August 27, 2004 at 10:24 AM
Thanks, Tim. I, too, am a victim of foolish and aggressive brush clearing. I'm past the cortisone stage. I've got bumps in my ears. So, the doctor put me on steroids today. All set for the Olympics.
Posted by: Laura | August 27, 2004 at 11:13 AM
Eek, bumps in your ears? Not good :-/ Hope you heal up soon Laura!!
Posted by: Prim | August 27, 2004 at 01:25 PM
As a southern boy, I have a tried-and-true cure. At the very least, it works for me when I get these sort of poison ivy/oak/sumac rashes.
Take a shower. Scratch open the wounds. Scrub with Tide (or like powdered detergent). For sure: it will hurt like hell for an instant (but only that instant!), but it ends the suffering/itchy-stage and kick-starts the drying/healing.
[PS. Love the blog!]
Posted by: P | August 28, 2004 at 08:38 PM
Try a coal tar solution. Maybe a harsh shampoo (Pentrax). Great for psoriasis -- might help. Will supply some if you want.
Posted by: harry | September 01, 2004 at 10:12 AM