Rashaholics Anonymous

Okay so without a proper diagnosis from a doctor I am treating my ever-spreading and ever-going to make me kill myself rash as though it is a nasty poison oak attack. As you can see from the picture this is behind my right leg. I have it now in 7 distinct spots beneath my waist and my head still burns with what seems to be a head version of this - which luckily isn't a gross but still makes my face itch, my ears itch, my neck itch.

Basically I want to die.

Well hopefully we are on the road to recovery although I swear I see a new spot every day. I've got a bit on my left hand, the back of my left arm, and on my left side of my face (as opposed to my right side you saw before) just starting to break out because it is very hot and very itchy. My beard which was the fashion statement of the summer has become a feast of itchiness but I fear shaving it would reveal even more rashities.

So to make my experience an educational one for the rest of you let me tell you what I have learned about Poison Oak.

Different people are susceptible at different levels. Some websites report that the super sensitive (I'm assuming me) can get affected by it by just getting close to the plant. It is extraordinarily toxic - don't burn it or break it in any way because it is the oils that are toxic and in smoke form it can get into your body. The oils are hard to see but can be very easily spread on animals, on clothes, or from your own hands.

The skin of your hands (the palms) are generally too tough for the oils to penetrate but are great ways to pass it along to other parts of your body. The more sensitive parts of your body (ie face) will be affected easily and first because the skin is thinner. Tougher spots (legs) will come on later. This give the illusion of it spreading. It is an old wives' tale that it spreads by itching. The varying times in which it shows up in parts of your body makes you think that.

Now what can spread is the oil and it is a long lasting stuff. If it is on your shoes or your pants it could stick around for A YEAR! So clean your stuff ASAP if infected with soap and warm water. The oil can also stay on your skin until you wash it off so it can spread then. If you know you get infected on a hike the best thing to do is run water over it ASAP before it has a chance to soak in. Now one product claims that the oils still remain to some degree in your rashes even after washing off - I bought it. It is supposed to break up the oil so it no longer poses a threat. Don't care if it works, I have tried everything. Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone (prescription strength and not), Tecnu (this is the stuff that breaks up the oil), oatmeal baths and just plain old itching. Everything seems to work to varying degrees but I have a trick that I learned that has worked the best.

Last night I woke up at 3:30ish AM and couldn't sleep because I was itching so much. I have not had a full nights sleep this entire week thanks to good ol' P.O. One thing I have experienced that was confirmed on a website and became my saving grace late last night was a HOT shower.

If you put the shower as hot as you can stand it - and I had it as hot as it would go - and aim that sucker right on your rashes you will experience one of THE most intense itch/scratch relief/pleasure sensations you could ever experience with water. What it is doing is releasing the histamines from your rash (the chemical in your body that causes you to itch) It is so amazingly intense and makes you want to itch in a really bad way. When done you are itch free for a long time - the website claimed up to 8 hours. Me - I was asleep and it felt so nice.

Anywho - that is what has been plaguing me for the last week. Oh I should also mention I have two strange lymph nodes - one at the point where my upper and lower jaw join on my right side of my face and one on the back of my head on the right side which are swollen to the point they are sore and I can't lay my head on that side so that doesn't help.

This has been such a great experience and I know that I will be stronger and wiser for it when it is all over....that is if I make it through it.