poison ivy (bad reaction)

[smithisheaven]

We climb around it all the time but thought I might enlighten a few of you about how bad it can be. I happen to not react to it but the same cannot be said of my climbing partner. Took a few days to show up and has progressed to a horrible wound on the leg with severe itching all over the rest of her body. Her leg swole up to about twice its size and had weeping holes in her leg. She has been out of action for almost 3 weeks. Threat of infection is great and care must be taken to keep it clean and dry. Emailed some pics to my friend at the local clinic and the doctors freaked out . Said they had never seen a reaction so bad. Be carefull out there we climb and live near alot of the stuff!

[Cobra_Commander]

I hope she actually went to see a doctor!!! Systemic histamine reactions and necrosis are serious business.

[catbirdseat]

It can be really bad. It helps to stay covered with clothes when you are around the stuff. You need to be careful just washing the clothing. Treat it like it has radioactivity on it or something.

[smithisheaven]

She did not go to a doctor. She beleives that if she went to the doc she probably would have gotten worse. She actually works for a Doctor of Chiropractic and she has seen to many horror stories of things going wrong at the hospital. She stayed at home and kept it clean and just let her body fight it. It has gotten much better as in it is all scabbed over and healing well but it has taken a long time. I do not want the thread to break down into the pros and cons of doctors, just want people to know the seriousness of poison ivy if you are reactive to it. I will post some pics if I can figure it out.

[smithisheaven]

your right about the clothing it has the oils on it and can be transmitted to others, like nuclear man.

[catbirdseat]

She did not go to a doctor. She beleives that if she went to the doc she probably would have gotten worse. She actually works for a Doctor of Chiropractic and she has seen to many horror stories of things going wrong at the hospital. She stayed at home and kept it clean and just let her body fight it. It has gotten much better as in it is all scabbed over and healing well but it has taken a long time. I do not want the thread to break down into the pros and cons of doctors, just want people to know the seriousness of poison ivy if you are reactive to it. I will post some pics if I can figure it out.

When it get's that bad, it should be treated with steroid injections and antibiotics. If infection sets in you can die. If this even happens again, make her go to the doctor. Chiropractors are not doctors. They hate each other and disparage each other.

[Alpinfox]

Chiropractors are not doctors. ...

 

In fact, many chiropractors ARE doctors. "Doctors of Chiropractic". I also disagree with the statement that MD/NDs and DCs "hate and disparage" each other.

 

In this case, I think it was pretty dangerous to not consult a doctor of medicine, but I'm glad your friend is getting better.

[mtn_mouse]

Chiropractors are not doctors. ...

 

In fact, many chiropractors ARE doctors. "Doctors of Chiropractic". I also disagree with the statement that MD/NDs and DCs "hate and disparage" each other.

 

In this case, I think it was pretty dangerous to not consult a doctor of medicine, but I'm glad your friend is getting better.

 

Chiropractors are not doctors!

 

I got home from the canyonlands/Moab area last month with an aweful case of poison ivy. You dont want to know where. It came on a few days after exposure, not right away. Calamine lotion became my close intimate friend. I was told if it got bad, prednisone was the answer-but mine only lasted a week.

Oh, and by the way, chiroprators are not doctors!

[Dru]

Spinal realignment is gonna do so much for poison ivy. A lobotomy or amputation would be the preferred solution!

[catbirdseat]

Chiropractors are not doctors. ...

 

In fact, many chiropractors ARE doctors. "Doctors of Chiropractic". I also disagree with the statement that MD/NDs and DCs "hate and disparage" each other.

My brother is an M.D. You don't want to get him started on Chiropractors.

 

One way to regard a severe poison ivy reaction is to view it like a second degree burn. It basically disrupts the protective integrity of the skin.

[smithisheaven]

I specificaly said i did not want this to turn in to a argument over docs or no docs, but take it where you may. dru i know that a chiro can't help poison ivy smart ass, I never said he could, maybe you can apply your suggestions to yourself. By the way Chiros have more schooling hours that DM's

[knelson]

I specificaly said i did not want this to turn in to a argument over docs or no docs, but take it where you may.

 

 

By the way Chiros have more schooling hours that DM's

 

[selkirk]

I specificaly said i did not want this to turn in to a argument over docs or no docs, but take it where you may. dru i know that a chiro can't help poison ivy smart ass, I never said he could, maybe you can apply your suggestions to yourself. By the way Chiros have more schooling hours that DM's

 

Is that just classroom time? DM training is more than just the school work. Even the 3 or 4 year residency time ammounts to an apprenticeship. Somehow I doubt it's possible to squezze any more training/practice into an 8 yr period than the folks I know going through DM and DO programs.

[Cobra_Commander]

I bet there's only a 1 year residency at the Center for Poison Ivy Research in there as well. F'ing amateurs.

[catbirdseat]

Speaking of which, is Layton still sticking it out with Chiropractic School? He must be out climbing or studying or some such.

[Alpinfox]

 

Chiropractors are not doctors!.....Oh, and by the way, chiroprators are not doctors!

 

You sure Mike?

 

Might wanna tell The American Chiropractic Association and the US Department of Labor and Western States Chiropractic College about that.

 

 

Back on topic, HERE is a really good article on poison ivy.

 

 

[Cobra_Commander]

Speaking of which, is Layton still sticking it out with Chiropractic School? He must be out climbing or studying or some such.

 

chugging technu

[selkirk]

 

Chiropractors are not doctors!.....Oh, and by the way, chiroprators are not doctors!

 

You sure Mike?

 

Might wanna tell The American Chiropractic Association and the US Department of Labor about that.

 

 

Back on topic, HERE is a really good article on poison ivy.

 

Good links!

 

DM/DO

"It takes many years of education and training to become a physician: 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected."

 

Chiro.

"Most State boards require at least 2 years of undergraduate education; an increasing number are requiring a 4-year bachelor’s degree. All boards require the completion of a 4-year program at an accredited chiropractic college"

 

So between 6 and 8 years of School for a Chiro. or 8 years of School followed by 3 to 8 years of supervised practice/apprenticeship (not to mention the DO's/DM's I know haven't had a summer off since they started school. That's more time for practice after all).

[layton]

It must be a rosy wold out there being so ignorant. WTF is your problem? It's not the profession, it's the practicioner. Since when does nitpicking about a title make a good physician? It's about as stupid as only voting for democrats or republicans, soley based on their political party.

 

All I know is when I get my license I will be LEGALLY REQUIRED to practice under the scope practice for a licensed doctor, and my patients will be lucky to visit me and get the help they need. I'd be the same person with a D.O., M.D., or D.C. license and would employ the same treatments more or less.

You are being extrememly childish, bordering on offensive and highly retarded.

[layton]

Oh, ND's are doctors too.

 

Down with the AMA juggernaut!

 

M.D.'s practice just as much wacked-out shit and any other doctor with just as little evidence to back it up.

[Cobra_Commander]

really the only safe option is to consult a licensed poison ivy and oak therapist

[olyclimber]

the only real answer is to post your issue on CC.com in Spray. There you will find all sorts of authorative advice on investing, medical issues, etc.

[mtn_mouse]

I specificaly said i did not want this to turn in to a argument over docs or no docs, but take it where you may. dru i know that a chiro can't help poison ivy smart ass, I never said he could, maybe you can apply your suggestions to yourself. By the way Chiros have more schooling hours that DM's

 

Are you sure you didn't contract a bit of poison ivy rash? Crankyness is a resisual side affect of poison ivy.

[rbw1966]

Its my understanding that poison ivy is an east coast phenomenon and that poison oak is what you get out here in the PNW.

 

I am very allergic to poison oak and have had to endure steroid therapy (prednisone) for it several times. MDs are the only ones who can prescribe that medicine. I tried naturopathy and it didn't work at all.

 

Each of the medical professions has its own intrinsic value. I suffered through months of shoulder problems with my MD prescribing pain killers, surgery and PT to no avail. I passed on the surgery and went to a chiro instead and was pain free in 4 visits.

 

There are quacks in every field.

[Cobra_Commander]

You can find bits of poison ivy east of the cascades in the desert canyons where there is a good amount of water in places.

 

There are substantial patches of poison ivy in the upper gorge at smith. The area around Playing in Traffic seems to have its share for instance.