Post by eyeofthestorm on May 14, 2024 15:24:16 GMT -6
I think I mentioned having a poison ivy rash a couple of weeks ago. Today is actually day 21 (yes, I've been counting).
The rash acted like poison ivy at first... and then things got weird. I thought maybe it was shingles. By then, it was too late for a prescription for shingles and my doctor was going out of town. I figured I could hold out until an appointment I'd already set up (for today).
So my doctor starts by commenting about my blood pressure - she needs to check why it's so high. Then she complimented my topper/shawl. I was saying I was loving wearing it because it was so light but my arms were still covered and mentioned the rash that I'd been covering. Her eyes got big and she said, "What's that? Is that SUMAC?" So I told her pretty what I've said here - it acted like poison ivy/sumac... until it didn't. She ruled out shingles, saying it was too spread on my body. (I had only showed her one arm - I have it on both arms, my right leg and foot, and my left ankle. No, I did NOT roll around in poison ivy!) She diagnosed that I am having a systemic reaction. I've never heard of that. I looked it up, and while I don't have all the symptoms, I definitely had some. I just never heard of this before. She said reactions like this can go on much longer (she threw out "three months") and promptly recommended treatment with steriods - either a shot in the office followed by oral steroids, or just the pills. I took the pills.
From what I've read, some folks get a sort of "rebound" rash after the steroids. I hope I won't since I'm so far into this. But if I do, I won't hesitate to head back over there.
And I'm getting some of those long, arm-length gardening gloves next time I'm out in the flower beds.
Anyway, I never heard of such a thing so I thought I'd share.
The rash acted like poison ivy at first... and then things got weird. I thought maybe it was shingles. By then, it was too late for a prescription for shingles and my doctor was going out of town. I figured I could hold out until an appointment I'd already set up (for today).
So my doctor starts by commenting about my blood pressure - she needs to check why it's so high. Then she complimented my topper/shawl. I was saying I was loving wearing it because it was so light but my arms were still covered and mentioned the rash that I'd been covering. Her eyes got big and she said, "What's that? Is that SUMAC?" So I told her pretty what I've said here - it acted like poison ivy/sumac... until it didn't. She ruled out shingles, saying it was too spread on my body. (I had only showed her one arm - I have it on both arms, my right leg and foot, and my left ankle. No, I did NOT roll around in poison ivy!) She diagnosed that I am having a systemic reaction. I've never heard of that. I looked it up, and while I don't have all the symptoms, I definitely had some. I just never heard of this before. She said reactions like this can go on much longer (she threw out "three months") and promptly recommended treatment with steriods - either a shot in the office followed by oral steroids, or just the pills. I took the pills.
From what I've read, some folks get a sort of "rebound" rash after the steroids. I hope I won't since I'm so far into this. But if I do, I won't hesitate to head back over there.
And I'm getting some of those long, arm-length gardening gloves next time I'm out in the flower beds.
Anyway, I never heard of such a thing so I thought I'd share.