Comments on: Poison Ivy!

By: FrmrArtyOffcr

FrmrArtyOffcr — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:00:20 +0000

BTW I’ve never heard of it getting worse with each case. I’ve had it dozens of times, and have almost developed a tolerance to it. Of course I also jump on it quickly and VERY aggressively so it seldom spreads past my ankles or fingers. I’ve been covered with it, but I don’t have any scars from it. Like I said, it could be the very aggressive manner in which I treat it that knocks it out so quickly.

By: FrmrArtyOffcr

FrmrArtyOffcr — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:57:13 +0000

That reminds me of a Pain in the Arse Puerto Rican cadet we had at ROTC Basic. He refused (or was unable) to speak English and refused to do ANYTHING around the platoon bay. His only response when anyone other than another Puerto Rican would tell him anything was “No Hablo Anglais”. Well when we went out on a tactical bivouac, we all had to camouflage ourselves with the local fauna. We all laughed our arses off when he came back with his rifle and web gear completely camouflaged with poison oak. We didn’t say a thing. Why? Por que Yo hablo solamente poco Espanol. And the Puerto Rican cadets had no idea what the plants were or why we were laughing, so they couldn’t tell him what he had done. Come to think of it, I don’t think he finished basic.

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:24:09 +0000

Thank You,
Lenny’s wreath is in the mail.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:54:24 +0000

All hail Lou ^:)^

I did not see that coming =))=))=)):)>-

By: BonBon

BonBon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:09:24 +0000

10. =))=))=))=d>=d>

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:32 +0000

The best way to get rid of poisen oak or ivy is to carefully cut the plant at the base while wearing protective gloves. The next step is to cut the pieces into 2 foot lengths and form them into circles by securing them with a few strands of fishing line and then tie on approx. 3 to 4 cheap colorfull plastic flowers . Place all of these in a cardboard box. Now the easy part; deliver this box to the town of Berkeleys next anti-military protest and let the spokesperson know that these donated head wreathes should only be worn by those who dare to despise our military. (This comment is for entertainment value only and should not be carried out under any curcumstances}

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:46:50 +0000

Thanks Bon Bon! I will head over there to do some research on the most appropriate chemicals.

By: BonBon

BonBon — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:39:26 +0000

Didn’t know each breakout would be more severe. I scarred last year as well. I will remember that. Thanks for the tip.

As for getting rid of it, aside from paying a professional, I would but chemicals (found in any Home Depot), use with a mask, and gloves, and appropriate clothing and spray the area.

We also found that if you mark where the poison grows you can more safely spray the area in early spring before it matures. That goes a long way as well.

Good luck.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:03:19 +0000

Ouch! Although, had you shared that with me last summer, I would have done it in a heart beat! This time I recognized it, got to the hospital, told them I needed the shot, stronger, longer meds, and anti-itch pills..it seems to be better..

I did find out that each time a person gets it, the breakouts will be more severe. I scarred last year, and was going to ask the doc about it..he is a hunter and showed me his legs before I could open my mouth to ask..all I could think of was that he looked like he had been burned by lit cigs all over his shins!

Does anyone know of a safe way to get rid of the plants? I do know that you can not burn it..The problem is, I know that I have put some into a compost pile! I have it at the base of some trees that are coming down before fall, and this particular patch was in a rocky area!

By: FrmrArtyOffcr

FrmrArtyOffcr — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:38:38 +0000

I’ve had poison Ivy or Oak more times than I can count. I learned a way to make it go away in under 3 days from Dad. It hurts like hell, but works better than anything else I’ve tried. Take a wash cloth, splash it with chlorine bleach (purex works best), and wipe the affected areas. I don’t recommend it if the blisters are really large, but it does work. Painfully, but extremely well. It burns like hell for a few minutes, but it not only stops the spread, it kills the itching as well. I used it in ROTC Basic Camp and Advanced Camp. While other people were unable to perform their duties for days on end, I never lost a day of training. I got cussed at a lot by people who asked how I seemed to get over it without going to the medics. They would try it and come out of the barracks uttering a stream of obscenities at me. My response was always “Well, has it stopped itching, have the blisters gone down, and has it stopped spreading?” When they answered “Yes” to all of the questions, I’d ask them “If it’s working, what’s the problem?” It takes about two to three treatments depending on the severity, but it works.