June 1, 2008

If Poison Ivy Doesn’t Kill You, The Stress Will

This afternoon was beautiful. . . or so I heard. I spent my entire afternoon in Urgent Care, convinced that my poison ivy was not only back, but had also turned into a serious skin infection that was going to kill me momentarily. Googling images is a very bad thing to do when you have a rash.

I saw my favorite urgent care doctor and he took one look at the always expanding angry rash on the insides of my elbows, the insides of my biceps, both of my lower legs, across my stomach, and my growing-more-speckled-by-the second-neck and came to the conclusion that I needed lots and lots of drugs.

I’m back on prednisone for the poison ivy with a vengeance that just won’t quit. I was given my first large dose while in the office before I left. I’m also on a serious antibiotic because it turns out the doctor thinks I might be right about a nasty skin infection (although it probably won’t kill me momentarily).

I’m only able to say that last statement about not dying, because he also put me on some lovely drug that works as both an anti-histamine (for serious itching) and as an anti-anxiety drug. I told you people and the doctor that I was about to lose it, and I am fairly certain he believed me. He also told me to buy Tecnu and douse my clothes and self with it. He also recommended I purchase some paste stuff that starts with a Z that you rub onto your poison ivy and then rinse off. He told me it was amazing and he better be right because that 1 ounce tube cost me $39.99. I kid you not.

As of right now, the itching has subsided for the first time in days, but I can’t say the same for the exhaustion. This is one leper lady who needs some rest. Calmer writing to follow, says those little green pills.