What is on your mind

[Mister Bent]

Originally Posted by Corkey

Take a bath in oatmeal bath soap, you can spread it just by touching your spots. Yes they will probably cancel, til you are no longer showing blisters. Oh the cloths you were wearing, yea toss them in a plastic bag and dispose of them, the oils from the ivy will not come out of your cloths and if you try to wash them, anything they come into contact with will also have the oil on them.

If the poison ivy oils are all washed off, then no, it won't spread from skin contact. Whatever oozes from your blisters won't spread the rash, those are serum secretions as with any wound. Your clothes are still "infected" but before tossing anything, I'd research options.

It's the body's reaction to the urushiol oil, which travels in the blood stream that creates the rash. New eruptions are simply new reaction sites, but they come from within. One infection from contact can last up to 3 weeks.

There are many excellent sources of information, but when researching last week (poison oak, thanks!) I came across this site. Be sure to read the "etiquette" section to maintain your sense of humor.

I've been using Ivarest with pretty good success controlling the itch.

[Soft*Silver]

after reading the post from Mr Bent, and going to the web page he linked, I realized why I might have gotten it!

I have been on predisone (steroid) for 4 months. Its one medication they are treating my ankylosis spondylitis (bamboo back) with. I quit taking it two weeks ago! I betcha I have been rolling around where there has been poison ivy and never getting it because of the steroid...and now that I dont have the steriod, places that I weeded before, are now places of doom for me!

so...I still have some predisone...I am going to start taking it again...I need to nip this in the bud as soon as possible because I dont want to delay my surgery!

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by Mister Bent

If the poison ivy oils are all washed off, then no, it won't spread from skin contact. Whatever oozes from your blisters won't spread the rash, those are serum secretions as with any wound. Your clothes are still "infected" but before tossing anything, I'd research options.

It's the body's reaction to the urushiol oil, which travels in the blood stream that creates the rash. New eruptions are simply new reaction sites, but they come from within. One infection from contact can last up to 3 weeks.

There are many excellent sources of information, but when researching last week (poison oak, thanks!) I came across this site. Be sure to read the "etiquette" section to maintain your sense of humor.

I've been using Ivarest with pretty good success controlling the itch.

I think I was under the assumption she had them spreading from her touching the spots, hense still had the oil still on her hands. Other wise yes the blisters themselves aren't spreadable. I've used oatmeal compresses to help with oozing of the welts, it did shorten the life of the welts by a few days and it made it not itch as badly.
Good luck, and try not to itch.

[Ebon]

Wondering if the reason I can't sleep is insomnia or fomo.

[Zimmeh]

That my roommate is lazy and might want to stop cussing out the person who babysit's her little boy...

[Soon]

work and moving day.

[PinkieLee]

What's on my mind...

How refreshed I feel after FINALLY getting a relief from back pain to get a good night's sleep. It's amazing that it only took a muscle relaxer and nice glass of wine.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

work and moving day.

moving?

noooooooooooo.................

may the force be with you.

[chefhmboyrd]

sex
sex
sex
sex

[Soft*Silver]

why do marshmellows give me indigestion?

[Scorp]

Eat peppermints or chew peppermint gum. It helps with nausea.

Originally Posted by softness

why do marshmellows give me indigestion?

[Scorp]

Dinner is on my mind....And I think it's going to be this tonight:

[ravfem]

Originally Posted by softness

just how much and how far is this poison ivy going to spread? .....

Speaking of PO/PI...

anyone heard about people with the ability to "talk" it, and other things (warts, the pain from burns, etc) away? Here in the south, a lot of us are huge believers in these "gifted" people.

When we were kids, my brother was so allergic to PO/PI that he would erupt in blisters all over his legs on a pretty much weekly basis every summer, whether he was around the plants or not. Finally, my mama asked around (cause these magical people don't advertise, nor do they accept monetary payment for their services) and found a woman in the neighboring town who had the ability to talk it away. We all piled in the car (it was fascinating, even for me, a non-believer) and off we went.

She lived in an old mill house, and was a sweet woman. She sat next to my brother and murmured indistinguishable words while rubbing both her hands over his knees & legs, for about 10 minutes.

After that eruption cleared up, he never had it again.

Now, i tend to be a very logical, scientific thinker about pretty much everything, so i personally believe it was just coincidence and his body finally decided it had had enough. But whatever the reason....people puts lots of stock into these "gifted" people.

[*Magic_and_Silk*]

Originally Posted by ravfem

Speaking of PO/PI...

anyone heard about people with the ability to "talk" it, and other things (warts, the pain from burns, etc) away? Here in the south, a lot of us are huge believers in these "gifted" people.

When we were kids, my brother was so allergic to PO/PI that he would erupt in blisters all over his legs on a pretty much weekly basis every summer, whether he was around the plants or not. Finally, my mama asked around (cause these magical people don't advertise, nor do they accept monetary payment for their services) and found a woman in the neighboring town who had the ability to talk it away. We all piled in the car (it was fascinating, even for me, a non-believer) and off we went.

She lived in an old mill house, and was a sweet woman. She sat next to my brother and murmured indistinguishable words while rubbing both her hands over his knees & legs, for about 10 minutes.

After that eruption cleared up, he never had it again.

Now, i tend to be a very logical, scientific thinker about pretty much everything, so i personally believe it was just coincidence and his body finally decided it had had enough. But whatever the reason....people puts lots of stock into these "gifted" people.

I believe it without a doubt. I also have personally experienced the power of "Pow wow" magic.

Wonderful stuff!

[dark_crystal]

i can't believe it has been a year since MJ died...wish we woulda loved him as much when we had him as we did a year ago tomorrow

[Sam]

NYC pride

[Lady_Wu]

I'm feeling tired and of the "I can't do this anymore mood". I have no one to tell it to, so here goes:
How long do I do this? We've supposedly been "together" for over 6 years. I tried to go slow at first, to do it right. I had my own place as an address for 3 of them but never got to live there. You wouldn't let me. You brought me here after 2 days and I never got to enjoy my own place again. Yes, we were in love. But I wanted my own place too. To have MY space. But your mother got mad, abandoned you/us and we were both sick I mean really sick. She took care of your meds, brought you meals, took care of you when you got sick. I stepped in and did all that. Yes, you saved my life by bringing me from where I was and took care of me when I was really sick. And continued to do so. I know and appreciate it beyond words. But I have been saving your life since I recovered. You have been continually ill from nearly the time I recovered. I loved you so I took care of you, take care of you. I bring you nearly all your meals in bed b/c you are too ill to get out of bed. I check your blood sugar around the clock. I 've saved your life from diabetes so many times I cannot count. I did. do these things b/c of love. But, dear one, I am getting so, so tired. I am very ill, too. I need to be taken care of but I come home from the dr so tired my eyes are crossing. And then you have a major health crisis. I have to figure which, maybe allm of your illnesses is going haywire and take measures to correct it. Usuaually you cannot help me in this process. You have gone catatonic, cannot talk, cannot move. So I struggle to make you comfortable, to make sure your O2 is on you, that your blood sugar is at the right level, check to see which meds you have taken. All this while I want desperately for someone to take care of me for a while. Not for long, nothing too much. Just one week of being able to sleep without worry that the alarm will not work, that your sugar will not drop, that whatever is making you so sick that you literally cannot lift a fork to your mouth unaided won't kick in while I sleep. I get so lonely, my love. I used to have you for company. We have no friends in this dead little town. While you sleep your life away, in whatever world your illnesses have locked you into, I am here in a place where I have lived for so long and not made even ONE friend. Do you know how unheard of that is for me? I make friends easily. If I had kept my little apt, I would have at least acquaintaces to say hello. People to talk with. I was going to reorganize the library there. I already knew the name of the best librarian at the town library behind the building, I had a handicapped apt for when I got my wheelchair. Now I cannot even walk down the street by myself b/c I walk with a cane and the street is too dangerous. I know that you did not intend for life to turn out this way. But while you sleep you life away in your illnesses, I want desperately for a shoulder to lean on. for someone who is awake and can make and bring me coffee in bed once in a while. Someone who can do all the things you promised me in the beginning. I feel myself starting to hate this place you've brought me to, this cold. unfriendly . lonely place. I look at you and remember our love at the start, I've never looked my age but now I feel twice that. I feel more like a nurse than a partner. Oh, love, what do I do?

[Rook]

How can a European country think of {and produce} a reality show where the Winner gets an all-expense paid Kidney transplant...
And I'm over here in fuck-it-all u.s.a on a long-ass waiting list, risking enormous Debt, and tons of excuses?

guh

[Miss Scarlett]

I wrote this as part of my response to a friend's editorial column about the need for LGBT friendly members of our local government in order to achieve acceptance for everyone in our metro area. We have a culture of apathy where I live and that is in all communities not just the LGBT. It is extremely frustrating that everyone wants rights and privileges but very few offer to actually pitch in, much less support our efforts.

I'm not giving up - ever...

Here's part of what I wrote:

We CAN make changes individually and as a community. Imagine what our lives would be like had Stonewall never happened – 41 years ago this weekend a small group of people had had enough. Several years prior to Stonewall there were the riots at Compton’s. And what about Harvey Milk, Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, Harry Hay, Larry Kramer, Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon and many others? Their actions helped to further open the closet door for us…but that door has yet to be knocked off its hinges.

We can do this if we just get out there and get to work. Understand that we WILL meet with resistance. Change will NOT happen overnight. But if we continue to do little or nothing that closet door will begin to close inch by inch. If you don’t believe me I have 2 words for you: Prop 8.

[Gemme]

I was talking on the phone tonight and realized that I am content. Quite so, actually. It's refreshing.