Poison Ivy - A True Story

I remember it vividly; as if it were yesterday, it was a Sunday in mid-August  I was in my "garden" at my home with my Mother-in-law trying to prepare my home for our house warming/ Labor Day party. 

Mind you, I was raised by a landscaper but I did not inherit his green thumb at all. 

As we were pulling the trillions of weeds in the rock covered flower beds the thought of touching poison ivy never crossed my mind. Skip to my grandma passes away that day and we are at her funeral the next day and my eye lid is super itchy.

My mother's first thought is "did you touch poison ivy?" my first thought is, "must be bug bites" - I am not very astute.

By Tuesday morning getting ready for the service my eye lid is swollen and red, little make up and I am good to do. Come dinner time that evening my face is covered in red bumps and a rash. POISON IVY!! My mother was right, yet again.

Philip and I hit up the Walmart Pharmacy where the well meaning pharmacist suggests a few ointments and I apply them liberally before bed.

When my alarm went off at 6:30 that morning I instantly knew there was a problem - I couldn't open my right eye. I had a rash all over my face, around my neck and on my left arm. I try calling  my boss but did not get an answer so I throw on a scarf push my hair around my face, put on my glasses and try to get into work on time. My awesome coworkers convince me I need to go see a doctor so I leave and get an RX for Steroids and a note to take the day off. I take some Benadryl and essentially woke up the next morning still covered in a rash. 

Over the next 3- THREE- weeks the rash slowly got worse and appeared in more places. When all was said and done both hands, arms, legs, stomach, neck and face were plagued. Each day the rash itched so badly I seriously contemplated just peeling it off but figured that would just cause more of an issue.

Finally after well over $100, 2 doctor visits, lots of creams, prayer, tears, and makeup less days. When the stinkin' party that started this whole ordeal finally came around my mother bought some wonder gel for me and it cleared it up OVERNIGHT! OVERNIGHT! 

So kids, the moral of the story is - leaves of three, let it be.

Have you ever had poison ivy??