I have poison ivy!!!

[MacKinnon]

I just need to complain I'm 20 weeks and have a raging case of poison ivy across my belly. I have not been in the wooded area behind our house where the poison ivy lurks, but DH has been, he's been working back there. I'm pretty sure that he had the oils on his hands when he was trying to feel the baby move one night a week or so ago. There are a couple tiny spots elsewhere, but the big patch is all across my belly. I'm so irritiated... I could just strangle DH!!!! I kept warning him about the poison ivy back there, and washing his hands, etc. but of course, he ignored me, and now admits that he didn't wash up after coming back in. I don't know where else this would have come from. It's just so itchy and aggrevating. I get it every summer, usually, and it flares up like this for a few days then dies down, I know it will get better soon, but the waiting is miserable

[somegirl99]

I'm so sorry.

I got some poison oak a few months ago and it was miserable too.

Hang in there, you'll make it through.

[NullSet]

Ouch! I'd be mad too.

[cloudgazer]

Oooh, I feel for you. I had a terrible case of poison oak a few weeks ago. Many people have told me that women are more sensitive to poison oak/ivy during pregnancy.

It is safe to take benadryl while pregnant, and it takes a day to really take effect, so even if it doesn't seem to do anything right away, keep taking it.

also, I liked the Aveeno itch relief creme like this (it was not in a tube but in a bottle) it has calamine and pain relief and doesn't make your skin all pink.

Nothing else really worked for me...I tried oatmeal baths which were ok, but my reaction was so severe it didn't do much. Some people swear by Zanfel (its expensive, and maybe works best at the first sight of a reaction), but it did nothing for me.

good luck and heal quickly!

[LaLaLaLa]

Aw, I'm so sorry! We have been trying to clear out our yard since we moved here two summers ago. Last summer I had poison ivy fourteen times; I just couldn't seem to stay away from it.

Goldbond makes an anti-itch lotion that worked better for me than any of the other itch stuff, even specific poison ivy things.

Hang in there; I hope you aren't too miserable!

[MacKinnon]

Thanks! I've been using the same Aveeno one you linked to, that seems to help the most. But my midwives recommended the Goldbond and I've sent the offending DH out to get it! I've also been taking Rhus-Tox, the homeopathic remedy, which actually relieves the itching very well! I discovered the hard way that the Ivy Dry alcohol based spray I usually use that dries it right up burns viciously on my poor belly It was bad... I've only been taking Benadryl at night, I was worrying about overdoing it, maybe I should be taking it more regularly to maintain effectiveness? DH does feel very badly.. It's almost funny, or it will be once I'm not itchy!

[somegirl99]

Benadryl won't do anything for the itch, as poison ivy/oak works through a different mechanism than typical allergies, but it will help you sleep at night.