Re: [pct-l] Re: pct-l-digest V1 #691

[Aaron_Steele@mlsonline.com (Aaron Steele)]

oh no!  i just got over a pretty bad poison oak attack myself - it lasted for 3
weeks!  and i had it everywhere - i do mean EVERYWHERE.  (don't ask)  anyway, i
found this to help:

- GO SEE A DOCTOR!  they will give you a shot (in the butt) that reduces
swelling and really helps with the itching.  don't put this off like i did.
break down and make the appointment.  they will also prescribe cream and pills
which REALLY help.

- avoid ALL caffeiene and sugar.  this seems to make the itching 10 times worse!

- take hot showers.  it will itch bad at first, but the relief comes when you
get out.

- ACCEPT the itching!  don't fight it because it will only frusterate you. 

good luck brother, poison oak is a true test of mind, body and spirit.

aaron.douglas.steele
©1977

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Cc:            pct-l@backcountry.net
From:          Jeffrey Olson <jjolson@u.washington.edu>
Date:          Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:09:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject:       Re: [pct-l] horrendous poison oak
Content-type:  TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

This is an aside.  Delete at will... Back when I was 23 or so, I went for a
winter walk in Tilden Park in the Hills above Berkeley.  WE trod through a
forest of tall, bare branches to get to our desired destination.  It turns
out this was a forest of poison oak.  I had it from head to toe, and in all
the unmentionable places.  

Being young, naive and ignorant I did not go to the doctor.  I was poor and
stayed away from establishment types as much as possible.  Instead, I spent
about five dollars a day for three days on quarts of Mickey's Malt Liquor,
or some such powerful brew.  That was about seven quarts a day.  

I remember it dulled the incredible itching, but would not recommend it to
anyone...

Jeffrey Olson
Seattle...


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