I have 2 functional eyes again!
On Saturday morning I got up and cleaned up the backyard. This included cleaning vines/ivy off the air conditioner so it would look less ghetto and potentially ACTUALLY cool our house. I haven't had a serious and/or bizarre medical issue in awhile so I guess I was due and... I got poison ivy.
Sunday/monday I thought I just had bites but on tuesday the 4th I woke up with my left eye swollen shut and parts of my left arm, left side, and left ear marked with pink/red splotches. I took benadryl, bought some otc cream/salve/wash, washed all my clothes and bedding, and tried to DIY my poison ivy reaction. Nothing really got better, my eye continued to be a slit, and I'm stubborn and poor so I went to work. Nothing like taking the bus (because your car is in the shop) when you look like a freak. To the credit of my fellow commuters and coworkers, the only reactions I detected were concern... followed by poison ivy anecdotes and sympathy.
Instead of getting better during the course of the day, I developed several big patches on my torso. When it started going south (!!!) I got worried and left for the doctor. While I was at the doctor I noticed it starting to spread to my other eye and I got scared. After some arguing with the doc (I wanted to be all "CUT ME MICK!" but she wouldn't get the ref cuz she's a little mid-30s indian woman) I got a corticosteroid shot in addition to the pills, some zyrtec for itching, and an antibiotic in case there's any infection.
The steroids (?) worked overnight and I look like a mostly regular person now! My 2 days of being a mutant were not pleasant. I'm reminded again to only hate on people who are ugly due to their attitude or poor fashion sense.
This saturday there is UFC 61 (main events: Tito-KenShamrock2, Arlovski-Sylvia3), and a potential trip to NYC. I will let people know what I'm doing based on how I'm feeling. I'm very itchy but right now I'm optimistic I will be able to travel.
Sunday/monday I thought I just had bites but on tuesday the 4th I woke up with my left eye swollen shut and parts of my left arm, left side, and left ear marked with pink/red splotches. I took benadryl, bought some otc cream/salve/wash, washed all my clothes and bedding, and tried to DIY my poison ivy reaction. Nothing really got better, my eye continued to be a slit, and I'm stubborn and poor so I went to work. Nothing like taking the bus (because your car is in the shop) when you look like a freak. To the credit of my fellow commuters and coworkers, the only reactions I detected were concern... followed by poison ivy anecdotes and sympathy.
Instead of getting better during the course of the day, I developed several big patches on my torso. When it started going south (!!!) I got worried and left for the doctor. While I was at the doctor I noticed it starting to spread to my other eye and I got scared. After some arguing with the doc (I wanted to be all "CUT ME MICK!" but she wouldn't get the ref cuz she's a little mid-30s indian woman) I got a corticosteroid shot in addition to the pills, some zyrtec for itching, and an antibiotic in case there's any infection.
The steroids (?) worked overnight and I look like a mostly regular person now! My 2 days of being a mutant were not pleasant. I'm reminded again to only hate on people who are ugly due to their attitude or poor fashion sense.
This saturday there is UFC 61 (main events: Tito-KenShamrock2, Arlovski-Sylvia3), and a potential trip to NYC. I will let people know what I'm doing based on how I'm feeling. I'm very itchy but right now I'm optimistic I will be able to travel.