poison oak shield

[scruffy]

Bird,
I know where Ardmore is, we lived in Enid for 15 months when I was doing Govt. contract work, and also down at Altus for 10 months, then up to Leavenworth Kansas for another 12 month stint. I like Oregon (home state) and NorthWestern California for scenic beauty. Hard to beat the mountains and forests for scenic splendor! Of course, its nice to eat too, that's why I currently live in SoCal, where the work is. My field is pretty much of a non-represented item up north. Thats ok, we've got our retirement property in Oregon, and will make use of it in another five or so years.

 

[Bird]

Yep, scruffy, sounds like you've done a bit of traveling, too. I had grandparents in Oklahoma City and an Aunt & Uncle in Enid, so I've been there a few times. And I agree that Oregon is a very pretty state, enjoyed a week in Canon Beach a few years ago, the Tillamook cheese factory, a week just north of Eugene and then across to Idaho through Bend, just wandering around and sightseeing in the RV.

However, I guess I should have known better than to be talking about poison ivy (like Cowboy warned us). I've now got a very small dose on my right arm./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif My brother used my brush hog just before I removed the remains of the old rubber guards and installed the new chains guards, and I didn't think about the fact that he mowed some poison ivy at his place. The Benadryl gel takes pretty good care of it, though.

Bird

 

[scruffy]

Bird, I hope you get over the poisen Ivy pretty quick. Have a brother find a way to get imunity from it, but I sure don't recommend his method...he ate a bunch on a dare when he was 11 and dang near died from it! Never caught it again though, even if he wallowed in it. He ranches over at La Grande, Ore. The other brother is in The Dalles, and we grew up down at Coos Bay on a dairy/beef ranch. Bend is near where our retirement home is. We sold our home on the outskirts of Bend and bought some acreage down towards Klamath Falls. Closer to the good fishing that way!
Our stint on the east coast, Georgia, and Massachusets was enough to convince us to come back to the west coast. Folks are all in their 80's now, and our grand-daughters were growing up (7) without us being around to take care of the pay backs to the kids...you know spoil the grandkids rotten and send them home!

 

[Bird]

scruffy, everything I've read about poison ivy over the years indicated that no one knows yet why some people are immune and others are not, but that those who are immune can suddenly and inexplicably lose their immunity and others can suddenly become immune. I have a 62 year old sister-in-law (originally from Washington state) who has been immune to it all her life until last week. She's pulled and cut a lot of it bare handed the last 3 years, but I think she'll change her habits now.

Bird

 

[RobertN]

I will have to look for these papperwood tree's; I think I've seen what you're talking about.

My uncle lived in Coos Bay for some time, and is now in Amity. Both are in pretty countryside.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[PBMAX]

Some one mentioned imunity coming and going..I can atest to that...I got it bad as a kid and then for a long while it didn't bother me...Then last summer it snunk up on me pretty good...Ivy still bothers me but pioson oak I can ignore most of the time...I have a bit of pioson oak on the hind foot now and haven't put a thing on it besides soap and water...The wife insist I shower before getting near here with any trace of it..What ever happened to share and share alike.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif...FYI, I read some were that even a dead pioson ivy vine can still bite you pretty hard...even years down the road...AS for cures I don't no any? That would be like a cure for the common could..Can you say billionair over night!!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif!But I have found a nice long dipp in the pool with a high amount chlorine sure helps to dry it out...

Lil' Paul

Laziness is the Father of invention.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Von]

For years I could roll it ivy and not get it. Then all of a sudden it started to show up, just alittle spot here and there. If I do get it, its gone in a day or two and the rash never gets bigger than a half dollar. Now with that said I'm sure I'll get it all over myself tomorrow! My brother has to get shots every spring for it, and thats before he even gets it.

Von

 

[Bird]

I was immune to poison ivy until I was 12 years old; played in it, climbed trees with it, etc., but then came the day I was helping dad build a fence and I was tearing the ivy off a tree and got a little piece of bark in my eye, and rubbed it out with my finger./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif That's the only time I've gotten it bad enough to have to go to the doctor.

Bird

 

[RobertN]

Poison Oak is oil based. The half life of the oil must be pretty long. When the plants go dormant, the generate oil to hold them over till spring. So, all those Poison oak/ivy stalks hold that oil, and when you cut it, it smears on you.

Mark might have a better idea about the half life of oil... Not the same as Amsoil, but similar in life characteristics

And, yes, a dip in a pool or spa with bromine or chlorine does seem to dry it out. Sure feels good in the Spa, after the initail "burn" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[Bird]

I believe one of the oldest treatments I know of was to pour a little laundry bleach in your bath water; just don't over do it./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird