PI

I'm allergic to poison ivy, very very, looks like I have 3rd degree burns, allergic. First and last time I got it I was 6. I had to have a big cortisone shot, very nasty all around. Friday the gardner in me got the better of my normally good sense. My lawn and flower beds have been invaded by PI for 3 years now. Every year I spray it and kill the leaves but every year it comes back. I am always afraid the cats will roll in it and then rub up against me (or my very allergic father). So Friday I donned long sleeves, pants and gloves and pulled all the poison ivy I could find in my yard out by the roots. It had already started to invade the pansy bed and I couldn't take it anymore. We had no spray and my mom would never get around to it. I then striped out of my clothes and put them directly in the washer and popped my self into a shower, carefully soaping up my arms and legs several times. Then I took two benedril, no spots appeared so I figured I was fine. Saturday morning my arms started to itch, I thought it was just bug bites. Saturday evening they started weeping. I have been taking Claritin and using all manner of over the counter topicals since. This morning, despite the histamine blockers hives began to appear so I called my doctor. I saw the nurse practitioner and she decided to give me topical steroids instead of oral. She prescribed a gel so strong that she warned me to really wash my hands after applying or it'll shrivel my fingertips, should begin to work in 24 hours, yay, I'm saved. Unfortunately none of the pharmacies in my town have it in stock, I cannnot even begin treatment for another 18 hours. I'm working a 12 hour shift tomorrow and I want to rip my skin off it hurts and itches so badly. Grrr! Edit: Phone just rang, my nurse practioner is changing the prescription to something they have in stock so I have only an hour or two until the suffering can start to cease hazzah. If I ever ever think about puuling out my poison ivy on my own again I'd appreciate it if everyone smacked me.