+TeamVilla5 Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I could pick PI & PO like daisies & not be affected... my dad & son could just look at it funny & break out horribly! Anybody else out there not susceptible to PI breakouts? Happy Caching! Lori V. TeamVilla5 Quote Link to comment
Jeremy Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I haven't had PI or PO for 20 years, but the last 8 I've been in and around Seattle where neither exist. I did get warned once by Lil Devil in San Jose at one cache location but didn't touch it so can't say whether I am or not now. I'm definitely harmed by nettles though. Yikes. Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I used to have no problem with PI...as a kid I could handle it with no effects. But as of about 6 years ago that is no longer true. Now I break out as bad (or worse) than most people. Quote Link to comment
+gof1 Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 PI & PO can be nasty. Just because it didn't effect you yesterday doesn't mean that tomorrow you will be safe. As Stunod's case shows, some who have been "safe" can suddenly react worse than most people. The safest thing to do is avoid it even if you think you don't react to it. Quote Link to comment
+BadAndy Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I'm in the same boat as Jeremy. No PI rashes in decades, but nettle reaches out and grabs me. Quote Link to comment
+Semper Questio Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I was totally immune until last year then I got hit HARD. Almost had to be hositalized to treat my arms. Now I simply don't go near anything I suspect is PI. Downside is I am the world's WORST at plant identification. Quote Link to comment
+TeamVilla5 Posted April 14, 2006 Author Share Posted April 14, 2006 Just because it didn't effect you yesterday doesn't mean that tomorrow you will be safe. So it goes with all allergies. Additionally, each subsequent outbreak could possibly be worse than the last. So, I kind of figure I'll be intrepid 'til I get the first rash, then get careful... Happy Caching! Lori V. TeamVilla5 Quote Link to comment
+Frettchen_2006 Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Just one word: Shots. Lots and lots of shots *sighs* I've gotten it on my hands, feet, once it covered 60% of my body, then there was the outbreak in the lungs that required a drain tube due to a underbrush burn Poison Ivy and all it's evil relatives should be eradicated as a plant *nods* Quote Link to comment
+Isonzo Karst Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 After being immune for years I am now sensitive, though not terribly so. I'm an excellent plant identifier so I can try to avoid it. It's fairly ubiquitous in the understory in moist woods here, so I've taken to wearing long trousers even in the summer heat. Quote Link to comment
+Henki Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Geez, I really need to learn the lingo. When I read your question I thought, who'd be affected by 3.14159265? It took me a few minutes to equate PI with Poison Ivy; I'm having a dense day today. I've never been affected by poison ivy, but since I've gotten older I seem to be sensitive to things that never bothered me before. Because of that, I still try to avoid the stuff. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I was immune until I was in my late 20's or early 30's. In my 30's I had a few very nasty cases. Now I would't say I'm immune again, but I rarely get more than a few itchy bumps from it and they go away in a day or two. Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 So far I'm immune to it... Quote Link to comment
+Ichabod Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I used to get Poison Oak terribly when I was young (I spent a lot of time tromping through the woods) but hadn't had it in years until just recently, after clearing some brush off my property. I am just as allergic today as I was then... ugh. What is interesting, however, is that no one else that was helping me was affected, including my daughters running around in their bare feet! This leads me to believe that I can literally get PO from the air this time of year. Quote Link to comment
+clearpath Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 From what I've read about PI, some people have better immunity to the resin that causes the outbreak. However, the more you come in contact with the resin, the more likely you are to receive an outbreak. After time, your body loses it's ability to fight the reaction if you continue to push the envelope. Quote Link to comment
+piscatore Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 (edited) I've been imune most of my life and at 57 I am just now getting to the "few itchy bumps" stage. I have five acres, and PO is the second most prevelent plant (after Scotch Broom) so I pull alot of this all summer long. I have to wash my own clothes and take a shower before touching my wife, she gets a bad rash if I mention that I saw some. Check out this site for some useful info and pictures <a href="http://www.knoledge.org/oak/#what Edited April 14, 2006 by piscatore Quote Link to comment
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 So far in my life, I have had no allergic response to poison ivy. I have always lived in areas where it is plentiful, and have even rubbed it all over my skin. While I was in college in the early seventies, while on a class outing for a Biology 202 Botany class, I rubbed several crushed leaves on my skin and ate three leaves, in order to prove that it is only an acquired allergy not shared by everyone; I did this to bug my arrogant professor who had claimed that it is not an allergy but a toxin in the plant which causes PI and which affects everyone (nope, I did not have any kind of bad reaction to rubbing it on my skin or eating it.) He lost on this one; I proved my point. Quote Link to comment
+TeamVilla5 Posted April 14, 2006 Author Share Posted April 14, 2006 I did this to bug my arrogant professor who had claimed that it is not an allergy but a toxin in the plant which causes PI and which affects everyone I can't believe a college Botany professor could be so misinformed! Your experiment is quite impressive! Made me giggle! Happy Caching! Lori V. TeamVilla5 Quote Link to comment
+WN1E Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Got my first dose of PI this year on April 1st. After a week of trying to ride it out, I ended going for some treatment. Had it twice last year, even while being very careful. For the rest of the spring/summer I am going to be on PI alert. Quote Link to comment
+vds Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I'm definitely harmed by nettles though. Yikes. I have so many scars from that stuff. Ouch. Quote Link to comment
+Woodbutcher68 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I've never had it, but my brother and sister have both had it a number of times. I spend more time in the woods than they do combined! Quote Link to comment
+Mudfrog Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I've been an outdoorsie type person for over 4 decades and had never had a breakout. Figured i was immune to it and never ever worried about trampsing around in or handling it. Well, i finally had a breakout of the stuff about a year ago and allthough it wasnt a bad case at all, it proved to me that my immune system had changed some. Still doesnt affect my habits except that now i dont knowingly play in it like i used to! Quote Link to comment
+two left feet Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Been outdoors and camping a lot. Had not been alergic to PI for 56 years and just got hit a few weeks ago. Fortunately just minor and on the forearms. But I will have to be more careful now. Quote Link to comment
+RoyalRed Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 AS a kid I used to get covered in the stuff! Think I used to get infected from the coat of my dog. Now I don't seem to get it at all but I am very carefull to avoid it as much as possible and if I can't I rush home and wash off with Technu as soon as possible. Did get a pretty ugly dose of it two Father's Days ago. Went out early in the morning on my own (my Father's Day present) and ended up falling face-first into it on the first cache I did. Figured that I don't seem to get it anymore and continued caching for the rest of the day. That was long enough that the Technu didn't work and 2-days later my face looked like a leper! Quote Link to comment
+badlands Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 First time for me was last summer. I was digging for a cache in the stuff because I had no idea what it looked like. Now I do . Quote Link to comment
+DocDiTTo Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Poison Ivy doesn't affect me much at all, but I still avoid it when possible, or at least try to shower as soon as possible if I've had heavy contact with it. We don't have poison oak in Pennsylvania, but my recent trip to California taught me that I do need to avoid that one. I had some small itchy spots on my arms and legs for 2 weeks with that stuff. I don't think I ever ran into nettles either, so I don't know much about them. Quote Link to comment
+1stimestar Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Never have been affected by it, never want to either so I avoid it if possible. Quote Link to comment
+Tsegi Mike and Desert Viking Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 It took me awhile to figure out what that was. We dont have it in the desert. It has been so long since Ive been exposed, I imagine I would react far worse than I used to...which was pretty bad. I dont think I even had to touch it to break out. Quote Link to comment
+Wild Thing 73 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I could pick PI & PO like daisies & not be affected... my dad & son could just look at it funny & break out horribly! Anybody else out there not susceptible to PI breakouts? Happy Caching! Lori V. TeamVilla5 As a kid in PA, I had to take shots to help prevent PI (My first time to read this definition) PI can be in the wind & smoke and if you are prone to be getting PI...look out Here in the South we have PO & PS. These two you need to touch in get a rash We were out Caching this morning in the hills and we noticed that PO is starting to be seen just about in all the green shrubs and climbing the trees:o Wear long pants and be very careful...and don't forget the snakes, ticks, ants, and fire ants It's a jungle out there... Quote Link to comment
+Team Cotati Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 The stuff doesn't bother me. Never has...never will. Quote Link to comment
+GPSOkie Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I've never had an issue with it before, but I'm still careful. On the other hand, I'm terribly allergic to bees, wasp, and mesquitos. Quote Link to comment
vagabond Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 I used to have no problem with PI...as a kid I could handle it with no effects. But as of about 6 years ago that is no longer true. Now I break out as bad (or worse) than most people. I was the same way with PO I could wade through it waist hi and never get a rash, until about 12 years ago.Now it seems if I look at it, it grabs me Quote Link to comment
+callalily54 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I use to be able to sit in it and not be bothered. Now, it's horrible, or at least it was horrible until I got turned onto Calagel. This is great stuff....2 part treatment, the Technu removes the oil (soap doesn't really do that and if you don't remove it, you just keep spreading it) and then, the gel that you then spread over the infected area. It is antiseptic, and protects it and keeps it from itching. It makes it tolerable. Try it....have bought it from Walgreen's and Wally World. Quote Link to comment
+greyhounder Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I seem to be immune to poison ivy (not even sure if there is poison oak in WI, and I don't think I would recognize it). At one point while caching I was reaching for a cache, my shirt went up exposing my stomach -- all the while I was sliding along a nice crop of poison ivy growing along a tree. But no effects whatsoever. I've waded through it in short socks and tennis shoes as well. I'm sort of testing my limits, I guess (I know that's not bright). And I'm allergic to most everything else, so this is an oddity for me. Evergreen trees give me hives, nettles about kill me, not to mention pollen, ragweed, and the like. My brother is allergic to poison ivy -- screams like a baby whenever he spots it! Bec Quote Link to comment
+Slainte Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Never been expoosed to PI, But PO and I get along just fine. Rumor has it that about ten percent of us are immune, but that may be just rumor. Glad to have avoided it, regardless. Quote Link to comment
+winged fox Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 It seems that my sensitivity to poison Ivy and Poison Oak varies from year to year. I think there must be several factors at work here so I follow the rule of "Leaves of three. Leave it be" Quote Link to comment
+ganlet Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 oh man im jealous of you people. im sittin here wiht poison oak all over my right arm. its starting to appear on my left arm and else where on my body. from someone that has had it bad a few times you all should be awfully thankful. im one of those that can identify it if i have it infront of me but if im running along a trail well im out of luck. Quote Link to comment
+callalily54 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 oh man im jealous of you people. im sittin here wiht poison oak all over my right arm. its starting to appear on my left arm and else where on my body. from someone that has had it bad a few times you all should be awfully thankful. im one of those that can identify it if i have it infront of me but if im running along a trail well im out of luck. Get Calagel and stop the spreading. If you do the Technu first and then the gel, it will stop itching too. See my earlier post. Quote Link to comment
+SerenityNow Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 The allergy to PI is acquired, as are all allergies, by repeated exposure to the toxin, which in this case is the oil on the plant. This causes one to become sensitized to the allergen in the oil and eventually you will develop an allergy to it. It is simply a fact of "medical" life. It is rare that anyone is allergic to anything on first exposure to it, rather allergies develop as we become sensitive over time to the substance. In general it is unwise be ever become cavalier around poison ivy. Anyone can develop an allergy to it! Quote Link to comment
+Zzyzx Road Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I agree about it coming and going. My father-in-law has only recently become reactive to bee stings. I worked in retail nursery (plants) for 13 years, with minor allergies to pollens and dust. Grasses have always killed me: hay, bermuda, anything with lawn-mowing. Never have had reaction to the poison oak around here though. And it has only been the last 3 years since I have not been working that I seem to be allergic to all those same plants that I used to sell! Quote Link to comment
+TheConaways Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I've never had a reaction to either, so I couldn't even tell you what it looked like without looking it up. I do try touching any plant that I'm not familiar with, though...JIC. Quote Link to comment
+edscott Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I seldom have had any reaction to PI and am in it quite often, but I am also quick to shower as soon as I get back from the woods both for removing as much of it as possible and for routing out the ticks. Quote Link to comment
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