Grrr. This is yet another cross post of this because somehow I put it in the wrong board. I think I scrolled when the category window was highlighted. I'm an so sorry. I will get the hang of this, I swear.

OK, I know I had this link in the end of a post I had in stupid questions, but it should have been in a message all it's own. It really wasn't related and I think it will get missed. So, I appologize for the cross post. I ran accross this link about imunizing yourself to poison ivy and was wondering if anyone out there has heard of doing this or tried it themselves. It sounds interesting if you were brave enough to do it. EEEK! I may just stick to try not to touch anything green. :)

http://www.wwmag.net/pivy.htm

BuckeyeMom

I have been imunized by a physician. It works OK. I have never heard of this but I do appreciate you bringing it to my attention. I am going to try it this year. (After I research it of course.)

I feel obligated to reply to the cross post too.
Please Don't try this! Contact a botanist or poison control center and find our just how bad an idea this would be before you try it!
S

It is so encouraging that you would care enough about someone that you don't even know to respond to my post. Rest assured I am not going out this spring and start grazing on the first ivy patch I come across. I have a little experience with herbal remedies, and I also have extensive experience at making mistakes just fine on my own. I promise I will check into this and attempt nothing untill I am completely convinced. One more thing I do have. I have a deep admiration for good council. Thanks for not holding your tongue.

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I ran accross this link about imunizing yourself to poison ivy and was wondering if anyone out there has heard of doing this or tried it themselves. It sounds interesting if you were brave enough to do it. EEEK! I may just stick to try not to touch anything green. :)

http://www.wwmag.net/pivy.htm

Ok I started reading this link and about the second or third paragraph I thought,"WHOA NELLIE!" I definately would not try this before asking your doctor! This could have severe reprocussions! How do I know? Well I am not a human MD, but I am a DVM (veterinarian) and this site throws up red flags immediately!!! First the in the 1st paragraph I think they have it reversed. Usually people developed allergies as they get OLDER. Not get over allergies as they become more exposed! I could be wrong about Poison Ivy, however I would take extreme caution about the suggestions in this website. Like I tell my clients when they ask "I read on the internet that...". I reply,"that will be a $7.00 internet charge then". Clients who know me, know better than to believe 'far-out" ideas on the internet!

I do know how body systems work, and I highly suggest anyone who is thinking about doing what this site says, should ABSOLUTELY ask their Doctor FIRST!!! (The $7 will be worth the reprocussions!)

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This is yet another cross post of this because somehow I put it in the wrong board.

I think you missed again, because it's still not on the right board. ;o) The Atlas Quest board is meant to be for information related to Atlas Quest, and immunizing yourself against poison ivy has absolutely nothing to do with Atlas Quest.

I'm moving it to the Yakking it Up board since I'm not really sure where else to put it. A letterboxing board might work since it does have to do with going outside and letterboxing, but the first thread is on the letterbox chatter board which is actually a good place for it. It might work on the backpacking board, I suppose, but it seems like it's meant for a larger audience than that.

So we'll try the Yakking It Up board. It might not be perfect, but the Atlas Quest board is definitely not the right place.

-- Ryan

Sorry Ryan. As I replied to someone else, I think my scroll wheel struck again and as it was flashing to post submitted, I saw it going back to the AQ board. I'm sorry. I will try to pay better attention. This site is the first one I have ever done any message board posting on and I'm afraid I still have a lot to learn.

BuckeyeMom

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. It sounds interesting if you were brave enough to do it. EEEK! I may just stick to try not to touch anything green. :)

http://www.wwmag.net/pivy.htm

I would strongly suggest not trying this method, aka eating poison ivy to immune yourself. I notice in the article that there were no researched based sources available. Having a degree in Horticulture and working for UNL Extension for nearly 18 years I have not heard of this. If you ever need to look something up and want researched based information and not all the over the fence advice, type Extension with any topic and you will get the information you are looking for.
Example: Google: Poison Ivy Extension

PLEASE read: This is not saying that all non researched based information is wrong, so please do not slay me, I am just giving you another way to look up information.

By the way I have heard about the jewelweed and plantain methods, they may be worth trying if you have the plants around and come in contact with poison ivy. But you still should consult your doctor.

Stepping down from the podium after realizing I am still on vacation!!!!

I have not read the other replies yet but there is such a thing as
Poison Ivy or "Poison Oak" pills.
They are an old timey concoction still available today.
I actually have some ...somewhere.
They actaully contain the contagion from the plant and they are tiny little white ball shaped thingeys.
almost looks like sugar or rock candy but round.
you take one the first day, then 2 the next and so on and on until you build up tolerance.
There is a small (and i mean small) pharmacy here (proudly the one I still use) and they still carry them

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Usually people developed allergies as they get OLDER. Not get over allergies as they become more exposed! I could be wrong about Poison Ivy,

there are actually many, many occurances of folks "growing out" of their allergies.
I am not talking about respiratory or seasonal head cold type of allergies.
My 1st cousin had an allergy to most grasses...it was horrible for her when she rolled down the banks or hills with us as a kid. But now she doesn't suffer no where near as much. She can play in the grass with her own kids and usually not even itch but maybe slightly. One of her kids has the same allergy though.

my boy had the most sensitive and extreme allergies to poison oak and ivy I had ever seen.
SCARY STUFF. He usually had to have shots or take 2 runs or prednisone etc but the past few years it has got less and less even though he still gets exposed.

I know 2 people who have allergies to tomatoes and that also has improved.

now....my allergies to some freakin plant in late, late fall has gotten worse...actually...I don't even think I had it until after age 28, maybe 30...???

dixie

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immunizing yourself against poison ivy has absolutely nothing to do with Atlas Quest.

I'm moving it to the Yakking it Up board since I'm not really sure where else to put it.

If I ingested poison ivy, I might be "yakking it up," too.

(Cue cat hairball sound effect)

Lisa

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I know 2 people who have allergies to tomatoes

You know people with tomato allergies!! Everyone thinks I'm nuts when I tell them I'm allergic to tomatoes (only while they are raw). It's so nice to know I am not alone. Maybe I'm related to them. My NC roots are centuries old.
Chickadee

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Everyone thinks I'm nuts when I tell them I'm allergic to tomatoes (only while they are raw).

Well, here's another one you can tell them about. Raw tomatoes make my mouth break out in ulcers. I can eat cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce all I want though.

Knit Wit

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there are actually many, many occurances of folks "growing out" of their allergies.

My sisters baby has many food allergies, as well as a few other people's kids I know, and they have been told that they will most likely improve as they get older.

BuckeyeMom

QuoteEveryone thinks I'm nuts when I tell them I'm allergic to tomatoes (only while they are raw).

Well, here's another one you can tell them about. Raw tomatoes make my mouth break out in ulcers. I can eat cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce all I want though.

This is not weird at all. Actually, the tomato plant (leaves, stem) is a poisonous plant, so it is not surprising that many people are allergic to the fruit as well.

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Well, here's another one you can tell them about. Raw tomatoes make my mouth break out in ulcers. I can eat cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce all I want though.

Same here but both raw and cooked. I can get away with it for one or two meals, but then, I break out in those ulcers. Strawberries give me the same effect. My brother in law raises low acidic tomatoes so I can eat my fill.

Eaglewatcher

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Actually, the tomato plant (leaves, stem) is a poisonous plant,

I'd forgotten that. I think it's related to nightshade.

Knit Wit

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Everyone thinks I'm nuts when I tell them I'm allergic to tomatoes (only while they are raw).

The only thing I'm allergic to is sunshine in the spring (really - I have a prescription) and some antibiotic (can't remember the name at the moment - it's not penicillin ;-)) and it just makes me itch, badly, all over.

The weirdest allergy I've ever encountered is a friend who's allergic to poultry. I accused him of making it up, just so he didn't have to eat chicken ("if you don't like it, just say you don't like it!"), but he swears it's true and even had to take shots when he was a kid. His wife confirmed the allergy (or is enabling his "story" - lol!!).

Mama Fox, bored and glad to be yakking it up ;-))

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The weirdest allergy I've ever encountered is a friend who's allergic to poultry.

My brother is allergic to turkey but can eat chicken. He's also allergic to most freshwater fish, but can eat saltwater fish and shellfish. Peanuts, soy, wheat gluten, dairy--all big trouble. We're talking the go-to-the-hospital-you're-going-to-die sort of reaction too.

He had an extremely bad reaction early this year and ended up spending several days in the hospital while the doctors scratched their heads and tried to figure out what was happening. That's when we found out that he's pretty much allergic to the basic ingredients of most foods available to the general public. BTW, he was allergic to all sorts of stuff growing up and we thought he'd grown out of it too...

Anyhoo, your friend probably isn't making it up.

Knit Wit

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Anyhoo, your friend probably isn't making it up.

Knit Wit

Your poor brother! Allergies are nothing to make fun of (I just had fun giving my friend a hard time - he's a big guy, sorta meat and potatoes looking anyway - fun to tease ;-)).

Last year we had a child in our preschool class who had a bad peanut allergy. We decided to have no peanut products at all in our classroom - you should have heard some of the whining from other mothers. I was embarrassed. You'd think there was no other food product on earth! And I strongly supported our church's decision to ban all peanut products from sunday school snacks.

I have a friend who's son has a fatal peanut allergy - like your brother, it's a fast trip to the ER or else. I know how his allergy has affected her everyday life decisions and it's serious - I can't imagine. So, for me to NOT pack peanut butter in my kids lunch is a pretty minor thing..... I think both my kid and I will be able to manage!

Mama Fox

That is wonderful that you made the decision to remove peanuts from the classroom. As the mother of a peanut allergy child I applaud you. Its amazing how people make it sound like they are being so inconvienced about being asked not to use peanuts in school food. Although I have to say, one of my sons friends last year changed his absolute favorite lunch (PB and fluff) to have that at home for breakfast and would bring a bagel for lunch just so he could be safe for my son. Which he isnt even that sensitive anyway thank goodness.

What I want to know is have these allergies always been there and we are only just now figureing them out? There are 4 kids on my street alone that have peanut allergies. When I was growing up I knew no one that had that sort of allergy. And that wasnt THAT long ago...

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So, for me to NOT pack peanut butter in my kids lunch is a pretty minor thing

My son had a child in his preschool class last year who is very peanut allergic. Whenever they had special treats, her mom had to send something for her "just in case". I was gonna provide cookies for a holiday party and figured I could get some sugar cookies. Hah! Peanut flour! Even in the Pillsbury ready-to-bake!

I went home, got out the flour, sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs and made them from scratch... I will never forget the look on that child's face when she found out that it was OK for her have the same cookies that the rest of the class was having. (I even called her mom to make absolutely sure it was OK.) The little sweetie ended up having TWO! :-)

Unfortunately, my picky eater really only wants PB&J for school lunch and won't eat much of anything else other than chicken strips. I haven't figured out how to keep those safe for several hours until he can eat them.

Any suggestions are welcome... ;-)

Knit Wit

I make dinosaur chicken nuggets for my son sometimes for lunch. I cook them that morning and wrap them tightly in tin foil. He eats lunch at about noon and says they are warm. I figure they have so many preservatives in them, they are probably safe. To be honest I never even thought of that...i was more concerned with keeping them hot. They are precooked to begin with, so i figured it was ok. He would buy milk that day so I wouldnt have to pack an ice pack in his lunch box.

or you could stack them in a thermos....it keeps soup hot right...it should work the same way?

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Well, here's another one you can tell them about. Raw tomatoes make my mouth break out in ulcers.

It's the acid...
or at least that is what I think I remember. ;)

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What I want to know is have these allergies always been there and we are only just now figureing them out? There are 4 kids on my street alone that have peanut allergies. When I was growing up I knew no one that had that sort of allergy. And that wasnt THAT long ago..

They had a news article/TV news broadcast on this.
1. better diagnosis
2. heredity, more people surviving because of better diagnosis and medicine and then passing it on to children
3. More allergies in general, instead of the weak dying out and the hardy surviving, aka before drugs, now treated with drugs

Yay!!
There's mama Fox and Knit Wit
*jumping up and down waving like a mad woman*

Well, I'm here for the moment. Just checking in for the last time before going to bed. I spent the last week with the in-laws in Louisiana and we just got back today.

My little one ended up with strep which has developed into a fearsome sounding cough but no fever. Antibiotics since Saturday but I've got to get up early to get him to his real doctor to make sure the guy in Louisiana didn't miss something...

Say good night, Gracie. ;-)

Knit Wit

Good Night Gracie
and uh...
Good Night John Boy...

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I'd forgotten that. I think it's related to nightshade.

Knit Wit

You are correct. Also in that family are potatoes, eggplant, tobacco, paprika, chile peppers, and petunias. With most of these, it is the plant itself that is the most poisonous, rather than the fruit of the plant, though some people are sensitive to the fruit, too.

A sister and brother and I share a weird allergy to Benadryl and a few other antihistamines. We get a horrible reaction known as akathisia that can last for a full twenty-four hours. This reaction in me manifests in a feeling that things are crawling under my skin and that there is this weird buzzing--not a heard buzz, but a felt one--and makes you feel like twitching. My younger sister has it so bad that she has to go to the hospital. My brother had this reaction so badly when they were trying to do a procedure on him in the hospital that they had to give him enough Ativan (a drug in the same family as Valium) to literally knock him out for several hours.

I've also discovered that in addition to having a lactose intolerance--which occurs because my body doesn't produce lactase, the enzyme that helps your body to metabolize the milk sugar lactose--I also have an alcohol intolerance, which is why I've never had that soothing feeling some people get when they have a drink. Basically, my body lacks enough aldehyde dehydrogenase so that it can breakdown the aldehyde found in alcohol.

Fortunately, I've never really liked the taste of alcohol much so it isn't that big a deal. Always wondered what it was like to get a little tipsy, though.

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Everyone thinks I'm nuts when I tell them I'm allergic to tomatoes

Wow! I wish I could say that! People think I'm nuts when I tell them I just hate 'em. Especially raw or in things like spaghetti sauce. I eat my spaghetti with alfredo sauce or italian dressing and lots of parmasan cheese. And people are really in disbelief when I refuse to eat anything with catsup on it.
That's just one of my many eating disorders. I'm also a serial eater (one thing at a time, and usually in a certain order; all of the meat, then all of one vegetable, then all of the other vegetable, then all of the bread...) and the things on my plate can't touch each other. Heaven forbid my green beans accidently get into the gravy from the mashed potatoes! I would have to make a new plate of food.

Sorry, I know...TMI!