No, I am not talking about second hand smoke from smokers, but the smoke that has covered the Tidewater area for the past month or so.
Forget about those who have lung issues and are sensitive to smoke, but let's talk about another group of people this may be affecting; those with allergies.
Right now I have a real nasty rash and when I went to the doctor, she asked if I had been around poison ivy. Since in my conversation, I could not think of where I could have contracted poison ivy, she grasped at other straws on naming my itchy; burning rash which seemd to be consuming my midriff.
She called in another doctor and they decided just maybe it was impetigo, since I went swimming in a public pool at King's Dominion before getting this nasty rash. Therefore I was put on an antibiotic. I was told if it didn't get better by the end of the weekend to come back for re-evaluation.
Here is news...it's not better! I have little dots popping up on legs, back and arms still. After trying to research my rash on the Internet, I find it resembles most like poison ivy.
Also in my research... I have discovered that it is possible for me to have poison ivy without touching it. Just breathe in the smoke from the Great Dismall Swamp fires and you might just obtain a nice rash for yourself. Only try having poison ivy from the inside versus a contact rash.
Well, I am going back to the doctor tomorrow with my "research project" to explain that I may have poison ivy after all. Meanwhile I am going to take some Benedryll and use Calamine lotion in hopes that I can make myself more comfortable until I see my doctor to verify my findings.
So my words to the people of this area; when there is smoke in the air from the fires...lung problems may not be the only problem resulting from the exposure. Be aware that poison ivy burning is not a good thing to be inhaled and it is very possible to get it from the smoke you breathe.
Hopefully my experience with allow others to be aware of the hazards of breathing smoke.
