You learned it exactly the same way I did, didn't you? I had it so bad I had to go to the doctor, who, as it turned out, was just getting over the exact same problem.
The really bad news: wife advised me that this is proof positive that men should never be left alone. They get into too much trouble.
Payback: She got it a couple of week latrer while chasing the mutt through the wood lot.
Zanfel worked for her. Expensive, but it worked.

dude i just had a bout with poison oak. went to the doc he said it was severe and gave me a shot and some cortizone to take. it did not help. finally i tryed this stuff called cortaid ivy scrub it was gone in 48 hours and stoped itching in about 6. yesterday i touched some poison ivy and broke out i got home used the cortaid and today its all cleared up. the stuff us great. its a way cheaper version of zanfel

Just remember "3" ---Ivy and Oak both have 3 letters. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak both have 3 leaves. If you see a vine that has 3 leaves, STAY AWAY!!! That's how I remember to avoid this nasty stuff.

"Sasquatch Itch Cream" (really) is the best...if only you can get it. My dad's bait shop carried it last summer. It's always in and out of production I think. My wife and I get poison oak real wicked. Then I have survive the rash and her complaining. Anyway, it has some numbing cream in it and some cortisone to kill the poison. I'm sure if it works for p. oak it will work for poison ivy.

dang well first i would get some glove peferable latex and then i would get a hatchet or knife and cut it down from around ur tree stand and in my woods they r horible and i usally use benadryll cream and some claritan and in order 2 identify it u can go on the internet and search poisen ivy and look at pictures that way u can see a pic of what it looks like