Poison Oak

As if the side effects of a long Prednisone taper weren't enough, I had a frightening rash show up on my right wrist on Monday after class.
Like anybody that's been on Prednisone, I automatically checked the list of possible side effects. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that rash and hives were on the list, and decided to ignore it--I have an appointment with my Primary Care next week and figured I could handle it for a week.
By Thursday it had spread up to my elbow, it hurt and itched and I felt like I had the flu, so we called my neph to see if I should be worried about my kidneys. He automatically assumed it was Shingles and sent me to an Urgent Care to get a visual inspection and possible Antiviral meds.
2 panicky hours later (I "love" it when doctors assume the worst and freak out their patients) the Urgent Care doc had decided it was Contact Dermititis, probably poison oak (to which I am very allergic) and claimed that the Prednisone is helping keep it from spreading as quickly as it has in the past.
It's just odd. For once I can say that I feel better on higher dose days (15) and worse on low dose days (5). The joint pain and crazy emotions are a welcome respite from the itchiness. I've read that some people relapse when they get sick and I'm just praying that because my allergic reaction has always responded to prednisone, it will do the same this time without me having to raise the dose and without causing any problems with my kidneys.

Note to self: Don't pet dog unless you're positive she hasn't been rolling around in poison oak.