Is This Poison Ivy?

Riding home from a caving trip in 1988 my ankles began to itch-a lot! Our cave access had involved first entering a limestone mine where it appeared someone had been dumping piles of leaves for years and wading knee deep though them to the entrance, then back on the way out. So now I think I have poison ivy and avoid scratching. By 30 minutes into our ride home , the itching had spread up past my knees, and on to my waist by the time we arrived home. When I disrobed I discovered a dry red rash that looked more like the scalded skin syndrome I had seen on my baby sister when she was small and not the weeping blisters of poison ivy. I showered while my girlfriend called the dermatologist and luckily he had a cancellation. What a waste of time that was! All he could say was I don't know what that is, so lets try some steroids! I could have gone to the vet for that. Flash forward 18 months and I am in college at a medical school and my girlfriend works in a clinic. My once red and dry rash is now petechiae, bronze staining and scratching scars from my waist to my ankles (never went higher or to my feet} One of the physicians sees me scratching and asks me what's wrong so I tell him the story. "Drop you drawers and let's have a look!" he says, and upon first glance he says "That's Schamberg's disease, you need to drink a bunch of cranberry juice!" Within two days the itching began to subside and over the years the petechiae and bronzing have been slowly fading away! Thank you, Dr. Okey Sanford, may you rest in peace! Try it! Couldn't hurt, right?