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Original poster

Posting for traffic...pain with chickenpox

49 replies

HHH3 · 08/01/2019 21:19

DS2 is 6. On day 3 of chickenpox. Absolutely covered in spots but has been coping remarkably well with it.

Then a few hours ago he started saying the spots (particularly on his back) are hurting. He was quite clear they hurt not itch. At times he's been almost screaming although mostly crying.

In the end I phoned 111. They passed the call the OOH who phoned back an hour later. After asking lots of questions the dr said she could make an appt for him this evening but they probably wouldn't do anything. Or I could give him the calpol he was due at 8.30 and contact go in the morning. I chose the second option because there's not a chance I'm going to be able to get him dressed and strapped into a car seat.

So he's had the calpol (and that was his 4th dose in 24hrs so he can't have any until the morning now) but he's still in pain. Not crying anymore because I think he's exhausted. But he can't bare anything on his skin, can't bare me touching him and can't even lie down. He's in my bed on his hands and knees.

I don't know what to do. Creams have helped with itching during the day but he's now saying even they hurt his skin. Same for baths. He's had the max calpol for 24hrs. I've tried and tried to get him to take piriton but he won't because of the taste. I'm out of ideasSad

OP posts:
Willbeatjanuaryblues · 08/01/2019 21:23

Op his spots could be infected or something.

I'm amazed they wouldn't even take a visual look at him!

Did you try virasoothe...

Poor little thing! People are very causal about cp and even wish this on their dc.

My dd when young was v ill with it.

Keep eye on his temperature and call back if it rises etc

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 21:27

The dr said they're not infected as none are yellow or pussy. They'd have looked if I'd have taken him down but he screams even having a pair of pants on. There's no way I could get him dressed and in a car!

Have virasoothe and poxclin which have been brilliant for the itching. Now he says they hurt

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mommybear1 · 08/01/2019 21:40

Can he stand a cold flannel possibly? Maybe to ease the pain? If he is still struggling I'd call 111 again with our LO they called an ambulance and we went to a+e (he is a baby and had other symptoms as well).

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EleanorLavish · 08/01/2019 21:41

Try the pititon in a strong glass of juice or fizzy drink. Not too much liquid but enough to mask the taste.
Does he have any other symptoms besides the spots and pain?
And headache, temperature, is he passing water ok?
They can get the spots up their bum and in their mouth, could this be agitating him?
I’d keep a close eye on him overnight.
Poor pet, sounds awful for him.

EleanorLavish · 08/01/2019 21:41

I wonder could he be developing flu or something?

Alwayswaiting · 08/01/2019 21:44

My son was like this earlier in the year, he was 2.5yrs. He was in agony, crying and whimpering. Really high temp, couldn’t stand to be touched. There was a main spot on his abdomen that had a ring of red inflamed skin around it. It turned into a serious situation very quickly, so keep an eye on him, any doubts get him checked out, CP can be ever so serious in some cases.

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 21:49

Tried a flannel. He seemed relieved for a couple of seconds then started screaming that it hurt.

I'll try hiding the piriton now.

He's been complaining of a headache since it started. It's relieved by calpol but keeps coming back. Slight temp at times but not v high and not often. He was actually coping really well with it all until this and not really unwell in himself. He's got a couple of spots in his mouth but eating and drinking ok. Weeing ok too.

He's been sleeping with me the last few nights and will be again tonight so I can keep an eye on him.

No signs of flu or anything as far as I can tell.

If it wasn't for this pain I wouldn't even be overly worried. Have done chickenpox with DS1 and until this point it was all pretty much as expected.

OP posts:
Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 21:51

@Alwayswaiting your poor DS😔

The main spot on his chest is more like an ulcer now and red around it. But it doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. He just keeps saying his back hurts although he won't let me touch him anywhere.

OP posts:
Alwayswaiting · 08/01/2019 22:02

@HHH3 my sons over a short space of time, began to look like an ulcer. It was a deep pit and began to ooze some pus, then he had redness spread from the spot to his armpit and down to his groin - this all happened over the space of a few hours so very quickly.

He also wouldn’t let me touch him, he was in so much pain. It’s worth keeping and eye on, and get him checked if your worried. Chicken pox is horrible for them, poor love.

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 22:06

Thank-you. I'll keep a close eye on him overnight. Don't think there's going to be much sleeping going on anyway.

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 08/01/2019 22:08

Can you get hold of some Piriton?

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 22:10

I've got some butcant get him to take it.

OP posts:
Believeitornot · 08/01/2019 22:11

Take a photo of the red one with something to scale so you can keep an eye.

My ds had an infected spot - I got an emergency same day GP appointment by saying to the receptionist I thought it was infected.

Sometimes you need to tell them more specific concerns otherwise they don’t take you seriously sadly! I always write down the issues before a phone call so I would do the same if I were you. Say there’s a spot which looks infected, that he’s in incredible pain and it isn’t itchy as he’s had that already.

Hope he feels better soon.

RandomMess · 08/01/2019 22:12

I'd be concerned that it's something else, personally I'd want home seen. The spots don't usually hurt and a base headache Confused

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 22:13

I've got a couple of photos of it and am keeping an eye. Will be ringing the dr in the morning.

OP posts:
ChristmasSnow · 08/01/2019 22:16

I would always want him seen tonight

Myshinynewname · 08/01/2019 22:18

Have you tried him in a lukewarm bath with bicarbonate of soda? It cooled my ds’s skin down really well when it felt like it was burning with CP.
I agree that you need to keep a close eye on him though and ring OOH again if he gets worse.

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 22:23

@ChristmasSnow they would've seen him but I couldn't get him there.

@Myshinynewname he's been having oat baths which has helped. He won't go near water now.

OP posts:
Believeitornot · 08/01/2019 22:35

Can you try and take him - I missed that they would have seen him.... if it gets worse you’ll have to take him anyway.

Yes he’ll scream but it could be worse. Some of the screaming may be the tiredness not just pain.

MadeForThis · 08/01/2019 22:36

By the sound of things you know this anyway but just wanted to chip in with a reminder that ibuprofen isn't allowed with chicken pox.

Hope he has an ok night x you too x

Myshinynewname · 08/01/2019 22:37

Poor thing he sound so sore. It does sound like he needs to be seen Sad
Can you persuade him into a dressing gown or onesie and just take a blanket for the car?

Original poster
HHH3 · 08/01/2019 22:43

They offered to make an appt for him so if I want one now I'd have to ring again. I really don't think I could even get him into a onesie, let alone strap him into a car seat. He'll fight me (he has some SNs) and I'm not physically strong enough.

@MadeForThis thanks. I know and it's so frustrating as it's effectively cut the amount of pain relief I could give him in half. But I won't be giving him any.

OP posts:
TAmum123 · 08/01/2019 22:44

My ds had chicken pox when he was 2. The first spot was always the biggest and, after a couple of days, he got iller and that spot got bigger and redder - no pus/yellow. Got an emergency appointment with gp and there was a secondary infection in the spot, which was taken very seriously. Gp debated admitting him for antibiotics intravenously but in the end prescribed strong antibiotics to be taken orally. He made it clear that if we couldn’t get him to take them, we must go to a&e. We had 48 horrible hours - ds just felt so ill and every 4 hours we had to force antibiotics down. I would definitely get him seen in the morning - poor baby!

EleanorLavish · 08/01/2019 22:51

I hope you both get some sleep OP.
One of mine was really unwell with CP but 5th night it turned and dear love him be practically passed out he was so tired. Hopefully you’re coming to the end of it now.
Just keep a close eye on him overnight, make sure he is rouseable, no very high temp, keep taking sips of water, and if he deteriorated deffo ring OOH or even 999.
Also, re: Calpol. You can have 4 doses in a 24hr period. So after 12 tonight it’s a new day, what doses has he had today?

Original poster
HHH3 · 09/01/2019 03:31

He fell asleep just before 12 and woke just before 2 with the pain again. Gave him calpol and it hasn't helped. Rang 111 again and now waiting for a dr to ring back.

Does anyone know if I can ask for a home visit? He won't even let me touch him let alone get him dressed and in the car.

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