Have you had chicken pox more than once?

[MrsNonsense]

How many times did you get it?
Is it just twice and that's it, or do some get it even more than that?

I had it twice. It depends on your immune system. If its really run down you could get it again as the virus lies dormant.

Three times

I had it twice as a child. It can also happen if you don't get many of the spots the first time. I had six spots the first time, but came down with it at the same time as my siblings, so it definitely was chicken pox.

My DD has had it 3 times

I was once told (possibly on here) there are 5 slightly different strains of chicken pox (in much the same way as there are different types of flu). In most cases, getting one type will give you immunity to all 5 as they are so similar. In occasional cases people are so sensitive to each strain that they are susceptible to each and could get it up to 5 times.

I could be completely wrong of course. My neighbour, as a child, had it the 3 times it went around our primary school.

I’ve had it twice. Pretty mild the first time and moderately severe but not terrible the second time. My son is vaccinated and still got a mild case.

@ARandomPoster that makes sense to me as the first time I got it I was living on a different continent to the second time I got it. Both times were confirmed by a doctor to be CP but I’ve always thought they must be different strains.

I've had it three times at 15, 18, 29. Each time I was doubted and each time it was confirmed by a doctor.

The last time was 14 years ago and the worst of all, I was covered. My DS caught them, 7 days later DD caught them and 7 days after that I caught them. I was stuck in the house for nearly a month!

Had it three times and now keep well away from anyone with it. Don’t want it again

I have never had chicken pox, lucky me- dd had it once, ds1 had it once but ds2 (6) had them twice so far and both times its landed him in hospital. They're doing the rounds again at ds1's primary school and I'm scared ds1 brings the virus home and ds2 catches them again :(

Twice here too.

I have had it once; a friend has had it twice, and another five times plus outbreaks of shingles. ARandomPoster’s comment on strains is interesting; must look it up as curious now.

I've had it once at 29 but dd1 has had it twice and of my neices one has had it twice and the other 3 times! Makes me wonder if it's something genetic in the family

My youngest had it twice. He got it first, really mildly, then one of his brothers had it, then his other brother got it and he got it back but far worse.

And whenever it went round school he would always get a few suspicious looking spots that would appear very pox like. Not sure if it counts but it happened quite a few times. He's now home educated and when one of his friends got it he then also came out in a few spots again as well. 🤷‍♀️

Thrice, all confirmed by GP.

Aged 4, 22, 26

Hmm... Interesting. I've had it twice, and wondered if I would have to worry when my dc starts school. I don't want it again! Looks like you can get it three + times then!

So what would that mean for pregnant women who's children get it? That must be a worry for them. Or like
Heaviestdirtyestsoul when they have other children in the family who have reacted badly in the past.

ithinkmycatistryingtokillme that's what I think! Quite a few of my family have had it more than once. From what I remember, most of my siblings have had it more than once.

I wonder if it is same types of people who catch measles or chicken pox after being vaccinated too now actually? I didn't think of that before, but that would be worrying! From what I understand it's extremely rare to catch something after a vaccine, but then so is getting chicken pox twice apparently.. But then not sure how rare the chicken pox one actually is since there seems to be quite a few who have.

I've only ever had it once, my DC have both had it twice. Both worse the second time. DH reckons he's never had it, but he must have had at least a mild case!

I know someone who has had it three times, the third time they were a teenager and they were very very ill in hospital.

I had it twice but once in the Middle East as a child and once here in the UK as an adult. I think there are different strains and hopefully once you've had one you're immune to that strain at least for life?

I've never had it, not even once. DD has had it three times, other DC have had it once, youngest DC hasn't had it at all.

Three times, all diadnosed by a dr. Never shingles. Last time I was 21.

I've had it 3 times. I was tiny when I first got it and now have a condition that gives me a weak immune system. The second 2 times though was only around a dozen spots and nothing more.

My son had it twice. It was very mild the first time and he was under a year the second time he was 3 and it was much worse

My DD had it twice, mildly both times between ages 2 and 3.

I had it very mildly as a newborn - literally a few spots on my tummy. My sister brought it home from school, so we both had it.
Then I got it again in the usual itchy, scratchy dose when I was 6 when pretty much the rest of my school got it too.

I’ve since had shingles twice as an adult too, which was a million times worse than I remember chickenpox being

Apparently had a mild case as a child, so didn't think I could get it again.

Nope. 21, first day of annual leave and broke out all over my body. Had to go on antibiotics as some got infected. Still have a couple of pox scars as a reminder.