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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've caught chicken pox off DS and I am NOT HAPPY

57 replies

farewellfigure · 02/03/2015 10:38

Who knew a childhood illness was so appalling? My eyeballs hurt. There must be 100 spots under my hair. Behind and IN my ears are a mass of spots. My chin must have a crop of about 15 which will just look smashing when they scab. My forehead is plastered in them. And now today they have started to creep further and further down my torso.

AIBU to want to go and hibernate for the next week?

OP posts:
Seeline · 02/03/2015 10:43

Oh poor you. I had it when I was 15 (over 30 years ago) and still remember how ill I felt Sad I don't think I have felt so poorly since.
Spots do get everywhere I'm afraid Blush
Cool baths with bicarb in help.
And lots of paracetamol.
Hope you feel better soon.

3littlefrogs · 02/03/2015 10:55

You will need to be in isolation for at least a week. Have you got help with shopping etc?

Chicken pox is quite a serious illness in adults. Do have anyone to look after you?

ragged · 02/03/2015 11:01

My adult CP was very mild, almost a nothing event. but yeah, probably best to plan for severity & make sure someone is checking on you.

ReallyTired · 02/03/2015 11:05

I am sorry that you are ill and hope you feel better soon. If you are feeling really bad it might be worth phoning your GP for advice. Chicken pox in adults can be extremly nasty.

EveDallas · 02/03/2015 11:09

I got CP in my 20's, and 2 weeks later HF&M which gave me almost the same symptoms - work was not impressed.

Calamine Cream rather than lotion, and run a bath through an oat bag for instant relief. I found keeping my hair wet helped with scalp itchiness too.

I feel for you OP.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 02/03/2015 11:12

OP you need to hibernate. Please dont go outside!

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 02/03/2015 11:13

An anti histamene will help soothe some of the itchiness.

Original poster
farewellfigure · 02/03/2015 11:35

Thanks for the sympathy. I've been dosing up with paracetamol and putting aqueous calamine on the ones I can reach. I'd have to shave my hair to do the ones up there (that wouldn't look nice) so will try the wet hair for relief thing. I'll have an oat bath later too.

I've just had a look in the mirror (obsessed). They're as far down as hip line now. It's just never ending.

I have friends doing the school run for me. Tesco delivery has taken care of shopping. I have no need to go out thank goodness.

OP posts:
elderflowergin · 02/03/2015 12:42

You have my sympathy, I had cp as an adult and it was hideous....get some anti-histamines for the itching, some good books and mumsnet and hibernate in bed for a week Flowers

Nibledbyducks · 02/03/2015 12:55

I had it as ab adult, was really ill and can't remember a lot of it. I had them in my lungs and was lucky to avoid pneumonia, if you have any pain breathing ring a doctor.

HereComesYourMam · 02/03/2015 14:07

Sympathies from me too - I also caught it off my DS. I got spots in places I never even knew you could get spots... in my mouth, in my ears... just everywhere. Also recommend bicarb baths to dry your spots out. Hope you feel better soon!

ProudAS · 02/03/2015 14:07

DS and BIL both had it as adults and were very ill with BIL suffering complications. We can debate till the cows come home about exposing DCs deliberately but MIL wishes she had.

Hissy · 02/03/2015 14:09

oh you poor thing :(

i had CP at 30 - miserable! but at least it was just me ill in the house (pre-kids)

get well soon!

CarbeDiem · 02/03/2015 14:13

I feel sorry for you. I got them as a teenager and was ill.
Get some Piriton to take the itch out, it helps dry them up too.
It was a big help my 3 dc caught CP at the same time.

moonbells · 02/03/2015 14:17

Oh no, my sympathies.

I had it at 16. Was horribly ill. Still have lovely scars on my face and torso and it was rather a long time ago. It's all very well thinking that as an adult you won't scratch, but you can't stop yourself scratching in your sleep. Shock

I got DS immunised when he was old enough. Never wanted to put him through that particular disease, and yes, I've had measles and mumps and rubella as there were no jabs for them when I was little. CP was easily the most unpleasant (and I know I was lucky to have uncomplicated measles).

imissvicderbyshire · 02/03/2015 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LimburgseVlaai · 02/03/2015 14:27

DD caught it two days before we were due to fly out on holiday... We had to cancel! Not because she was ill, but because I would not want to have it on my conscience to give it to someone else who would then either have a shit holiday or not be able to fly home.

Poxy bloody chickenpox.

fizzycolagurlie · 02/03/2015 14:29

Can you get a doctor to visit or at least prescribe you an anti-viral? My son got chicken pox last summer but the anti-viral stopped things in their tracks and it didn't get worse or develop - just started to retreat / die off.

Chippednailvarnish · 02/03/2015 14:29

I've had it twice, once when I was eight and once when I was thirteen. Its a miserable illness.

QuietNinjaTardis · 02/03/2015 14:31

Yeh I caught it when I was 19 and got spots everywhere. In my mouth, hair, my privates. Not fucking funny. I second the bicarbonate baths to help dry them out. Maybe a couple of drops of lavender oil as well if you have some.
Mucho sympathy.

Original poster
farewellfigure · 02/03/2015 14:32

I think I'll ring the surgery. I am beginning to feel really truly appalling. And my face is such a mess I could cry. I'm not a looker so don't have much to lose but honestly I look like a horror movie. I hope DS isn't too scared when he comes home. He hardly had any on his face at all thank goodness.

OP posts:
toomuchtooold · 02/03/2015 14:35

Oh watch yourself, these illnesses can be really unpleasant in adulthood. DCs got hand, foot and mouth in the summer, 3 days and the spots were away and they were back to normal, I had weird nerve pain and burning in my mouth for like 4 months.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 02/03/2015 14:39

I'm glad you are ringing, if the gp feels you are a good candidate for anti-virals then they could really help.

Showy · 02/03/2015 14:46

Oh I am pleased you're going to ring the surgery. It sounds like you do have it pretty badly and you need to be pretty careful about secondary infections and severe cases which might necessitate anti virals.

I do hope you feel better soon. DH caught it from DD and oat baths and antihistamines were the biggest help.

OrinocoTheWomble · 02/03/2015 14:52

I had chicken pox in my mid 20's. I have never been so ill - lasted 3 weeks. I couldn't move or bare sunlight on my skin, couldn't eat. I had antibiotics from the doctor - helps with infection and removes urge to itch.
Also, get some Aveeno Oatmeal Bath sachets (it works out about £1 a bath - but it really is nice and soothing for the skin).