Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think at nearly 30 I might have chicken pox?

26 replies

Olivia1971 · 10/02/2017 07:15

Hi

Posting for traffic. I had chicken pox five times as a kid, really bad.

About four years ago, I got Shingles, which was AWFUL - wound up in hospital with it, not good.

My niece has chicken pox, and the spots only came out the other day. I see her daily. I've woke up and I'm covered in little tiny red spots all over my arms and chest and one of my lip. Not itchy though. But I'm getting more.

Questions - can you get chicken pox again as an adult?
If you've had shingles, if its chicken pox, will you get shingles?
I also have kidney problems (Kidney Reflux) - do I need to be overly concerned?
Do I need to look out for anything? Should I see a GP or wait it out?

Thanks

Thanks

OP posts:
Iamastonished · 10/02/2017 07:20

Does your GP do telephone consultations? Can you email a picture of the spots? You are probably very contagious so they wouldn't thank you for coming in to the surgery and spreading it to vulnerable patients.

TheMaddHugger · 10/02/2017 07:20

Please see a Doctor in quick time.

My Hubby had chicken pox in his late 20's.

Adults with chicken pox tend to suffer a lot more. The blisters can infect and scar. Body Aches and painful joints.

It took him 3 months to fully recover. But with Medical support, it is treatable.

You also have Kidney issues.

((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))

TheMaddHugger · 10/02/2017 07:21

You can get chickenpox a second time, often not as severe tho.

Yes you can suffer shingles

ThisIsANormalLife · 10/02/2017 07:25

I know there are treatments for vulnerable adults which can reduce the severity, and you are poss in this category due to your kidney problem? I'd get an urgent phone appt and take it from there. Flowers

ThisIsANormalLife · 10/02/2017 07:25

And five times as a child? I've never heard of that, poor thing!

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 10/02/2017 07:26

Call your gp. Ours has a special room they can do appointmemts in in cases of infection risk.

strawberryblondebint · 10/02/2017 07:28

My husband had chicken pox before Christmas. He was given anti virals. He had had them before as a child. The anti virals need to be taken within 24 hours of the rash appearing (or maybe 48 I can't quite remember) so phone the surgery. He was covered from top to waist but they halted anymore appearing so from waist down no spots. Have to say he was miserable. Aches and pains and sore throat. Get some calamine and some pain killers as well. No nurofen. It can make the spots worse. They weren't itchy at first but that soon changed.

HelenaGWells · 10/02/2017 07:32

Call gp asap. I've never heard of anyone getting it more than twice so you must have some vulnerability to it. Hope you are ok.

Crispbutty · 10/02/2017 08:12

I had it for the first time when I was 27. It was bloody awful too. I felt like death.

Original poster
Olivia1971 · 10/02/2017 08:51

Thank you all.

I have phoned my gp surgery - all appointments were gone within the first 15 mins of the surgery being open. I spent that long on hold.

All my right arm has gone really hot and achy - I have a headache and feel awful - ive just been sick - so whatever this is - its not going to be fun. My spots don't look like any of the photos I have seen on line, theres really not many, its just my arm has gone bright red, and is painful to touch.

Do you think I should go to A and E, or ring 111 first and see what they say.

Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:
Notagain2017 · 10/02/2017 08:54

Why do you think it's chicken pox and not shingles? When I had shingles, the spots looked exactly the same but it was just on one side of my body.

TheMaddHugger · 10/02/2017 08:55

Ring first so they can set up a quarantine room [they should have one anyway so Pregnant Woman/ the elderly/ health compromised people don't sit near you

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 10/02/2017 08:55

Call 111

TheMaddHugger · 10/02/2017 08:56

And make sure to mention your kidney health issue

LittleCandle · 10/02/2017 08:56

A friend of mine had chicken pox as an adult and almost died, so please get an urgent phone appointment with your GP. You don't want to mess about with this, especially as you have underlying medical issues already.

GinIsIn · 10/02/2017 08:59

You can get chicken pox more than once and shingles after but I have never heard of anyone getting it 6 times! Do you have any allergies? Urticaria can present very like CP and would be more likely if it's happened a lot.

Original poster
Olivia1971 · 10/02/2017 09:01

Notagain - I've had shingles before, so I didn't think you could get shingles more than once.

OP posts:
Iamastonished · 10/02/2017 09:05

Did you tell them that you needed an emergency appointment? I find that this often helps.

Thinkingblonde · 10/02/2017 09:06

You can get shingles more than once, my sister has had it three times.
I don't think I have ever had chicken pox so I try to steer clear of my sis when she's got shingles.

lougle · 10/02/2017 09:11

It sounds like shingles. You can get it repeatedly. You need to get antivirals. I would phone your GP surgery back, say that you know they don't have appointments but you are fairly sure you have shingles and need antivirals. Would the GP prescribe them for you to collect the prescription, or would they send the prescription to the chemist for you to collect, or should you simply go to A&E?

Leave the ball in their court.

breakfastnotattiffanys · 10/02/2017 09:12

Shingles can reoccur ..it is just a reactivation of the virus which lies dormant in a nerve. The rash usually follows the path of a nerve on one side of the body only

TheMaddHugger · 10/02/2017 09:15

Shingles can unfortunately occur many times Sad

Notagain2017 · 10/02/2017 09:20

Sounds more likely that you have been getting recurring shingles.

Original poster
Olivia1971 · 11/02/2017 21:13

Thank you all ladies. I went to Accident and Emergency and I have shingles. I was given anti viral meds, painkillers and sent home to rest - it is waaay worse than last time, and I feel like absolute death!!

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated xx

OP posts:
Iamastonished · 11/02/2017 21:15

Oh No. I hope you feel better soon.