Dd1 in awful discomfort from chicken pox. What can I do?

[Bumperlicious]

Dd1(3) is on day 3 of chicken pox. She has got spots really badly around her bottom and genitals. She is so un comfortable and has been up most of the night.

Doctor gave us some anti histamines two days ago. Am waiting for him to call to see if there is anything else he can proscribe.

How can I manage this? Am also at home with a 5 month baby. Help!

Put her in a coolish bath and shove some oats in if you have any.

The very very best thing is bicarbonate of soda in a warm bath. Can't remember how much but I am sure someone here will know. ALl of my kids lived in the bath for a week!

When my ds had it he had it everywhere - he was 13 months and his nappy area was raw. Very good district nurse working with dh popped in to see him and said to make a thick paste out of bicarb adn water and smear it on (she was one of these late-fifties "proper" nurses with a real "hoicky" bosom!) and it worked a treat!

Calamine cream rather than lotion. Gloves, especially at night. No clothes on helped my dd1 - they just irritated her. Regular antihisthamines and if there is still a temperature calpol as sweating makes it worse.

And hope she feels better soon!

Do you have other dc? Just the second to get it in the house usually gets it worse (more exposure to the virus!)

What about sitting on an inflateable ring, just thinking of my child birth stitches! The cream is much better than the lotion. Also ask the doctor about ibruprofen, much better for temperature and might take the pain away.

She is in the bath ATM with oats and bicarb. She split her lip yesterday too by falling over so is in a pretty sorry state. Dd2 is bfed so dr thinks she is unlikely to get it.

Given calpol and anti histamine. She is knackered too but can't sleep. I have a ring cushion which I will try and find. She has got herself into such as state.

Fill a sock or part of an old pair of tights with porridge oats -- use plenty, but don't pack them in too tightly. Knot the top so they can't escape. Run a luke warm bath while holding the oat-filled sock under the running water. Leave the sock floating in the water while the child baths. Obv don't add bubble bath, or you'll ruin the effect.

It sounds crazy, but it turns the water all slippery and emollient -- same principle as Aveeno cream.

Ah, crossed posts. See you've done the oats.

Hopefully after a big dose of anti-histamine she will at some point fall asleep. Can you put her on the sofa in front of the telly after her bath? If tired enough that usually sends them sufficiently spacey to fall asleep.

Hope she feels better soon.

Got calamine cream to. Will put some more on after a bath.

I second all of the above. I also tried the virasoothe gel, but DS hated having it put on him.
Also, even if you don't let her watch much TV usually, it may help distract her from the discomfort.
I'm sure I recall reading about how computer games work with older children in reducing their pain score in hospital. I've certainly noticed the sedative effect on my two when they're ill.

The dr has proscribed a different anti histamine. The dr's is just down the end of our road and the pharmacy up the road. Can I take DD out to get the prescription?

I would not advise this as there are sometimes elderly and pregnant women in chemists and it is very serious for them. Get someone else to collect it.

I didn't think so. I'm trying to find someone else who can do it, but not having much luck.

I would recomend calamine lotion or cream - apply often onto the spots. Also, my son was given Sudafed - available from chemist - it reduces temperature, reduces itching and makes them a little drousy so they can get some sleep!

Phone your chemist and see if anyone will drop if off for you? Long shot but you never know.

Hope she feels better soon.

DS2 has chicken pox aswell, so I feel your pain!! I nipped out to the chemist to get some piriton, he was wrapped up in his pushchair and it was fine , so if it is the only way you can get your prescription, then go.

missmapp - and to hell with everyone else then!

Phoned the pharmacy. They are going to pick up the prescription but couldn't deliver till tomorrow so dh can pick it up after work.

He's not back till 6 though and working till 7.30 tomorrow, working Saturday too :(

what was fine missmapp? the fact you got your prescription or the fact that your child might have infected people who have no immune system worth speaking of and whose unborn kids might die or be disabled??

ome Remedy For Chicken Pox
One of the most effective ways of treating chicken pox would be using brown vinegar. Add ½ cup vinegar to lukewarm bathwater. Apart from lessening the irritation, it would also help heal the lesions.
Add 2 tbsp marigold flowers and 1 tsp hazel leaves in a cup of water and steep them overnight. In the morning, grind it and apply the mixture on the rash. It would help relieve the itching.
Put a bowl of water in a pan and add green peas to it. Place it on flame and set it to boil. Once boiled, strain the water and apply it on the affected area. This would relieve the irritation and itching.
Sandalwood oil also proves helpful in treating chicken pox. Apply the oil on the rashes right from the time chicken pox appears till its last days. It would also prevent scars from blemishing the skin.
Coat the affected area with honey. It would not only relieve you of the irritation, but would also heal the rash.
Grind oatmeal into a fine powder. Add 2 cups of this powder to the bath water. For better results, add one to one and a half cup of baking soda to the same water. It would help in healing the lesions
Consumption of carrot and coriander soup would be beneficial in the treatment of chicken pox. Take about 100 grams of carrots and 60 grams of fresh coriander and finely chop them. Boil this mixture for a while. Strain the concoction, cool it down and drink it once a day.
Immerse a handful of neem leaves in your bath water. It would provide healing effect and cure you of irritation.
Application of Vitamin E oil on the rashes is another effective home remedy for chicken pox. Not only does it help prevent the itching, but also removes the scars quickly.
Make a tea using chamomile, basil, marigold and lemon balm. Add a pinch of cinnamon, honey, and lemon to enhance its healing property. Consuming this tea several times a day would be very beneficial.
Mix 2 tbsp of queen of the meadow, 1 tsp of coltsfoot leaves and 2 tsp of marigold flowers in 2 cups of boiling water. After boiling the water for about 20 minutes, strain it. Cool the decoction and have it once a day.

This worked a treat for my two:

Eurax lotion from the chemist - takes the itch out for 10-12 hours - brilliant stuff.

Calpol - every 6 hours

Piriton - max dose allowed - can't remember off hand but will say on the bottle.

Sudacrem on all spots on bottom / genitals - helps prevent pain when weeing too etc

soda bicarb in the bath (buy big pots from the chemist) and / or oatmeal (porridge oats in a sock).

oh and oddly they both found me blowing on them when they were very itchy helped to take the itch away - i guess you could also put an ice cube / ice pack on them if they're really bad to take the pain out.

Another vote for Bicarb baths - lots of them. Poor mite. DD1 was a similar age and was wretched with the itching. Piriton made no difference to her (but knocked me out when I used it for hayfever . I am somewhat heavier!)

I would second the bicarb worked a treat for us.

You can buy phenagran form the chemist which is a good antihistamine / sedative and will enable her to get some rest

Ooh I remember posting about about Medised at the time and getting royally slapped about in a thread-wise sort of way

Phenerghan is much better than Piriton.
Second Eurax and oatmeal baths.

Cotton pads soaked in bicarb/cool boiled water for genital area.

Feel for you!

DD had chicken pox last month and the only thing that gave her enough peace so that she could sleep was coating her in Metanium. Calamine was worse than useless.

Poor little thing, it's horrible watching them get upset and uncomfortable.