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Original poster

I have Chicken-pox and i've never felt so ill...

28 replies

ThePathanKhansWitch · 09/01/2012 17:50

i must have caught it from my d.d who has had them over Christmas.

I feel 'confused' and rather doom laden. I'm covered in yellow filled blisters, they are every where, my mouth, ears, scalp,genitals.

My coordination seems to have gone bockedty, i saw my GP on friday and it's definately chicken pox. He says i may take up to 4 weeks to get better. I can't be ill for that long, has anybody had similar experience of chicken-pox?

Any advice welcome.

OP posts:
slightlycrumpled · 09/01/2012 18:01

Hi, poor you. I don't have any personal experience but an old work colleague of mine had them a couple of years ago and he was very unwell.
Iirc he was away for at least four weeks & still looked poorly when he came back.

I hope you are being well looked after at home.

Bunbaker · 09/01/2012 18:08

You poor thing. Unfortunately chicken pox in adults can be nasty. A work colleague of mine had it many years ago and she said she had never felt so poorly. You can understand why some parents have "chicken pox" parties so that their children get it over and done with before adulthood.

If you suddenly start to feel a lot worse don't hesitate to ring the doctor or NHS Direct.

I hope you feel better soon.

Raffiiscool · 09/01/2012 18:14

You poor thing - my DH had it at 34 and had spots everywhere. It was/ is terrible. It was the main reason we got the DC vaccinated - he could remember it so vividly and didn't want them to go through anything like he did!

We found out that keeping the body cool not warm was meant to minimise the spots forming (so vest and shorts) not fleecy bottoms/ jumper for around the house.

I hope you get better soon.

PreHeatedOven · 09/01/2012 18:15

You poor thing. I hope you feel better soon.

Northernlurker · 09/01/2012 18:16

CP is awful for adults. Has your co-ordination got worse since seeing GP? if so I would suggest you get to see them again.

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 09/01/2012 18:26

Yes, I had it at 25. I couldn't get out of bed for 10 days, was very weak and the spot came coming so I had to take antiviral after not being better for so long. It took a month to be better and finally get out of the house. I did faint with the fever, and would probably have been hospitalised if I was living on my own.
But it sounds like you are already better than that, so hopefully not 4 weeks.
DB had it late too but had it very mild for a week.
A college had to go to hospital because of it but in the end recovered quicker than I did.

Rest! it is not a mild disease in adult and should be considered seriously.
Go back to GP if the spots keep coming after a week, become infected or if you have some on your eyeballs. The confusion and coordination might be due to the fever and you should rest (i.e. stay in bed or at least do the bare minimum, you don't want to faint with children at home)

Original poster
ThePathanKhansWitch · 09/01/2012 18:45

Oh thankyou you all for your advice, i feel like such a baby. I didn't rrealise it was so much worse in adults.

OP posts:
OhyouBadBadkitten · 09/01/2012 18:51

I would second the recommendation to go back to the gp if the uncoordination has been getting worse since seeing them.

Northernlurker · 09/01/2012 18:53

OP - you're NOT being a baby. You have a horrible viral illness. Take very great care of yourself.

Original poster
ThePathanKhansWitch · 09/01/2012 18:56

I think i will go back to GP's, it's the sudden bouts of confusions and lack of co-ordination, God forgive me, i thought to myself earlier "so this is what early onset alzhiemers must be like".

Very depressing, just feel like crying.

OP posts:
Raffiiscool · 09/01/2012 19:04

Can you not ask for a home visits - i'm not sure you should be sitting in the waiting room.

Raffiiscool · 09/01/2012 19:05

And I would cry and get someone to go out and buy your favourite chocolates!

Northernlurker · 09/01/2012 19:06

Oh bless you Sad

Ok - have you got plenty of fluids? You need to keep drinking. Ice lollies will help your throat and coolish baths are good. You can put

Bunbaker · 09/01/2012 19:08

Yes definitely ask for a home visit. I doubt that you would be welcome in a doctor's waiting room.

Original poster
ThePathanKhansWitch · 09/01/2012 19:49

No i wouldn't go to the Dr's, i knew it was chicken-pox as soon as i saw the first spot. I phoned my Dr's receptionist because for some reason i thought it was a "notifiable" disease in adults.

My GP phoned me back, and was abit non-plussed, got me to come down and sneaked me in the back door. Dear God, i would have to kill myself if i thought i'd come into contact with a pregnant woman/small baby or someone with an immune disorder.

Northernlurker Sad i love you i do. They are bastards here, i changed all the beds today cos they're all lazybastards it took me hours because i kept trying to make them up with bath sheets. Which sound quite funny nowGrin, but wasn't earlier, i just cried.
I've had a nice porridge bath. Thankyou for all your kind words.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 09/01/2012 20:11

CP is infectious by close contact which is defined as being in the same room as somebody for 15 minutes +. You're fine with being sneaked in.

You change another bed or pick up the hoover till you're properly better and I will be round to yours to give you a talking to before you can say 'over-involved'. I don't care if you do live in Brazil or Slough! Grin

Seriously - just say NO. Look after yourself and let them get by. You're the linchpin, if you don't take care of you the wheels will come right off the waggon!

ScaryFairy28 · 09/01/2012 20:13

Hope your feeling better soon.
I didn't think there was a vaccine for chicken pox?

sleeplessinderbyshire · 09/01/2012 20:14

I'd second what everyone else says about it being way worse in adults. I'm worried about the confusion though. CP is known to cause encephalitis in some people which can be very serious. Please get back in touch with your GP you may need antivirals or even an admission to hospital

homeaway · 09/01/2012 20:22

Go to bed and stay there and get everybody to run around after you. Seriously, it is nasty in adults and even in kids. If you feel worse then call the dr out to you.

Nevercan · 09/01/2012 20:24

I recently found it that there is a vaccination for cp but you have to request and pay for it. I guess it's because although cp is not nice it isnt as serious as measles etc. I think they should give it to everyone as it's not a nice thing to have

EssieW · 09/01/2012 20:30

Try Aloe Vera to soothe blisters/spots. Was recommended to me but only after I had chicken pox. Can reduce scarring caused by the spots.
There is an anti-viral you can take - but it might be too late if you're already got lots of spots. Needs to be taken early on (I think) and can reduce severity.
Stay in bed! I had chicken pox when pregnant with DD - I think I was lucky and had a mild case but felt truly awful for a few days.

Bunbaker · 09/01/2012 23:12

If you are still feeling confused please ring NHS Direct or your out of hours doctor. This is one of the complications of chicken pox in adults. I hope you feel better soon.

mefifi · 09/01/2012 23:17

Ex-DP had chicken pox about 5 years ago and it was nasty. He had to get drugs and take them religiously and was in a pretty bad way, have the docs given you anything? (I cannot remember what they prescribed him).
It was in his throat as well.

I'd get in touch with NHS Direct or the out of hours docs for advice.

sonsmum · 10/01/2012 08:46

I had chicken pox when i was pregnant (1st trimester). It is truely nasty as an adult. Calomine did nothing! Breathing difficulties is your major concern so if you feel any difficulties with your lungs call your DR.
I was given an immuonoglobulin injection to try to stave off the infection once I knew i had been exposed to the virus, as knew i would get it as didn't have it as a child. It may have made my pox a more mild version but was still horrendous.
There is a chicken pox vaccine.....but expensive. In childhood chicken pox is relatively mild, so risk is low but in adults risk to health is higher as can be severe.
My DD was born normal but pregnancy was a worry as did not know if she had been affected physically/mentally. If she does not get the pox as a child, I will be seeking out the vaccination for her before she reaches child bearing age.
I hope you get better soon. Keep your fluids up and take note of your breathing abilities

DeWe · 10/01/2012 09:34

I had it as an adult and then caught glandular fever within a couple of months due to still not being 100%.

Took about 2-4 weeks before I could manage to get anywhere.

Mind you the doctor who saw me said some years previously her husband had had chickenpox in his 40s and had it so badly he actually caused a small pox scare because they didn't believe chicken pox could be so bad.