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Original poster

Chicken Pox - help, esp. from those with DDs, thanks

25 replies

serenity · 08/09/2006 11:19

OK, Finally my DCs have gone down with Chicken Pox. They've managed to avoid picking it up through X amount of outbreaks at school and luckily seem to have it pretty mildly. I'm covering them with Calamine cream and dosing them with Piriton, and they seem fine in themselves. I just got two areas I'm worried about

Firstly, DD's bits (fanjo/vagina/whatever!) are pretty much covered in spots, she's also got a few on her anus. It's pretty bleurgh, but atm doesn't seem to be bothering her too much once I put some cream on them. Is there anything else I can do, either to help them heal up quicker or to stop them being sore once the crust over. I can't help but think that going to the toilet will be really uncomfortable at that stage.

Secondly, I'm 35 and I've never had Chicken Pox. Is it going to be really bad if I catch it? One website I read said you have a 9/10 chance of catching it when a close family member is infected, and everyone who knows someone who's had it as an adult has been telling how they were really ill, off work for 6 weeks etc. I'm crapping myself tbh (I don't want a blistered fanj ) My GP was sympathetic when I rang to get the CP put on the DCs medical records, but basically just said yes, it can be bad and I could be naturally immune but it would be really rare

Any advice on DD or on me avoiding the pox would be gratefully recieved! I'll be off and on here though, as I have DS2 and DD demanding equal shares of the PC whilst they are ill!

OP posts:
USAUKMum · 08/09/2006 11:47

I found that a bath with bi-carb soda worked really well with our DD.

My DD's best friend's dad got chickenpox at 37 with the kids and he was off for 6 wks. and felt poorly for a few more after that. Sorry -- not what you wanted to hear.

tortoiseshell · 08/09/2006 11:53

Definitely bath with bicarb of soda

tortoiseshell · 08/09/2006 11:56

serenity, if your dc have it and you've really never had it, then unfortunately you probably will get it, and you're right, it can be worse in adults. BUT, although it might be rare to have natural immunity, it's also quite rare to get to adulthood without having it, and lots of people have it as children WITHOUT REALISING (sending optimistic vibes), so have immunity from that. So you may yet have immunity without realising! (It sounds mad to think you could have it without realising, but lots of people only have one or two spots, and don't feel at all ill). Hope you're ok.

Original poster
serenity · 08/09/2006 12:04

Fingers crossed that's the case, but my Mum is pretty convinced I never had it, despite both my DBro and DSis having getting it.

I'll have to try the bicarb thing, don't have any in the house, so I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow - felt guilty enough dragging Spotty 1 and 2 around Sainsburys this morning (don't touch anything!) I might try it myself, everytime I look at them they make me feel itchy

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Original poster
serenity · 08/09/2006 12:05

having getting it? wtf was that? please feel free to subsitute english in there somewhere

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23balloons · 08/09/2006 12:10

ds1 got it when he was 2.5 and I got it on the same day. Ds2 who was 6 months at the time didn't catch it and still hasn't (he's 4 now).

It did affect me badly for months afterwards I was absoulutely exhausted but I did have a young baby to look after too. If at all possible try and arrange for some help if you do catch it as you will really need it. I was very lucky that MIL was visiting at the time.

batters · 08/09/2006 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

3littlefrogs · 08/09/2006 12:48

Do make sure they don't get constipated while taking the piriton. My dd had a terrible time as the piriton left her so "bunged up" she developed all sorts of problems. Piriton is great for the chickenpox - I just wanted to warn you of this potential side effect. You get so focussed on the chicken pox you forget to notice they haven't done a poo for days.(Prune juice plus plenty of liquids!)

Original poster
serenity · 08/09/2006 15:06

Even if DD was only mildly contagious atm, she's spent most of today sitting on me with her arms around my neck, rubbing her wonderfully spotty face into my innocent defenceless neck......oh i'm buggered aren't I? (no, no positive thinking - I will not get it, I will not get it x1000)

Thanks for the constipation tip, I'll keep an eye on that. DS2 said he went yesterday, and I'm reasonably sure DD did too so I'll just keep feeding them fruit and OJ in the meantime

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scotlou · 08/09/2006 15:34

My ds got chicken pox in May - and I caught it from him. (I'd never had it previously). I was ill - but not that ill. I had spots everywhere - and felt very fluish for a few days. I took a full week off work. My spots were sore rather than itchy - and they seemed worse than those ds had - they have also not all gone yet! And I have suffered some scarring on my face (although I did not scratch!) Interestingly though, dd dis not catch it from either of us - so you may be lucky!

jabberwocky · 08/09/2006 15:42

Personally, if there was a chance of me getting chicken pox at age 35 I would look into getting vaccinated for it.

TheRealCam · 08/09/2006 16:14

My dd got chicken pox at the age of 6 having gone through several friends outbreaks without getting it. She didn't get tons of spots, and wasn't ill "in herself". I used calamine cream and gave her piriton only at night to stop her scratching in her sleep.

My father got it in his 30's from me and my siblings and I remember him lying in a darkened room for a few days - he said the itching (esp.on his scalp) drove him nuts.

I think people are infectious before the spots appear and until the spots crust over. They let dd go back to school as soon as her spots crusted over (her teacher checked) which in her case was after 5 days.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 08/09/2006 16:15

We used Eurax lotion/cream for DD when she had chicken pox. Was AMAZING. Got rid of the itching for hours.

noonar · 08/09/2006 16:34

havent read whole thread so sorry if repeated. dd 1and 2 had same prob. doc gave some antibiotic cream. also, i think you can get vaccinated, but am sure that's been suggested. good luck

TheRealCam · 08/09/2006 16:37

But wouldn't it be too late to get vac?

donna3 · 08/09/2006 16:42

I don;t think natural immunity is as rare as your GP thinks, especially if your brother and sister had it.
I've never had chicken pox I know of, but had my antibodies checked for work and I;m immune - my brother had it when we were little, so presume I caught it from him.
If you are unlucky enough to get it, then it'd be worth asking your GP for something called aciclovir - it helps it settle down quicker and means you;re less likely to feel really pooorly with it. They might not be keen though as its expensive.
You can get vaccinated, but to be honest if your kids have it, its probably a bit late.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...

jabberwocky · 08/09/2006 16:59

Not sure on the vaccination time frame, tbh. But I think it's at least worth a phone call to find out.

Original poster
serenity · 08/09/2006 19:37

There's a vaccination?!

I wonder if I could get my GP to check my immunity? I have to have blood tests every couple of months anyway, so maybe I could get him to sneak it in If I'm not immune (and just very lucky so far) then I can look into the vaccination........now, just have to hope I've got away with it this time!

Thanks everyone who's posted, appreciate the input.

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USAUKMum · 08/09/2006 19:48

Have also heard that salt in the bath works too. Maybe you have some of that in the house ??

lazeemum · 08/09/2006 20:02

Hello,
My dp is just getting over chickenpox- he is 43!
He was quite poorly a few days before the spots appeared, but was put onto anti-virals fairly swiftly, to prevent any complications. I,m still waiting for my dd to catch it, but so far no spots!

donna3 · 08/09/2006 20:16

Its worth asking your GP about the vaccine, and they can certainly check your antibodies.
I've just looked it up, and the vaccine costs £30, so if they're not keen to give it to you, you could ask if you can pay for it - its got to be worth that not to get chicken pox!

Original poster
serenity · 09/09/2006 03:28

Well, I'm up at this ridiculous time because DD can't sleep (I'd quite like too though ) If we had hot water she'd be in the bicarb bath now, but it'll just have to wait. Came home from work at 1am to find DH bleury eyed and dozing on the sofa and DD watching Hi Hi Puffy Yum Yum (or whatever it's called) on Cartoon Network.

She's now watching a Dora DVD, and I've given up and come on here. Hello middle of the nighters!

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Original poster
serenity · 09/09/2006 03:49

where are we going (clap clap clap) snowy mountain.......

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Original poster
serenity · 09/09/2006 04:41

Well, she woke up at 10.30pm according to DH, and she has only now fallen asleep again.

I am now totally wide awake.

Bugger.

OP posts:
chlochlo · 10/09/2006 21:39

never had cp had blood test when i was pregnant as worked in busy day nursery and cp was on a rampage my dd has had them but i've been ok so fingers crossed

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