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General health

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Original poster

Did you have chickenpox as an adult?

42 replies

citylife11 · 22/02/2022 21:13

And if so, how was it? Pretty rough?

George Ezra has just posted on his social media that he currently has it and I’ve heard it can be very unpleasant in an adult.

I’ve never had it (I am late 20s). I’ve actually had one dose of the chickenpox vaccine (didn’t even know there was a vaccine up until recently), but I found out a few days ago that I was in close contact with a child who came out in spots a few days after seeing them. Just hoping I don’t get it now.

OP posts:

frogface69 · 22/02/2022 23:01

I was about 38. It was awful, constant nausea and absolutely covered in spots. They were even up my nose and underneath my fingernails. I worked in a school and picked it up from there when there was an outbreak.

PatriciaHolm · 22/02/2022 23:03

yep - about 20? I was living away from home but went home to Mum i felt so ill! Caught it from a little boy I rescued after he fell into a swimming pool, ungrateful little blighter ;-)

NaiceHamAndHugs · 22/02/2022 23:11

There’s a vaccine available in the uk??

My kids have never had it and I don’t know why. They were exposed so many times at primary school. I really worry about them getting it now they are all in their teens, because of how horrible it is.

Seasidemumma77 · 22/02/2022 23:18

My 4dc have all had chickenpox 3x each before they were 5yrs old (mostly confirmed by gp). Each got it extensively each time (every orific). Following GP's interest in my childrens repeated confirmed chickenpox outbreaks we have noticed that I get one or two blisters myself, I appear to have zero immunity to chickenpox (i feel generally unwell but nothing major).

Pyewhacket · 22/02/2022 23:20

Yes, I must have been 3-4 at the time.

mrsfollowill · 22/02/2022 23:23

Yes- I was 35 ish- caught it from 4 yo DS- he had a few spots, a spoon of calpol and was fine. Three weeks later- I knew I had not had it as a child but omg I have never felt so ill in my life. Very bad flu symptoms came on while I was a work in the morning. I went from 'fine' to horrific in about six hours. Covered in blisters head to toe and in bed for a week unable to do anything other than crawl to the bathroom. So lucky we live near my mum and mil who could tag team school runs etc - was off work two weeks and lost 2 stone though so silver linings! I've had 'proper flu' x 2 in my life - it was like that but being rubbed down by nettles at the same time.

Ethelswith · 22/02/2022 23:24

I had it as an (adult-sized) older teen

It want much fun for the first day or so, but I basically slept through it (at home, being looked after by DMum)

I think it lasted about a week - certainly I was better by the time the spots had all crusted. It was horribly itchy for a while, and I got spots in my ears which wasn't nice.

BruceyBaby · 22/02/2022 23:26

The first of the symptoms are etched on my mind forever. I was 17 and just walking from work to catch the bus home - can picture the moment now as I'd never felt so odd in my life and was suddenly unwell from nothing. Increasingly felt worse as the evening went on and went to bed early. Woke up covered in spots everywhere and felt so ill. Have not been as bad as that since and that was 36 years ago. Ended up with deep red marks/pitting on my body and on my eyebrows of all places which of course faded but still have the pitting. Horrible illness as an adult and was glad my children didn't suffer and had it mildly as toddlers.

Sideswiped · 22/02/2022 23:30

I had it at age 22.
It was miserable. I looked like I had been shot with a shotgun - purple dots all over me which itched and were sore all over, including the soles of my feet. They all eventually scabbed over and fell off, but I still have a scar on my chin from the scab I scratched off to get rid of it before I attended my then SIL's wedding. I don't know why I bothered because I still looked as rough as hell!
You'll know in the next few days if your vaccine was effective or not. Good luck!

leotardrock · 22/02/2022 23:30

I had it in my mid 30's it's the worst I have ever felt until I had COVID!
The extremes of temperature from almost freezing cold under 2 duvets to absolutely red hot we're just exhausting!

123feraverto · 22/02/2022 23:33

Not an adult but I had it when I was 15/16 definitely wiped me out far more than my younger siblings who were 10 and 5

Wotagain · 22/02/2022 23:42

Yes, at 29, and 34 weeks pregnant with my second child.
I had spots where the sun doesn’t shine, and felt beyond unwell.
Fortunately before Dr Google so I didn’t panic and baby born fit and well post term.
I’d recommend any woman who has not had it gets vaccinated before becoming pregnant.

slapmyarseandcallmemary · 22/02/2022 23:43

Had it as a child then caught it when I was 31. It wasn't too bad, just felt bit under the weather, very itchy. I do believe it can be extremely dangerous as an adult, from what the Dr told me.

DianaBarry5 · 22/02/2022 23:46

I had it on my 18th birthday and was in bed for two weeks. Felt so ill and it took about a month to properly recover.

Branster · 22/02/2022 23:51

Had chickenpox when I was around 25, no major issues other than a few scabs which healed quickly and no marks left behind.
Also had it as a child.
2 members of my family had shingles quite late in life and they did suffer badly with it.

Ajl46 · 23/02/2022 07:04

@NaiceHamAndHugs

There’s a vaccine available in the uk??

Yes, Boots offer it www.boots.com/health-pharmacy-advice/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccination-service

Ajl46 · 23/02/2022 07:12

Many other countries routinely vaccinate children against chicken pox. The only reason the U.K. doesn't is that some studies have shown that exposing adults who've had chicken pox in the past to children with it now boosts the adult's (waning) immunity and helps prevent shingles in later life. Shingles is difficult & expensive to treat, but new vaccines for it are becoming available so the argument for not vaccinating children against chicken pox should lessen over time.

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