What was chickenpox like for you as an adult?

[Signoritawhocansway]

My DD currently has chickenpox. She's not too badly affected at all; not a lot of spots, seemingly not itchy and no other symptoms. My DS hasn't had it, and neither have I (as far as I know - Mum always said I didn't get it when my brother had it).

Unfortunately, we've never been able to afford immunisation for it. At £90 x 2 per person, it's been well out of our reach.

I'm not too worried about my son getting it. He'll be 13 soon and while I know it might not be so mild for him, I'd rather he got it over and done with

I'm worried about me though. Everything I read says it will be horrendous. Is that your experience of having it as an adult? I'm prepared to phone GP for anti-virals if I get symptoms

Had it at 21 - horrific.

when my son hadnt had it by age 11 I scrimped and saved to vaccinate him as I really didn’t want him to have to go through it.

sorry if this isn’t helpful

Had it in my early 40s. I was very tired, mentally very low for several weeks.

Dh had it as an adult and it was pretty unpleasant- loads of spots which seemed to take an age to crust over.

I had it at age 24. I can't say it was pleasant, but it definitely wasn't horrendous.
Felt a bit shit...it was definitely itchy, but I didn't think I had it any worse than the tiny niece I caught it from. I ended up with one small scar that has now vanished. Maybe I was just very lucky though!

I was 30 and it was awful.
Like dreadful flu followed by hideous spots and itching.
I did recover without any after effects. Just hellish for the duration.

My DH caught it from our DD in his 30s, it’s the only time in our 26 years together that I’ve known him be off work sick. He was really unwell and in bed for days (never ever takes to his bed) spots were inside his mouth and ears as well as all over his body. Hopefully you’re immune or won’t get it.

Horrible. I was 20. I didn't feel particularly ill, but I was absolutely covered in spots and they were incredibly itchy and took weeks and weeks to heal and fade. I have a few scars, though thankfully none on my face.

I got my son vaccinated when he was 1. So far so good.

I had it at 18 about three months before my A-levels. I was nearly hospitalised and I failed two of them. It was absolutely awful and if I was in your position, I would do whatever I could to avoid it.

I had it twice as an adult. It honestly wasn't too bad either time.

I was given the vaccine when they found I had no antibodies at 23. I’ve since had the same for MMR at 31. I’d save up and get the vaccine tbh.

I gave it to my uncle when I was a toddler and he was 26. He was very rough with it.

I had it when I was in my middle 20s and it was.horrible! First symptom for me was a feeling that my eyes were popping out of my head...they were so painful. Then pains, aches in muscles and joints and extreme fatigue. Then the spots...they were everywhere, in my mouth, inside eyelids, inside my flaps. I was covered and so intensely itchy that I could have cried. Took me weeks and weeks to start feeling even halfway better
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Had it very mildly when I was 5. Don’t remember it! Had it again at 21. Absolutely horrific. Nearly hospitalized, couldn’t move out of bed for over two weeks . Couldn’t eat or drink as it was in my mouth too . Lived off sucking toast with butter - one slice would take hours and ice pops . I paid for both my children to get vaccinated. Still traumatized from it over 20 years later !

I had it in my mid-twenties and for me it wasn't any worse than when my DC had it as children. Just needed to rest for a week or so and take paracetamol.

Horrific. I thought I was dying. I was 20 and at University. When it started I was delirious with hallucinations, I was begging my feckless boyfriend for an ambulance, but he refused which turned out to be a good thing as by the next morning the spots came out.

I had to have half a term off university I was so ill, in bed for most of it, covered in a rash that was really painful. I hope it won't be so bad for you!

Some people get a sub-clinical dose and not show the spots, or as many, as others. You 'might' have antibodies to it OP without realising you did have it at some point.

I had it at 13. Not an adult, but I was as tall/developed as I am now and it wasn't great. I had blisters inside my vulva- need I say anymore! 😩

I was mid thirties, and I don’t think I’m a wuss, but I did feel the worst I’ve ever felt with anything ever.

I was trying to deal with my young toddler too, so the responsibility that comes with being a parent, was beyond difficult.

Unfortunately, I can’t offer any useful advice, other than if you get any offers of help, for your own sake, just say yes please.

Take care

A very nice chap in the consular section of the British Embassy where I live died of it. He was early 40’s and got it from his little girl. I saw him the day I went to give him some papers and when I went back a week later he was dead. It’s a long time ago now but I still think of him often. I’m also old enough to remember childhood illness being a killer amongst children of my generation which is why I would take every vaccination on offer.

My husband was in his early 40s when he caught chickenpox from our two children. He was quite ill and very miserable; it was a memorable Christmas.

DS and I both caught it when he was at nursery, and it was pretty bad. The spots were awful and I had these huge raised ridges along my arms. Definitely the most ill I have ever been.

I found the best thing for the itching was baths with porridge oats - put them in a pop sock or old pair of tights. Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I had CP at age 25 yo. It was non event. I had enough spots to get diagnosed.
I never itched felt tired or even ran a fever.

I had it when I was 37, and it was awful. I have never felt so ill. I remember being up at about 4:00am and pacing the floor, feeling weirdly like I was going mad. The spots were at their worst in the space between my shoulder blades, and that area felt like it was permanently on fire. My spots were worse on my upper body, with barely anything on my legs. I struggled to eat, and lived on ice lollies. I felt tired and low for weeks afterwards; there are a few photos of me from several weeks afterwards, and I look so thin and tired.

DD was two at the time, and caught them from me. She had a much milder dose, and was fine in herself, just itchy. Her spots appeared just as mine were healing; between the two of us we didn’t leave the house for about six weeks. It was like a rehearsal for the Covid lockdowns a few years later.

You might be naturally immune; my Grandad lived to the age of 92 and never caught chicken pox, despite nursing my DM with it when she was young, and also looking after my Grandma when she had shingles.

My husband had it in his late 30s and wasn't too unwell. My 3 boys and 1 daughter then caught it, more or less one after another. 2 eldest boys averagely unwell, youngest boy not ill at all but poor 2 year old girl had it bad. Spots absolutely everywhere. So you can never tell who will be ok and who wont I guess. You may well have had it at the same time as your brother and been very lucky like my youngest boy who only had about 5 spots and felt fine.

Had it at 22. It was awful! I had my parents come and take me home. Then I got pleurisy, that was agony.

I caught it from my nephew at the age of 23. I lived alone and the neighbours took pity on me, bringing round soup and medicine but personally I did everything wrong!
Spots everywhere including mouth and privates. I ran myself cold baths to stop the itching. High fever with hallucinations- I rolled out of bed to lie on the tiled bathroom floor! The spots left marks and when I went back to work an older motherly colleague said I should have had another week off (2 done).
Oh, the invincibility of youth!
If I were you I’d stock up on liquid talc (baby section) paracetamol and bland food like instant mash, rice pudding or white bread, chicken and Philadelphia if you get a sore mouth.