If you’ve had chickenpox as an adult…

[OneNeedyDog]

To any of you who experienced chickenpox as an adult, I’m keen to hear about how you felt before the spots came out? What were your first symptoms, and how long did this last until you realised it was chickenpox?

Also, have any of you had chickenpox without having direct contact with someone infected?

Thanks

I had it at 19 after looking after my younger siblings! It was awful, I had a high fever and it felt like a flu. Then the spots started to appear. This were everywhere and I felt it! The itch was insane.

Early 20s a few weeks before our wedding! Flu type symptoms sore throat.
I knew what it was as I was a teacher and most of my class had had chicken pox. It was awful.

I was 22, working as a student nurse and caught it from an elderly patient with shingles. Had flu like symptoms and then the rash appeared. Felt unwell for a couple of days and then just itchy until the spots healed. I was sent home and my dad had to come and get me as not allowed on public transport of course.

I had it at 21 and felt flu like, generally under the weather but coped with paracetamol. Very few spots, which was weird and looking back, I probably had it long before I actually realised.

I had chickenpox at 35. I caught it from a friend’s child. She assumed I’d had it already.
Before the spots appeared, I was at a panto with my toddlers. It was December 23rd. I was so unbelievably tired I thought I wouldn’t make it back to the car. This fatigue lasted for three whole weeks. I had spots everywhere and I truly mean everywhere: vulva, ears, gums, scalp. You name it! Cold baths in the night were a relief. Antihistamines helped me sleep. Other than when I had hand foot and mouth disease at 73, caught from a grandchild who was was not bothered by the symptoms at all, it’s the worst illness I’ve had-and I have had bad cases of flu.
My brother caught it from me at 31. He was hospitalised. My father never caught it.
We have paid for private immunisation for our grandchildren.

@24Dogcuddler @cannynotsay @carpool @Mere1 @Shangrilalala Thanks for your replies.

In the lead-up to the spots coming out, did it feel like a typical flu, or did you know it was something completely different to anything you’d had before?

Asking for a friend who’s a teacher and who may have been exposed through her Year 2 class.

Had it in my mid 30s, two spots on my foot and that was it.

It felt like total exhaustion. I did think it was a very strong virus. No other symptoms til the tomato seed like spots appeared. Slowly initially. Then everywhere!

I had flu like symptoms for 2 or 3 days before the spots started to appear, including quite a bit of dizziness which was probably the only thing different to my usual coughs and colds.

I particularly recall crushing tiredness before the spots came out, and I couldn’t fathom why. I even missed my end of year ball, which was something I would never have done!

I was 36, I caught it off my 2yo DS, my mum couldn’t remember if I’d had it already, so I had to just wait and see. I had no symptoms until I saw a spot on my forehead and thought uh oh, then the next day I woke up and was covered. Other than the spots I had no symptoms, maybe a little more tired than normal, but I had a 2yo, I was always tired!

@OneNeedyDog she could pay for the vaccination. If its within a few days of exposure it can make it milder.

I had it when I was 20 - caught from a friend who was nanny to a family where all the children had it.

I remember the exhaustion beforehand, and brief spells of dizziness which alarmed me as it was something I hadn’t experienced previously. For a few days I just had one large spot on my abdomen which I gave no thought to other than ‘strange place to get a blister’. I was living with a boyfriend at the time and made our favourite meal one evening, couldn’t eat it and went to bed. The following morning when I woke up, boyfriend pointed out a cluster of spots on my shoulder, then we watched in horror as spots seemed to emerge before our eyes.

As a PP has said, the spots were everywhere, undercarriage, eyes, it was a miserable illness.

Didn't we have this thread last week?
Same answer for me, about when had cpox in my mid 20s.
Non event. I didn't feel ill at all.

I had it when I was 20. Felt like I was coming down with something the day before - mild fluey symptoms and tired, I remember going to bed early.

By the end of the next day I was absolutely covered in spots, literally everywhere. Thankfully never felt very ill with it, but the itching and scabbiness was horrible.

Bearing in mind I already had chicken pox as a child, I got again as an adult when my first born had it.Zero symptoms for me apart from a couple of spots.

It was like flu did she get it in the end!?

@cannynotsay So far she’s been fortunate and hasn’t shown any symptoms. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since she was exposed by kids in her class

I hope she has escaped. It is usually 14 days incubation.

I got it when I was 24, started with headaches and tiredness. I remember thinking I had a bad bout of spots on my face, then the next day I was literally covered in spots, some huge welts. It was horrific. This was before I had kids and when my kids got CP neither of them had as many spots as I did. I actually counted them - over 300.

I was so tired and ended up of work for 2 weeks.

I caught ot from my nephew and it took exactly 1 week for my symptoms to start