Right, I have chicken pox. How much worse is it going to get?

[nickytwotimes]

Guesstimations welcome.

Was at the docs for anti-virals as I am pregnant. Spots started yesterday, coming up a treat today. Feeling a bit yuck, headachey, etc.

Anyone had the pleasure of cp in adulthood and care to tell me about it?

Shit. It's really bad. Sorry. I had it in my mid twenties and I think I lost a few days where I just don't remember what happened. I felt truly, truly rotten. Am so sorry for you - how miserable, especially when you are pregnant. Lots of get well soon thoughts coming from me.

Oh no, poor you.

I had it when I was 18 and nannying for the summer before I went away to college.

I caught it from the children I was looking after but was lucky in that I wasn't really 'ill' IYSWIM. I didn't actually have very many spots but the ones I did have were quite big!

A friend of mine had it after catching it from her own children and she had 'spots on her spots' there were that many, so I think it can vary a lot.

Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones

BTW small children are great for painting Calamine Lotion on the spots you can't reach -it keeps them amused for ages

I am not feeling very ill at all atm - just a bit off colour but have felt worse with a cold. SO FAR. Hopefully the anti-virals will prevent it getting much worse.

Bad enough being bloody pg without the joy of the pox.

I have a pal who had it as an adult, but was ill before hand, then okay once the spots appeared and wasn't sure if this is normal. Guess it varies.

Thank you fo rreplies.

DP had it in his late 30s. He was really drowsy and really spotty, his forehead was one big sea of spots.

The spots arrived quite quickly and left pretty quickly as well, within days.
He got them up his nose and down this throat. Felt really crap with it as well, really sleepy and no appetite - didnt even eat the choc I bought him!

Hope that it passes soon.

I had it two years ago. Slight flu like symptoms that came and went leading up to the spot explosion! I still managed to cook Xmas dinner for 13 people so it can't have been that bad.

Do not google! Lot's of 'adult pox' scare stories

Oh I'm so sorry. I had it when I was 25 and it's really unpleasant. It started with one or two spots and I was quite pleased that it wasn't too bad... Fast forward a couple of days and let's just say DH shouldn't have left me at home on my own, I was that ill. I had spots in places you shouldn't (!).Sweats, oh awful. My sister was 18 and had a similar experience. Actually my eldest son hasn't had it and I really wish he would get it now, rather than later.

I hope you escape with a mild dose.

People I know who've had it as adults have really suffered, sorry. But with any luck the anti-virals will take the edge of it for you... [hopeful emoticon]

Well, it sure got worse yesterday.
GOt up COVERED in spots, headache and knackered.
No more spots today and don;t feel quite so bad so hopefully it'll start to go now...

Yes, googling adult chickenpox is a Bad Idea. Worst cases everytime.

Oh Nicky - much sympathy. I had it age 26 and was 26 weeks pregnant at the time. It was a bloody nightmare TBH - I spent most of the next 3 weeks in the bath. Horrendous. That said I didn't get anti-virals (it was 20plus tears ago) - I had anti-body injections but it was too late to do anything much.

Hopefully you have a mild dose - call the GP if you get any inkling of a chest infection or a raised temp.

Hope you're feeling ok still. I was 35 and pregnant when I caught it. I felt like death but looking back it was probably chronic morning sickness more than anything else. I had spots in every part of my body and took about 4 weeks to feel back to normal.

Nicky
You have my every sympathy as I caught CP at 34 weeks pregnant with DD2
She is now 18, so thank goodness no google back in the day to add anxiety to the stuation
Suffice to say I recovered and DD2 was born healthy and hearty at term plus 13 days.
I ended up with spots 'where the sun don't shine' and remember finding my only comfort in the bath.We were also on holiday in Devon at the time, so didn't even see the GP or midwife.
I did go for an extra check up with my consultant when we got home, arranged in a clinic far away from other pg women.
DD2went onto develop very mild CP at around 3 months and I seem to remember her getting shingles too, but as I have 4 DC I've lost track of who had what and when [bad mother icon]
I hope you are feeling much better soon, a really heartfelt, poor you!

I had it in my 20s. At the time parents still lived in NI so my mum told me to get on the plane asap and get over there so they could look after me, I felt and looked like death warmed up.

Took me about a fortnight to feel better, but then had no DS at the time so had luxury of feeling unwell.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ouch, feel for you Nicky.

I had it three years ago (am 34) and it was pretty grim, but not unbearable. The itching was the worst, but only lasted a few days. Took me a few weeks to stop feeling knackered, though.

Days 1-3 were hardest, so hopefully you are on the home straight.

Take it easy and REST!

I had it last year when pregnant. Unpleasant but OK. Worse bit was first two days with muscle aches etc. After that felt better but it did take awhile to recover. Don't do too much too soon - I rxckon it was about 4 weeks before I felt completely well but was trying to work and look after 2 year old from 1 week after which in hindsight was mistake. DD was fine though.Also didn't take antivirals - got pox on fri afternoon and nighmare trying to get good medical advise over weekend

Oh I feel for you.

I had it when I was 23, and had 5 month old dd and 14 month old DS. I was still breast-feeding so the docs wouldn't give me much for it but I felt truly awful. I was head to toe in spots, and the only fluid I could drink was Gaviscon, as everything else felt like fire going down my throat.

The kids had it as well, so from start to finish it was about a month of misery in the bandy household! Hope you get better soon

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Yes, I am less itchy now. Very, very sleppy though and spent most of yesterday conked out while mum looked after the ds.
SHe is helping out again today. Hope to get back to some version of normal next week, albeit a weary version. DH has long weekend so we are sorted for the next few days if he can keep his sanity with a whining toddler and an over-emotional wife... Keep bursting into tears as I am still appalled that I have got cp! How odd am I?