Pregnancy and Shingles.....................

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

ok - I know that when you're pg you should avoid people that have Chickenpox.....but what about Shingles?? Is that the same - do I have to 'avoid' them?

Depends if you've had chickenpox. I don't think you can 'catch' shingles because it's caused by your body reactivating the chicken pox virus, rather than being something contagious. You can only get shingles if you've already had chicken pox too. This basically says you can get chicken pox from someone with shingles but you can't get shingles from them. It makes more sense than me!!

Have you been checked for immunity to CP?

Oh I've definitely had Chicken Pox - my entire family missed a very important family occasion because I got chicken pox at school and gave it to everyone else

Don't think you've got anything to worry about then. AFAIK, you don't even have to avoid people with CP if you've had it but then again I wouldn't get up close and personal with someone with it .

LOL at infecting your whole family btw.

First and last few weeks of pregnancy are the danger points with the varicella virus. Avoid as in don't go nursing anyone through shingles, but sitting in the same room and chatting should be fine.

SW - I'm a care assistant - and there's a women that we often get up in the mornings who probably has Shingles........will I be ok if I'm wearing my gloves and apron???

Yep would do HRH. It's the same virus don't forget. I caught Shingles whilst pregnant with ds2 from a boy with Chickenpox and I've had Chickenpox. So ring your gp and check and get your immunity checked via a blood test. Particulary as you're only 1st Trimester aren't you.

Oops spelling sorry. But please be careful.

Ali - yes I'm only 5+2....... bugger - I'm working Fri, Sat,Sun, Mon nights - so won't be able to get to the Dr.s until Tuesday at the earliest.....

I would take extra care in those circumstances QoQ ('tis StG by the way).

I have had cp multiple times, you don't always get immunity. Better save than sorry since you are in that early critical stage.

Doh, look. I'm telling you it is StG, forgetting I had changed back

Rephrase - 'tis SW by the way

I knew it was you - brain cells haven't quite all gone yet. Not sure what to do really - I'll be getting her up on most of the mornings I'm working, and there's no way I can 'avoid' her IYKWIM.

You can't actually catch shingles at all. If you've had chicken pox before then the zoster virus stays dormant in your body and can reactivate itself at any time as shingles. Reactivation of the virus normally occurs if your immune system is surpressed, so typically shingles is more common in elderly people or in people whose immune systems are being surpressed via medication or chemo etc.

I got shingles shortly after giving birth to dd2 and it wasn't nice. I was also petrified of passing it on to dd or dd2 (neither of whom had had chicken pox) but the doctors were quite clear that unless anyone was actually to touch the affected area on me, then they would be completely safe. Given that I only had a small patch on my back - then everyone was ok.

There are some really good sites on the internet which give great information about shingles if you want to know more. In summary though, I think you've got nothing to worry about.

ahh well - turns out she doesn't have shingles after all....typical