Do you think I will catch it if......

dandy-candy

My mum got it from me whenI was tiny and she was mid 30's - she reckons she definately suffered more that me :rolleyes:

On the plus side though, if you get it in middle age you are very unlikely to catch it again because you build a immunity which can last 60 years or so, the people who get shingles/chickenpox in old age when it can be very dangerous are usually those who originally caught it when they were little - or so my GP told me.

mspig

If your that worried you could speak to your GP about giving you antivial medicine(acyclovir) which would help and could even prevent chicken pox from starting.

Also just a word about your son - if you think he has a problem with his immune system you should get his immunity levels checked(called iggs) - (would need to be done at hospital - gp can refer) - just that my son was born without an immune system and chicken pox is classed as being very dangerous for him(that bad my 5 year old who hadn't had them had to have the chicken pox vaccine to stop him from getting them).

[Deleted User]

I caught it from my neice a couple of years ago and as an adult I felt really rubbish. The calamine and peritone tablets really helped though. My son was 5 months at the time and despite me being his primary carer he never did catch it and the reason I caught it from my neice was so HE could catch it from her, not me!! I didn't know I hadn't had it though.

libra10

My son caught Chicken Pox when he was 32 and was really ill with it. He was off work for around 2 weeks. It seems that the infection is much worse when you are an adult.

oystercatcher

dandy-candy wrote: »

My mum got it from me whenI was tiny and she was mid 30's - she reckons she definately suffered more that me :rolleyes:

On the plus side though, if you get it in middle age you are very unlikely to catch it again because you build a immunity which can last 60 years or so, the people who get shingles/chickenpox in old age when it can be very dangerous are usually those who originally caught it when they were little - or so my GP told me.

You don't catch shingles , the chicken pox virus stays within you for life and just comes out as shingles when your immune system is low. That's why it's mostly older people who get shingles as young healthy people have good immune systems.

Shingles is infectious and can cause chicken pox in those not immune.

Oystercatcher

jaybee

I managed to get chicken pox when I was 26. Couldn't believe how ill I felt. Eventually ended up in hospital as I had it internally. It was awful - inside my eyes, mouth and throat etc. Even on soles of my feet! I've had shingles twice, too.

owsaboutthatthen

jaybee wrote: »

I managed to get chicken pox when I was 26. Couldn't believe how ill I felt. Eventually ended up in hospital as I had it internally. It was awful - inside my eyes, mouth and throat etc. Even on soles of my feet! I've had shingles twice, too.

Oh my god that sounds terrible....what do they do for you in hospital?

Why on earth don't they immunise against it over here if it can get this bad?! Saves all the hassle! Sorry if i'm being ignorant to the health system however and what they can afford etc! I'm obviously thinking of number one here!

Lizzybop

Just for info, if you are exposed to chickenpox when pregnant, there is a simple blood test your doctor can do to check if you have immunity. This happened to me - someone a work had chickenpox and I got myself checked and all was OK.

As I said just for info!

Cheers
Lizzy

LittleTinker

I got Chicken Pox as an adult....was the worse time ever

OP...you might feel itchy spots on the top of your head next if youre going to get it.

And for the other poster who is scaring people about chicken pox and pregnancy...its not so bad....virtually no risk at all. Thats why we dont have vaccines for it as a matter of course.

Awww....you poor thing..Im sure you will be fine though

owsaboutthatthen

Is tingling all over a sign?!