Chickenpox Lollipops

[katydidKD]

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clip.../in-the-ghetto

[ASUADPi]

What did she say when the post office asked if she was shipping hazardous materials?

I can't believe people are this stupid.....oh wait yes I can.

I got chickenpox as a child. My parents were of the belief that I "had" to get it (prevaccine). They sent me down the street to a kid who had it, I got it. My grandmother took care of me. I have a scar on my forehead where I picked off a chicken pox. My younger brother got it from me.

I don't really remember it too well. I remember the constant itching and being covered in calamine lotion. I remember wanted to scratch everywhere. It was horrible.

[jenidallas]

I had a super mild case at age 2. Two or three pox, that's it.

My mom tried unsuccessfully to get me reinfected over the years.

I got myself reinfected at age 21. End of semester, near finals, and one of four girls in my dorm infected. The university quarantined us - put us on one wing with a dedicated shower and toilet (affectionately labeled with a sign reading "chicken pox potty"). We couldn't go to classes or into the dining hall (they would bring us takeout boxes). It was awful and I have scars from those sores although it was still a very mild case.

I got shingles when I was 31. Horrible horrible flare of them. Lots of pain (some of which still persists). It hurt to touch that side of my body.

I'm about to turn 40. I now get zoster flares whenever I'm under extreme stress (same arm/torso side where my shingles flared).

I wouldn't wish the chicken pox or shingles willingly on anyone. Those parents are crazy!!!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by jenidallas

I had a super mild case at age 2. Two or three pox, that's it.

My mom tried unsuccessfully to get me reinfected over the years.

I got myself reinfected at age 21. End of semester, near finals, and one of four girls in my dorm infected. The university quarantined us - put us on one wing with a dedicated shower and toilet (affectionately labeled with a sign reading "chicken pox potty"). We couldn't go to classes or into the dining hall (they would bring us takeout boxes). It was awful and I have scars from those sores although it was still a very mild case.

I got shingles when I was 31. Horrible horrible flare of them. Lots of pain (some of which still persists). It hurt to touch that side of my body.

I'm about to turn 40. I now get zoster flares whenever I'm under extreme stress (same arm/torso side where my shingles flared).

I wouldn't wish the chicken pox or shingles willingly on anyone. Those parents are crazy!!!

Does your doctor prescribe anything for this? Antiherpetic drugs like Acyclovir can be helpful for this postherpetic neuralgia problem. Im sorry you have to deal with this. It's what I fear about the chicken pox.

[jenidallas]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Does your doctor prescribe anything for this? Antiherpetic drugs like Acyclovir can be helpful for this postherpetic neuralgia problem. Im sorry you have to deal with this. It's what I fear about the chicken pox.

Yep. I take an antiherpetic although I only take it when I'm under (or about to be under) a lot of stress or know I'm going through a period when I'm run down. It makes me sick to my stomach so even though I should take it all the time, I just can't handle it otherwise.

I also have RA and the shingles seems to come along with arthritic flares so my rheumatologist monitors my inflammation markers every six weeks when I go in for my infusions.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by jenidallas

Yep. I take an antiherpetic although I only take it when I'm under (or about to be under) a lot of stress or know I'm going through a period when I'm run down. It makes me sick to my stomach so even though I should take it all the time, I just can't handle it otherwise.

I also have RA and the shingles seems to come along with arthritic flares so my rheumatologist monitors my inflammation markers every six weeks when I go in for my infusions.

That explains a lot. RA and all of your immunosuppressive drugs don't help things. What a nasty little disease RA is.

[amIblue?]

I am totally calling my doctor tomorrow to make sure that my vaccinations worked. Hello, blood test.

[southbymidwest]

Wow, this is all very enlightening! I had no idea that you could get it twice, or that the shingles vaccines are only 50/50. Huh.

[amIblue?]

I think carnation's point was that you should get it as soon as is recommended rather than putting it off and getting a surprise case of the shingles.