Chickenpox

[R1-Jay]

Looks like i've gone down with it! had what seems like flu all week but carried on at work. Yesterday i felt like i had been hit by a train, stomach hurt, no energy and everything ached and last night i noticed spots.

slept most of yesterday and all night and now have loads of the little buggers!!!

any idea roughly how long it lasts for? i'm self employed and cant really afford to be off work longer than i need to be!!!!

[Sticks.]

Unlucky, very uncomfortable. I had it in my twenties at the height of summer. Was off a week iirc. It used to be a 'notifiable disease' which would require you to be signed fit for work by a doc before you can resume work.

Hope it clears quickly.

[doctordr]

Looking at around 1-2 weeks.

[mcdb9]

I feel for you, I really do.

I caught chickenpox about 7 years ago (i was in my early 30's), I can honestly say that I've never felt so ill in all my life. I had spots everywhere (and I do mean everywhere....) and I was off work for the best part of a month.

If you get it very badly, try and get your GP to prescribe some Anti Viral medication. You may have to pester them for it though because I've heard it's very expensive and they won't prescribe it normally.

I sincerely hope yours is nowhere near what I had.

Get well soon.

[R1-Jay]

thanks for the replies and concerns, im covered now, even have one on my eyelid!

still feel like crap and it seems more and more are coming out every minute. been advised to bathe regular in either a little vinegar or bicarb soda in the bath to help clean and dry out the spots.

looks like this week is going to be a long one!!!!

[Z4monster]

Whatever you do, DON't pick at them. They leave scars, some of which never go.

I had pox at about 20 and was very ill for about two weeks. I looked like a very scabby thing covered with even more scabs by the end of it. I got them everywhere and yes that was everywhere! My scalp had so many that I couldn't lie on it as it hurt too much.

Make sure you watch them for infection as mine went yellow and pus filled and I had to get antibiotics for that.

Otherwise lots of fluid and bed rest until you start to feel better.

[grumbledoak]

mcdb9 said:

If you get it very badly, try and get your GP to prescribe some Anti Viral medication. You may have to pester them for it though because I've heard it's very expensive and they won't prescribe it normally.

They are, indeed, very expensive. And they only work if prescribed immediately. It is probably already too late; you might be better off asking the GP just how much painkillers you can really take...

Best of luck, I'd had it as a kid so round II in my twenties was Shingles. The most painfull thing I've ever felt. And no, the painkillers don't work (the virus lives in your nerves).

[R1-Jay]

Last night was probably one of the most uncomfortable nights ever! tried sleeping upstairs, downstairs, laying on my front, all 4's everything!

found one good bit of info tho, and that was to take anti-histamine tablets, so i found piriton in the cupboard and started taking them, managed to actually get a little bit of sleep.

some of the spots looks like they are drying up, will it make them worse if i have a bath?

[Dupont666]

best feeling as a kid was to pick them... its addictive as they are scabs and when you have one you just cant leave them alone...

Fantastic fun...


(I do have a few scars from doing so though, but I was 8 at the time)