Chicken pox - Adult

drdre

Im 22 and never got chicken pox before.Since thursday ive for a high temprature and now im getting bloody spots.A family friend (doctor) called over this morning and said its chicken pox and by 1 week it should be sorted.He said for adults its really annoying and painful. What happens when you get chicken pox as an adult as my head has afew spots in it.I would hate to wake up in the morning with 100 spots :eek:

The **** thing is i have final exams starting. 2 on monday, 1 on tuesday
Do you guys think i should sit them or defer them as i cant get much study done

aidan_walsh

I'd look for a deferal on account of illness myself. Couldn't imagine trying to prepare and sit the exam witha distraction like that.

drdre

aidan_walsh wrote:

I'd look for a deferal on account of illness myself. Couldn't imagine trying to prepare and sit the exam witha distraction like that.

yeah, but i have 6 exams this semester and i have 3 already deffered so thats going to be 9 next time

Or i might just sit these and hope i pass and if i fail then just sit them again as im only looking for above a pass for each exam

StormWarrior

I'm sure you can defer your exams with a doctor's note. I've just deferred my exams because I have an overactive thyroid and have no mental energy.

free2fly

I agree. Get them deferred if you can. My ex got chicken pox a few years back and he was absolutely miserable for about a week. If you get really itchy buy products with oatmeal in them like oatmeal soap or body wash. It seemed to give him a bit of relief. I'm sorry you have to suffer through this. I know how miserable it is. He got them in his throat and stomach. It was awful.

drdre

StormWarrior wrote:

I'm sure you can defer your exams with a doctor's note. I've just deferred my exams because I have an overactive thyroid and have no mental energy.

What college are you in?

drdre

free2fly wrote:

I agree. Get them deferred if you can. My ex got chicken pox a few years back and he was absolutely miserable for about a week. If you get really itchy buy products with oatmeal in them like oatmeal soap or body wash. It seemed to give him a bit of relief. I'm sorry you have to suffer through this. I know how miserable it is. He got them in his throat and stomach. It was awful.

Wow now you put me off
Throat - i never knew that

Miss Fluff

Are they finals? Do they go towards the mark for your final degree?

drdre

Miss Fluff wrote:

Are they finals? Do they go towards the mark for your final degree?

Yep, its finals

StormWarrior

drdre wrote:

What college are you in?

I'm in the UK.

Creamy Goodness

i got these last summer and i feel for ya i really do. it's a bitch getting them as an adult but the only way i got through it was with leather gloves duck taped around my hands to stop me itching the spots. i also went through two bottles of calamine lotion a day which gave some relief for about 20 minutes.

drdre

Cremo wrote:

i got these last summer and i feel for ya i really do. it's a bitch getting them as an adult but the only way i got through it was with leather gloves duck taped around my hands to stop me itching the spots. i also went through two bottles of calamine lotion a day which gave some relief for about 20 minutes.

How long did they last, and do you just put calamine lotion over the spots.
Also are you allowed to have a shower or not

Chinafoot

Be thankful you're getting them at this age. My uncle got them a few years back (he's in his mid 40's) and he ended up in hospital because they were in his throat.

He also has lots of scars from the spots, so don't scratch. Really, don't scratch.

Creamy Goodness

drdre wrote:

How long did they last, and do you just put calamine lotion over the spots.
Also are you allowed to have a shower or not

mine lasted about a week from the first spot until they scabbed over.

once they scab they aren't contageous (hope i spelt that right) but if someone comes in contact with you with a burst one they could in theory get it too i think.

dunno about showering but you're pretty much house bound until they scab over so i wouldn't expecting you to be doing anything really physical to work up a sweat to force the need to have a shower.

drdre

Cremo wrote:

mine lasted about a week from the first spot until they scabbed over.

once they scab they aren't contageous (hope i spelt that right) but if someone comes in contact with you with a burst one they could in theory get it too i think.

dunno about showering but you're pretty much house bound until they scab over so i wouldn't expecting you to be doing anything really physical to work up a sweat to force the need to have a shower.

thanks

Miss Fluff

Oh you poor thing. Depends how well prepared you are, I'd be inclined to defer. Make sure your taking all the best treatment, get plenty of rest and GET WELL SOON

4Xcut

If baldnes doesn't run in your family then you can scratch the one's on your head to your heart's content. I did with mine and i just hope i don't go bald cos i'll be left with a very spotty head from the scars

spurious

Try not to scratch them, particularly on your face as they can scar badly.

I would defer the exams if I were you.

drdre

4Xcut wrote:

If baldnes doesn't run in your family then you can scratch the one's on your head to your heart's content. I did with mine and i just hope i don't go bald cos i'll be left with a very spotty head from the scars

drdre

Miss Fluff wrote:

Oh you poor thing. Depends how well prepared you are, I'd be inclined to defer. Make sure your taking all the best treatment, get plenty of rest and GET WELL SOON

I havent prepared at all.I left things too late this year and now got bloody chicken pox.If i defer them then i will have 9 exams in december :eek:

So i might just do afew this semester and leave the rest

Creamy Goodness

also another thing if the itching is bad on your head, get a damp cold towel and wrap it up on your head, calamine lotion is a nuisance in hair (unless you have like short hair).

good luck with the exams

rachums

yoiu should probably defer them. my sister had them just 2weeks ago and shes 20. They mutlipled over night and she had them on the palms of her hands so was unable to write. So was tired all the time and for the first two days vomiting. She could not eat at all because she had them in her mouth and gums and when she drank she could feel them in her! DO NOT SHOWER!!! it makes them worse and they are contagios untill the blisters scab over! inform anyone pregnant you may know as it isnt good to be in contact with them if they are in their first 3months.
good luck!

drdre

rachums wrote:

yoiu should probably defer them. my sister had them just 2weeks ago and shes 20. They mutlipled over night and she had them on the palms of her hands so was unable to write. So was tired all the time and for the first two days vomiting. She could not eat at all because she had them in her mouth and gums and when she drank she could feel them in her! DO NOT SHOWER!!! it makes them worse and they are contagios untill the blisters scab over! inform anyone pregnant you may know as it isnt good to be in contact with them if they are in their first 3months.
good luck!

Thanks , I have over 50-60 new spots, i hope i dont get them on my hand or in my mouth.
I am in the process of trying to get them defered.

metrovelvet

Aveeno Oatmeal bath.

Dont scratch - you'll get scars. Tie oven mitts to your hands if you have to.

drdre

metrovelvet wrote:

Aveeno Oatmeal bath.

Dont scratch - you'll get scars. Tie oven mitts to your hands if you have to.

whats that bath thing you mentioned.

metrovelvet

http://www.amazon.com/Aveeno-Oatmeal-Bath-Treatment-packets/dp/B0000ZHGZM

Or you could just put oatmeal in the bath. Its cheaper.

By the way you probably will get them everywhere. When I got them I had them in my throat, my stomach, in my nose, you name the body part - they were there. Three weeks of hell.

rachums

Baking powder works too. although baths like this tend to dry out your skin making it itchier

metrovelvet

The oatmeal one wont. It has moisturising properties.

drdre

metrovelvet wrote:

http://www.amazon.com/Aveeno-Oatmeal-Bath-Treatment-packets/dp/B0000ZHGZM

Or you could just put oatmeal in the bath. Its cheaper.

By the way you probably will get them everywhere. When I got them I had them in my throat, my stomach, in my nose, you name the body part - they were there. Three weeks of hell.

3 weeks. I thought it was just 1 week :mad:

drdre

metrovelvet wrote:

The oatmeal one wont. It has moisturising properties.

I thought you arent alowed to have a shower :cool:

drdre

just a little update, there loads in my head and on my stomach and back.there bloody getting itchy now
its so bloody annoying

rachums

awh you poor thing. my sis still has the scabs. unfortunetly they dont just go away! and now were the are falling off there a tiny wee holes!

drdre

rachums wrote:

awh you poor thing. my sis still has the scabs. unfortunetly they dont just go away! and now were the are falling off there a tiny wee holes!

Sounds disgusting
But its so annoying,I didnt know itwould be this bad.Ive been in my room for nearly 3 days flat out. On boards and watching movies

bryan79

I've just caught them too! I think I'm a day behind drde.

Can anyone explain how a scar would occur? i.e. how gentle do I have to be? If I scratch around the blister, is that ok?

On a lighter note - any recommendation for day-time TV?!!

rachums

i wouldnt recommend scatching at all!! paramount is good for day time tv!!
scars occur when you pick off the scabs

drdre

bryan79 wrote:

I've just caught them too! I think I'm a day behind drde.

Can anyone explain how a scar would occur? i.e. how gentle do I have to be? If I scratch around the blister, is that ok?

On a lighter note - any recommendation for day-time TV?!!

Mine are nearly finished now im trying to study hard to do the exams on monday.I still have some chicken pox but feel abit better.They werent as bad as everyone in the family told me they were going to be.

metrovelvet

drdre wrote:

I thought you arent alowed to have a shower :cool:

I dont know. I never heard of that. What your not supposed to bathe for three weeks? Thats disgusting.

drdre

metrovelvet wrote:

I dont know. I never heard of that. What your not supposed to bathe for three weeks? Thats disgusting.

No , I hear you cant bath for afew days while the chicken pox are developing as it makes them worse and spread more quickly.well thats what ive heard so im not 110% sure

Shelli

Can I just add here, if you have chicken pox please try to avoid pregnant women, or if you came into contact with any just before the spots showed you should contact them and tell them you have it. It can be very dangerous to pregnant women/unborn who don't have immunity to it.

drdre

Shelli wrote:

Can I just add here, if you have chicken pox please try to avoid pregnant women, or if you came into contact with any just before the spots showed you should contact them and tell them you have it. It can be very dangerous to pregnant women/unborn who don't have immunity to it.

Thanks but theirs nobody pregnant in my family

spurious

I think the problem is that like rubella, it does its damage before the woman knows she's pregnant, so stay away from all ladies of child-bearing age!

I hope you feel better soon.

metrovelvet

Shelli wrote:

Can I just add here, if you have chicken pox please try to avoid pregnant women, or if you came into contact with any just before the spots showed you should contact them and tell them you have it. It can be very dangerous to pregnant women/unborn who don't have immunity to it.

Once they break out they are no longer contagious. Its during incubation that they catch.

Fozzie Bear

drdre wrote:

Im 22 and never got chicken pox before.Since thursday ive for a high temprature and now im getting bloody spots.A family friend (doctor) called over this morning and said its chicken pox and by 1 week it should be sorted.He said for adults its really annoying and painful. What happens when you get chicken pox as an adult as my head has afew spots in it.I would hate to wake up in the morning with 100 spots :eek:

The **** thing is i have final exams starting. 2 on monday, 1 on tuesday
Do you guys think i should sit them or defer them as i cant get much study done

Brings back memories... I got the pox the week before my junior cert all those years ago. They had to get a nice lady to come in and supervise me during my exams in an isolated room. She was a lovely old dear who used to get me cups of tea and even helped me out with some answers! No idea if they would do the same for you in college though.

As for the pox dont scratch them!!!! They drove me soft and you get them everywhere. I had them on my meat and two veg, arse crack, my back, legs, feet, head. Its agony.....I used to get the bread knife at home which had a serated edge and run it across my shoulder blades. It left me with terrible scars which i have to this day. I also have a small hole in the skin on my cheek again from scratching. I feel your pain bud....

G86

god you poor thing, I had the pox not so long ago and I know how much it sucks! make sure you moisturise loads,because I have scars where I didn't even scratch. They normally leave you out of action for 3weeks at least, I'm figuring you're on the mend now, bet your relieved!!!

drdre

guys just to let you know im alright now.Not that many pox appeared but still have afew ,not that many,

Muzzy

Bump,

Just got the the fecking things today, tought I had to flu or something but seen the Spots appear this morning, total an utter pain in the arse, everytime I look in the mirror, there's more, and pratically every web-site is for children.

My one question is, My girlfriend, she doesn't know if she had them before as a child so she may be at risk, if she has cought them off me, then she is in her 2week incubation period before the spots show, that's 2 weeks incubation, 1 week actually sick, we are supposed to be going on holidays in 2 & a half weeks time.

Can she save herself whiles in Incubation?

drdre

Muzzy wrote:

Bump,

Just got the the fecking things today, tought I had to flu or something but seen the Spots appear this morning, total an utter pain in the arse, everytime I look in the mirror, there's more, and pratically every web-site is for children.

My one question is, My girlfriend, she doesn't know if she had them before as a child so she may be at risk, if she has cought them off me, then she is in her 2week incubation period before the spots show, that's 2 weeks incubation, 1 week actually sick, we are supposed to be going on holidays in 2 & a half weeks time.

Can she save herself whiles in Incubation?

I dont think she can save herself now.Im sorry to hear you have them now.they are really annoying

Muzzy

Cheers,

Mine's only starting now so i got it all ahead of me over the next 3-4 days.

My girl-firend is freaking out at this stage, i've been the last two weeks in Incubation, she would have gotten them by now, or really soon at this stage wouldn't she?

Or is it just the 2-3 days before the Pox actually show that one is contagious?

How you gettin on now Doc, any Marks and Scars remaining. How long were ya outta action?

I'm 22 as well!

Wouldn't mind, I cought it at a staff party just over 2 wks ago, we were on Booze Cruise with the folks at work, I didn't wanna go, I had a crap time at it and got a poxy souvineer from it now(pardon the pun!)

G86

aw you poor thing! too be really honest..some of the scars do stay.:( I had it in march and I still have a good few scars..and i didnt scratch. But it depends on the person, i would scar easy enough anyways. I was off work for 2 and a half weeks. Did you get calamine lotion?its a godsend. your gf might be lucky, my bf never had the pox but he didnt catch it off me either and we live togther!

Victor

Guys, you really need to get advice on this from your doctor.

And if you are feeling frustrated, latex gloves are cheap in your local pharmacy.

grahamo

I had Chicken pox as a 17 year old. It was by far the worse disease I ever had. Even now, 20 years later I still have scars on my head, face, and torso. I can still feel the itching and soreness when I think about it.
Its going around at the moment as my kids recently had it. So anyone who hasn't had it before be warned. I would say use calamine lotion and take LOTS of vitamin C as this helps heal the blisters quicker reducing any scarring.