Chicken Pox

Would it be any good ringing the surgery?
We had twin DGS having chicken pox one after the other a couple of weeks ago and we were staying in the house. DH takes the same steroid you mention and we knew nothing about avoiding chicken pox - he has had it himself and also shingles - wonder if that makes a difference.

Will keep my eye on this thread incase someone can tell us more. So far DH is OK - probably out of the incubation period now.

I think you should check it out with a professional, ring the surgery and if you are with one of those ones you can't get to talk to a doctor call 111.

The problem is chicken pox is contagious before you see the spots, so even though your husband hasn't had much contact since the outbreak he could still have caught chicken pox.

Has your husband already had chicken pox? If he has he shouldn't have too much to worry about, but if he has never had it it is vital that you letter his doctor know due to him being on steroids.

My 16 yr old has a very low immune system so I have to be very careful who he is around, and he has often been on steroids, and this lowers the immune system even more. Certain illness's can make him become very ill to the point he ends up i hospital, so your husband needs to be very careful while on prednisolone. Contact your GP to see what they say.

My gd as just had chickenpox I was taking steroids dr said to avoid contact until all spots were dry which I did and then had minimal contact for another week .

When I had shingles ourvdoctor arranged for a prescription for Acyclovir (anti viral) to be faxed to the nearest Boots to where DH was working in Poole at the time (as he had been home for the weekend) bcause he is on immunosuppressants.
May be worth a mention? I was also prescribed it and it made an enormous difference to the pain and duration of my illness. I know shingles and chickenpox are not the same illness but they are the same virus.

Thanks all. We're in the clear - for now. Little beggar has got better! Last evening when I left there were spots starting to get heads and we thought they'd be ouzing nicely by today. But overnight they vanished! Not a sign! An unblemished GS. And no re-occurrence during the day. Appetite back and full of beans! I will ask the doctor' advice when I see him for future reference. GS had three or four spots on his face a few weeks ago which acted like classic Chicken Pox but the nurse said.it wasnt as it was only on his face. This time was the doctor's diagnosis but it may have been another passing virus so the Chicken Pox is yet to strike!

There is a chicken pox vaccine
It is not on NHS in this country but available through some chemists.

DD payed private (chemist) for meningitist vaccine for both her boys as they were passed the baby stage when it was introduced on NHS for infants.
She had also booked for the chickenpox vaccine but both boys got chickenpox from nursery

If the vaccine was provided for children on the NHS it would probably prevent shingles later in life
As in order to get Shingles you would have had have chickenpox (the virus remains dormant in the body )

DH takes Aciclovir everyday because his chemo means he is at risk of shingles. Didn't see the family for two weeks recently because all the GSs had chicken pox.

Deedaa Did you see the family on your own? My concern was whether I could carry the pox. There was no alternative but for me to continue to help the family as the other mum has her own health problems and DS has used all his holiday entitlement until the end of this month. He's getting no support whatsoever from his firm - the reverse in fact. I really don't know how they'd cope without us mums.

I will ask the doctor is the vaccine is available privately. He may say it's not necessary as DH is on a decreasing dose.