Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
|
|
When I was little, I was always told you could only get chicken pox once. Two of my uncles in their teens then got it a second time. The doctor said it was not that uncommon if someone was very young (like a baby) when they had it the first time if it was a mild case. My middle two were babies when they had it, then got it again when they were in the second grade. My youngest was two, is now 9, and now she has it a second time! Her first case was NOT mild either. The new pediatrician said "oh, you must have been mistaken the first time" so I pulled the pictures out of my purse, then he looked in her records. Now he is confused and says he will get back to me. He acts like my little girl is a freak, if Chicken Pox was not running through the schools like crazy I think he would say she had some strange disease. I love it when a doctor shows he does not know everything.
|
qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 844
Loc: USA
|
|
Yes my oldest son had gotten chicken pox twice. Both times they were bad. The first time when he was a young baby, then the second time as a toddler after my other baby had contracted it. Luckily none of them were in school at the time. Have you immunized your kids with the vaccine? My youngest hasn't gotten it yet, but I did have him immunized. He is 8 now.
|
cloudy
Member
Reged: 11/07/03
Posts: 168
|
|
Both of my kids had them twice also!! They did have a minor case when we lived in the state of Fl. Then we moved up north and they got them a second time (approx. 3 years later...much worse case). The pediatrician didnt think it was that uncommon, especially when I told him how minor the first was. I also had my own idea that because of the geographical move it could have been a different "strain"???
The scary thing with chicken pox is the fact that once you get it you can get shingles later on in life. It is also one of the things linked to Bells Palsy. Strange huh?? Which makes me think that if you get the immunization for it, you put yourself at risk for those things also.
|
537
Threadhead
Reged: 12/08/01
Posts: 778
Loc: west coast CA
|
|
I, myself got chicken pox twice. I had them once, a mild case when I was about 7. My whole family, excluding my father, got them REAL bad. My mom had them all down her throat and could barely breathe, but still managed to work in a smoke every now and then.  I got some pox on my legs and a fever. My pediatrician said it was chicken pox. Then I got them again when I was 15. They were awful that time. I was away on a class trip when my face started breaking out. I thought they were pimples, so I was trying to pop them and they just kept coming. Really freaked me out. Luckily, though, I caught the virus while I was grounded for a month. Easy month on restriction, seeing as I couldn't go out anyway for 2 weeks. Strangely, my father has never had chicken pox. I hear they can be deadly to adults. I hope he never catches it. My kids should be safe from it, though. They have had their immunization against it.
|
qbird
material girl
Reged: 09/02/02
Posts: 844
Loc: USA
|
|
Here in Texas it is required that your kids are immunized against chickenpox to go to school or have had them. So there was little choice. It is so widespread I think the immunization is better than the disease which you will eventually catch if not immunized or have at least had a round of it. I had it bad too when I was about 8. I caught it from my brother. I get shingles still when under a lot of stress.
|
Firefairy
Member
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 147
Loc: Mississippi
|
|
They would not give her the shot with her others. I explained 2 of my other kids had had it twice, would they give it to her even though she had it when she was 2, they said "most likely not necessary". Not necessary my, um, elbow?
|
kittie74
Board Addict
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 310
Loc: Hollywood
|
|
I had chicken pox when I was 18. I kept telling my mom that something was wrong, didn't feel good. She kept telling me I was fine. I finally convinced her to take me to the doctor. He lifted up my shirt, looked at this teeny little spot on my stomach and said 'chicken pox'. I was SO pissed! I spent about 3 weeks in the house. But I was lucky and didn't get too many on my face.
|
lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
|
|
Your poor kids! Not bad enough having it once but a second time as well. Darn childhood diseases! And your pediatrician should have allowed you to vaccinate your youngest child. What's with these doctors???
Oh, the good old days! LOL
I remember when me, my brother and sister all had it at once. Actually, my brother was the first and me and my sister laughed. (shame on us!) And boy, did we get our JUST dessert! My sister got them in her eyes, mouth, and ears! I just remember that intolerable itching, and our folks telling us, "Stop that scratching or you'll scar!" Screw the scarring, I wanted relief! I tried to do everything possible to scratch and go undetected. Ha, ha! I have some marks, but nothing that is hurting this modeling profession of mine or anything. LMAO!
I remember my oldest one having shingles when she was around 5 or so. Oh, how my heart went out to her. I know that must have been so painful, and it was in the midst of the summer, when it was real hot and everything made life unbearable for her. Poor kid. All I could do was try to make things as comfortable as I could for her and give her pain reliever along with a topical to help with the itching.
From what I've come to understand, it isn't uncommon to get the chicken pox twice in your lifetime. I've heard of numerous cases. Different strains though? I'm not sure if there are different strains of chicken pox. Anyone else know?
Hope your kids are feeling better real soon! : )
lemongrass
|
Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
|
|
I never had them. My oldest daughter was 4 when I was preggo with my youngest daughter and we found out she had them. So, I had been exposed. We did a test and I had no natural immunity to them, must never got it. No one knows why. My mom made me play with kids with the pox when I was little, to get it over with, but i never got them. Finally, I was able to get the vaccine when it was available.
I'm sorry your munchins are having to go through this again. My daughter still has some scars from hers. She was one giant Pox!
--------------------
"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
|
night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
|
|
I had the chicken pox as an infant and it was not a mild case, either. I got them again at 18--but that was a mild case.
My kids' school REQUIRES the varicella immunization. Both of my children had it as young toddlers (the immunization) and that was a decade ago. Rarely is chicken pox seen in the school district now.
My son had the very first varicella vaccination, and he DID get chicken pox anyway, but my daughter (who is 10) had the 2nd vaccine and she has been exposed numerous times and not fallen ill to it.
If your children have not already had chicken pox, get them vaccinated. It may save lots of scarring and missed school.
And Firefairy, NOTHING'S impossible. Your child certainly could have gotten the chicken pox a second time. Just avoid aspirin (as you probably know) as it is linked to Reye's Syndrome--especially in children with varicella.
Good luck and give the little one a hug from me! 
--------------------
Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
