AMS Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 At the ripe old age of 37 & 1/2 my OH has got chickenpox he obviously spent too much time in hospital as a child and not enough time with other children He thought he had flu and then phoned me at work this morning to tell me that he had spots everywhere (and I do mean everywhere ). Our GP has signed him off for a week, prescribed a course of anti-virals and told him not to leave the house - he is currently lying on the sofa with a duvet and a hot water bottle and feeling sorry for himself. I have been to Sainsbury's and bought lots of yummy things to tempt his appetite.. along with calamine lotion, cotton wool balls, anti-histamines, more paracetomol, lucozade etc. Does anyone have any advice please? I've read that chickenpox can be really nasty in adults. My mum has checked her records and apparently I had chickenpox on 10 April 1976, exactly 2 weeks after my brother I'm a bit worried about her though as she was here yesterday and she has terminal cancer and is really not very well at the moment - I have told her to phone her GP in the morning and ask about precautionary anti-virals. Alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I don't think you can do anymore than you are. The anti-virals are supposed to be very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 oh poor lamb I hope you have plenty of patience cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 The only thing i can suggest, other than what your already doing, is using bicarb in tepid baths. Bicarb is excellent at helping to stop itching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I know it's not very nice in adults from when my brother had it in his 30s. Poor hubby hope he is feeling better very soon and that your Mum is ok too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear about your mum xxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Yes, anti-virals if it's caught early are supposed to work well. Cool baths are supposed to help, I know it's chicken pox can be horrible in adults. I have pictures of my little lad as he got it the worst out of my three - he looked like a dot-to-dot picture, luckily apart from the spots he wasn't really ill and he's only got a couple of scars (and that's not from ones he picked either ) I think I'd nag your mum if I was you too, the last thing she needs is to catch this, so sorry to hear about her poor health. Hope the drugs work well for your OH and that your mum stays spot-free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 a few drops of lavender oil in the bath along with tea tree and bicarb of soda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 oh how horrible for him... plenty of sympathy is needed there I think Sorry to read about your mum ((hug)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Poor OH I can sympathise, I had them in my 20s and it was not nice As others have said, you have done everything you can - once he gets over the initial fever it is just about relieving the itching. I used to use chamomile teabags - several in the bath! That eased it a bit. I didn't have antivirals (it was a long time ago now though ), hopefully they will be effective for him. Your Mum should definitely enquire about them as well, sorry to hear about her illness Hope OH feels better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Don't forget good old calamine lotion for dabbing on the itchy spots. Rotten luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Poor hubby I know that calomine lotion can end up leaving you feeling even more itchy as it dries so it might be worth getting a calomine aqueous cream as it is a little bit oily so doesn't dry and pull and tighten the skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 My DH had it as a child and again when he was 29. He was very lucky and only had 3 spots on one arm The Dr still signed him off for a fortnight - he was very happy! No other advice other than what's already been said. Sorry to hear about your Mum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Mr W had chickenpox in his 40's ( the poor doctor tried to keep a straight face) he was off for 3 weeks and was quite poorly ( well he is a man). He had tablets from the doctor and I kept applying the calamine lotion. I don't think there's a great deal you can do apart from letting it take it's course. I don't appear to have had chickenpox or any other childhood illness...........I appear to be immune to all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 A sock of porridge oats run under the tap & dabbed on the spots helped my two greatly with their itchy spots. I hope he manages to cope under your careful nursing - a friend's hubby ended up in hospital on morphine when he got it at 36 ! Hope Mum stays clear.. Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 My Mum had chicken pox in her 30s, had spots in every single patch of skin and inside her mouth, eyelids, other bits we won't mention and then developed meningitis. This was well before the advent of antiviral meds though. However, do keep a close eye on him. The antivirals should shorten the course of the infection. Everyone's advice about soothing lotions and paracetemol is good. As long as your Mum has already had chicken pox she will be carrying the virus anyway and hopefully her immune system will keep it there and also fight any virus she picked up from her visit (after you recover from chicken pox the virus goes and hibernates in your nerve cells where it snoozes for 30 or more years before re-emerging to cause shingles in your later years). However, if she is taking chemo this will impair her immune system making her vulnerable to shingles (from the virus she carries) and I would imagine that she may be slightly at risk from virus picked up from her visit. I would recommend she keeps away from you, but I am not sure that precautionary antivirals would be necessary as she is carrying the virus anyway (as all of us who have had the virus are). It would be worth mentioning it to her health-care team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 your mom needs to speak to her GP because chickenpox could trigger shingles for her if she has had chickenpox as a child - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Can't really add anything except good wishes. My OH had it when he was that age too when our brood got it, not nice he developed a ginger beard because he couldn't shave, he has brown hair, he looked like a troll I thought I hadn't had it either but I must have had a mild case when my friends got it in my teens because I was the only one standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMS Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Thank you for all your kind wishes + advice. OH didn't sleep a wink last night + is feeling very poorly - he now has spots on his eyelids, lips + gums. My mum decided to phone the hospital rather than her GP + is waiting for the nurse to phone her back. Alison PS hope this post works - using the forum from a mobile is a nightmare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 A friend of mine had chicken pox as an adult and was very, very - though not dangerously - unwell. The only suggestion that I would make is: if the household budget will stretch to this, buy three towelling bathrobes with hoods for your OH to wear in bed (I don't mean all at once, of course). The sweating during the fever is just extraordinary, I seem to remember; wearing a towelling bathrobe will be more comfortable for your OH, as he won't be lying in a pool of sweat all the time, and it is easier than changing the bedclothes twice a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Hi My little boy had chickenpox a while ago and couldn't sleep and kept scratching. I was told about Phenergan (sorry if I spelt it wrong). From what I can remember it is prescribed for 'hives' amongst other things, but it was brilliant for calming the spots down and also sleep inducing. I have also heard of it being used on psychiatric wards as a calming medication. I think some chemists will give you the third degree but I just explained to mine what it was for and they were okay. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMS Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Spot update: OH doesn't think that he has any new spots this morning... but then there isn't space for any more Mum update: The hospital didn't phone my mum back so she phoned her GP yesterday afternoon - he says that she isn't really in any danger. I want to believe him but I don't. She has secondary breast cancer in her bones, liver, lung and lymph nodes, the chemo was stopped last month when she was hospitalised for 5 days with an infection in her Hickman line + a UTI and she needs blood transfusions every few weeks. She has a regular appointment at the hospital today so at least she will get a second opinion. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Sorry to hear about your Mum - good that she will get a second opinion today. Carl was very poorly with it when he had it in his twenties - he was on anti-histamines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I really wouldn't advise calamine lotion, as it dries it forms a powder that then flakes and causes itching. Lavender or Geranium oil,one drop in 200mls of cooled boiled water and use that to bath the spots. If there are any spots in the hubbys mouth then lots of ice etc might help. Hope he's all better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
