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I think this is interesting but it's neither something that comes up in a typical conversation nor particularly "newsworthy" so I figured why not share it here. I have lived lo these many years without ever contracting chicken pox. Just about every health care provider I've seen over the years has expressed a bit of surprise, maybe even doubt over this proclamation, but I found out in some recent blood work that it is indeed true. When I had my glucose screening to test for gestational diabetes (which I passed) I asked that my blood also be tested for immunity to chicken pox. (The subject came up recently in a conversation with my children's pediatrician, and wonder of wonders I remembered to ask about it when the opportunity to be tested came up.) I remember my mom telling me my brother had chicken pox when she was pregnant with me. He has a few little pox scars to prove it. But I never got it. I even had a good friend who got chicken pox when we were in 8th grade, but I was left unpoxed. For some reason I'm remembering that was around the time McDonald's came out with Chicken McNuggets and I seem to recall a little song we made up about it. Anyway... Now, as an adult, the few times I've thought about it have been during pregnancy, as in, OH NO I better not get it now since it is dangerous for an unborn baby. My midwife told the current baby in utero is beyond the stage where it's of extreme concern (prior to 28 weeks), but Google just informed me that not-good things can still happen if I were to get it in the remaining weeks of the pregnancy (about 10, give or take). I kind of half thought I had somehow acquired immunity, so I was a bit surprised to learn that nope, no such luck. So now I need to remember to get the vaccine after this baby's born. Of course then I'll have so much leisure time to remember things like going to get a shot. Where do I even go, as an adult, to get a chicken pox vaccine? Because from all I've heard, adulthood is NOT the time to be getting chicken pox. Especially not when I have four children to take care of. Another friend has had a couple bouts with shingles and it does NOT sound fun. So somebody remind me, okay? |
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Posted by: Debbie
Penny, what's up. I miss you on the news. When will you be back?
Posted by: Kathleen You remember when McDonalds came out with chicken nuggets? ;-) Posted by: Becky I thought I wasn't going to get the chicken pox.Well,I babysat the day a kid broke out with them.I was in 8th grade.My brother got them after me and was in 9th grade, then my Dad at 40 yrs.old got them.My brother got them the worst. I got upset because he got to stay home longer than me because of a flu bug going around and his resistance being low.Yes you can get chicken pox at any age!Believe it or not the kid I got them from is now a Dr. with 4 kids of his own. Posted by: Sue My first son had chicken pox at 6 months. Just a few pox were all he had. His head have severalplaces,when his hair came back it came in real curly,he looked like a girl. He survived the chicken pox with only a few spots thanks to his cousin who came to visit at the wrong time. I live channel 3 we watch it all the time,seems lately we loose the signal quite a bit. Keeo up the good work. Sue Posted by: Lori Yes, I was actually out of school for two weeks. I have one of the "chicken scratch pads" in a scrapbook in my attic somewhere. My poor mother had to deal with me havin them for two weeks and then the next two weeks my brother had them and then the two weeks after that my youngest brother had them. She dealt with all that for 6 weeks straight!! Posted by: Penny Lori! Yes I remember it well! Seems like you were out of school for a long time. Remember those "chicken scratch pads" McDonalds was giving out- we drew pox marks on the little chicken picture. I can see all our faces so clearly. Silly girls... Great memories! Posted by: Cheryl I am also in the same situation. I have never had chicken pox and am 35 wks pregnant. I am also a RN and worried about being around patients with shingles. I have been tested for the antibodies and don't have any either. I have been vaccinated twice with the chicken pox vaccine, but I guess it didn't work for me! They say some people have natural immunity, maybe we are two of those people... hehe! Good luck with the baby! Posted by: susieq We will remind you. I hear getting Chicken Pox as an adult is even worse than as a child. Posted by: Jackie Just to let you know, you are never too old for chicken pox! I thought as a young mother I had all the childhood diseases, WRONG! At the age of 25 with one child in school and one at home I got mysteriously sick for about a week. Fainted, just basically felt awful. Then just lying in bed after a week of this it hit me like a ton of bricks! I HAD CHICKEN POX! Started breaking out in the bends of my legs and arms believe me I was one sick puppy, for two weeks. There were thousands of spots and my mother in law had to take care of me and my younger daughter, because guess what? She broke out at the same time!! All I can say is your never TOO OLD AND THANK GOD FOR MOTHER IN LAWS! Posted by: Lori I can't believe you remembered about me having the chicken pox in 8th grade and you guys making up that song. Oh, the good times we had. Posted by: Amanda I've never had them either! My mom used to send me to go play with other children who did, and still nothing. I often wonder if I had like one or two... maybe the immunity comes from our corner of the newsroom. ;) Posted by: Debbie My mom had 13 kids and she told me hands down I had the worst case of pox she'd ever seen. I too have bouts with shingles, it's especially bad when it gets the trigeminal nerve, talk about headaches! I had my kids vaccinated, hoping to spare them this misery. I'm sure you can get the shot at your family doctor Penny, and yes pox can be very hard on adults, as can many childhood diseases. Mumps is bad especially for males if it hits after puberty. It can cause sterility. If you have no immunity to measles (Rubella) and are exposed during pregnancy the results can be devastating. I think it's good you brought this up, hopefully other young women will pay attention. Posted by: Clelene As usual, enjoyed reading your blog. Our daughter-in-law has never had chicken pox, and she too was concerned when she was pregnant both times. Maybe I should remind both of you to get a shot, huh? Anyway, I'm wishing you the best of luck with the birth of your fourth and then with being the mother of four. My Mom had six children, and she did a fine job of raising us, and I'm sure you will too! May God bless you and your family. |
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