Varicella Vaccine - Side Effects

[NettleTea]

When I was 15 (before my mom and I knew better about vaccines) I was given the varicella vaccine. I had yet to have the chicken pox and was told the the older you are when you get chicken pox the worse off you are. Well, I highly disagree. I believe that the side effects of the varicella vaccine are worse than a natural event such as chicken pox. The vaccine, of course, provoked an artificial case of the chicken pox within a few weeks or so. And it seemed to stick around forever. Within two months of taking the vaccine a very strange fungus appeared. I thought it was some of the pox since there were still a few of the spots left at that point. But this was different. These were red, flat spots that remained flat. They itched terribly and spread like crazy. My mom took me to a few doctors. They were confused and didn't have very many answers. One of the doctors said he'd never seen anything like it. And it was also mentioned that it might be something that shows up every five years. Hmmmmm : I was prescribed some sort of allergy cream and given free samples of allegra (allergy medication). Of course, those did nothing to help. My mom finally had enough of the bs and started looking into natural remedies. We begin to use tea tree oil cream and eventually just used straight tea tree oil as the cream wasn't strong enough. I also had oatmeal baths. Within a few days there was a noticeable, slight change in the fungus. Finally, some progress. But that was only the beginning. It was about two months before the fungus was even mostly gone. I was covered in these things. It looked plague-like and it scared my mom. I also got a case of hives in the midst of the fungus taking over my body. To put it lightly, it was miserable. Imagine having a burlap sack tightly woven around your whole body for weeks. And you can't scratch.

Chicken pox lasts only a few weeks or so. I went through this crap for months. I'll take chicken pox any day - whether that be when I am 5, 15 or 65 years of age.

I'll end with my main point. One of the doctors mentioned that it might be something that shows up every 5 years. Well, it appears that he was right (surprisingly). In 2004 (five years after the first ordeal) a few of the fungus spots showed up again. This time I knew what it was and knew what to do and took care of it before it spread. It was gone in a month or less. Well, here it is five years later....and what do I find but these blessed spots appearing again. : I had hoped that by now my immune system would have healed enough to be past this mess as I have changed my lifestyle a lot since and eat much better than I did years ago.

Has anyone else experienced side effects from the varicella vaccine and if so is it anything like what I've described?

[GAmomto5]

The rash you describe, especially since you describe it as a fungus, sounds like what I get from time to time - tinea versicolor. They are flat, hyperpigmented patches that are somewhat flaky and that itch and tend to develop mostly on my chest, under my boobs and on my neck, places where it might stay sweaty and warm. If you get in the sun, the patches will turn white as the skin around them darkens, sound familiar? I had CP at 9 months old so it wouldn't be from the vax. I was told by a dermatologist that the fungus lives on everybody's skin, but certain people develop an overabundance for one reason or another and it develops into a rash. I have had it on and off for years now, and actually have it now because I'm pregnant and my immune system is suppressed. I have tried all kinds of natural and rx meds and nothing makes it go away forever. I'm also blonde-haired and fair-skinned so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

[NettleTea]

That does sound similar in some ways. I'd never had anything like this until two months after the varicella vaccine. I am guessing it triggered something.

[serenbat]

tinea versicolor


my DH has had this since childhood (early teens)--about five years after CP and his sister doesn't (also had CP)- NOTHING gets rid of it!! things help but you have it and Dr. don't give you any real answers about it as to WHY you have it---"oh, it just happens in some people"

summer, warm humid tends to make it "grow"

I think there is a big connection between tinea versicolor and CP!


MY DH's comes out EVERY YEAR now that he is older, use to be about every five years, and last about 3 to 4 months each time.

[queencarr]

DH had that rash, too, for years as an adult, first when was stationed in the Phillipines, and then for years after that off and on (lived variously in FL, ND, TX over that time). Much more often than every 5 years, though. Then, he took a longer course of Diflucan (pill used to treat yeast infections) for a toenail fungus, and has never had a problem with the rash ssince, and it has been years and years. He had a bad outbreak when he started the meds and the results were almost overnight. Might be worth looking at the risks/benefits?

[NettleTea]

Just wanted to mention this for those that deal with these strange spots. I started applying raw apple cider vinegar to the spots and have seen a great improvement. I applied cloths soaked with the raw ACV on and off for hours a few nights ago and the next day the spots were beginning to disappear.