If you have had shingles........

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

and someone in your family caught cp as a result I have questions for you

I currently have a mild case of shingles. So far the only one to come into direct contact with the rash is my dh. It happened before I knew what it was. The thing is dh has never had cp no idea what his immunity status is but his sister contracted cp from a patient at her job with shingles in her late 30's.

I am a bit worried for dh at this point since I know the older you get the worse things can be not that they will be just a higher chance of issues.

My dd had the cp vax because I was bullied into it she is now 9 ds hasnt had it and he is 5. Neither of the kids have came into contact with the rash and because of extenuating circumstances with ds I am choosing not to expose them even though it is a great opportunity.

After all that my question is trying to figure out how many ways you can actually catch cp via shingles. I have read that the only 2 possible ways is via direct contact with the rash or via the saliva. So if someone caught cp from you how was contact made via:

1) direct contact by touching the rash accidentally
2) direct contact by touching the rash on purpose
3) you touching the rash then touching the child
4) by kissing on the person or them eating/drinking after you via saliva
5) possibly/probably both
6) I honestly dont know cant remember contact with either of those
7) someone other than me had shingles that my kids/SO came into contact with via touching the rash
8) someone other than me had shingles that my kids/SO came into contact with via saliva
9) someone other than me had shingles that my kids/SO came into contact with via an unknown way
10) other

[Doodadsmom]

Sorry, I haven't experienced it spreading firsthand this way...I can say that my mother had a mild case of shingles and kept my son for me while she had it, and he didn't catch it. I don't know how much contact they had, though, before she knew what it was.

[k9sarchik]

I had shingles last year and my DS came down with CP. As far as I can remember he never touched my small shingles area which was on my neck but it's possible. It is a very contagious disease.

[sbgrace]

My husband hasn't had chicken pox. He was exposed and had no immunity and they vaxed him. He didn't contract chicken pox. I would have your husband contact his doctor. I believe (if he doesn't have immunity/they can test for that) in this case the vaccine may be the way to go. I'm not pro vax (my kids aren't vaxed) but chicken pox in adults has serious complication rates as you know and you know he was exposed. For me risks of contracted chicken pox outweigh risks of the vax in this situation.

edited to add: never mind...Dr. Sears said vax within 72 hours of exposure will eliminate or decrease symptoms (for adults/older kids at high risk of complications). I think it's been longer than that for him?
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t083400.asp

Looks like if your husband starts any rash he's a candidate for Acyclovir
I hope he stays healthy.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I told him he had the option of taking the vax he wasnt interested in having it. I also mentioned having his titters checked but he wasnt interested in that either.

He was exposed the day he scratched the rash, the 24th, I told him about his options that day.

I am thinking he is in denial about it to a certain extent but it was his choice.

I wasnt able to take the Acyclovir I reacted badly to it the pinky finger on my left hand went numb and I had some very disturbing other things go with it. I hope that if dh needs it he is able to.

[luckysgirl]

I got shingles last December and I still have some patches of the rash on my body. I have a compromised immune system, so I pretty much catch anything and everything possible. The most difficult part of shingles was trying to breastfeed both the kids - but especially DD - because the majority of the rash was on the left side of my torso. So basically, DS got the left boob and DD got the right one. Chicken pox out of the way for one of them, at least.

DH never had Chicken Pox as a kid and he ended up with it was well. He had the vaccination and his symptoms were far less than DS's. It really did help. Too bad that your DH is out of the window, I believe. It really could have helped him, I think.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

luckysgirl if I am reading what you wrote right you where able to get you ds to catch cp how did you keep your dd from catching it? Since cp is caught via so many way even breathing the same air. I am curious in case dh does come down with cp how to keep ds from being exposed.

Did your dh catch the cp from your shingles or at a different time?

I guess I have done my job to well of convincing dh of the dangers of vax. He saw with his own eyes the way dd suffered after being vaxed, severe eczema directly related to each vax she got as a baby, ds was starting down the same path when I learned that it was my choice to vax or not. Ds thankfully has no issues at all like dd because I stopped after the second set of shots when I saw eczema starting to show up on his body. Since dh has eczmea as well I guess he feels that it is to big a risk to get the vax himself.

[New_Natural_Mom]

High doses of sodium ascorbate can mitigate symptoms & complications of chicken pox. I had it as a kid. I would never get the vax. The vax makes you *more* prone to shingles!

[luckysgirl]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

luckysgirl if I am reading what you wrote right you where able to get you ds to catch cp how did you keep your dd from catching it? Since cp is caught via so many way even breathing the same air. I am curious in case dh does come down with cp how to keep ds from being exposed.

Did your dh catch the cp from your shingles or at a different time?

I honestly have no idea how I kept DD was catching it. Pure luck is the only thing I can think of, and I'm not that lucky, despite my sign-on.

DH caught it from me/DS. He's one of those infuriating people who takes one dose of medication and is suddenly all better. Makes me mad every time. Ah, well.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by New_Natural_Mom

High doses of sodium ascorbate can mitigate symptoms & complications of chicken pox. I had it as a kid. I would never get the vax. The vax makes you *more* prone to shingles!

Yep I know I wish I hadnt got it for dd but back then I was more into following what the Dr. told me and I was vaxing as well.

I am taking sodium ascorbate and b complex as well right now since I cant take the anti viral.