chicken pox for an adult...

[APBTlover]

I never got chicken pox as a child, although it was before the current pox-vax craze. Almost everyone I knew got it, but somehow, I never ever did. (Robust immune system, maybe? I almost never contracted anything except sinus infections.)

So when I was 17 -- before I was aware that there were even theories that there were some dangers with vaccines -- I got vaccinated against chicken pox. I was frankly afraid of getting infected as an adult, since I know it's supposed to be more dangerous then.

Now, I am in something of a quandary. I've heard so much about the ineffectiveness of the vaccine, and the waning immunity. I've talked to some adults who were vaxed with it and ended up contracting it twice! Needless to say, my faith in my immunity has seriously waned. Which wouldn't be a big problem, but we KNOW we want our future children to acquire natural immunity, so we know we'll be seeking out this virus that I may or may not be immune to.

About a week ago my grandfather was diagnosed with shingles, and it occurred to me: should I infect myself? He's past the contagious stage now, but what do you wise mommas think? Should I attend a chicken pox party? I can't seem to find any resource online that lays out exactly what the risks are to me as an adult, but they're only going to get bigger, right?

[attachedmamaof3]

I would.

If you still don't get CP, you may already have natural immunity from a subclinical infection and may want to consider getting your titres checked.

[ZoeyZoo]

I agree with the PP about getting your titres checked. When I had chicken pox as a child my mom always said she never had chicken pox and was afraid to get them. It turns out that her titres showed she had it and she never knew.

[13Sandals]

Originally Posted by attachedmamaof3

I would.

If you still don't get CP, you may already have natural immunity from a subclinical infection and may want to consider getting your titres checked.

yeah that!! you are most likely immune.

[Lilcrunchie]

I'm in a similar situation. I got my titres checked in high school...nada. Got the vax when I was entering my sr. year in high school.

When I was considering ttc DS, I got a physical and my titre came back high enough (supposedly) from the vaccine still. The dilemma I had at the time was that I was working in pediatric early intervention as a physical therapist. The recommendations for a 2nd vax had started coming out. If I got the 2nd vax, I couldn't be around immune compromised individuals (quite a few of the kids I was treating).

So now I'm stuck wondering when my immunity will wane. I did have some natural exposures to kids that had chicken pox while I was working, and I know that supposedly may act as a natural booster.

My kids aren't vaxed, and I'm in the situation of figuring out when to expose them to chicken pox, and whether or not I'm going to get it and deal w/ complications as an adult with it.

This is why I believe in natural immunity. Getting the vax has further complicated things in my situation...wondering when it will wear off, etc. Many of those individuals who got the vax will be in my situation down the road as well I think.

[New_Natural_Mom]

Though shingles and CP are in the same family of viruses - they are not the same thing. Cold sores are in the family as well as Herpes Simplex 2. I don't think exposing yourself to shingles will really help you.

[APBTlover]

According to this:
:

"People can also catch chickenpox from direct exposure to a shingles rash if they have not been immunized by vaccination or a previous bout of chickenpox. In such cases, transmission happens during the active phase when blisters have erupted but have not formed dry crusts. Herpes zoster spreads only from the rash. A person with shingles cannot transmit the virus by breathing or coughing."

Anyway, it's too late for that now. Unless I find someone else...