[sciencemum]

<p>My reason for starting to investigate vaccinations online was to work out how to get my son a chicken pox vaccine in the UK (where it's not available on the NHS routinely). Our daughter had got it int he US so I was surprised to discover this difference when we moved to the UK. I worked out it would cost ~£150 to get the vaccine, and kind of paused there uncertain if I should do that or not. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I feel stupid now. </p>
<p>We have chicken pox. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Daughter (who got dose 1 of the vaccine in the US and has never had chicken pox) is fine, but son is covered in icky spots. He doesn't seem too sick yet, but he's excluded from daycare (with good reason) for at least 4 days (possibly 5). Effective cost of that (ie. what we pay for that amount of daycare): £120-£150. Should have through of that when I was worrying about the cost of the vaccine. Grumble. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And more important than that, I couldn't pay for the Mummy/Daddy hugs for this confused child covers in itchy spots. So we're off work of course. And I don't have the kind of job I can write that off - I'll have to squeeze stuff in around staying home with him. His Dad and me will be splitting the time off work (we both have full time jobs). </p>
<p> </p>
<p> I hope he stays without significant other symptoms or complications. I already read what to watch out for, and we broke out the calamine lotion for the spots too. We're indulging in TV and his favourite food for lunch today. He's currently jumping off the sofa so I think is doing OK for now!   </p>

 

[teacozy]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/t/1397656/grumble-chicken-pox#post_17571899" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>prosciencemum</strong> <a href="/community/t/1397656/grumble-chicken-pox#post_17571899"><img alt="View Post" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br>
 
<p>My reason for starting to investigate vaccinations online was to work out how to get my son a chicken pox vaccine in the UK (where it's not available on the NHS routinely). Our daughter had got it int he US so I was surprised to discover this difference when we moved to the UK. I worked out it would cost ~£150 to get the vaccine, and kind of paused there uncertain if I should do that or not. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I feel stupid now. </p>
<p>We have chicken pox. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Daughter (who got dose 1 of the vaccine in the US and has never had chicken pox) is fine, but son is covered in icky spots. He doesn't seem too sick yet, but he's excluded from daycare (with good reason) for at least 4 days (possibly 5). Effective cost of that (ie. what we pay for that amount of daycare): £120-£150. Should have through of that when I was worrying about the cost of the vaccine. Grumble. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And more important than that, I couldn't pay for the Mummy/Daddy hugs for this confused child covers in itchy spots. So we're off work of course. And I don't have the kind of job I can write that off - I'll have to squeeze stuff in around staying home with him. His Dad and me will be splitting the time off work (we both have full time jobs). </p>
<p> </p>
<p> I hope he stays without significant other symptoms or complications. I already read what to watch out for, and we broke out the calamine lotion for the spots too. We're indulging in TV and his favourite food for lunch today. He's currently jumping off the sofa so I think is doing OK for now!   </p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>Hugs!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sorry to hear your little guy has chicken pox.  At least it doesn't seem like a super bad case, but the time off from daycare/work sucks.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oatmeal baths really helped me when I had them, although I'm sure you've probably already thought about that ! </p>

 

[Dakotacakes]

<p>Sorry your little guy is sick.</p>

 

[sciencemum]

<p>I hadn't thought about oatmeal baths actually. Will look into that. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>He's OK. He's napping right now. The spots are kind of freaky though - pus filled and nasty looking. I'll be glad when this week is through.  </p>

 

[teacozy]

<p>This thread kind of reminds me of this post I saw on Reddit that a woman did several months ago about getting chickenpox for a second time as an adult.  Talk about painful!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Her Day 1:  (I'm not going to post her whole gallery, I'll provide a link for those who are interested) </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324653/"><img alt="" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="324653" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324653/width/500/height/700/flags/LL" style="; width: 418px; height: 700px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Day 5:  OUCH! She did end up going to the hospital at this point as the whole right side of her face got swollen. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324654/"><img alt="" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="324654" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324654/width/500/height/700/flags/LL" style="; width: 418px; height: 700px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>And her scars 1 year later.  Not too bad considering.... </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324655/"><img alt="" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="324655" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/324655/width/500/height/700/flags/LL" style="; width: 500px; height: 667px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's a link to her original post on Reddit : <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/1lerk5/" target="_blank">http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/1lerk5/</a></p>

 

[chickabiddy]

<p>I'm sorry your baby is ill.  I second the recommendation for oatmeal baths.</p>

 

[Katie8681]

Baking soda baths can help, too. Sorry for your troubles!

 

[rednightingale]

<p>I know I've declared myself as a selective/delayed vaxer, so I hope it's okay for me to post my support for you here. I'm sorry that your little guy is sick with the chicken pox. I wouldn't beat yourself up and feel stupid though - it's hard when you move countries and the schedule is very different. That sounds really frustrating to not be able to get the vaccine that you decided you wanted for your child covered under NHS. And doubly frustrating to be having to work out how to minimize the difficulty posed by having to take the time off work, especially when it can take a while for the pox to clear. My heart really goes out to you. He will most likely be just fine; everyone I knew got the chicken pox when I was little, myself included, and I don't even remember being really sick. Mostly just annoyed that I couldn't go anywhere or play with my friends. Also really itchy. The oatmeal baths are a good idea. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I do find it strange that there isn't even one dose of the varicella vaccine on the schedule in the UK though - is it quite common then for all kids to get chicken pox over there still?</p>

 

[sciencemum]

Thanks for the support and suggestions. Tried the oatmeal bath this morning. Son was not keen, but maybe it helped.<br><br>
Cp is routine in the UK. The vaccine is only offered to kids at special risk of complications, or living with immuno compromised adults. So we sort of new he'd get it eventually.<br><br>
I think he'll be fine too. But his spots look nasty and he's very upset about it so if have preferred to avoid it. Oh well.

 

[OrmEmbar]

<p>Hugs to you and your kiddos.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My kids did not like the cloudy oatmeal bath, but they did like it when I tied oats into an old soft handkerchief and let them squish it in the water. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If there were really itchy spots I used an ice pack covered in a thin cloth to help give some relief without scratching.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A secondary bacterial infection is what I look out for.  I've had good success with herbs in preventing this.  PM me if you would like info or a referral to an herbal practitioner close to you.</p>

 

[nia82]

<p>I'm a select-delayer too but wanted to say I hope they feel better soon! I have had varicella vax 4 times and no antibodies. Maybe your kids are non-responders like me. As for recovery, my friends' kids had it last year with minor pocks and quick recovery. They did oatmeal baths and distractions galore. I think they wore long sleeves and pants, even though it was hot, thin ones, to mitigate scratching that kids unavoidably do.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rednightingale, many EU countries do not have varicella on the schedule. And even where it is, it's not mandatory. I can all but one family I know back home opted for varicella; it's usually a pick and choose kind of deal. </p>

 

[sciencemum]

Well a month later and I genuinely find it hard to understand how anyone could prefer this over the tiny risk of the vaccine.<br><br>
Kiddo still has a couple of nasty spots needing to heal, remnants of the rest mostly still visible, and what looks like a permanent scar on his nose. More seriously now he has varicella dormant in his nervous system ready to emerge as shingles one day.<br><br>
And I'm still grumpy about it all in case you can't tell! <img alt="wink1.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/wink1.gif">

 

[teacozy]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/t/1397656/grumble-chicken-pox#post_17589084" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>prosciencemum</strong> <a href="/community/t/1397656/grumble-chicken-pox#post_17589084"><img alt="View Post" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Well a month later and I genuinely find it hard to understand how anyone could prefer this over the tiny risk of the vaccine.<br><br>
Kiddo still has a couple of nasty spots needing to heal, remnants of the rest mostly still visible, and what looks like a permanent scar on his nose. More seriously now he has varicella dormant in his nervous system ready to emerge as shingles one day.<br><br>
And I'm still grumpy about it all in case you can't tell! <img alt="wink1.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/wink1.gif"></div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>Sorry to hear he still has spots.  Sounds like he had a worse than normal case?   Did your daughter ever end up catching it? A mild case even? </p>

 

[sciencemum]

I don't think it's a worse case. I expect most of the marks from the spots will fade eventually.<br><br>
Daughter didn't have a single symptom. She got the first dose of the vaccine before we moved from the USA to UK.

 

[mamabear0314]

<p>I'm a nonvaxer but thought I'd let you know that calamine was awesome for my kids when they had pox. They didn't have such a serious issue though, they didn't even know they were sick! Calamine effectively controlled the itching and baking soda baths. </p>

 

[ma2two]

<p>Oatmeal baths worked great for my kids. Put dry oatmeal in a sock, tie the end, and squeeze it under the running faucet. Soothing <em>and</em> fun,  Strawberry ice cream and movies also seemed to help a lot. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had read somewhere that calamine was suppressive, so we used it sparingly.</p>

 

[LitMom]

<p>That's a bit of a worse case than DH or I had as children, or our siblings. No scars, nothing visible by day 10. One of my children got the vax and the other didn't for allergy reasons and got CP. However, they were so mild that they weren't sure that it really was that and not bug bites (we had been camping, and she had bug bites too). But a few months later, she had immunity on a blood test, so we presume that's what it was. My understanding on the decision not to put it on the UK schedule is for public health reasons, as shingles starts becoming more common in a country, and at younger ages, when children begin getting the vaccine. I hope he makes a full recovery and no scars! </p>