MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Meece

Good overview, NM.  My son was 7 months old.  The hospital wanted to blame some of us parents because many babies and young children got it, but we put it to gether that it was a nurses' aide was the link between each of our rooms.

The visual rash started with "Slapped faced" rash.  And then on the torso.  My little man had eczema and it took forever to get rid of the results of the rash.

PauldingMom

Since I run a small in home day care I've seen Fifth disease often. I have a small gripe about parents who bring sick kids to day care. I've got one who's sister has strep throat. She is 2 and her Mom brought her in to my day care even though she was coughing, running a low grade fever and had a runny nose. HELLO!!! Just because you give her Tylenol and the fever broke doesn't mean she isn't sick. And since these sisters share everything, doesn't it cross your mind that she probably has strep too????  I allowed her to stay here for a few hours and then insisted she be picked up. Of course now all the other kids and my family have been exposed. Mom's excuse was she wanted the sister to get some rest. 
Okay vent over. If your kids are sick, Tylenol is not a cure all. Keep them home and away from the rest of the general public.

I'm not a doctor, I just play one on B.C..org.   

Meece

My children were exposed to chicken pox at Sunday School.  The mother of the boy who exposed them knew he was running a fever and had been exposed but brought him anyway so she could sing in the chior.  She didn't mention this to anyone, so I was totally unaware that they had been exposed.  I took my little ones to their daycare and we noticed that the little one (whose immune system had always been compromised and frequently ran fevers for no reason) had some dots.  I took them both home, but a couple of days later, the sitter said bring them back, because the other children all had them.  I didn't, but I sure felt bad that we had spread it.

elimar86861

My kids got the pox one month before the vaccine became available.  Bad timing runs in our family.  Whatcha gonna do?

prayrv

elimar,

In my case, they got it 2 months prior to the vaccine - and then promptly gave it to me!!  (I was 32 yrs old)

Trish

elimar86861

The adult pox are said to be even worse than going thru' them as a child.  Of course, this would be adults saying this.  I thought I would get it from my kids too, especially because one got it from a child care, had it first then passed it on to the other.  In other words, I went through two incubations.  I did NOT have chicken pox as a kid and was sure I'd get the severe adult version, but I never did.

The only explanation that I can think of is that I was exposed as a child (and I do remember my neighbors being quarantined on their porch) but that it was so minimal that I never developed any symptoms.  Either that or I have a natural immunity.  Weird.

prayrv

I was lucky in that I did not have a severe case of it.  It was torture waiting to see if symptoms would show (my mother couldn't remember if I had the mumps or chicken pox as a child).  Guess it was mumps!

OG56

Hello Everybody,

I just finished reading the last few pages and am impressed by the "six degree's of seperation" to Nebraska. My DD and I actually went to the zoo a couple of months ago and it has so many new venue's. Who would have thought so many women on this thread would have lived in the Cornhusker state!

I have to get the flu shot (never had it before) and the Pertusis vaccine before the baby is born! My arms are going to be to sore to hold him!

Hello to all the new posters, so sorry you had to seek out this site, but it will make make you laugh and make you cry and educate you all at the same time.

Linda                                                                                                         

Meece

Linda, the minute you see that new baby you are going to forget all about the pain in your arms.

Somehow I was exposed the chicken pox when I was young, and I brought it to my family.  Worst part was my Daddy didn't know if he had ever had them so he couldn't be around us.

I had heard that if you had at least 200 spots that it made you immune.  My older two had 250-350 each, but my poor baby.  I lost count at 700, and used a sponge brush to paint on the Calamine.  He had had surgery 8 weeks prior and even the scar running up his chest had pox on it.  He was also in diapers which must have been miserable because his little bottom was covered with dots.

Raj20

Elimor !  the way how you encouraging the survivors is very interesting and mind blowing. You know, one and all   need such type of support everytime which makes them  so relief. And now I am also really flying high  because I have completted more than 5 and half years of fighting BC.It is tough. But, after I join this thread, I can learn how to carry myself without any hindrance.I am now able  take it simply, relaxing & easily  able to forget those pains by joining the breast cancer forum.Almost half life gone doing nothing for other people but now I feel so good with a strong feeling of doing something for others . We all got connected through one or two lines, its  really a new life for me and  easy way to  spend the remaining days of my life. Thanx.

3jaysmom

i have a chicken pox story, also. my middle son got encephalitis from that; and was in peds. icu at 4. finally, after five days, i went hime to clean up, and kiss my other babies, who my mom was watching at my home. low and behold, my youngest, 2 then, had a little rash; and off to the hospital w/ him... they both survived, it was a huge scare, however. both of them in isolation, i'd go to ones room, then off to the showers, wash up w/ antibacterial, and gown up to see other child,.. then, back to showers to decontaminate myself. husband came to hospital exactly twice.. and one was to have elders lay hands on them. that, i appreciated. sitting outside praying for them to survive, i did not. God answered my prayers, and they are both grown men now. the middle son ended up catching chicken pox 2 more times after that; but mild cases.

elimar86861

rajkumari, well, they didn't hand me any rules on how to make a thread here.  It was important to me to find a way to laugh about some of the horrible stuff we have to go through because of B/C.  We all had our time of crying about it, that's for sure!  I could not ask for a better group of sister-women who post on this thread.  They definitely helped me through my treatment.  Congratulations to you on reaching the five year NED point! 

PauldingMom

My oldest brought home the pox when my two younger girls were not yet in school. He had a good yet mild case. My youngest though, poor thing had it so bad. She had them in her ears, mouth, nose even inside her little private. She spent days in the bath tub full of oatmeal. She still has scars 16 years later.

NativeMainer

Elimar-a lot of kids get what we call "subclinical" cases of chicken pox, meaning none of the major symptoms but develop immunity anyway.  I remember getting chicken pox at 16.  I was sooo upset that I had to go back to school with my face looking like I had major acne!  Chicken pox in adults can cause a horrible form of pneumonia that can kill, but the vaccine was created so that non-immune women would not be exposed during the early stages  of pregnancy, when the virus can do a lot of damage to the developing fetus.  Side benefit-if you don't get chicken pox you can't get shingles!

OG56-join the club, sort of!  The immunity we get from the pertussis vaccine as kids fades over time.  By the time we're in our 40's we have no immunity to pertussis anymore.  I was taking care of a baby with pertussis one summer and got it myself.  I was miserable with wracking cough and tought I was going to die at times, and then couldn't wait until I did because it would HAVE to feel better!  With the growing trend of not vaccinating kids against pertussis, it's popping up here and there, and kept going by adults without adequate immunity. 

Meece-your poor baby!  I hope he didn't have the sores in his throat like I did!  Chicken pox was the worst Christmas present I ever got-one of my cousins exposed the entire family-all 8 grandkids at once! 

Meece

I just pulled out some pictures I took of Baby DS when he had the pox.  So sad.  One of them shows him lying in a shallow tub with Aveno in it, and taking a breathing treatment from his nebulizer. We spent a lot of time with me sitting in the bathroom floor by the tub as he soaked. He wasn't two yet, and looks so pitiful!  I don't recall looking in his mouth, but they were in his ears, and every external nook and cranny.  He survived, although there was a time was were in doubt (not because of chicken pox).  He now stands nearly 6'3" and weighs a whopping 160!

Raj20

Thanks Elimor  for  sharing with me. It is nice and feeling good.

CherylQ

Hi ladies, Chickenpox is one of the most deadly childhood diseases around.  The number of pustules you see on the skin are also covering the internal organs of the body.  That is why it is important to get vaccinated.  If you had a very mild case of chickenpox as a child, you may get a secondary case as an adult.  This is one of the worse childhood disease and if your immune system is compromised, be very careful.

Take care,

Peace and Laughter,

Cheryl

Eph3_12

Elimar-looks like my neighbor lady was visiting you.  Clothes are certainly similar!

theresap60

CherylQ - I had no idea the chicken pox were also on internal organs.  I had them as a child and hope that's it.  My children had them.  My grandchildren had the vaccine.

marlegal

Raj, nice to meet you, I don't think we met up before in here. I work with an Indian woman and know how private your culture is for the most part.  I'm so glad you are sharing with us in here. Our diagnosis is almost identical, so i adopt you as my twin!! 

Eph, I hope you are continuing to heal as well as can be expected. 

I met up with some women from the chat room in Virginia last week.  As always it was a trip for the memory banks forever.  To any of you reading this, if you get the chance ot meet up with women from chat or from the boards, DO IT.  The connection you feel is amazing, and hell, we're just really cool chicks at the end of the day, so why not share our awesomeness???  LOL

Eph3_12

my physical therapist called me her gold star patient of the week! amazed @ my range of motion-said some people with my injury NEVER get as much ROM back ever, much less 1 week post-op! I'm feeling good about that!  on my way to homecoming football game! have a good weekend!

marlegal

Joni, I'm sooooo glad for your progress.  Keep it up girlfriend.

elimar86861

Hey Eph, glad you are on the mend.  Do me a favor and tread carefully on those stadium steps!

elimar86861

I'm volunteering at a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk tomorrow.  I figured I would give it a whirl and my son is doing it with me.  We are helping out, not walking.  Inserting small icon here...

                                                 

There now, that wans't too Pinktober-y for anyone, was it?  I heard I will be getting a black t-shirt.

marlegal

LOL...love the topper page pic!!!!   As for small pink remembrances, which i  usually hate, i like that one Eli, thanks.   smooch to all and love over that even

elimar86861

This particular scarecrow reminds me of our Faithie, don't ask me why.  She might think I am a little off when she reads this. Haha, or should I say Caw, Caw!

                                           

dawney

love the scarecrow pic!!

brazos58

Hello to ALL

I am trying to find a home here on BCO. Maybee this is the splace! I am 52, RN, married with 2 sons 18/22, 2 cats.  I love yard work, following jam bands, working on my Mustang, reading, Quiet.

i had a BMX/ no recon on 6/21. I know NO ONE in real life that has had surgery that is alive.... I find great comfort hanging in here,.... knowing in cyberspace that we exist.

I am blessed and feeling gratitude that I was spared chemo.... I opted out of rads as it was just somewhere I could not go.

I am having alot of problems with chest tightness... the wire like feeling....and ripping down my armpit with stretching. Just finished 6 weeks of LE/PT to get my range of motion back and work out the cording (( evil !!!))) from Axillary Web Syndrome.... Just vacuuming, riding the tractor mower and weed wacking ( the worst) leaves me with a puckering muscle spasmed tight chest....

Can anyone tell me... when I will get back to hauling ass? Like washing and detailing my mustang, Mowing and having yard days.... just cleaning my house?  Like I did before surgery???

I go to the Fitter this week.... I get a sinking feeling when I think about it. I need a LE/ sleeve and gauntlet on the right. Some chest protection for hypersensitivity.... and something comfy and soft for some Foobage for going out for occasions. I have been flying around home and local braless.

I look forward to not gaurding my chest. I am in Kung Fu warding.... Just please dont bang or poke me.

Yesterday I found i was cleaning my family room and powder room for the first time in 6 months. Dear God, I live in a Frat House...

I wish you all Blessings and Peace of Mind on this Journey

Happy Weekend!

ToriGirl

Welcome Brazos!

You have truly found a place for comfort, advice, and a world of knowledge from some extraordinary women!

I can not answer your questions about BMX, but I know that they will be along soon to answer your questions and cheer you on during this journey!  Thats what we are all here for!

Peace and prayers,

Tori

DE COLORES! 

Carrol2

Brazos I had a BMX 68 days ago still kicking lol. I am day 12 of my first chemo now. They thought my cancer was 7cm in the MRI but the pathology showed only 1.2 cm and no  nodes. My oncotype was a 31 so that is why chemo. So my prognosis looks good for the future especially with chemo and then hormone pills. Then onto recon.