I am looking for some advice please. My grand daughter has got chicken pox. I know it is a viral based and because of my AF which is now under control I have stayed away from her. Is this the right thing to do? I feel awful that I can't be there to help my daughter but don't want to make myself ill by catching anything.
Thank you in advance.
Gloria
I believe myself to be generous of spirit and help others but i would keep away from your grandaughter.
There is nothing to be gained by your contact with her and your daughter would not thank you if you fell ill as well.
Thank you. Whilst I have felt awful not being there, for once I felt my health was more important as there certainly is nothing to be gained.
If you had chicken pox as a child you can't usually get it a second time. The virus never leaves your body and it changes to shingles which can come out when you are down. I never had it as a child and caught it from a nephew when I was 35. I was VERY ILL with a temperature of 107 and others feared I may not survive (I was out of it for a couple of days) . I was off work for a month.
Whilst if you had chicken pox as stated it is unlikely you will catch it a second time I agree that your own safety is paramount regardless of having AF or not.
Thanks Bob. I think I did have chicken pox when I was small but am not sure. I have erred on the side of caution and stayed away. I felt so ill when I had a viral infection a month after my ablation last year that I just couldn't face feeling so ill again.
I developed awful earache in my right ear 2,months after my sons had chickenpox. No rash at all but nerve damage due to shingles. It can spread to the eyes and cause blindness apparently. I had to take anti- viral tablets and my GP saw me daily for a week.
Incidentally if you have had shingles it is all the more important to have the shingles jab when you are offered it.
You are right to stay away.
Thank you jennydog. I haven't had shingles so that is another reason to be cautious.
I too agree that you are right that you have kept away from your grand daughter. I have a couple of friends who have had shingles when in their 70's and they were very poorly, one of them caught it from a grandchild (they had had chicken pox as a child). As jennydog has said there is a vaccine that can be given, it is free if you are over 70, I was offered this a few years ago when going for my flu jab and had the vaccination. I think most GP surgeries offer this automatically when you reach 70.
Cassie
Thanks Cassie. I haven't reached 70 well not quite so haven't been offered the vaccine. I am just waiting now to see if the older grand daughter gets it from the youngest one. It could be some time before I am able to see them again!
I had shingles shortly after my first hospital stay with AFib, GP said it would have been the stress that triggered it. I would avoid anything that would trigger it again, it was most uncomfortable!
Thank you Vanna.
Af?
AF 
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