I have had Chicken pox has a child but my grandaughter has gone down with it and I look after her is this a problem if I have Lupus.

[Gillyg]

I have Lupus, SS and Fibromyalgia and on a cocktail of drugs including prednisolone. It is very hard not to look after them or see them just because they are ill if I have already had it. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi GillyG, yes, is the answer. I am always warned about this because of the meds. Our defences are low and not good with any infection. I'm sure other members will speak of their experiences in a positive way, but not all of us have the same level of immunity. When I was first on aza then metho, I was told to go to A&E, if I know I have been in contact with chicken pox. I asked my GP about this and they said it would be wise to follow that advice if GP surgery was not open. This does also apply to the steroids. I have had chicken pox twice as a child, but they said it made no difference. Thankfully I have not had this risk, and wonder what you would do if it were one of your own kids.

[Chapter]

If you have had chicken pox already then you can get shingles instead and you don't want that either. It will be very hard to look after them if you are ill as well. You are at risk in this situation.

[Hidden in reply to Chapter]

I agree chapter, I wanted to say, shingles as well, but someone once told me recently that it is not the same virus. As kids, me and my siblings got chicken pox together, but our older brother who has health issues, got shingles instead. The dr said it was because of the prednisolone. He was very ill.

[Wendy39]

I thought chicken pox and shingles were the same virus. But you have to have had chicken pox first, to later get shingles. The bodies immune system doesn't completely clear the virus, after chicken pox, it lays dormant in nerve endings and years later, if you are run down (or you have a weakened immune system) it can re-appear as shingles. You can get shingles more than once and it is not very pleasant. I had it in February this year. If you get to the doctors you can get an anti-viral medication which can help reduce the symptoms but it can take a long time to recover and sometimes the pain in the nerve endings can last over a year. Also, my daughter caught chicken pox from my shingles. I would say check with your GP it rheumy rather than make yourself poorly. Best wishes.

[Gillyg]

Thanks everyone. I will go and have a talk to my doctor. Keep well all.

[TEDDYM]

I had chicken pox when I was a child. I then caught them again a couple of years ago. I was told by my GP that you can get chicken pox more than once and also get shingles more than once. She said it was due to my reduced immunity. You can get anti viral medication, to reduce the effect of the chicken pox's, but they were still awful.

[Limerick5]

All my kids had chicken pox and a few weeks later I got shingles very sore I hope you don't get them but watch out and go straight to you gp hope this helps