In the ongoing saga otherwise known as my general health, things just seem to be going from bad to worse. I weathered the sore throat and sniffles with the Big-Eyed Boy, coming down with them far worse than he ever did. Just as I was feeling better, I woke to find myself covered with itchy red spots everywhere.
Yes, folks: I have chicken pox. No, I haven’t had them before — and yes, they are miserable. Both the Big-Eyed Boy (who was vaccinated against them) and VH think it’s rather funny the way I keep squirming, wiggling and writhing to ease the itching without actually scratching. Personally, I don’t appreciate the humor.
The good news: I feel so crappy that it’s making it rather simple to keep my New Year’s Resolution to quit smoking.
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007, 10:02 am | 
My Venomous Life | 
RSS feed
Comments and pings are currently closed.
January 2, 2007 at 10:45 am
So incredibly sorry to hear about the pox. We spent two rounds between thanksgiving and Christmas with them and it’s miserable. Benadryl and oatmeal baths worked best for us. Although if you catch it within 24-24 hours of your first sots they can prescribe something to ease the breakout and speed recovery.
Good luck!
January 2, 2007 at 11:17 am
Well, I’m too late to get that prescription, but I’ll give the oatmeal bath a try. I’ve been taking antihistamines already for the itching — with the resulting brain fog, drowsiness, etc. Calamine hasn’t helped much, so I put some baking soda in a spray bottle with water and have been spraying that liberally everywhere I itch.
Now if I can just break this fever so I can stop sweating (which only increases the itching) I might actually be able to fall asleep and forget about the itching for a while.
January 2, 2007 at 12:32 pm
for just about any itch-based malady:
Hot as you can stand it for as long as you can stand it water is a delightful, if temporary relief.
January 2, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Not sure if it will work for you, but when my elderly Mother had shingles, (which about drove her mad) she applied straight antiseptic mouthwask (brand name I’m not mentioning)with a wash cloth. You could try diluting with some water.
Also for some itching I had, witch hazel was a great help.
Good luck, Kate.
January 2, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Thanks for the suggestions, William and Sue! I just found a bottle of Band-Aid Itch Relief Gel Spritz in our first aid kit. I’d used it when my son got poison ivy this summer — it was the only thing he’d let me put on. The main ingredient is camphor, which provides a really nice cooling effect, and since it’s a spray I’ve been able to get it on some of the spots in hard-to-reach places. Those are the worst!
January 2, 2007 at 1:58 pm
VK:
I had ‘em over my 16th birthday. One word: Benadryl. As needed. Follow the directions, yadda-yadda.
I’ll reduce the over all itching to the level of a bug bite or two.
Good luck. I was down for about 3 weeks. It’s way worse for adults than kids.
As for not smoking… it should be easier when you’re feeling better, ’cause you’ve already been thru the withdrawal while you were poxed. I quit during a 10 day bout with the flu 18 years ago. Just decided not to start again.
January 2, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Just took two Benadryl, Leelu, and you’re right: the itching has significantly diminished. I feel brain dead, and can barely keep my eyes open, but that’s SO much better than the itching!
And, as you pointed out, there is a bright side in this: I haven’t had any bad nic cravings yet.
January 2, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Oh crap! That sucks big time, Kate.
The only thing I can recommend is Calamine Lotion – lots of it.