Anyone been exposed to SHINGLES while pregnant??

kaekee

What did your doctor have to say about the situation???

leslie&brian

Have you ever had chicken pox?

EnglishMajor03

My mom actually had shingles while I was pg.  She suffered from Stage IV breast cancer and broke out in response to chemo and radiation that she was receiving.  I didn't even tell my doctor because I knew no matter what they said I was going to visit her because I knew she didn't have a lot of time to live. 

Because I knew she had it when I saw her, though, I didn't give her a hug or kiss and kept my distance.  Nothing ever came of it for me, though I know it can lead to some complications for the baby.  Hope this helps.  Let me know if you have any questions.  I'd be more than happy to answer any questions.

satreece

 How exposed were you?

 I have had several patients with shingles since I found out I was pregnant.  Mind you, I work in an outpatient clinic with cancer patients (not in a hospital where I am bathing people, etc).  I think my doctor's exact words were "stay away from people's rashes."  So... I never had physical contact with those patients without gloves on, and never any contact with any of the areas that had open sores. 

If your job involves the possibility of being exposed to people with shingles (or even in your family/personal life these people will come along) - I figure, be cautious with rashes.  But we're all going to be exposed to people that have rashes, that may be shingles waiting to be diagnosed as such... like I said, I'm being careful, more careful than normal... but I can't live in a bubble and I certainly can't stop doing my job...

But I'll say what everyone always says... ask your doctor, they are all different and it's better to play on the side of safety when you've been exposed.

dakota01

I got shingles at 14 weeks with my DS.  It didn't see to be a big deal, I took some medicine and it cleared up in a few days. 

Cloaker

If you've had chicken pox or the vaccine, you're probably fine.

If you haven't, there is a chance you could get chicken pox from someone with shingles BUT you have to have direct contact with the rash when it's blistered to catch it.

I had shingles during my last pregnancy and had contact with a few friends that were also pregnant, so I did lots of research.

leslie&brian

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune. If you haven't had the chicken pox than you're at risk, but you'd have to actually touch the persons rash and blisters to get the virus. Chicken pox itself is passed through the air, and is highly contagious. If you're pregnant and have never been exposed to chicken pox, you'd want to stay away from someone that has the chicken pox. However, shingles is not contagious through the air. You'd have to touch the rash.

kaekee

Based on what I've read, I'm pretty sure I'm fine.  I still thought I'd ask around and see what other experiences are out there.

 

Yes, I've had chicken pox.  The person I was exposed to also did not have any open sores at the time of exposure, if that makes a difference.

leslie&brian

kaekee:

Based on what I've read, I'm pretty sure I'm fine.  I still thought I'd ask around and see what other experiences are out there.

 

Yes, I've had chicken pox.  The person I was exposed to also did not have any open sores at the time of exposure, if that makes a difference.

Then you're fine

kaekee

Thanks!!!

rockchalkbride

I actually had the shingles in the beginning of my third tri....SUCKY.  I was told that I couldn't give it to someone unless they contacted my rash, which was on my chest and back.  I sit right next to a pregnant girl at work and she was fine.  I wouldn't worry about it, but I tell you what, it is NOT fun if you get them!  They are all gone now, thank God!

EnglishMajor03

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune.

This is not true.  I got shingles previous to my pregnancy and had Chicken Pox as a child.

pec308s

I had them in the 2nd Tri as well. Just took some meds and they cleared up. Not fun, by any means, but not harmful either.  And yes, I too have had the chicken pox so that information is not true that you are immune to them. It is a different strand that anyone can get at any point in their life, chicken pox or not.

Cloaker

EnglishMajor03:

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune.

This is not true.  I got shingles previous to my pregnancy and had Chicken Pox as a child.

You can't catch shingles.  When you get chicken pox, the virus can stay dormant in your nervous system.  You get shingles when that virus flares up again - typically when you're immune system is compromised. So, yes, if you've had chicken pox, you obviously can get shingles. 

You can, however, catch chicken pox from someone with shingles if you're not immune.  Having chicken pox during the first half of your pregnancy can cause birth defects, so that's where the concern is.  Having a shingles outbreak - while not fun for the mom - won't cause any problems to the baby.

rosesandpeonies

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune. If you haven't had the chicken pox than you're at risk, but you'd have to actually touch the persons rash and blisters to get the virus. Chicken pox itself is passed through the air, and is highly contagious. If you're pregnant and have never been exposed to chicken pox, you'd want to stay away from someone that has the chicken pox. However, shingles is not contagious through the air. You'd have to touch the rash.

Actually you have to have had chickenpox to get shingles....it is caused from the chickenpox virus laying dormant in your system from when you are a kid.

 https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/ds00098

leslie&brian

EnglishMajor03:

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune.

This is not true.  I got shingles previous to my pregnancy and had Chicken Pox as a child.

You have to have had chicken pox in order to get shingles. The virus lays dormant in your system, and then when you're immunosurpressed or stressed out, it can flare up as shingles. However, if you've had chicken pox you can't catch the shingles from someone else.

leslie&brian

rosesandpeonies:

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune. If you haven't had the chicken pox than you're at risk, but you'd have to actually touch the persons rash and blisters to get the virus. Chicken pox itself is passed through the air, and is highly contagious. If you're pregnant and have never been exposed to chicken pox, you'd want to stay away from someone that has the chicken pox. However, shingles is not contagious through the air. You'd have to touch the rash.

Actually you have to have had chickenpox to get shingles....it is caused from the chickenpox virus laying dormant in your system from when you are a kid.

 https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/ds00098

I understand this. I'm a nurse. If you've never had chickenpox, and you're around someone that has shingles, you can get chickenpox. However, if you have had chicken pox, and are around someone with shingles, you aren't going to get shingles.

She had chicken pox, and was asking if she should be concerned about being around someone with shingles. The answer is no. She's already immune, therefore she can't get chicken pox from the person with shingles.

bethskye

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune. If you haven't had the chicken pox than you're at risk, but you'd have to actually touch the persons rash and blisters to get the virus. Chicken pox itself is passed through the air, and is highly contagious. If you're pregnant and have never been exposed to chicken pox, you'd want to stay away from someone that has the chicken pox. However, shingles is not contagious through the air. You'd have to touch the rash.

 Please please please don't believe this.  I had a nasty case of chicken pox when I was six, and I still got shingles in college.  Shingles is a second stage effect of the chicken pox virus.  If you have been exposed to chicken pox you CAN get shingles.  Like chicken pox, it is unlikely that you will experience it more than once.  If you do get it, go to the doctors quickly.  They can prescribe a topical cream as long as the blisters haven't burst.  If the blisters have burst, the creme won't work.  If that happens, there are homeopathic remedies that you may have some luck with.

rosesandpeonies

leslie&brian:

EnglishMajor03:

leslie&brian:

If you've had the chicken pox you're immune.

This is not true.  I got shingles previous to my pregnancy and had Chicken Pox as a child.

You have to have had chicken pox in order to get shingles. The virus lays dormant in your system, and then when you're immunosurpressed or stressed out, it can flare up as shingles. However, if you've had chicken pox you can't catch the shingles from someone else.

  I was just going to add that myself I forgot to say that in my original post.  You can not catch it from someone else if you've chicken pox, but it does say that if you are pregnant you should still be careful whether or not you have had them or not.

leslie&brian

Again, you have to have had chicken pox in order to get shingles. Someone that has never had chicken pox will not get shingles.

If you have had chicken pox you're immune from the person that has shingles. Lets say I never had chicken pox, and I'm around someone with shingles. I can get chicken pox from them. However, if Sally, who has had chicken pox is around someone with shingles, she's not going to get shingles from that person.  If you've had chicken pox, the only way you're going to get shingles, is for the dormant virus in your system to flare up again.

I'm exposed to shingles often, but because I've had chicken pox, the person with shingles offers no threat to me. Yes, I can still get shingles, but it's not going to be from an infected person. It's going to be because my immune system is shot, and the dormant virus reactivates.

benifer224

I got shingles with my last pregnancy and I had chicken pox when I was a kid. Yes, as a matter of fact my mother has shingles right now. I didn't catch it from anyone it just stays dormant in your system. My immune system just got shot with my last pregnancy over doing it big time.

browneyes_24b

A coworker contracted shingles when I was in my 1st Tri.  SHE emphasized the importance of it not being transmitted easily to me to her doctor, bless her heart.

saraprice

I became very stressed about a month ago and developed shingles.  I freaked out because it can cause harm to the baby.  My doc says that when you have chicken pox as a child the virus remains dormant sometimes never to come back. Extreme stress can cause it to come out.  The docs were not at all worried, and told me to relax since it was a one time thing and I was close to 22 weeks the baby should be fine.  It is extremely rare in pregnancy and extremely painful.  I would never wish it on anyone.

WildHorseFeathers

A co-worker of mine had shingles for a little bit, and he made sure to let me know, from a distance, so I was somewhat prepared. I did not have chickenpox as a kid so it could be deadly for me to get shingles or chickenpox. I had a vaccine when I was 10, but have not had one since, I will have to be re-vaccinated again after baby.