FMIL has the shingles

MissJackieMeri · October 2013

So my FMIL has the shingles and I was around her all last weekend not knowing this till Monday of this week. I've had the chickenpox as a child so I don't believe I'll get the shingles. But it does worry me more for my unborn child. I'm 37w & 4d.

I've called my doc already to asking what are the precautions I should take being around her or if I should be around at all. So my question is... What would y'all do? Or any advice.

She wants us to come over to carve pumpkins before my son is here which is EDD is 10/21. But if she still has the shingles, idk if I want too.

ILoveBoys · October 2013

Lurking:: if you've had chicken pox AND her sores are already scabbed over/covered up, you're fine. I took care of a patient that had them when I was pg. But I'd wait for a call back from your dr.

MissJackieMeri · October 2013

@ILoveBoys Thanks for the feedback. I researched it but it still scares me since this is my first and wanted to be sure!!!

HFrizzle · October 2013

Just because you've had chicken pox doesn't mean you can't get shingles. The virus is already inside you and is dormant. As long as you didn't come in contact with any of her weeping sores, you should be fine.

See what your doctor recommends though. I would trust them more than the opinions of a bunch of Internet strangers.

babymama619 · October 2013

I'm pretty sure you have to have had chicken pox in order to get shingles. I've also heard it's horribly painful and awful. Stay away until you doc give you the all clear.

ILoveBoys · October 2013

Yep. I've had both chicken pox and shingles (age 20). They ARE awful. I can't imagine having them as an elderly and/or unhealthy person. I did forget to mention to not touch them but figured she wouldn't be real eager to do that.

RNmommyof2 · October 2013

I had a shingles exposure earlier this pregnancy as well. I had chicken pox already, so I'm good and my girls have both been vaccinated, so no problem. Being exposed to shingles cannot give anyone shingles, but it can give them chicken pox if they haven't had it already.

hjweber · October 2013

RNmommyof2 said:

I had a shingles exposure earlier this pregnancy as well. I had chicken pox already, so I'm good and my girls have both been vaccinated, so no problem. Being exposed to shingles cannot give anyone shingles, but it can give them chicken pox if they haven't had it already.

This.

heaven22tw · October 2013

I thought shingles wasn't contagious!?!? Please post an update:)

MissJackieMeri · October 2013

I got a call back from my doc. She told me to wash my hands constantly while being around her- of course I do anyways. And she also told me since I've had full blown out CP that I wouldn't get it again.

Just like @HFrizzle said, it's dormant under your skin and can come out as shingles if stressed or your immune system is weak but not till your later years in life apparently. She also told me the only ones they would be concerned with is ppl who haven't had the chicken pox bc my FMIL can give someone the CP through direct contact of the sores.

MissJackieMeri · October 2013

somerandomchick said:
The thing you definitely need to be careful about, sadly, is not letting her near your LO until she's completely not infectious anymore, since I see you're 37+ weeks and therefore could go anytime.

Pox is a pain for toddlers to get but it can be DEADLY to newborns. I know its probably a bit heartbreaking for her if she doesn't get to meet her grandchild right away, but you CANNOT let your baby get chicken pox.

Yes ma'am! And that was one of my main concerns! But she knows already she can't be around him or even hold him. Luckily she doesn't leave her hometown so I don't have to worry about her coming to the hospital or to our house since we live an hour & half away from her. And if she does I will let the nurses know what is going on. My first priority is my sons health before anyone else.

ILoveBoys · October 2013

estreyas said:

MissJackieMeri said:

Your doctor is not giving you entirely correct information. Chicken pox is airborne, and you *can* get it more than once. The CDC website - despite the US gov't shenanigans - still has some basic details on it, but in short form:

* The virus spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from chickenpox blisters.

*A person with chickenpox can spread the disease from 1 to 2 days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs. It takes from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox or shingles for someone to develop chickenpox.
If a person vaccinated for chickenpox gets the disease, they can still spread it to others.
For most people, getting chickenpox once provides immunity for life. However, for a few people, they can get chickenpox more than once, although this is not common.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/transmission.html
--
It's up to you if you want to have your future MIL there or not, but just be aware that the CDC and your doctor appear to have differing opinions on severity and transmission.

YOU are the one spreading inaccurate information. What you've posted is for CHICKEN POX, not shingles. Here is the CDC website for shingles:

https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html

"Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, but they would not develop shingles. The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters, not through sneezing, coughing or casual contact."

"A person with shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. A person is not infectious before blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious."

jenidenney · October 2013

I got shingles a few months ago (2nd trimester) and it sucked. There was no concern for my baby's health (per the doctors) and I was put on anti viral meds...but it was terrible on my end. Then my BIL got it a month or so later and the doctors told me to just not touch his open sores and make sure he didn't either (have them covered up). I'm only 33 and obviously have had chicken pox and he is 22! They are becoming more common with younger ages. So all I guess I'm really saying is that they are super painful and avoid it at all costs...

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