Shingles

JessTy3 · October 2016

Hi Ladies! Last week the apartment above mine had a fire and my apartment is pretty much ruined. Fortunately, everyone is safe and insurance has been so far so good. We've been staying at my parents. My mom found out today that she has shingles. Of course, I panicked - for her, for me, for my two year old and my unborn baby. My OB ensures me that I'll be ok cause I am immune to it. But does anyone have any advice from experience? I don't wanna avoid my mom! Thanks so much!

AlabamaRedhead · October 2016

I developed shingles this pregnancy. It's contagious while there are open sores, but if she keeps them covered and washes her hands/clothing that touches it, you should be fine.

colleenkevin · October 2016

@jessty3 Are you immune because you had the chicken pox vaccine instead of catching chicken pox when you were little?

JessTy3 · October 2016

I had chicken pox when I was little... And, not sure if the doctor knows from a blood test but she confirmed that I was immune.

cjs260 · October 2016

@JessTy3 Be careful with the immunity thing. I had chicken pox as a kid, then had a terrible case of shingles as a teenager. You should be fine around your mom as long as you make sure the shared surfaces are pretty clean, hands are washed, and sores are covered.

MayaVill · October 2016

You can only catch chicken pox from someone with shingles. So if your 2 year old hasn't had it, he/she can get it. If you've had chicken pox before, you won't get shingles from someone else. Shingles happens when the the same virus that caused chicken pox "wakes up" in your body. It lives on your nerve. It's a secondary response of a dormant virus. You and your unborn baby are safe. Your 2 year old would probably be just fine getting chicken pox at this age. My nieces had it at 3 and barely had a fever and just a few itchy blisters. My brother had it at 21 and it was 2 weeks of fever and blisters all over:/

colleenkevin · October 2016

@MayaVill thank you! that makes sense - I was so confused there by the immunity idea, but I did know that about the chicken pox virus going dormant and reactivating to cause shingles.

Wholesome · October 2016

I had chicken pox as a kid. Last pregnancy, I developed shingles because having pox alone does not immunize you from shingles. What I was told is having shingles while pregnant does not harm the baby - it's full on chicken pox that is scary for the unborn. From what I was told, shingles can only be spread from one to another through physical contact. Mine was on my belly and I was able to go on with life without worrying of spreading it. Just make sure your mom has hers covered up and keeps her hands washed, if she touches the area, she needs to wash well. Washing well means lathering hands for 20 seconds before rinsing... not many people do that fully.

MayaVill · October 2016

No problem. It's a common misconception that u can get shingles from someone with shingles. It is very contagious as far as spreading chickenpox, but u will never get shingles from someone else but yourself so to speak. Also, chickenpox/shingles is spread by droplets as well as direct contact so handwashing alone will not protect someone.

JessTy3 · October 2016

Thank you ladies! Your expertise made me feel better!

ccarrozza1 · October 2016

I actually got shingles after giving birth last year, my daughter was three months old and I got shingles at age 38! No worries. Just have your Mom keep her shingles under wraps and not touch it. I got mine on my knee to upper thigh. Your two year old could get chicken pox if exposed. You can't get shingles from her if you had chicken pox. It's a virus that stays in us and resurfaces when we are older and or under stress.

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