Concern Over Shingles Am I Being Over The Top

[Raidergal2022]

My cousins girlfriend imo has always been a bit of a know it all but I thought she was generally ok until yesterday

Basically her and my cousin went round to my grandmothers house (they visit her now and again) and when she answered they asked if she had had chickenpox. She replied that she thought she had and asked why only to find out that the girlfriend had just been to the hospital with rash and had been told she had shingles .

She wanted to make sure my grandma had had had chicken pox so she couldn’t catch it.

Fair enough for checking but why not just wait until she wasn’t contagious. My grandma is in her late 70’s and immunity declines anyway at that age. Why take the chance with spreading it when you can just wait and visit someone another time?

Or am I being over the top again, my dad thinks I am

[Thisoldbird]

I had Shingles, in my 70s, its not to be taken lightly. I was quite poorly.

My husband caught Chicken Pox as an adult from friends children..he too was very poorly.

I agree with your Dad..they ought to have waited visiting an elderly person.

[Maydup]

You are not being over the top. Whether grandma has had chicken pox or not, it’s polite of them to stay away from her and everyone else come to that.

OH had shingles during the lockdown and luckily it was tested promptly but nevertheless, it was close to his eyes and really painful. Wouldn’t go near anyone myself until it was completely cleared up.

[calmck]

Your grandmother should have been offered the shingles vaccine when she had her winter flu jab. Anyone who has had chickenpox will have rhe herpes virus present in their body and could develop shingles at any time.

[calmck]

You can't give shingles to another person but they could get chicken pox

[roslyn251254]

If you have shingles you can't pass it on....

[Raidergal2022]

Roslyn if someone has shingles they can pass the virus on to anyone who doesnt’have immunity to chickenpox. They might not have immunity if they have never been exposed or have lowered immunity for whatever reason

[Sqad]

Can't see the big deal here roslyn is correct, you cannot catch shingles.
Yes, you are OTT.

[Peter Pedant]

your Dad is right -
The shingles virus that er gives you shingles, WAS the same one that gave you chickenpox

It is re activated - and quite common.

Interesting DNA virus showing latency - TMI

[Raidergal2022]

Oh right, I have always thought that chickenpox virus can be transmitted from someone with shingles

[Maydup]

Grandma could catch Chickenpox from a person with Shingles.

[Raidergal2022]

I thought so Maydup, given some of the replies I feel like I’m like living in a different zone lol

[perseverer]

From NHS

Stay away from certain groups of people if you have shingles

You cannot spread shingles to others. But people who have not had chickenpox before could catch chickenpox from you.

This is because shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus.

Try to avoid:

pregnant people who have not had chickenpox before

people with a weakened immune system – like someone having chemotherapy

babies less than 1 month old – unless you gave birth to them, as your baby should be protected from the virus by your immune system

[jourdain2]

I was 68 when I caught Shingles (had been on a long-distance flight so think I caught it there). It was completely awful, horribly painful and debilitating and about 2 months before I was anything like normal. So, I had the Shingles vaccine 2 days after I hit my 70th birthday. Get it everyone is my recommendation.
Even so, I came out in it again this Spring as a result of huge stress when OH was in hospital and we sat for over 12 hrs. in A&E. This time it was still painful and I felt ill and 'down', but it was much more bearable.
No, you are not being over the top - and Granny needs vaccinating!

[Raidergal2022]

Jourdain2 - thankyou

As for vaccination - I don’t want to be disrespectful of personal autonomy but granny is very stubborn.