Shingles!!!

[AutumnRose]

I had them when I was 14. At the moment I am 4mnths with #3 and MIL has an outbreak of shingles. I am FREAKING OUT!!! Can I catch them from her? We've been staying with them this week cause we're working on our bathroom. I know the kids have a higher chance of getting chicken pox now, which was bound to happen sooner or later, but I do not want to get another case of shingles, theyre terrible!!!

[minneapolismelissa]

Yes you can catch them from her. If her sores are crusted over there is a lesser chance. Hopefully it doesn't happen. Good luck.

[vittoriosmom]

It is contagious. Your kids will probably get chicken pox (poor little guys). I would do anything to get out of there!

[Hillargh]

I get shingles at least twice a year now, for the last 6 or 7 years. You can catch them, however when transmitted they are given in the form of chicken pox, not as shingles. Shingles is simply the chicken pox virus coming back after laying dormant in a damaged nerve, and spreads as the active virus, not as the dormant version.

[angel0123]

Have you had the pox? If she covers them you all should be fine. I have had shingles and its incredibly painful.

[stevensmom]

I get them yearly (for the past 22 years) and they are no fun I had them while pregnant with dd and its okay to take the meds while pregnant and nursing

they are only contagious if you touch her open wounds...you lo can get cp from her if they touch her sores

[2208]

Have you had chicken pox? I was looking up info on shingles earlier this week because my grandmother has it..

The skin blisters that form in shingles are full of the chickenpox virus, which means a person with shingles is infectious. You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles, if you've never had the infection and therefore aren't immune. But you can't catch shingles from someone with shingles (or someone with chickenpox).

from this website http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical...hingles1.shtml

[AutumnRose]

Yep, had chicken pox when I was in K-garden, then when I was 14 I had shingles, it was painful, and lasted a while, my folks did not like the docs so when they finally decided to listen and take me in they had gotten pretty far along, never tooks meds just some topical cream to make them less painful(what a joke!). Its good to know that it has to be direct contact to get them, MIL is super careful about washing her hands and they are on her scalp so there isnt much of a chance of touching them!
Thanks for the info ladies, feel a little better now!

[rainydaysunshine]

Outbreaks of shingles are usually caused by stress or weakened immune system (from fighting off something else, being worn down, etc...). You can't catch anything from your MIL, shingles or pox. You can have another outbreak, but it will be from the virus still in your body. Now, your kids (as PPs have said) can definitely get chicken pox from her.