"Cluck, Cluck, Cluck", Goes the Chicken

W came down with chickenpox on Friday and was actually misdiagnosed by two different doctors in the pediatric clinic on base...well they were "residents" with no supervisors (another story for a different day). They HAD diagnosed him with Molluscum, and told us he was definitely NOT contagious. He had three spots around his ear, and about six on his torso and back. The reason we went to the Dr.'s in the first place was to rule out chickenpox, or anything else contagious, because we had a weekend filled with being around other kids. Of course, W attended a birthday party and a BBQ where there were three babies ranging from 6 months to 11 months. He woke up Sunday morning covered all over his face and more were popping up on his torso and back. I knew right away the Doctor's were wrong, so Jess headed to Children's hospital to get the correct diagnoses, especially proof for his medical records. See, we never vaccinated W for the chickenpox (no debate, please), because of the research involved. I'm a prime example of why the vaccine isn't 100% proof. I was given the chickenpox titer when I was pregnant with P-MAN and found out on Friday that my titer came back at .67 and you need at least a 1.0 to be positive (or immune to chickenpox). So, with my vaccination, exposure to my sister, and at daycare, I'm still not 100% immune, according to this titer. Anyway, getting back to why we didn't vaccinate W. The fact that the vaccine is only 85-95% effective against the pox, I knew with him catching the actual virus was the only way he could gain 100% natural immunity (if adult males get the chicken pox past 15 years of age, there is a very good chance they will become sterile).

We finally received the correct diagnoses on Sunday via ER doctor, and of course I started feeling extremely guilty. I could not believe I exposed all those people. It broke my heart to make all those phone calls to my friends to let them know they were exposed to W's chickenpox. It's definitely been a miserable ride for both him and myself. Part of me wishes he was vaccinated, and part of me wonders if he would have caught the pox anyway. I hate seeing my children miserable, and knowing P-man is next is heartbreaking. W has a pretty good case, but I wouldn't call it severe. He's been running a low grade fever, and only blistered on his face, back, stomach, and only few were located on his arms and legs. He has definitely been good about it. It really only has been rough at night (when he itches the most). I've been keeping calamine lotion on him and giving him tons of oatmeal baths. The ER doc also prescribed him with a pretty strong antihistamine. Today, he started showing signs of clouding, scabbing, etc, so he should be good to go by Saturday at the latest. We have a follow-up appointment on Friday with his nurse practitioner to get the okay to attend soccer practice on Saturday. I just want to make sure he is 100% scabbed over, because I guess I can't trust my motherly instincts, especially after this past weekend.

For me, I'm waiting it out too. Part of me hopes and pray that I have a natural immunity, and the titer didn't pick that up, or the titer was 100% wrong! I went to my doctor yesterday morning to let them know I have been exposed, I showed him my vaccination records from where I received the vaccine twice in 1998. He said there was no reason to be re-vaccinated, and told me he will put me on five days worth of an antiviral. I have to take 4 pills, 5 times a day, for 5 days. I really am hoping and crossing my fingers this will actually prevent me from getting the chickenpox, or only give me a very mild case. I've been an anxious wreck since Sunday, because everything I have been reading about adult chickenpox said only 5% of adults come down with chickenpox, and out of that 5%, 35% of those die. I have a pretty good immune system, as I was vomited on twice by both boys, and have been exposed to their stomach bug and never came down with it. I just hope the antiviral works!!!!!!!!!

Please keep us in our prayers. I know this is something I CHOSE, because I didn't vaccinate my boys against the chickenpox. However, there is a huge part of me that regrets that. I honestly feel like I totally deserve the bad mommy award, but at least I know they will both be immune for the rest of their lives. I just can't wait until this month is over, because it's going to continue to be a bumpy one. The incubation period is 14-21 days, so we'll probably have a week break between kiddos and myself if I come down with it.

"Cluck, Cluck, Cluck", goes the chicken, and make sure the door doesn't hit you on the way out!!!!!!