[graemeandrewarthaParticipant]

Good day to you all. During the last week I have had my Thalidomide doubled. Now I am coming out in spots turning into nasty looking blisters.

Has anyone else had this problem as I cannot find any other reference. They do not hurt and not itchy but I am concerned about possible infection if they open.

[HelenParticipant]

Hi Graeme
Back to the hospital methinks, first thing speak to nurse specialist. Might be nothing but up our way they like to know about things like this.
Helen

[graemeandrewarthaParticipant]

Hi Helen

Thanks for the message. Nurse specialist has left. Rang hospital and got called in asap. No clue what it is.  Had swabs done and even medical photos taken. Now off thalidomide for 10 days just in case. Will let you know results. Regards. Graeme

[graemeandrewarthaParticipant]

Mystery solved.  I have chickenpox.  Call from hospital late last night from duty doctor confirming this. Another visit to the hospital for a prescription.

Regards

[HelenParticipant]

Oh poor you, get that bicarbonate in the bath to stop the itch when it starts!
Helen

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by  Helen.

[jcr2468Participant]

Hi Graeme

Poor you not pleasant – I had Shingles when I was on the Thalidomide, worst pain I’ve ever had all along my right shoulder.

The hospital will sort you out

Julie

[kpParticipant]

Hi Graeme, sorry to hear you have chicken pox, I think the vesicles are infectious until they dry up and scab over. With chicken pox they tend to come out in crops. I used Calamine Lotion for the itching with my sons.

Hope you feeling OK and they settle quickly.

Kind regards

Karen

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi Graeme

Glad you got to the bottom of the itch. Wonder if it will make you vulnerable to Shingles while on treatment? Watch if you have any aching or rash round your middle once chicken pox has gone. I had thought chicken pox gave you immunity to shingles, but apparently not!

Take care!

Mavis

[CarolsymonsParticipant]

Mavis, I think it is the opposite…the chicken pox virus stays in your system and later presents as shingles. I think that if you have never had chicken pox (like me) you can even catch chicken pox from close contact with someone with shingles.

Carol

[HelenParticipant]

Totally right Carol, I stayed well away from folk when I got shingles. Chicken pox is pretty awful and can be fatal to immunocompromised people like us. My cousin, who had leukaemia, caught chicken pox from his granddaughter and he died as a consequence of it. Sorry for being morbid but it’s a dangerous disease.
Helen

[rosieb123Participant]

My husband Chris is not long out of hospital with chicken pox he was in a bad way he couldn’t even make it to the front door to try and get to hospital. He ended up going by ambulance. His pulse was very high and his blood pressure low. Can’t remember all his blood counts but I know his platelets where 24. It turned out he had pneumonia (a complication of the chicken pox) he’s been in and out of hospital with infections lately so doctor is giving him a break of his treatment till he gets some strength back. Funny thing is he has had no contact with anyone with chicken pox that we know of and no one else in the family caught it of him either, not even our youngest who’s eight. Thankfully he’s recovered now and enjoying not having so many tablets to take.
Graeme I hope you r well on the road to recovery now and gaining some strength back.

Regards, Rosie

[graemeandrewarthaParticipant]

Hi to all.

Many thanks for the replies. I had no side affects to the chicken pox so count myself lucky. I am on the TEAMM trial so IF I am on the real “stuff” did this help.

No indication as to where I caught it so apart from self imposed quarantine all has gone well. I wanted to go to the Southampton meeting today but advised not to “just in case” which I can appreciate.

Luck to all.

Graeme

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi Graeme

So glad you have had no complications with the chickenpox. Don’t think I have caught on what TEAMM Trial is, but hope you are on the “real thing” and that it works well for you.

Keep smiling!

Mavis

[graemeandrewarthaParticipant]

Hi Mavis

Thanks for the reply. TEAMM trial is where newly diagnosed Myeloma patients are asked to take tablets daily for 3 months. The tablets can be placebo or the real thing. They are trying to reduce infection in Myeloma patient’s. It does mean filling in a daily diary with temperature and giving them samples and blood on a regular basis. As I am now retired it’s not difficult for me, just have to get into a routine. If it helps for the future patients then I am all for it.

Regards

Graeme

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi Graeme

This is interesting because infections are the real bug bear of MM. I always feel so grateful to all of you who take part in a trials. It hasn’t been relevant to me, but I feel I’m conducting my own – MM without SCT!

Best wishes.

Mavis

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