Warning Stupid Parent Vent!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ok so we have this family that lived in town up until Thanksgiving. They are the earthy type, home birth, no medicine, no vaccination people. I don't have any issues with their lifestyle but it's a little background info. We'll her DH gets a job in Maine as an insurance adjustor. So they sell their house and move to week before Thanksgiving. You're thinking ok this isn't so bad right? Well as a going away gift her oldest boy (they have 2 boys(9 and 7) and 2 girls (4 and 2)) leaves behind chicken pox! Yep! I said chicken pox.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend, here is the stupid part. One of our PTO moms is friends with the the pox people, do you see where this is going??
She decides to drive herself, her DH and her 2 kids up to Maine for the weekend. Knowing full well that the kids are still contagious, surprise surprise her kids came down with chicken pox too. Her kids have had the "vaccine" (in quotes because frankly the vaccine is a crock of you know what).
So after visiting the pox people and becoming pox people themselves the entire family comes to our holiday workshop to share the wealth. We had 100 kids there including 3 of mine. I'm counting down the incubation days until I find out if my kids have it. Just in time for the holidays too. Great, just great. They have all been vaccinated except the baby but I was told the vaccine only lasts 10 years.
A kid in DS10's class also got chicken pox 2 years ago even though he had the shot. Oh and one of her kids is in DS6's class so if anyone gets it, it will be him. I'm glad DS5 is home this week with bronchitis, maybe he will avoid it if the other 2 don't get it. DS5 is our sickly kid and if he got anything major like pox he could be in big trouble.

The one funny part of the whole thing is our PTO pres also does not vaccinate her kids and she's the most pissed off! She of all people knows the risk if her kids get it. If her kids get they do it will be full blown cases, if my kids got it , it would most likely be a mild case. Here's the kicker, DH has never had the chicken pox! Fabulous isn't it?!

So we have a family party on the 17th, will the kids show symptoms by then? I don't want to get the other 75 kids sick. Do we go or not?

Ok vent over, thanks for listening!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Oh BUFFY!!! NO way!!!
You know, my kids have all had the vaccine but DD13.. it wasn't around with her (or at least not offered to us)... but I still figure even w/ the shot my kids would get it.. so far we have been pretty lucky and no outbreaks..but as soon as I hear the word...I start counting down the days if my kids have been exposed... Especially now with Mike's DX.. I really worry about stuff like that.. some illness will have a bigger effect on him...
According to my handy dandy medical book that my Granny gave me when DD was born.. the incubation period is 10 -21 days after exposure...
Urgh! Now what will you do for Christmas.. Let's hope and pray the kids don't get this... what a miserable present...
I got the pox when I was 10.. My brother was home with me and the jerk didn't get them.. figure that out.. My sister and I are 16 years apart.. the brat brought it home to my DD.. Poor DD got it when she was 5 months old!! Lucky for us not a bad case..but it also went through my cousins.. so my Aunt and I had our hands full!
to each of your little ones so that they don't get it!!!

 

[Mickster]

I, unfortunately, have nothing to add in terms of medical info. My kids haven't had it yet (hopefully, never, but...) I had it in 5th grade (as I was going on vacation with my grandparents without my parents to the shore. Lovely. Did you know you shouldn't go in the sun? - Hey, that is medical info!! ) Anyway, I digress...

I hope the kids don't get it! to everyone. I'll be thinking about you guys!

 

[ddavis860]

Wow Buffy, that sucks! Could this come at a more inconvenient time?

My kids got the vaccine too, only because DS18 had a terrible time with viruses, and the Dr thought if he got it, he would be in big trouble...The Dr said if he was exposed, that if he got it the illness would be not as severe.

My DH didn't think he ever had them, but one day was complaining of a rash and such pain...Dr Mom (moi) said he had shingles, and yes he had those pox at some point. To prove me wrong, and because he was in real pain, he went to our Dr, and MY diagnosis was confirmed. He doesn't doubt me anymore, but I was a wreck cause it meant he had that damn virus in my house, and I watched my DSs for weeks to make sure they were OK...sheesh...

It used to be no big deal back in the day...some kid got it, and everyone went to play over there so they would get it too...

 

[minkydog]

I hope your kids avoid the pox this season. Just because they were exposed doesn't mean they'll get it. The shot *is* surprisingly effective--about 25% of kids who get the shot will go on to have a mild case of chicken pox, which mean that 75% never get it. That means in a class of 25 kids, where all but 3-4 are vaccinated you might have 4-6 come down with Chicken pox. Chances are good they won't all come down with it at the same time, however.

Chicken pox can cause some serious complications(encephalitis, pneumonia, strep infections) in small numbers of children. People with impaired immunity(on chemo, steroids, heart meds, HIV+) can become very sick with chicken pox. My own kids had the shot since youngest DS was medically fragile. they both eventually came down with the pox--1year and 5 years later. Their experience was very mild, no fever, no crankiness,very playful, just couldn't go anywhere. A small price to pay. (I saw a 4yo die from encephalitis following chicken pox, so I'm sure this colors my opinion)

Chicken pox is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It's one of those things you can pick up just by breathing the air of someone standing in line with you at Target. No physical contact necessary. If your DH has never had chicken pox he needs to be vaccinated. Or he can just continue to take his chances if he feels lucky.

Back when I was a kid, Chicken pox was pretty much standard issue in 1st or 2nd grade. It was a rare kid who didn't get the Big Three(Chicken pox, mumps and measles) I brought chicken pox home 3wks before Christmas to my 4 younger brothers & sisters. They were all four broken out on Christmas day. My poor mom!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Oh Buffy. How horrible.
I hate to say this, but you may have to stay home this Christmas. Because unfortunately, even if your kids don't show symptoms by then, they could still be carriers. UNLESS, the other parents do want their kids to get the chicken pox the old fashion way, than you can still go.

I remember when my neighbors had the pox. We all went over to play too. My sister and brother both got it. I had it when I was baby (yup, hospital, last rights, whole nine yards) and didn't get it again that time.

removed because my questions were answered. THANK YOU!!

 

[maria34a]

Well Buffy, gotta love those earthy types!!!! Good luck to you and your family, I hope everyone is OK for the holidays at least!!! I remember when my sister came down with the chicken pox, my brother and I sold tickets at the door to all her friends so they could see all her spots!!!! We made a bundle!!! ... Until we got caught by MOM

Told you I was evil!!!!!

 

[Downrivermama]

Buffy, sorry to hear about the dumb people. At dd's school parents send in their sick kids all the time. Right now lice is a big problem. I guess it is the same kids getting it. DD had the vaccination, but had a small reaction to it. I had chicken pox when I was 5 and had a bad case. They were everywhere! In the past 15 years I've had 2 cases of Shingles, mild though. The latest was in Aug after my Dad passed away. They were on my right thigh. So just because you have had chicken pox doesn't make you immune from Shingles. The chicken pox virius stays in your system and can flare up. I'm sorry that didn't sound very cheery! LOL!

Hope your kids don't come down with it and you have a great holdiay.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Well I'll keep you posted as to what happens. We have a PTO meeting next Wed but I doubt I'm going since DH will be out of town. Oh to be a fly on the wall there.

One good thing about DH is that he travels so much all over the world that he never gets sick. We're talking once every 4-5 years. So hopefully he'll just be immune to it. We were talking about a post on the DIS. Someone said that WDW should do more to keep people healthy. Like what? One person who is sick will re-infect places even after they are cleaned. Plus people from different areas have different strains. I think this is why DH never gets sick, he is exposed to tons of stuff on the train, planes, offices, hotels, etc.

My biggest fear of the vaccine right now is the fact that you can still get it. We have a generation of kids that are semi protected from pox but what happens in 15-20 years when this kids are adults and get it. I saw how bad it was when my cousin got it from his flower girl at his wedding. That's were my brother and I got it when we were kids. My cousin was in the hospital for 4 months and out of work for 2 more after that.

 

[rlovew]

I broke out in chicken pox on an xray machine- we had been exposed as we lived on a small island and it was before the vaccine so as soon as 1 child got it- everyone came over to play with them so we could all get it over with. After about half of the children on the island had it we only stayed home from school with it if we had to be in bed otherwise we just went to school.

This past summer though on the second day of our Vacation Bible camp at church one of the helpers came down with chicken pox- she had been exposed on a plane trip to Europe the doctor's suspect. A number of the children in camp got it as well as the other churches as there were 3 camps going on that week and many of the children went to at least 2 of them.

 

[luvmy2sams]

This happened at DD's school two years ago. One of the non-vaccinating moms exposed her three kids so they could get the pox and get it out of the way. She didn't inform anyone at the school until a week after she exposed her kids, and said she thought parents would be happy to let their kids contract this so they wouldn't have to worry about it down the road. Thanks, but I'll make my own parenting decisions. Our pediatrician told us that the incubation period was 14-21 days, with 14 days being when kids usually exhibit symptoms. We had a ton of ticked off parents. I was especially irked since DH and DS (who was 12 months at the time) haven't had the vaccination or the virus. Lucky me on the other hand had it TWICE while growing up.

I hope that you escape the pox this time around. What a lousy Christmas present for you all!

 

[kaddjr]

From what I understand, it's been going around here, too. My 18yo nephew had it over Thanksgiving for the second time. The poor kid was covered from head to toe!

Buffy- our Dr has the same concerns as you. I questioned him about it when the vaccine first came out and he said that if he was me, he would want his child to get it naturally instead of having the vaccine. He doubted that it would last a lifetime and as people get older, they tend not to take care of themselves like they should for various reasons and wouldn't go get a booster (he believes a booster will be needed). He said there were too many unknowns about the vaccine for him to feel comfortable with it.

I don't blame you for being upset. What the pox woman did was wrong! Good luck and here's hoping your family doesn't come down with it!

 

[stenickar]

Quote: Here's the kicker, DH has never had the chicken pox! Fabulous isn't it?!

My DH has never had the pox either. He is 45 and both of our ds had them at different times. DH never got them. Guess he is just lucky .

 

[party of 3]

oh buffy that's just awful. what luck. we never had them growing up UNTIL, i was 30! yup 30!!! well let me tell you i though i was dying. it was so terrible. i sympathize with anyone who has it. i went to the dr and he said in 50years of being a dr he had never seen such a case! he wanted to take pics to send over to someone he was friendly with at some university who was currently writing a book about chicken pox!!! REALLY!!! they were on every spot of my body. under my finger and toe nails, on the palms of my hands, on the inside of my eyelids. just plain awful!!!!!!!
so here's hoping that they DON'T get them. i am not all for exposing my kids so they get it over with thing. no way, no how!!!!
i'll be praying for ya. keep us informed.
here's some pixie dust heading your way....

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

That's awful, Buffy! I hope the kids stay pox-free!! I had them twice when I was little. . .the first time it was a really mild case, the 2nd time it was horrible. Sending you pixie dust that they don't get sick!!

 

[MazdaUK]

We don't have a chicken pox vaccine over here. I had it twice - once (mildly) at 8 and once (badly) at 20, and believe me you're better getting it over with early as its far worse (and potentially more serious) as an adult.

DS(13) was fisrt exposed to the virus when only a few months old, then right through nursery and early years at school it would regularly go round and I'd wait for him to get it an he never did. DS(7) duly came along, and still neither of them got it, even when DSis's 4 kids had it really badly (and she minded both mine so they were WELL exposed to it!). Anyway, when DS(7) hit three and joined playgroup he came down with it. DS(13) went round saying "I never get it" then one week later woke up spotty. Over here they won't keep kids out of school unless they actually have symptoms, as it goes round so regularly half the kids would be out at some time or another.

Still, no-one wants a sick child over Christmas. I suggest you consult the others who are going to be at the party in fairness - some might welcome getting it out of the way, or their kids may have had it. If everyone is happy to take a chance you can still go!

 

[the Fidge]

You have my sympathy! I was pregnant and regretfully only one of my pregancies went to full term with a live birth my first one and only DS 10. I was outraged honestly by peoples lack of thought for others. Their choices are theirs and I should not be left to figure out what they carrying! I almost lived in a bubble world with my last pregnancy. How many people do not consider how they affect toehrs, pregnant Moms or caretakers of ill family members. My friend wsa caring for her DH 50 who has left us to cancer could not beleive how people would think it was ok to show up at her home sick as dogs to have a visit with her DH.

Ok I vented myselff now I better get to making some cookies!

BTW I drive school students now and am amzed the horrible conditions that parents send children to school in. Heres one for ya.... a whellchair bound boy I drove in June was dressed head to toe covered in long pants and long sleeved shirts... to hide the fact that he had ringworm all over his poor little body!

I am amazed everday ....................

 

[loopner67]

That's just wrong. Not fair to all the people they infected. Why don't people just use their brains?

My youngest had chicken pox when he was one and it was fairly painless. My second son has had the vaccination, but at his most recent well visit (6 year old) I was told there's not a booster for the pox, so another shot. Ugh! My little man is *not* a fan of shots and I thought we were done. Oh well!

 

[hsmamato2]

I think the stupidity that Op mentioned here is the fact that someone knowingly exposed their kids to chicken pox,then exposed others in the incubation period without their consent.
Simply not getting the cp vax isn't in itself stupid,nor is allowing your child to become exposed while young and catch it in 'the wild.'
As with any vaccinations,there is a lot of contorversy surrounding this... I've known plenty of people who choose not to vax,preffering to get it the old fashioned way. *BUT* they always made sure their kids weren't in public for the incubation period.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thankfully we missed it. I'm still aggravated about it but what do you do?