Chicken pox seems to be rife here in South Wales and with three grandchildren likely to catch it I am wondering if I should steer clear of them if they get it, I had chicken pox when a child and also shingles a year ago, which lasted ages, outlasted the aciclovir and left peripheral nerve damage. My WBC hovers about 3.8. Theories please.
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chicken pox
Hi Des,
Prior to my stem cell transplant in November 2005 my son had chicken pox and as a precaution my haematologist prescribed me aciclovir and warned me not to get too close although I was alright in the same house. I also had chicken pox years ago and my blood counts were also fine at the time.
I've just recovered after a bout of shingles. I was given valaciclovir for them which managed to nip it in the bud before it got bad.
Good luck,
Martyn
I work in a hospital and we often have daft parents who bring their spotty, grotty kids into the eye clinic. My consultant told me that if I had had chicken pox then I should not be too concerned. In the 2 years that I have had CML I have been fine. Having said that, if a spotty child appears then I disappear, I can't see any sense in putting myself too close. I am guessing that it can't hurt to avoid kisses and cuddles for the few days that they are spotty - although they say that before the spots appear is the infectious time. Again if you are generally well in yourself you should be less likely to catch something.
Good luck
Susan
Hi Des
I too live in South Wales and I work as a primary school teacher, so am in frequent contact with all sorts of nasty little bugs courtesy of the children I teach. I have been very concerned about whether I am more predisposed to infection of all sorts since I have CML and raised it again with my consultant at my last visit.
He explained it this way - neutrophils are the body's first line of defence against infection, which is why they at monitored frequently, and provided our ANC is OK, we are dealing OK with infection. He watches to make sure my ANC does not drop too low - ie below 1.0. [MIne is currently running at 1.7] But the immune system is controlled by lymphocytes, which are white cells unaffected by CML so our immune systems are not weakened just because we have CML. People with CLL/ALL do have problems becuase the lymphocytes are the cells affected in their forms of lyekaemia, and chemo is aimed at eradicating the leukaemic lymphocytic cells.
He then went on to talk about the differences between viruses and bacterial infections but I didnt get that bit...I could so do with a more scientific background!! :-)
I hope I've passed on his comments accurately. Whereabouts do you live? I live just outside Cardiff and am treated at LLandough Hospital and Paul C is also near Cardiff.
Take care, Janet
Hi Des,
I've been concerned about this matter in the past for my wife who has the cml.
She like Janet was a primary school teacher, and was worried about being more susceptible to infection, especially the ones that small children tend to be liable to.
Eventually, she took early retirement from teaching, with the issue of possibly picking up infection in the school environement.
To date, Anne (dx Sep 03) has escaped most infections - having the occasional cold but nothing more.
As Janet said, as long as the neutrophil count stays above the minimum level (or hovers around this)the issue of infection is not high.
However, Anne still remains very cautious in terms of being too close to those whom she knows have any sort of 'bug'.
Of course it's impossible to be completely certain, especially when in busy areas.
People who receive potent chemotherapy for other conditions are normally advised to avoid being in busy areas where the potential for catching an infection is higher. I don't believe that this is the case with cml patients.
Janet mentions that I live in South Wales, I do remember you saying you lived in or near Swansea.
Actually Janet - you mention Paul C living near Cardiff - but that's someone else who signs in as that, I am Paul Cooke!
Best Wishes Des - hope you remain free from the chickenpox / shingles
Paul