Diary of an Adult Chicken Pox Sufferer

Well, over the course of the last few weeks since I last posted all the scabs on my body have fallen off. No marks left from the ones from the body just faint pink ones for some spots. However, when the scabs fell of face, they were pink first now gone brown, so have all these brown blemishes over face. Dr says they should fade but will take a very long time! He said immediate solution could be laser treatment, but will wait and see. Shaved the beard off few days ago which is great but reveals more brown spots so growing stubble back. Been rubbing BioOil at night, and Dr suggested I use Mederma few times a day [Please seek your own medical advice]. One lymph node still a little swollen, Dr said it will probably stay like that but to keep an eye on it. Still had a few scabs on scalp, almost all gone.

You may have noticed that I skipped a day. Well, there wasn't really anything new as such to report. So I will only being reporting back periodically now until I am fully well again. Sleeping very well now. There are only a small number of spots left which are still yellow and need to scab over. They are not painful at all. Face is healing in that all the spots have scabbed over and am now waiting for them to fall off. Some of the ones in my beard have fallen of as I rub my hand through my beard (can't wait to shave it off). A scab on my cheek got soft while showering yesterday and as I was dabbing my self dry it came off. A smaller red scab is now forming there. Hope it doesn't scar. The scalp is also full of scabs now and when I run my hands through my hair the odd one falls off. The face and scalp are still a little itchy but I am not scratching them with my nails or digging at them. Sometimes I gently touch an itchy one with pad of my finger to relieve the itch. Cough h...

A good night sleep, took no pain killers before bed. Felt pretty good most of day. A slight cough. Scalp and face mildly itchy but largely scabbing over now. Few yellow liquid filled boils on body, they were the late comers. Still spending time in bed relaxing. Had a shower, washed hair with baby shampoo, but body with water. After shower filled sink with warm water, and add Olay mild face wash and dabbed face lightly using a flannel. Felt great after. Lots people giving advice not to pick or scratch the scabs or they will scar. Whenever I get a itch that's unbearable i gently touch the spot and itch usually goes away.

Last night started of bad, the usual sleeplessness, irritation, itchiness, feeling sick and run down. Scalp is the worst in terms of discomfort. Took paracetamol at 03:00, have been drinking lots of liquids. Then after midnight slept for about 4 hours which was great. Was hungry throughout the night which I guess is a good thing if I still have a healthy appetite Been drinking lots water and juice too. This morning had breakfast downstairs, then decided to shower instead of a bath. The lukewarm water was great on the scalp and I also used a baby shampoo to gently wash my hair. The pox are all still yellowish with many now forming crusty yellowish scabs. More smaller reddish poxes (is that a real word?) are appearing on legs and arms with very small boils in centre but (maybe hopeful thinking) not at an accelerated rate as before. 12:40 Haven't taken paracetamol since early this morning. Haven't felt that bad except for the usual itchiness. Less tingling on skin all over too. Cu...

Very bad night, face is so itchy. The growing beard doesn't help either. Lots more pox appearing, but some scabbing over. Temperature still high. Getting pox further down arms and torso, arms, buttocks, genitals, feet, hands, ears, mouth and I think my throat. I hate this. Can't look in mirror. On plus side have still got my appetite. Still bathing and using calamine lotion, not helping much. For my personal circumstances painkillers every 4 hours are a must since fever still there, and when they wear off I feel rough. Got the cough again, a dry chesty one. Friends and family from around the world have been calling/emailing/IM'ing, and it does give me a boost. Its amazing how many adults do get chickenpox. The stories of peoples recoveries are uplifting. Today has been the lowest day so far in this journey. Not looking forward to tonight. So tired. It is becoming very apparent that to fight this virus you need a positive mental attitude. Easier said than done. Will sign off...