Coping with CHICKEN POX at 21.

Chickenpox (varicella) is a common illness that causes an itchy rash and red spots or blisters (pox) all over the body. It is most common in children, but most people will get chickenpox at some point in their lives if they have not had the chickenpox vaccine.

 Chickenpox can cause problems for pregnant women, newborns, teens and adults, and people who have immune system problems that make it hard for the body to fight infection. Chickenpox usually isn't a serious health problem in healthy children. But a child with chickenpox needs to stay home from school. And you may need to miss work in order to care for your child

(http://www.webmd.com/vaccines/tc/chickenpox-varicella-topic-overview).

Chicken pox has got to be the last thing you'd expect to get when you're 21 years old already! It IS possible to get of course, but c'mon, it had to be the day before a very important show?! I was supposed to dance in the Stars of Philippine Ballet gala, but I had to get this stupid chicken pox instead!?

This is how my back looked like on June 1 (the day of the gala). Since I was diagnosed the day before, of course I didn't dare to go to work anymore. If you are unfortunate enough to have also contracted this disease in this point in your life (I'm assuming you're also an adult like me), let me help you in coping with this 2-week nightmare.

It all started on Thursday, May 30, I got a slight fever for no apparent reason. When I say "apparent", I mean I didn't have a cold, or my throat wasn't sore or anything like that. I just had a fever. I got it after my rehearsals in the theater, so I just waited/slept it out and took Paracetamol.

The next day (May 31), my fever was gone but I did notice some red patches on my back. I asked my mom what they were and she said maybe they were just rashes because it was hot (like bungang-araw/prickly heat?). So I ignored it and drove to Aliw Theater. When I got there, the rash wasn't getting any better so I asked Sir Jay (one of my teachers in BM) if he had any idea what they were. He said those "spots" were beginning to look like blisters (as in they had fluid inside) and I might have chicken pox. He told me to have it checked after taking barre (because yeah, I had to warm up for the run-thru that day). So I still took class. I wore a jacket the whole time so the people won't see (and PANIC) cause it might be chicken pox.

BIG MISTAKE! Sweating just made the spots A LOT redder and more prominent. So I rushed (as in I drove) to the nearby hospital with my boyfriend to have it checked. And yeah, for sure, I HAVE CHICKEN POX.


This is the start of my 2-week nightmare. It got worse everyday. It's really depressing. Those blisters got so big that looking at the mirror was really heart-breaking. I worked really hard to get nice and smooth skin (painful visits to the dermatologist and all), and it'll all be for nothing because of this. :(

Total quarantine. I literally lived in my room. I only go out to use the bathroom. Everybody in the house is avoiding me (duh! I'm contagious.)
My meals are "delivered" to my room and I had my own set of plates, glasses, and cutlery. The good thing is my parents let me turn my air conditioner on the whole week. It was bad for our electricity bill, but it was good for the itchy skin.

This is my setup for the whole week. Just zoom in for the details. I've been so bored ang dami ko nang nagawa na hindi naman productive. hekhekhek

My only regret is I didn't take antivirals immediately. It could have helped a lot in shortening the span of my chicken pox. So if you get chicken pox, take your Acyclovir early!

I BEGGED my mom to get me the cream version instead. I was told it helped avoid scars and it does make them dry faster. And damn, it's so expensive for a little tube! The tube was smaller than my pinky finger!! So tipid tipid. I mainly use it on my face where I'm most scared in getting scars. O_o



Here are the things that you should do when you have chicken pox:

• Take regular showers. Avoid getting sweaty cause it'll be itchier.
• Avoid eating eggs and chicken. (The doctors in Manila Sanitarium said it was okay to eat anything, but my doctor/grandpa said it'll make your blisters WORSE. I didn't want to risk it. Wag na lang.)
• Aircon room. Freezing myself prevented any itching. Really.
• Don't scratch your blisters. They'll get itchier when they start crusting, so DON'T SCRATCH!
• Drink a lot of water. (Duh. Get rid of all the toxins in your body!)
• Keep yourself busy. You will be BORED because of your isolation, believe me. (Thank you for the internet!)
• Take your antivirals early! They help. (Doctors in my family thought otherwise. LIES. Shouldn't have believed them. Should have taken antivirals early on)
• Avoid people who have not gotten it before. (But heck..MISERY LOVES COMPANY)