Chickenpox: Part 2

While Theo was already on the verge of fully recovering from the chickenpox virus, it was my turn to experience the scourge, only this time, it was far worse! I never knew till then that I haven't had chickenpox before when I was kid.

Last Sunday, I was feeling very weak and lethargic and I thought it was just the effect of hay fever or the onset of a bad cold. The following day, however, the first blisters appeared on my belly. By evening, I was already covered with numerous red, watery spots from head to toe. By Tuesday, I was tied to the bed, feeling so tired, lethargic and feverish. The light at the end of the tunnel came shining on Thursday when not only did I feel better, the blisters had also started to subside, esp. those on my face. Only then was I sure that I will survive the viral attack relatively unscathed. Luckily, the blisters did not appear on my eyes; otherwise, there would have been complications.

Adult chickenpox isn't a walk in the park, as you can see here. There is even an article in BBC News which says that "Adult chickenpox deaths rise". This usually occurs when the immune system is weakened because of other causes such as HIV or cancer. Healthy adults need not worry too much; nonetheless, the possibilities are very real.

All this time --- while I was in the deepest of pits --- Theo was happily bouncing around, probably wondering why his father is at home when he should be in the lab working. In the first few days, however, it was impossible for me carry or hug him without bursting some of the watery spots on my trunk. (Yuck!) Besides, with what I had felt then, playing with him was the last thing on my mind. At the height of the chickenpox attack, there was only one thought running in my head: "This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me!"

I'm glad that it's (almost) over and that I should be back to work next week. Thanks to the antiviral drug that the doctor prescribed, the viral replication was effectively controlled at the outset. If there's anything positive out of this, it's that I am now immune for life to the chickenpox virus and that I had spent a full week with Mommy D and Theo at home.

Not exactly heaven, but also, not exactly hell.