The Rose Tinted mum

November 2023

In the transplanted world, chickenpox is a word to be feared.

Believe it or not, this common viral illness requires highlighting as 1 of the big 3 within this hidden world.

The other 2 are, Cold Sores and Bacterial Overgrowth.

These 3 illnesses are so over talked about straight after transplant, that the 3 names run wild around your head to the point it makes you dizzy.

You may just say, its chickenpox, it is a rite of passage for young children.

But for individuals taking Immunosuppression medication it can be a big threat.

Unfortunately, they are prone to getting severe attacks and it can also affect their organ functioning.

Also, they are more at risk of getting it multiple times due to it being hard for them to create immunity on immunosuppressive medications.  

Since, covid has happened it a little easier for people to understand the risk of an unseen illness.

This unseen risk has been very real for many people for many years within the hospital world.

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Close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you have dropped your child of at school, they wave goodbye with a wide smile on their face ready to learn.

You drive home delighted that the school run went well and start settling down to work or undertake your day, to then receive a call.

You look at the screen to see in big letters ‘SCHOOL.’

You answer to hear the dreaded words, your child has had close contact with a child that has come down with chickenpox.

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For most guardians this may heighten your awareness to look out for spots, or in some cases arrange a chickenpox party.

But, for liver parents or transplanted parents this is a nightmare in disguise.

This little word can turn the most stable, calm, and relaxed carer into turmoil, which brings protocol and fear into the fore front.

So, first contact is the specialist nurses.

Then questions start, its like an interview that you never signed up for ………………………

• Has Billy been in close contact with the chickenpox child?
• Were they together for 15 minutes or longer?
• Was this inside the building or outside in the playground?
• Was this within the infection period?
• When did the name child get spots?
• Has Billy had antibody testing in the last 6 months?
• Has Billy got any signs of being unwell or chickenpox?
• If so, what are they?
• Further questions ………………………….
• Is Billy drinking and how much has he consumed today?
• Has his appetite changed?
• Is he regularly passing solids?
• Are they normal colour and consistency?  
• Is his skin tone and eye colour, ok?
• And so much more ………………………………………

And after all this, the specialist nurses and possibly the doctors will make a PLAN.

To medicate or not.

To run an antibody test or not.

To hospitalise or not.

Or just hold on and watch and see.

So today, this is my job, as Billy has had close contact with 2 children within his class yesterday.

Wish me luck.

Remember you may not feel strong but you are.

Love

The Rose-Tinted Mum