@Red Fraggle: When I had shingles I phoned up NHS Direct (when it still existed), and a VERY grumpy doctor phoned me back. My mom has had shingles 3 times so she said to ask him about the antivirals and he was all, 'No no, there are no tablets for it!' (I know they have to be within like 48 hours, but mine had literally only just come up.) My mom knew there were so took me to the doctor and lo and behold, she gave me some.

I just had to share that because it really pissed me off! I do still get random backache round that nerve, though not very often or intensely.

That's awful! Antivirals are believed to at the very least shorten the duration of post-herpetic pain. But it needs to be treated early. I'm so glad you went to another doctor.

I was like, 4 or 5. I remember getting them, but I don't remember if they were bad or whatever. I do have scars on my face, but my mom said that's all I really itched.

I woke up with chicken pox on my birthday when I was 6. I remember taking oatmeal baths and being exiled into my bedroom away from my sisters because my mom didn't want three small kids with chicken pox. In her defense my sisters were only 2 and 4 so it's probably best they stayed away from me. Man chicken pox sucks!!

I got them once when I was 4. It was a bad case too. I had them everywhere! even in my ears and crap! It didn't help I gave them to my newborn brother either! I had to take oatmeal baths and creams and such. it was horrible! I have an indent on my back from where one chicken pox was....lol. its not big but its werid. I got them again when I was 6-7. I think I got them from a friend that time....IDK. anyways, they suck! I hope my kids never get them!

oh man after reading all these we've had it completely easy! she wasn't even poorly with it really, just sniffly for a couple of days before the spots and then itching for a couple of days and thats it!! compared to some she didn't really have many spots, about 6 or 7 on her face, a bunch on her back and neck and a few in her hair, barely any more on her arms and legs really!

I had it twice as a kid :P. Once when I was like 5 and then when I was like 7 maybe almost 8. I feel like I have super immunity now because I had a titer test done for school and it was like 3X the minimum immunity level. lol.

I should point out that my sister still got chicken pox after getting the vaccine it was just mild, but she only got it once. I also don't think it's common to get it more than once. The second time I had it I gave it to my brother who was like 6 months old, and he has never had it again.

@Korey: yeah my nephew still got the chicken pox even tho he was vaccinated.. His case was mild too. I also found out that vaccine only lasts till age 5.