Isn't it more dangerous the older you get?
TheVision wrote:
Isn't it more dangerous the older you get?
Title
TheVision wrote:
Isn't it more dangerous the older you get?
That was what I thought.
Me too.
My former boss had shingles and it put him on his arse for 6 weeks
My daughter had chicken pox when she was about 3 or 4 and shingles when she was 18. I don't think they're actually the same exactly so the old wives tale about getting the pox young means you won't get it later in life might be true, but shingles isn't the pox.
It's not an old wives tale, it definitely is the exact same virus it's just that whilst most people will develop immunity an unfortunate few won't.
markg wrote:
It's not an old wives tale, it definitely is the exact same virus it's just that whilst most people will develop immunity an unfortunate few won't.
Same virus, different disease apparently. As I understand it from having just spent some time reading about it, 1 in 3 adults over a certain age who have had chicken pox will get shingles later in life as like most viruses it stays in your 'system' but is suppressed by your immune system. Age and other ailments can suppress your immune system and then the virus can resurface.
Although not 100% true, due to chicken pox being highly contagious and shingles not being very contagious, it's very unlikely you'll get shingles unless you've had chicken pox, or a chicken pox immunisation jab. Also, if you've never had chicken pox and you're exposed to someone with shingles, in the unlikely event that the virus (you would need direct contact with the sores, so getting it on your hands and then rubbing your eyes or similar), transfers, you'll very likely get chicken pox and not shingles.
My parents have both had shingles - and recovered okay. Mum just recently, she was most worried about how it looked. Dad had it around Christmas time, and the local carol singers called round. When they heard he was ill upstairs they offered to sing "Shingle Bells", which I thought was superb.
Doesn't all this make a mockery of people trying to ensure their kids get chicken pox? If you've never had it the most you can get is chicken pox; you can't go from never having had either of them straight to shingles. As you can only get shingles if you've previously had chicken pox, isn't the best course of action just to try not to get chicken pox in the first place?
I think chickenpox can be a lot worse if you're older when you first get it.
Grim... wrote:
markg wrote:
I think we'd probably be vaccinating against it by now if it weren't for all the MMR idiocy.
I doubt it. It's not dangerous, is it?
Measles is the dangerous "spotty" one.
8000 deaths globally in 1990, down to 7,000 in 2013 (from chickenpox).
Equivalent figures for measles were 545,000 down to 96,000.
So good work on the measles prevention team, but that is still a shitload of deaths (mostly under 5s).
Christ, they reckon it was 2.6 MILLION deaths per year in 1980.
markg wrote:
I think chickenpox can be a lot worse if you're older when you first get it.
Having ever had chickenpox massively increases the risk of getting shingles as an adult though and that brings it's own risks so I do wonder if that trade off is worth it.
My belt doesn't quite fit!
Because it's a little loose due to my losing weight
Because it's a little loose due to my losing weight
Bamba wrote:
markg wrote:
I think chickenpox can be a lot worse if you're older when you first get it.
Having ever had chickenpox massively increases the risk of getting shingles as an adult though and that brings it's own risks so I do wonder if that trade off is worth it.
I think the point is that it's fairly certain that you will encounter the virus at some point and it's better to do it sooner rather than later.
markg wrote:
Bamba wrote:
markg wrote:
I think chickenpox can be a lot worse if you're older when you first get it.
Having ever had chickenpox massively increases the risk of getting shingles as an adult though and that brings it's own risks so I do wonder if that trade off is worth it.
I think the point is that it's fairly certain that you will encounter the virus at some point and it's better to do it sooner rather than later.
And encounter the virus for the first time when you have cancer, you could well die. So best to pick it up when you're a cancer free 3 year old.
ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:
markg wrote:
Bamba wrote:
markg wrote:
I think chickenpox can be a lot worse if you're older when you first get it.
Having ever had chickenpox massively increases the risk of getting shingles as an adult though and that brings it's own risks so I do wonder if that trade off is worth it.
I think the point is that it's fairly certain that you will encounter the virus at some point and it's better to do it sooner rather than later.
And encounter the virus for the first time when you have cancer, you could well die. So best to pick it up when you're a cancer free 3 year old.
Being over 50, having cancer and getting cancer treatments are all factors that increase your risk of the virus coming out of hibernation as shingles though so people who've already had chickenpox are still at risk in that regard. I suppose it's possible that the recurrence as shingles wouldn't be as dangerous as the initial chickenpox infection but I'm struggling to find details about the severity of adult onset chickenpox vs shingles. You're sort of trading off the risk of getting your first chicken pox infection (something you can at least try to mitigate by limiting the people you come into contact with) against the existing infection recurring from inside your own body (which presumably you've got no real control over).
I'm just sort of rambling around this than giving strong arguments I realise as I've never looked into it before.
Curiosity wrote:
Grim... wrote:
markg wrote:
I think we'd probably be vaccinating against it by now if it weren't for all the MMR idiocy.
I doubt it. It's not dangerous, is it?
Measles is the dangerous "spotty" one.
8000 deaths globally in 1990, down to 7,000 in 2013 (from chickenpox).
Equivalent figures for measles were 545,000 down to 96,000.
So good work on the measles prevention team, but that is still a shitload of deaths (mostly under 5s).
Christ, they reckon it was 2.6 MILLION deaths per year in 1980.
If only you convince the anti vaxers
Iirc then shingles is rarely fatal under any circumstances but can reduce your immunity to leave you exposed to other shit. Although generally you'd only retrigger shingles in low immunity scenarios so not sure if that is provable.
Although saying that when the boy had shingles he was kept in as an inpatient isolation on iv antibiotics for a week despite being generally fine, so there must be some worry about it.
However, the health workers position on chicken pox even though he's immune is to keep the fuck away from chicken pox.
Although saying that when the boy had shingles he was kept in as an inpatient isolation on iv antibiotics for a week despite being generally fine, so there must be some worry about it.
However, the health workers position on chicken pox even though he's immune is to keep the fuck away from chicken pox.
My cat hasn't been himself for a couple of days. When I took him to the vet they found he had a blocked bladder and needed to be put under a general anaesthetic and have a catheter fitted. That went well, and they don't think it's caused any permanent damage to his kidneys, but it'll probably cost about £6-700 by the time I get him back.
markg wrote:
I think we'd probably be vaccinating against it by now if it weren't for all the MMR idiocy.
I paid for my son to get vaccinated against this, think it was £150, there were 2 spaced out doses.
Wouldn't wish this on anyone so figured it was the least I could do
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
My cat hasn't been himself for a couple of days. When I took him to the vet they found he had a blocked bladder and needed to be put under a general anaesthetic and have a catheter fitted. That went well, and they don't think it's caused any permanent damage to his kidneys, but it'll probably cost about £6-700 by the time I get him back.
Poor puddy cat. Good thing you caught it early though. Hope he's back to his normal self soon
Jem wrote:
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
My cat hasn't been himself for a couple of days. When I took him to the vet they found he had a blocked bladder and needed to be put under a general anaesthetic and have a catheter fitted. That went well, and they don't think it's caused any permanent damage to his kidneys, but it'll probably cost about £6-700 by the time I get him back.
Poor puddy cat. Good thing you caught it early though. Hope he's back to his normal self soon
The catheter was working fine overnight and he's feeling much better, but now that's blocked so they've had to remove it. Now waiting to see if he's weeing ok without it, or if they have to put a new one in
Aww bums keeping fingers crossed
keeping fingers crossed 
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
Jem wrote:
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
My cat hasn't been himself for a couple of days. When I took him to the vet they found he had a blocked bladder and needed to be put under a general anaesthetic and have a catheter fitted. That went well, and they don't think it's caused any permanent damage to his kidneys, but it'll probably cost about £6-700 by the time I get him back.
Poor puddy cat. Good thing you caught it early though. Hope he's back to his normal self soon
The catheter was working fine overnight and he's feeling much better, but now that's blocked so they've had to remove it. Now waiting to see if he's weeing ok without it, or if they have to put a new one in
It's caused by crystals in the urine blocking the urethra as it is very narrow in male cats. It's fairly common. Most recover, but some need to have an operation on the penis to open it up a bit and will probably have to have a special diet afterwards.
He's got to nearly 12 years old without problems. Hopefully it won't come to that.
Mr Burrrrt wrote:
but some need to have an operation on the penis to open it up a bit
Just got images in my head of a Predator's mouth now.
Yeah, our male cat seems to have problems like that from time to time. The other one prefers biscuits and if he snaffles too many of those it seems to aggravate it.
GazChap wrote:
Mr Burrrrt wrote:
but some need to have an operation on the penis to open it up a bit
Just got images in my head of a Predator's mouth now.
I went to Blade II
Cras wrote:
GazChap wrote:
Mr Burrrrt wrote:
but some need to have an operation on the penis to open it up a bit
Just got images in my head of a Predator's mouth now.
I went to Blade II
I went with the American office when Dwight asks a gay couple how they decide which penis is going to open up to accept the other.
Yay, a wine delivery I ordered AGES ago arrived today!
Nay, one of the bottles is sealed but completely empty.
Nay, one of the bottles is sealed but completely empty.
Diet wine
My car cost me £225.
I have brakes!
I have brakes!
Morbo is feeling sorry for himself.
Daw, mend well Morbo x
After 2 weeks of having my suggestion to buy a world book day costume instead of making one refused, my wife came down at 17.00 in a panic
She opened with "Shit I just checked the letter from the school and its tomorrow not Monday"
At this point we maybe had 40% of the Mr Bump costume ready, so a rush around Tesco buying bandages and other stuff followed.
I even bought a backup costume (Willy Wonka) as we hadn't even tried it on him at this point.
It all worked out and he looks pretty good, and we did what you are supposed to do and made it.
Mr Bump looks like this BTW
http://mrmen.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Bump
She opened with "Shit I just checked the letter from the school and its tomorrow not Monday"
At this point we maybe had 40% of the Mr Bump costume ready, so a rush around Tesco buying bandages and other stuff followed.
I even bought a backup costume (Willy Wonka) as we hadn't even tried it on him at this point.
It all worked out and he looks pretty good, and we did what you are supposed to do and made it.
Mr Bump looks like this BTW
http://mrmen.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Bump
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
My car cost me £225.
I have brakes!
I have brakes!
Do you have a car to go with them?
Mr Dave wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
My car cost me £225.
I have brakes!
I have brakes!
Do you have a car to go with them?
I spent more on brakes today than Jazzy did on her car. Ouch.
Kern wrote:
Mr Dave wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
My car cost me £225.
I have brakes!
I have brakes!
Do you have a car to go with them?
I spent more on brakes today than Jazzy did on her car. Ouch.
I wish my car only cost me that much!
My car failed its MOT
My car was fixed by the end of the day!
My car cost me £93
(Jazzy wins)
My car was fixed by the end of the day!
My car cost me £93
(Jazzy wins)
Meh, it's money I could have done without spending, but I don't begrudge it. I have a car, there will be wear and tear. Every now and again I have to spend money to keep it running and safe.
Better than no car at all.
Better than no car at all.
I think I'm more annoyed because I'm spending money on a car I barely use anymore - and yet 3 weeks without a car and I've felt incredibly 'trapped'. Oh well, one of those things.
Jem wrote:
I think I'm more annoyed because I'm spending money on a car I barely use anymore - and yet 3 weeks without a car and I've felt incredibly 'trapped'. Oh well, one of those things.
I'd feel exactly the same Jem, it's my independence.
I'm just grateful to see how much my life has changed that I don't have to stress about getting the money together to pay for it.
My car isn't ready because the o-ring gasket that connects the cat to the exhaust has badly deteriorated, so they've had to order one. Sigh.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
Got the banana car back this morning. Now it can sit on the driveway for another few weeks til I need it next (but at least it's there) 
Lonewolves wrote:
My car isn't ready because the o-ring gasket that connects the cat to the exhaust has badly deteriorated, so they've had to order one. Sigh.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
You'd have thought since the Challenger disaster they'd have moved on from o rings.
MrChris wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
My car isn't ready because the o-ring gasket that connects the cat to the exhaust has badly deteriorated, so they've had to order one. Sigh.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
You'd have thought since the Challenger disaster they'd have moved on from o rings.
It's ok, this one's metal, not rubber. Also won't be subjected to absolute zero.
And looks like it came fresh out of a Wankel.
Lonewolves wrote:
MrChris wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
My car isn't ready because the o-ring gasket that connects the cat to the exhaust has badly deteriorated, so they've had to order one. Sigh.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
Still revs to 98.6k though.
You'd have thought since the Challenger disaster they'd have moved on from o rings.
It's ok, this one's metal, not rubber. Also won't be subjected to absolute zero.
If I were you, I'd leave it out just to be on the safe side.
Page 9 of 29 [ 1412 posts ]