Just now back from getting my first of two shingrix shots.
Patient consent form took 10 times longer to fill out than getting the shot.:)

Second one only after two months and less than four months.

When I need information on irrigation systems, I go to the irrigation guys. I think most smart people would.

And yet, I know of people who are so smart that they regularly out-think the medical community. I am not one of those people. I did the Shingrix, Flu and Covid booster during the past several months.

I went to the doctor because I had flu like symptoms and a sore above my ear that wasn’t healing normally. I knew when my doc said in his own words “Oh man, it sucks to be you” that I was in for it. Never felt pain like that before. It was like someone was constantly driving nails into the side of my head. Shingles sucks.

^^^ How long did it last and what did the Dr. give you?

Got Shingles like 15y ago, unpleasant ! Whenever I'm (more) stressed out (than usual), the effing thing tries to come back, same spot, I can feel it trying, if you had it you know how it feels under the skin... One time I even got the antiviral meds just in case, to nip it in the bud. So yeah, not messing around with this, got the 2 shots last year - totally worth it ! I'd get them each year if necessary !!! That's how much I never want shingles again ! (and also I need to chill)

Dr gave him a prognosis of a really crappy period ahead. :eek:

I think that if "sucks to be you" is the best your Drs got for you, that can't be good.

I knew some folks that were in their late teens (HS Senior or first year or two of college) that had it. They were in excruciating pain (wearing a shirt or being under a sheet in bed was almost too much). I've heard here and from some folks at work that have had it as older folks. Most of what I hear is that the pain is REALLY bad.

I don't like pain. I've always tried to avoid it when and as much as possible. I got the vaccine.

And when you're older, the possibilities for long term or permanent or more serious complications go up. I've always been pretty darn healthy. I don't get sick often, don't have many medical issues, etc.... I'm trying to keep it that way.

I know a guy (a farmer that worked manual labor his whole life) that had it in his 70's and he told me that it was the worst pain that he ever had.

Yep, in the grand scheme of things, I haven't had to deal with much physical pain in my life. I'm not looking to radically change my bell curve or set any new records.

I had that PHN crap for months after the infection passed.

Yeah, I had a thread about this after I recovered from it. I essentially had no rash, just a wee tiny one that I could not even feel on my right bicep.

The ensuing nerve pain, however, I would not wish on anyone. I think most of us have had a tooth numbed prior to dental work. That pain when that infernal little needle first finds the nerve at the root of your tooth? Imagine that level of pain, running all the way from your earlobe all the way down your arm and into your thumb and forefinger. 24/7, unremitting, position or activity insensitive, without relief. For two months.

Impossible to sleep through the pain. Eventually, after two, three days, your body finally shuts down in spite of the pain and you "sleep". For maybe an hour or two, if you're lucky. Then the cycle starts anew. NOTHING the medical community has to offer even begins to touch the pain.

If I remember correctly, "only" about 16% of those who contract shingles experience the nerve pain component of it to this degree. Most folks will get over this part of it in "only" a couple of months. A couple of months. We're the ones that get off "easy". Some go for a full year. The next "gateway" after that is two years. If it does not resolve by then, it can be a life sentence. Many of those given that news simply choose to end it. I was, in all honesty, ready to do that after "only" two months.

There is simply no way to describe to another human who has not experienced this what this level of pain, unrelenting pain, is like. I lived through it, and it seems kind of surreal to me at this point. Did I really do that? Is that even possible? It all seems like such a dramatization, so overblown and exaggerated. Believe me, it's not.

And, yes, the vaccine will lessen the symptoms should you be unlucky enough to contract shingles. I was not vaccinated when I went through this. I am now...

So you're saying "it's no big deal, don't worry about it"?

I have two siblings that are older than me.
I always compare what they encounter (health-wise) to my life.

They are in their mid 70's and no problems with their health.
I'm good to go. :)

I didn’t see improvement for two weeks. They gave me a couple of drugs, an antibiotic, and something else I don’t remember, and oh yeah, a butt ton of Vicodin which didn’t even touch the pain.

When I got the shingles I was racing Mountain Bikes and training every night after working 10 hours. The doctor said that my immune system was just run into the ground from fatigue. The first sore started right where the strap of my helmet came down around my ear. I thought it was just a wear sore but it wouldn’t go away. Then I got flu like symptoms and my training partner, who is a heart surgeon told me to get to my doctor.

Had it on my head and down my face below my eye and had nerve issues for 10 years until it finally resolved. I have a script for the vaccine and just need to get it done