Shingles

[Joe Bob]

I just had my second booster shot. Injection site pain. No other side effects.

I never got a COVID......I've seen Shigles...it sucks.

[flatbutt]

It does. It's like a severe sun burn all over.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

It does. It's like a severe sun burn all over.

Until it makes you go permanently blind. Then it's a bit worse than a sun burn.

Yep, I'm 52 and got my shingrix a couple of years ago. Like most shots, no issues other than a bit sore where I was poked. My understanding is that shingrix (or is it shingrex) is better (fewer complications/side effects) than whatever preceded it.

[Rick Lee]

I had shingles four yrs ago. Wasn't nearly as bad as others have had it, but it was unpleasant.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

It does. It's like a severe sun burn all over.

not all over, just one side of your body, but that is bad enough

[LWJ]

Got the shot. Shingles is awful.

[Jeff Hail]

Had it about 12 years ago. It broke out in a two inch circular rash. I had a Dr. Appt the next morning anyhow. Gave me Acyclovir and was dried up in two additional days. Itched a little but by that time was gone. Occurs on the side of the body it went dormant in the nerve most likely when you had Chicken Pox.
Never understood why folks get Shingles vaccines? Varicella Zoster has no cure, is self limiting and does not leave the body. No cure for Chicken Pox why would anyone believe a vaccine is a cure for Shingles. I know so many people that have taken the double boost Shingles vaccine and still got it. Seems the anti-viral may be a better option if you get it.

[rwest]

I just got my second shingles vac and the second Hep B yesterday- one in each arm. Feel no pain on he Hep B arm, but the shingle arm hurts like a mother.

[NY65912]

Getting my second dose next week. I've seen it and it don't look fun.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

Had it about 12 years ago. It broke out in a two inch circular rash. I had a Dr. Appt the next morning anyhow. Gave me Acyclovir and was dried up in two additional days. Itched a little but by that time was gone. Occurs on the side of the body it went dormant in the nerve most likely when you had Chicken Pox.
Never understood why folks get Shingles vaccines? Varicella Zoster has no cure, is self limiting and does not leave the body. No cure for Chicken Pox why would anyone believe a vaccine is a cure for Shingles. I know so many people that have taken the double boost Shingles vaccine and still got it. Seems the anti-viral may be a better option if you get it.

I had the same experience. Small area that responded well to acyclovir. Itchy for a few days and that was it. I think the key was to get on acyclovir quickly.

[stevej37]

Hmm...I was planning on getting my first Shingrix shot sometime this week.
I just looked and it says Acyclovir is available over-the-counter.

[KFC911]

Though I've never had a flue vax, I did get both the Shingles and Covid ones a few years ago. Lets face it .... people are different, and both the viruses and vaccines can vary. Some get the Shingles and it's minor and some wish they were dead. Some get Covid and it's minor, and some ended up dead. I've known some of both fwiw for both the viruses and end result. No one I know had side effects from the vaxes.

Higgins had a thread about Shingles back when.... and that got me off my azz

[stevej37]

At my last Dr. visit, he strongly recommended the latest covid booster, flu, pneumonia, and shingles shots.
In the last two months I have done all of them except the shingles shot.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

Had it about 12 years ago. It broke out in a two inch circular rash. I had a Dr. Appt the next morning anyhow. Gave me Acyclovir and was dried up in two additional days. Itched a little but by that time was gone. Occurs on the side of the body it went dormant in the nerve most likely when you had Chicken Pox.
Never understood why folks get Shingles vaccines? Varicella Zoster has no cure, is self limiting and does not leave the body. No cure for Chicken Pox why would anyone believe a vaccine is a cure for Shingles. I know so many people that have taken the double boost Shingles vaccine and still got it. Seems the anti-viral may be a better option if you get it.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
(the quote below isn't the entire text of the link above, only an excerpt)

Shingles isn't life-threatening. But it can be very painful. Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles. Early treatment may shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared.

Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some people, the pain can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for problems with the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

When to see a doctor

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you suspect shingles, especially in the following situations:

The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection may lead to permanent eye damage.
You're 50 or older. Age increases your risk of complications.
You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system. This may be due to cancer, medications or chronic illness.
The rash is widespread and painful.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/shingles

For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze.

After the shingles rash goes away, some people may be left with ongoing pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. The pain is felt in the area where the rash occurred. The older you are when you get shingles, the greater your chances of developing PHN.

The PHN pain can cause depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and weight loss. Some people with PHN find it hard to go about their daily activities, such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Talk with your doctor if you are experiencing PHN or have any of these symptoms. Usually, PHN will lessen over time.

The current shingles vaccine (brand name Shingrix) is a safe, easy, and more effective way to prevent shingles than the previous vaccine. In fact, it is over 90% effective at preventing shingles. Most adults age 50 and older should get vaccinated with the shingles vaccine, which is given in two doses. You can get the shingles vaccine at your doctor’s office and at some pharmacies.

https://www.healthline.com/health/senior-health/shingles-elderly

For younger people, a bout of shingles often resolves within a few weeks with a low risk of ongoing problems. That’s not true for many older adults, who can face life threatening complications, even after the rash itself has cleared.

Some of the more serious complications that affect older people include:
Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)

Perhaps the most severe shingles complication, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is much more likely to affect older people who develop shingles. It’s a major contributor to disability later in life, according to a study from 2009.

PHN is long-term nerve pain in the area where the rash first appeared. The CDC estimates that between 10 and 18 percent of people with shingles go on to have PHN.
Vision loss

If shingles develops near an eye, early treatment is vital. Shingles in the eye is called ophthalmic herpes zoster, and it can cause scarring and vision loss. About 10 to 20 percent of all shingles cases involve one or both eyes.
Stroke

A 2014 study found that older adults with shingles face an increased risk for stroke for at least 6 months after their diagnosis and a more than threefold risk of stroke if they develop ophthalmic herpes zoster.

The risk for stroke was lower among individuals who were treated with antiviral medications compared to those who received no treatment.
Dementia

The same kind of vascular damage that can disrupt blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke can also affect brain function in a different way. Shingles raises the chance of inflammation of the arteries supplying blood to the brain, which in turn increases the odds of dementia.

A 2017 study found that, after accounting for heart disease and other medical conditions or factors that could affect dementia risk, older adults with shingles of the eye has a nearly threefold greater risk for dementia compared to their peers without shingles.
Death

It’s rare for shingles to directly lead to death. The CDC reports that shingles can be considered the direct underlying cause of death in less than one person per 1 million people in the general population.

While shingles itself isn’t usually a deadly disease, it can lead to conditions such as pneumonia and encephalitis, which can be fatal. This is particularly true for older people whose immune systems have been compromised by treatments for illnesses such as AIDS and cancer.

The chances of having the major complications may be low, and the vaccine may not be a cure, but if it's 90% effective...

And it's probably not quite as dangerous for the average person in good health in their 50s, but when you get into your 60s, 70s, or even 80s, and your body is weakening and slowing down (including your immune system) a lot, my guess is that the chances for more serious issues start really ramping up.

I'm game for a vaccine that reduces my chance of shingles.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Hmm...I was planning on getting my first Shingrix shot sometime this week.
I just looked and it says Acyclovir is available over-the-counter.

acyclovir can help once you get shingles. according to the stuff that I posted, if you believe it, the vaccine is 90% effective at preventing it.

maybe never get it vs it was only painful for a few days. (that's assuming you get a mild case and don't end up with any of the more severe or permanent issues)

[GH85Carrera]

I got the single dose shingles shot many years ago. Then the doctor said the new two shot vaccine is the thing to get, so I did.

A couple of years ago I had a very sore area on my stomach, next to my navel, about the size of my hand. It was weird in that the sheet touching it was painful, yet if I laid my hand on the area it did not really hurt.

There was no rash or evidence of anything on the surface. I saw my doctor and he said sometimes shingles can be under the skin, and on the dermis layer. It was several months of discomfort, but not too bad. The Doc speculated the vaccine has spared me a severe shingles attack.

My mom got shingles, and she said it was at least twice as painful as childbirth. I sure don't want that pain.

[Bugsinrugs]

I had shingles in my twenties and it was miserable. I get all the shots, flu , shingles, Covid etc. I haven’t had a cold in three years. Maybe it’s because I’m still anti social.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Hmm...I was planning on getting my first Shingrix shot sometime this week.
I just looked and it says Acyclovir is available over-the-counter.

If available OTC, it would be worth having it in the house. These days it can take weeks or more to get in to see a GP.

The question that remains unclear is if you’ve had shingles once, how helpful is a vaccine? I’ve read a variety of responses.

[runner4fun]

At the risk of controversy, I believe in vaccines and had the new dual dose shingles vaccine. It was never a question whether to get the vaccine. Also have had all flu and Covid vaccines and boosters and never had Covid. A friend had shingles and that is something I never want to experience. It put him out of commission for a few months.

[Zeke]

My wife and 2 friends had shingles shots. All 3 got shingles within 2 weeks.

Did you know there's internal shingles? That's what my wife got. That really sucks. Took her 6 months to feel sorta normal but hasn't been as healthy since. 5 years now.

No Covid for either one of us. Glad for that. It would have killed her. We still wear masks.