Shingles Vaccine

[pdxfj]

While I'm not at the age to get one and won't be for a while, someone I know scoffed at getting the vaccine and ended up getting shingles. Just a little insight if you're on the fence.

He explained it as the worst and most intense pain he's ever experienced in his life. Nothing helped ease it. Only thing that kept him from eating a bullet was sitting in his home theater and watching TV or movies. As long as he sat still and focused on the screen he could tolerate the pain. His case covered him front and back from his neck to his waist.

It went on for months before finally easing up and finally going away. My father scoffed at getting the shot and said it was "too expensive". I told him the same story and he still scoffed. He finally decided on getting it when I told him not to come crying to me if he got shingles because all I would tell him was "I told your cheap ass to get the shot, but you wouldn't spend the money and now you're in a world of pain". No sympathy from me.

Side effects or not, I don't think skipping the vaccine is worth the risk. Personally I'd rather deal with side effects than go through a case of the shingles.

[NY65912]

Yikes. I'll be scheduling it very soon. Thanks!

[wdfifteen]

A short-term girlfriend got shingles while she was with me. It was on her left shoulder, center of her spine to near the tip of her shoulder. It looked like she had really, really bad poison ivy but she said it felt like the skin had been burnt off. The doc pointed out that you could see the area the affected nerve served by where the blisters were. It hurt so bad she could not stand to have anything touch the affected area, so she went around the house topless for about two weeks. I cut up a T-shirt so there was no material on the left shoulder, so she only had to go semi-topless part of the time.
So yes, I got my shingles shots.

[Brando]

I would recommend getting the vaccine. About 2 years ago I had shingles on the left side of my face and scalp. Worst pain and nausea I ever felt in my life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

A short-term girlfriend got shingles while she was with me. It was on her left shoulder, center of her spine to near the tip of her shoulder. It looked like she had really, really bad poison ivy but she said it felt like the skin had been burnt off. The doc pointed out that you could see the area the affected nerve served by where the blisters were. It hurt so bad she could not stand to have anything touch the affected area, so she went around the house topless for about two weeks. I cut up a T-shirt so there was no material on the left shoulder, so she only had to go semi-topless part of the time.
So yes, I got my shingles shots.

Did your wife find out?

But seriously, I had the vaccine at 48 because I never had Chicken Pox

[Scott Douglas]

Question for any of the Dr's reading this thread.

Is it really a good idea to have a pharmacist give you a shot?

My sister had shingles. I've been thinking about getting the vaccine as I've had chicken pox as a kid.

[Chocaholic]

I had a mild case of shingles about 3 years ago. Got on acyclovir pretty quickly and it wasn’t the horror story many others experience. Have not received a clear answer about needing the vaccine now that I had it. Many say just do it, but why would I not have antibodies after having the actual virus?

[Targa Me]

I received the shingles vaccine last year. It was a two part vaccine.
The first gave me a low grade fever for a couple days and made my body ache all over for 3 days.
Part two was not as bad but did make me ache for a 1 or 2.

[Brando]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

I received the shingles vaccine last year. It was a two part vaccine.
The first gave me a low grade fever for a couple days and made my body ache all over for 3 days.
Part two was not as bad but did make me ache for a 1 or 2.

I would have definitely preferred that to the real thing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I had a mild case of shingles about 3 years ago. Got on acyclovir pretty quickly and it wasn’t the horror story many others experience. Have not received a clear answer about needing the vaccine now that I had it. Many say just do it, but why would I not have antibodies after having the actual virus?

< edit >

According to https://www.healthline.com/health/what-causes-shingles-to-activate

The virus becomes inactive but stays in your body the rest of your life. A strong immune system keeps the virus inactive, so it doesn’t cause any problems.

However, if your immune system becomes weakened, the virus can become active again. This time, it causes the painful rash known as shingles.

A weakened immune system is the main factor associated with getting shingles, because it allows VZV to reactivate.

Age is the factor most associated with the strength of the immune system. As you get older, you’re more likely to have one or more of the following things that weaken your immunity:

natural age-related decline in immunity
immunosuppressant medications, such as chemotherapy, long-term corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory medication
diseases and conditions that attack your immune system, such as HIV and hypogammaglobulinemia
autoimmune diseases that are treated with immunosuppressants, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and lupus
procedures that sometimes require immunosuppressants afterward, such as bone marrow transplants and kidney transplants

You’re most likely to get shingles if you’re 50 or older. In addition, disease severity and likelihood of complications increase with age starting around 50.

Stress can weaken your immune system. Some people think that there’s a link between experiencing a lot of stress and getting shingles. Researchers have studied this, but the results are contradictory, so they don’t know the answer yet.

Anyone who’s had chickenpox can develop shingles. While you can’t “catch” shingles, people who have never had chickenpox can develop it if they come into contact with the liquid from shingles blisters. Once their blisters have crusted over, a person with shingles is no longer contagious.

Although it’s rare, you can get shingles more than once. That’s why you should get the shingles vaccine at age 50 or older if your immune system is strong, even if you’ve already had shingles.

It’s extremely rare to get shingles three times.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Is it really a good idea to have a pharmacist give you a shot?

As long as it goes into a muscle (not a blood vessel, not a bone, not a nerve or plexus, not a joint) it doesn't care who gives it.

[Scott Douglas]

I know the shot doesn't care who administers it, I was more concerned about the expertise of a pharmacist vs MD giving it.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I know the shot doesn't care who administers it, I was more concerned about the expertise of a pharmacist vs MD giving it.

It's unlikely to be administered by an MD.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Did your wife find out?

LOL! This was a between wives situation. Sorting out the losers.

[JJ 911SC]

Yes, no. Same for the wife.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I had a mild case of shingles about 3 years ago. Got on acyclovir pretty quickly and it wasn’t the horror story many others experience. Have not received a clear answer about needing the vaccine now that I had it. Many say just do it, but why would I not have antibodies after having the actual virus?

Well I've got a buddy who's had it more than once and so has his 80+ year old father. I'd get the shots. I've had them and the first one was made me sick for a day/two and my arm was pretty sore. I don't even remember getting the second one. Had to ask my doc to make sure I got them both.

[Mike Andrew]

Have had the single dose years ago and the Shingrex double dose a couple of years ago. Made the mistake of getting pneumonia shot at my Primary and going straight to Walgreen's to pick up a script and decided to do round 1 of Shingrex in same arm while I was there. BIG MISTAKE. I could barely move my arm for a few days but no major reaction otherwise. 2nd shot was no big deal.
Watched my mother go thru shingles twice and a few days of a sore shoulder beats the snot out of having shingles, At least in my book. And, the cost, if insurance doesn't cover it, is less than an office co-pay and all the meds to treat it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Question for any of the Dr's reading this thread.

Is it really a good idea to have a pharmacist give you a shot?

My sister had shingles. I've been thinking about getting the vaccine as I've had chicken pox as a kid.

I called my doctor’s office about it. They can’t get the shots due to demand. And a visit to the docs office is expensive to walk in the door. They recommend to call my pharmacist.

My pharmacist has given thousands of shots, over 40 years. His pharmacy is happy to store the second of two part shots. They fax the information to my docs office so my records are updated.

[Sooner or later]

At a doctors office you may have a nurse or a medical assistant give you a shot. Diabetics give themselves shots. A shot is not heart surgery.