Shingles suck.

Got shingles 3 weeks ago. The rash is slowly fading but the postherpetic neuralgia is kicking my butt. Gabapentin, Ibuprofen, Lidocaine patches, Aspercreme with Lidocaine , apple cider vinegar with pepper mint oil soaks and cold compresses are making it manageable, but when it flares it is horrible. Can't stand for my shirt to be touching me when it flares. Today's public service announcement is if you are age 50 (I'm not there just yet) and have not had you Zoster vaccine, get it. If it decreases your chance of getting shingles then it is well worth it. On a side note, I thank God for modern medicine.. I can only imagine what folks in the past had to go through. Should the SHTF, it's going to be terrible for people who have nothing to help manage it.

Before all you folks say that you can only get it once, I'll call BS now, my wife has had it 3 or 4 times, before she turned 50 and they wouldn't let her have the shot. It is a miserable, miserable time.

Diverdad said:

Before all you folks say that you can only get it once, I'll call BS now, my wife has had it 3 or 4 times, before she turned 50 and they wouldn't let her have the shot. It is a miserable, miserable time.

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My brother in-law has had it twice. The last time on his head. He described it as it felt like someone had an ice pick and was stabbing him in the back of his head. I woke up on a Sunday morning 3 weeks ago hurting in my left lower back mainly with some pain to my left lower abdomen. Rash came that Tuesday evening. My brother in-law described it best. "You would think the pain would be where the rash is but it it feels like it is INSIDE you." That is exactly how it felt. Now the PHN is mostly along the rash on my skin. Shingles are from the debil!

I thought this was gonna be about roof shingles. I was gonna be like ye go with tin.

But since we are talking about the medical condition, I have nothing more to say

Sorry to hear this for the OP. I know how you are suffering Brother. Hope you feel better soon!


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On Mother's Day weekend, the wife of a friend of mine had a bad case of shingles. Last week, she had a stroke.
They said a rare autoimmune complication of the Zoster virus is Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), which causes hyper coagulation, resulting in blood clots.
So, she got shingles, which left her with an autoimmune disorder that caused blood clots and gave her a stroke. All within two months.

Shingles sucks!

OP, I hope you get better soon.
You got me thinking that I am way overdue for shingles vaccine, I will make it happen on 8/2 at my scheduled physical.

Diverdad said:

Before all you folks say that you can only get it once, I'll call BS now, my wife has had it 3 or 4 times, before she turned 50 and they wouldn't let her have the shot. It is a miserable, miserable time.

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You are correct sir. My wife has had it some many times her doctor keeps a prescription for her at the pharmacy. She doesn't even have to go see him first. She feels it coming on and gets the meds and usually(not always) stops it before it get too bad.

That Gabapentin stuff is bad bad juju. Get better soon and get off that stuff ASAP!

Had them at age of 35 and was in shock thinking only older adults got them. Someone was correct the rash is not the bad part. It felt like a ufc fighter beat me in the ribs from the inside out couple days before the rash before i went to dr to figure out what was going on.

Hope you get to feeling better they stink.

Had the vaccine in the last 5 yrs and i had to lean on my dr to get the prescription. Getting ready to turn 59. Insurance didnt enter into it as my old employer offers vaccines free as a retirement benefit. Still had to have a prescription. Now there is a new vaccine that is much more effective and my dr is strongly suggesting i get it.

Hope you get better soon !!

Diverdad said:

Before all you folks say that you can only get it once, I'll call BS now, my wife has had it 3 or 4 times, before she turned 50 and they wouldn't let her have the shot. It is a miserable, miserable time.

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I never understood where that come from. Everyone knows (or should) you can get it multiple times.

I had it once, about 13ish years ago, mild case on back. Just painful enough to be uncomfortable, and just bad enough to force me to be out of work for a week (I worked in an ICU then). I have seen some very, very bad cases, though, and would not wish them upon anyone.

Had it 3 times. Same spot...center of my back.

Burow's solution soaks worked every time.

Go with a metal roof next time.

quote:
The CDC recommends that you get the Shingrix vaccine if you've already had Zostavax,
because it's more effective than the older vaccine and the protection lasts longer.
Wait at least 2 months after you have Zostavax to get Shingrix.

Jp8819 said:

Had them at age of 35 and was in shock thinking only older adults got them. Someone was correct the rash is not the bad part. It felt like a ufc fighter beat me in the ribs from the inside out couple days before the rash before i went to dr to figure out what was going on.

Hope you get to feeling better they stink.

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Had mine in my 30's too. I remember it being uncomfortable but I think having it at a younger age made it less intense.

An MS neurologist once told me that Zoster is strange because you would think that, having had it once, you would develop an immunity, but you don't. It's hell on MS patients.

I'm 53 and I'm scared to death to get this. I know its coming, too.
I didnt think you could get the shot until you were in your 60's. I guess its just insurance doesn't cover it until then?

Roland! said:

I'm 53 and I'm scared to death to get this. I know its coming, too.
I didnt think you could get the shot until you were in your 60's. I guess its just insurance doesn't cover it until then?

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The CDC says age 60 but it is approved for age 50 and older. I am 47. My health care provider had the insurance person in our office contact our insurance to see if it will pay for it for people younger than 50 and it will. We plan on me getting the vaccine 6 weeks after my shingles have gone.

My wife has had shingles twice in her EYE. Yes her eye. We were afraid that she might have damage, but good so far. Her Dr. said to wait until the new shot was out and proven
before she took it. And insurance would not pay for it yet on her (she is 54). After what she has went through this year with hers, I feel your pain.

I just got my first of 2 shingrix shots last night. My doc sent the script to CVS but they don't have the vaccine and have no idea when they will get it in. I went across the street to Publix and they have it and have authority to do the script so I got it. It was free through my insurance. I have to go back in 2 - 6 months for the booster.
Just and FYI - its $186 without insurance.

Going to get script tomorrow. Just about every grocery store i go to has a pharmacy and claim to have the vaccine in stock. My ex employer is supposed give free vacs and other shots to retirees but of course they are saying 3 months backlog. How convenient.

yes, there was a backlog. a Walgreen's tech told me they kept a waiting list until it got to 125 so they stopped taking names.
i went out-of-town and stopped at drug store and got the first of two shots. that day my arm was "tight" just like after a flu shot.
that night i had fever symptoms, hot/cold, shiver/sweat, over and over. took some aspirin. slept from 5AM to 10:30AM.
after that, everything was back to what passes for normal. i get my second shot in October.

@eddie0225

Same thing you have?

its the shingles shot I had yeah I got the second shot Friday mid-day sat. I felt like somebody just grabbed me up and jerked a knot in my ass as my dad used to say, I felt so bad by 4 I was in bed and stayed there till about 10 today really didn't wanna get outta bed but I kept getting everything soaked. I got up took a good shower, figured that may help. Before 2 I'd done had to change t-shirts twice was odd as the dickens cause they were spoaked with sweat

I got a flu shot once and for years after that I got sick if anyone looked at me funny, so I've been very afraid to get a shingles shot.
How sick will the shot make me, I wonder?

CDC info https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html

I'm not really sure if it was the shingles shot or not, the first one just made my arm sore as a boil for a few days the second far as soreness goes only a bit sore the next day

My fiancé is getting over shingles now, she’s 29. They told her she can’t get the shot until she’s 50.

Just got my first Shingrix shot today. 2nd shot in 3 months when i go back to doc anyway. Sorry about your fiance. I got the Zostavax shot about 5 yrs early. Leaned on my doc a little. Too many friends getting shingles at 50.

@Jenny

Care to chime in?

I’ve had shingles for nearly two years straight. Nothing gets rid of them entirely, so, I take the meds, shingles start to clear, end med, shingles return. I’m not 50 and I’ve never been told I have to wait for the vaccine until then, just that I need to be free of shingles for at least 30 days without meds before getting the shot. It doesn’t appear that I’m ever going to get the vaccine :-(

I got shingles in late June and, while much better, I still have occasional flares where I have to take Gabapentin and/or use Blue Emu with Lidocaine ointment or a Lidocaine patch. Don't think I will be able to take the Shingrix vaccine next month.

Got 1st Shingrix shot early in the a.m. I didnt feel like doing s#it the rest of the day. Nurse told me she had flu symptoms after her 2nd shot for 8 hrs. Woke up shivering last night. Still dont feel 100% today. Had none of this with Zostavax just a really swollen tricep.

Shingles, because who doesn’t love the sensation that a hell fire missle has detonated on your body, followed by being dragged by a moving vehicle :-(

I had chicken pox as a kid & my zoster titer is still high enough (44 y/o at the time) that work didn't require me to get the shot. Wife had had the chicken pox as a kid as well & her titer was too low & had to get the shot. She had a really bad reaction to it & was sick for a few days after.

Got 2nd shingrix shot yesterday. Flu symptoms over night. Hot and cold. Toss and turn. Joint pain in all joints. Frequent urination. Headache. Muscle ache. Whew!

I'm closing in on 50...based on the description of ice picks...I'm taking notice and making an avoidance plan.
My typical tactic is to NOT engage if possible !!

I had chicken pox as a child.
I have been immunized against most all bad stuff, including anthrax & yellow fever and I test positive for tuberculosis antibodies. I could be cultured for antivenom!

@Crazy Carl

Can anyone point out a common factor of shingles victims?
Unhealthy immune system due to lifestyle perhaps? I'm asking, not stating anything.

Thanks.

54 here, had a mild case right around 50, as I recall treated with steroids and it resolved. Guess I’ll ask the doc if I’m a candidate for the vaccine.

Except for a bad back problem and being moderately overweight for decades (210 on a 6’ frame) I’ve been surprisingly healthy. I attribute it to my Mediterranean ancestry.