and then forgot about it, as had the 'old' one some years ago. Guess I'll ask my GP about it (when I see him, which is not often.)

Bonus: SHE HATES TRUMP TOO! We spend more time discussing politics than we do my medical issues, LOL!

As I've moved from where my doc's office is located, I see him seldom; only when prescriptions demand a visit. AND last times I've seen him, we discussed his divorce (sad) and my home; tried to cheer him up by inviting him to visit, even tho it's about 120 miles from him!

That's one of the reasons I never want to move out of the area I live in - all my doctors are close by!

and heavily worked by the group he's in.

and it also got into his eye. I couldn't imagine what that was like. Open sores INSIDE his eyelid, every blink or movement of the eye produced excruciating pain. Didn't sleep well, imagine every time you go into REM, PAIN and you wake up.

I myself had Chicken Pox twice (I know, but it does happen), but that doesn't do anything to mitigate getting shingles.

Please, everyone, get the vaccine!

Dad had it, not as awful as your friend's, so kind of encouraged me to get the 'old' vaccine.

I wouldn't even wish this on Spanky!

I had a Rx for it but learned it wasn't covered until 60.

I may get another Rx & just pony up cost or wait a few years.

Same with DexaScan. Goddamned insurance won't cover until 60-65 or so - DECADES AFTER bone loss has started (starts around 35-40) and AFTER anything can be done to mitigate it.

Dumbasses.

I got the shingles shot several years ago.
Not sure which one it was though, so thanks for the heads-up!!!

Some people get a worse reaction to the new vaccine -- a friend just got it and felt pretty bad for a couple of days (flu-like symptoms). I'll be checking with my doc about me taking the new one. I had the old one, got a mild case of the shingles 3 yrs later, so I'm sure he'll recommend I get the new one.

Shingrix last week and have to go back in June for the second.

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


One of my daughters had shingles when she was younger and still living at home. It was awful, so painful, it was heartbreaking to watch her suffer. Thank heavens she came through it ok. Shingles is nothing to fool around with.

I think it is less the medicine and more who is doing the shot if they hit the wrong spot, nerve or something.

it only hurt a very little when I lifted my arm and that was only for a brief period of time.

rarely happens like this but when it does

wow

Doesn't exactly encourage me to do the same. Please follow up (I guess!)

happen.

Still well worth it, my mom had shingles and she said it was by far the worst experience of her life.

Assume he hit a nerve? This happened once before with a flu shot so I doubt it is related to the medicine itself.

Last edited Wed Apr 11, 2018, 03:01 PM - Edit history (1)

will be x100 if you get the shingles. He also says that there's not a 100% chance that you'll ever have shingles, but if you do there's a 100% chance you'll be miserable. I watched my 40-year-old daughter suffer with it about 3 years ago and she still has pain from it. Don't worry about a few days of arm pain elleng.

I do hope they reformulate it so it's not so painful.

I got the old shingles shot about five years ago now, so I can probably hold out a bit.

For what it's worth, my younger son had an outbreak of shingles at age 20.

I'd received the original type of shot about 5 years ago and got this newer one after reading about it here. In the office, she didn't tell me there would be a follow-up shot needed... I found that out while reading the hand-out, and had to call them back to make the appointment. Looks like they dropped the ball on that point.

It was a weird shot. She didn't stick me in the upper arm muscle, but went a bit higher up - just below the shoulder cap bone (sorry, I don't know the name of it). Immediately, there was a burning sensation all the way down my arm, VERY reminiscent of a Wasp sting but it went away very fast... before I left the cubicle, in fact.

The ache from the shot stayed for about 3 days but wasn't too bad - it felt like an over-worked muscle. And I got very fatigued for the rest of the day, which was really strange. But that was on the reaction sheet, so no worries there.

I wonder why my health care provider's data base didn't kick out some sort of notice to all Patients who'd received the older type shot? They really should notify us to get the newer type. If not for reading about it here, I wouldn't have a clue - so thanks again for the heads-up, elleng!!

I still haven't discussed the matter with my GP; will likely do so if/when I try for a refill of something and he/his group says they have to see me.

Been thinking I might ask if I could get the OLD one instead, as a follow up shot will be a 'pain,' only because I've moved so am over 100 miles away from their office now.

BUT glad you wrote, as a prod.

I got the Zostavax vac after my 2nd bout with shingles that left me in agony for 6 months with that lingering nerve pain that persisted long after the blistering healed up. I urged everyone I knew to get that vaccine to avoid what I went through, and I haven't had another attack since. I didn't know about Shingrix, but I will certainly ask my doctor if I can get it.

shingles. I've had about 12 outbreaks since 1996, and every one of them is excruciating. They usually erupt down my right sciatic nerve, which has led to permanent nerve damage and subsequent unrelenting nerve pain 24/7. My doctors can't explain it, my immune system functions normally, but multiple bouts run on my dad's side of my family. My grandma, dad, aunt, and 2 first cousins have all had more than one bout, but I'm the big winner. Why couldn't it have been the Powerball?

So please, anybody over 40, get the vaccine. I spoke to my doctor about it but he said it probably wouldn't do me any good. He says the vaccine tricks your body into thinking it already had shingles, but my body doesn't seem to care about that. I got my first bout at 40; my most recent bout came on about 2 weeks ago. I'm on daily antivirals and, of course, pain meds, which helps somewhat, but not completely.

Please. Do yourself a BIG, HUGE, HUMONGOUS favor--get the vaccine.

You don't want it. Trust me.

And it did NOT hurt and burn like the first one did!! Nice surprise, since the first one in April felt like a Wasp sting. TBH, I wonder if the first shot was was too close to a nerve or something. It was just below the shoulder bone, which was a bit odd. This one was in the 'meaty' part of the upper arm, where you'd customarily expect a shot to be given.

Who knows, maybe the first one burns and the second one doesn't? In any case, I just thought I'd pop back in here and let everyone know that the follow-up shot was a piece of cake.
(m-m-m-m, cake!!!)

BTW... both shots were paid for by Medicare.

and glad paid by medicare!

My doc 'ordered' pharmacy to obtain the stuff, so I'm waiting to hear from them, 'couple months!' Surprised it takes so long!

A friend is now enduring his SECOND bout of shingles.

and was told there was only a limited supply, so it's probably universal. Sorry to hear about your friend . My oldest son got it at 36, on a Hawaiian vacation, of all places. He was miserable.

Last edited Wed Aug 8, 2018, 12:57 AM - Edit history (1)

It's been about 3 hours. The injection HURT going in! Nurse said some think it feels like a Tetanus shot, which is painful. My first shingles vacc hurt too, so I was expecting it. So, I'm expecting pain for 2-3 days. I'm a big girl, and can handle it. The thought of getting shingles scares the shite out of me, so I had to do it! There are other possible side effects too, but I hope I don't get them.

I have Kaiser, and the vacc is free, yay!

On Edit: Yes, 2-3 days and no more pain. No side effects either.

Last edited Sun Feb 10, 2019, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

after the first in August; awaiting 'effects!'



NO 'effects,' but for slight discomfort trying to sleep on left arm (which I usually do.) Should be over tonight.