Posted on 09/04/2013 1:59:18 PM PDT by deputytess
The shingles vaccine, recommended by the CDC for people over 60, is far from a slam-dunk success. Consider: it reduces the chance of getting shingles by only about 50 percent, though it reduces by 66 percent the discomfort and aftereffects of shingles even when it doesn’t prevent the condition.Shingles itself, for most people, is uncomfortable and then painful, But it generally runs its course after between 2 and 4 weeks and there are medications that can ease the discomfort. When you take the vaccine, you will have to stay away from people who haven’t yet had chicken pox, because you’ll be infectious. You could give it to your pregnant neighbor, for example, or to your grandchildren. Only around 1 in 3 unvaccinated people who have had chicken pox get shingles (this rises to half for those over 85, we should all live that long). Also, for some people the vaccine has fairly serious side effects. Before you get vaccinated for shingles, find out as much as you can about it and make an informed choice.
Another thing to know .... if your shingles are active you can give the chicken pox to someone who has never had chicken pox or the vaccine against it. if you have never had chicken pox i would suggest you get chicken pox vaccine and you will never have to worry about shingles ....
I got it when I turned 50. At first I didn’t know what it was but when it prevented me from sleeping I went to the emergency and they figured it out. I just got in under the 3 day onset period for the drug intervention. It does make you cry in pain but I am sure there are worse diseases out there. Fortunately the medication worked well and I got out of it as expected. Nothing now for 6 years so I am happy about that. That said I don’t wish even my relatively mild case on anyone. I had it mostly in the scalp area and no where else.
the thing with shingles is once you have it it can stay dormant for many years but its still there. then the day comes when you do the thing that ticks it off ... for me its the sun, i am fine if i sunbath in my home area but if i go to where the sun is stronger and do not use a sunscreen on my neck .... had my 1st encounter in my late thirties, two more times since then and i am fifty eight now and it has been at least ten years since the last time.
i did not know that the shot could help you if you had shingles already,usually a vaccine is to prevent you from getting something you never had ... will have to look into this.
I have no idea but I wouldn’t take steroids for anything. I lived with flareups on an irregular basis for years without medication before I knew exactly what it was. The pain was not excruciating. More like uncomfortable and distracting. Not something you couldn’t tolerate.
Stress seems to be my trigger.
I'm familiar with both of those drugs. Fortunately, I haven't had a flare since starting allopurinol. Gout is a great motivator - I made a lot of positive lifestyle changes because after my last flare I swore that I'd do anything I could to avoid another flare. I now know that some medical conditions are just as bad as the medical community says so I'm going to check out this shingles vaccine.
I came down with shingles the first Christmas after my father died.
It started out as a few painful bumps just inside my hairline on the left side, oddly tingly too, and felt cold, not to the touch just a sensation of cold. At first I thought I’d gotten bitten by a spider or something. Then the bumps spread and became a generalized rash out onto my forehead into my left eyebrow. At that point I became concerned it was MRSA and scheduled an appointment with an after-hours doc-in-a-box.
The sensation is difficult to describe and it’s also difficult to believe just how painful it is. It’s not just the rash or even the skin that’s involved as far as the pain, it’s nerve pain and it felt as if it was shooting down inside my skull, very unnerving and excruciating.
It was apparently caught in time because it cleared up in a amtter of weeks. I was warned that it can get in your eyes and cause partial or complete blindness. Five years later I still have minor residual effects, tingling, numbness, sensitivity to cold in the area affected.
It’s to be avoided, trust me.
I don't remember having chickenpox so my doctor did a blood test and yes, I had chickenpox but such a light case that no one noticed. Probably it was at the same time my brother had a horrible case of chickenpox.
I got the shingles vaccine, I don't want to suffer like my husband did, ever!
One less icky thing to think about! Now we can focus on Syria. Or on how cute our pets are. I prefer the latter.:)
I do know a couple of people who got shingles. Older people. It was absolutely dreadful, painful, disgusting, and took months to go away. One woman was never the same again. Scary.
So as much as I had meds, I got the shot. Hope it works
“Or on how cute our pets are. I prefer the latter”
Me too!!!
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