I got shingles about 20 years ago on my left side. Covered an area about the size of my hand. I let it go 2 or 3 weeks because we were always told not to go running to the doctor for every little sniffle, sneeze or itch you get. In other words, don’t waste the doctor’s precious time.
So what’d I get?... “If you’d come in earlier, sir, it wouldn’t be as bad as it is.”
Well,
Number 1: It’s bad? It itches and stings a little.
Number 2: I was doing YOU a favor. Like good patients are supposed to do. Or so I’ve always been told.
Then she prescribed some oral medication that I had to take seemingly forever. It did stop the affected area from spreading any further. But it took a good six months, maybe eight (it was a long time ago) for the stinging and itching to go away. And I mean constant, highly irritating itching and stinging. THAT I would not like to go through again.
Afterward they recommended I get a shot to prevent it coming back, but not the newer series of shots. They were for younger people only. Ten years on they told me that they had tweaked the vaccine and now everyone could take it, but there was a shortage of some kind. Still haven’t gotten it, but I ask everytime I go in. Ten year shortage, I guess.
Seriously, though. You don’t want to get shingles. There can be real complications. For instance, if it gets in your eyes, it can blind you. Tell your brother to get the first shot as soon as it’s okay, and keep pestering the doc for the second shot.
I contacted all Walmart’s in my area and put my name on a list took 5 wks.Will get second one within 6 months.95% effective up to I think 5 yrs.