Posted on 08/24/2019 3:23:01 PM PDT by ak267
Brother just got the shingles (high stress life caught up to him). It's limited to a small area but it smarts a lot.
Once it clears up (weeks? months?), he's thinking of getting the latest vaccine (me too). Has anyone taken it?
Any advice on how he can get through this?
Except for it being near my eye I felt fortunate i didn’t have to worry about clothing rubbing on it. I thought it would be worse on my torso.
I guess the key thing is that it’s horrible no matter where the sores are.
I had shingles on my face last year. The doctor sent me to the emergency room for antiviral IV’s.
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.
What if I never got CP, but was exposed and immune? Does that mean I should, or shouldn’t get the shingles shot?
Do you need a shot if you have never had chicken pox..this topic confuses me. I presume I have had chicken pox but dont know.
I had shingles when I was 17 (heavy immune suppression). I used some topical lidocaine, which is now available over the counter at pharmacies at 4% potency or greater, and antibiotic ointment when sores broke open. I had it on my forearms, and kept them wrapped so that clothing wasn’t rubbing up against the sores, though I changed bandages regularly.
I recommend the vaccine. I have to get mine still, and am waiting until it’s time for my flu and Pneumovax 23.
I had heard from videos that low-carb (Keto) can help with shingles (and just about any other auto-immune condition), but I see much more on the web to the opposite, so maybe do a bit of research and decide for yourself.
Good luck!
A few days ago I received this from a friend:
Re: Shingrix vaccine
https://thevaccinereaction.org/2018/09/new-supercharged-shingles-vaccine-has-serious-problems/
Get the new vaccine. It is not based on aborted baby cell line.
I had the new Shingrix two-shot vaccine last year (95% effective according to some doctors.) My family doctor had recommended it. Haven’t gotten shingles, never had shingles, so there’s no way to know if it works.
It was one of the most uncomfortable vaccines I’ve had, though. Muscle was sore for several days, and I felt run down for a day or two afterward.
I had the same experience last year. Got the first shot in July and was going to get the second in October, but the same pharmacist was out of stock. Got on a waiting list for when the supply came in but didn’t get the second shot until January of this year.
Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Two doses of Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Protection stays above 85% for at least the first four years after you get vaccinated. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Zostavax may still be used to prevent shingles in healthy adults 60 years and older. For example, you could use Zostavax if a person is allergic to Shingrix, prefers Zostavax, or requests immediate vaccination and Shingrix is unavailable.So I'm going to contact my doc and see if he recommends I get Shingrix. I had a very mild, localized case of shingles maybe 20 years ago and it was just awful.Who Should Get Shingrix?
Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:
* had shingles
* received Zostavax
* are not sure if you had chickenpox There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.If you had shingles in the past, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.
You can get Shingrix whether or not you remember having had chickenpox in the past. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans 40 years and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having the disease. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.
If you had Zostavax in the recent past, you should wait at least eight weeks before getting Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix.
Had both shots last year with no repercussions. Of course, I’ve heard of folks being down and out for a day or so, but beats all hell out of shingles, with its deep pain and, frequently, lasting long-term,
I had it starting on the top of my head and then down towards my right eye, very close to the corner and all through the right eyebrow. Had two visits to the Eye doctor to check it. I had the shot four years ago. I guess it was the older version. Hurt like blazes. I was told I could get it again. Wondering if I should get the new one?
I have a friend that had the shot but got shingles anyway. I do not know the interval of time between the shot and the shingles.
Home remedies for dealing with shingles. ACV seems to be a favorite.
I took the vaccine about 6 months ago. Can’t say anything more than that. Haven’t had shingles. I guess I can say that.
Had the shingles 3 times in 10 years. I don’t fare well with reactions to vaccines. I have a compromised immune system.
I heard the pharmacist say it is two shots that have to be taken within a certain period, if not, the next try you have to have 3. They only had one in the pharmacy and couldn’t give it because they didn’t know if/when they were getting more so they could give the second shot within the appropriate time frame.
Yes and Yes!
My advice...get it. It is a very effective vaccine, with the main side effect being pain near the injection site for a few days. Make sure you get the new vaccine, as the old one is not nearly as effective. You may have to wait, as there are widespread shortages of the vaccine.
I just got finished with the second dose, my wife got the first, but only after a case of shingles cleared up, and she described it as the most painful thing in her life.
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