Have You Had a Shingles Vaccine?

[Nyboy]

I have been debating about getting a shingles vaccine. Members talking about the Flu vaccine, as my curiosity going on what you think of this vaccine.

 

[so lucky]

I haven't gotten one and probably won't. I read that it is not as effective as the ads on TV lead you to believe. And very expensive, if you don't have insurance to cover it.
I have had shingles. It was pretty bad, but there are better medications for it today than when I had it 30 years ago.

 

[baymule]

I wouldn't. There are good medications for shingles and I'd rather take my chances.

 

[journey11]

@Nyboy , did you catch the chicken pox when you were a kid? I don't think you have to have the vaccine unless you had the chicken pox.

I don't know much about the vaccine. I'm not sure about it either. My grandpa has had shingles repeatedly in the same spot on his lower stomach. He says it is pure hell.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

check with insurance, most won't cover it as preventive unless you are over 50.

 

[seedcorn]

My doctor wouldn't give it till I turned 60. Few friends of mine got shingles. One had tremendous bad effects from shingles. He said he'd kick me where it hurts if I didn't get the vaccine. While only 60% effective, it is suppose to make the effects much less.

 

[aftermidnight]

Well I've had the vaccination and it's good for 6 years. I've had shingles three times over the years, once in my ear, once on my waist and once on my scalp and yes it is pure hell. After the third bout my doctor insisted I get it. The shingles vaccination was pretty new at the time and I had to go on a waiting list but as it was I lucked out, someone reneged on their shot so our pharmacist asked me if I wanted it.
If you haven't had chicken pox you don't need one. I still suffer from nerve pain at times, the chicken pox virus stays in your system, so anyone who has had chicken pox I strongly recommend you get the vaccination.
I have a friend who had shingles, he got it in his eye, this was a few years back, his eye is still a mess and is he is still suffering a lot of pain and it has affected his vision in that eye. Yes it is expensive but when my 6 years is up even if I had to live on bread and water for a couple of weeks I'll get another vaccination. The nerve pain from shingles is and I'm not exaggerating, excruciating.
Annette

 

[aftermidnight]

I should have mentioned yes there are medications for this but the catch is you have to take it within 24 hrs? I'm not quite sure on the time frame on this, all I know too much time had passed when I was diagnosed and it wouldn't do me any good so I just had to suffer through it. If you still have nerve pain after the rash has disappeared there is an ointment you can get that will give you some relief.
Annette

 

[digitS']

There seem to be a great number of television ads for the vaccine.

I don't know what to think. DW had shingles a couple of years ago and it was obviously a painful experience. I may have had a very minor case. The fact that a painful skin rash showed up right over my heart prompted a call to the MD.

This must have been at least 10 years ago. I was told that it was unlikely to have anything to do with my heart. The skin never became broken and it went away quickly.

I was lucky if it was shingles and wouldn't want to go through what DW did. Hers did not appear terrible, really looked a lot like I remember chicken pox, but shingles involves nerve cells, as @aftermidnight says.

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

An older woman at our church got the vaccine and got shingles.