Today's PSA - Shingles
18Nope, not the ones on the roof but the virus that attacks your body.
I thought I had a spider bite, so kept telling myself “suck it up, Transplant! Quit being a baby!” but after 7 days of intense back and hip pain, getting maybe 2-3 hours of sleep, I went to the doctor. Yeah, I know, should have gone sooner but hey! I’m tough! [And an idiot.]
I was amazed by the number of people who when I told them I had Shingles get a look of horror on their face and says “I had shingles!”. I thought it was usually in older people, but talked to a 20 year old who had them.
Everyone agrees it’s the most excruciating pain. I thought when I broke my leg it was bad, but not even close to the pain level…
I’m now on med for the shingles and have some others. Yay sleeping pills! Yay pain killers!
Typical recovery time is 3-5 weeks but my doc said longer for me due to me waiting so long and my immune system. (See note above about sleeping pills and pain meds. 
)
So, here’s the Public Service Annoucement portion of this post. Ask your doctor if you should get the shingles shot. Mine said no due to my compromised immune system (I’m a mess!) but hopefully, it will be a one time occurrence for me.
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Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble, but the current shingles vaccine, Zostavax, is only 51% effective initially, and it wears off in a few years. The good news is that there is a new vaccine, Shingrix (!), being rushed through which is much more effective initially- and it doesn’t wear off.
@OldCatLady I want to vote this up one thousand times. My mother had shingles not once, but twice, both times mostly on her ribs and back, and I know she was in terrible pain, both times. I’d just as soon not have shingles if I had to choose. I’ll have to check on the contents, and see whether there’s a base that prevents me from using it.
Thank you for mentioning this. XXOO
@OldCatLady
Any idea when it comes to market?
I was kinda planning getting my current vaccine renewed every few years, in case that might help a little … After watching my Dad …
@Shrdlu I found out about it from my allergist; our conversations range widely. He’s monitoring it very closely. At that time I was on a support team for a 75-year old woman who had shingles on her neck, heading for her eye. Her pain was incredible, she had received the shot two years earlier, and her postherpetic neuralgia is still there.
@f00l Read this.
@OldCatLady Having had shingles, even 50% effectiveness is worth the chance!
@OldCatLady Sounds like it’s a good time to buy stock in Glaxxo.
Here’s the really important thing to know. Fine if you want to get the immunization, or don’t. Just be careful, and know both parts of the following statement:
“In addition, people who have experienced a previous severe allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin should not get the shingles vaccine.”
I’m allergic to Neomycin. Very (as in, it’s a death sentence). I’ve actually had a pharmacist tell me that I should have the vaccine, and then be surprised when I asked if there were any potential allergens in it. I read the information, and pointed to the “Neomycin” content. He seemed surprised that it was in it. Close call; anaphylaxis is quick (BTDT: Penicillin).
I’ll take my chances with Herpes Zoster, thanks.
@Shrdlu I’m glad the pharmacist didn’t kill you.
@Shrdlu
Isn’t neomycin used in all sorts of antibiotic ointments?
Do you have to avoid those and fall back on soap and water?
@f00l Neosporin is the main thing that neomycin is in. It’s topical, and causes a rash if I use it with any frequency. It’s the ONLY good cure for impetigo (and if you had a small child with it, me too, and I’m sorry for us both). While my daughter had it, I finally had to beg the doctor for some spare plastic gloves, because my arms were blistered up to the elbow.
Fortunately, I have an excellent immune system, and I heal quickly. They keep telling me that I’ll lose it as I age, but so far, so good. Maybe later on, who knows? I don’t get colds or influenza.
I always claim that I’ll die of meanness, at a great age. Either that, or boredom… Nah, I’m going to live forever.
@Shrdlu
Nah? You might be like me in some ways, possibly?
You will either live forever, or else die of watching your own brain go round and round and becoming so fascinated that you forget to eat or breathe or something.
There might be worse ways to go.
@Shrdlu
Yuck. Penicillin and antibiotic related allergies. I’m guessing that finding out you had those wasn’t really really super fun.
For a while my internist thought I might be slightly allergic to sulfa drugs, but nothing came of it.
I’m just getting over having shingles. My doc says it was probably triggered by stress. Ha! Nice guess doc. Anyway, I’m lucky, I got the vaccine in November and it protected me from having it real bad.
However, the pain… The pain was deep, I can’t describe it and I can only imagine what it would have been like. And of course the itching, was a lot of fun. The place that itched the most, on my back, was just out of my reach. -sigh-
Anyway, I’ve survived. I really do urge everyone to get the vaccine. No, it won’t protect everyone, but if you do get it, it won’t be so severe.
@Barney
OMG.
I feared it would might hit you, with all the hardships of this year.
I also had fears that your Mom would have it. I hope she didn’t. She lived through so much else.
@f00l I’m okay now, but at the time I kept wondering what else could go wrong.
Fortunately, Mom never had shingles (she did get the shingles vaccine). I just can’t stress enough that everyone, if they can, should get the vaccine.
Reminds me of the time David Letterman had to take several weeks off the show because of shingles. When he finally came back, he shared his “Top 10 Things about Having the Shingles”.
It had just a single entry: “There’s nothing good about the BEEP shingles. The BEEP are so BEEP painful, every minute you pray some giant son-of-a-BEEP will shove a red-hot poker up your ass.”
My Dad had life long severe back pain from an army air corps accident in his early 20’s (2-3 surgeries, messed up spinal disks). More if less every minute of every day.
And he broke his hip in an excruciating way in his late 80’s.
And he had shingles.
No comparison. The shingles left him in so much pain, for close on to 6 months, that even with painkillers he barely had energy to speak. (Bad case, according you the internist)
I don’t know why he didn’t get the shingles shot. I didn’t know he hadn’t gotten it. But he hadn’t.
I have heard other similar stories elsewhere. Everyone I know who has had it seems to describe it as being the worse time in their lives. And these people are all the sorts who are non-complainers.
One very tough person I know had it in her thirties. She said it was the only time in her life where she doubted her ability to endure.
I urge everyone who can to get the shingles shot.
For @shrdlu and others who can’t due to allergies, I urge arranging a physician consult to see if there are alternative vaccine or immunization formulations that can be used in your case.
You don’t want this.
Anyone who ever had chicken pox or a few related conditions is highly susceptible, esp under stress or when elderly.
@f00l I’ve been putting it off for years. As a certified needle-weenie about to become 70 with a slightly compromised immune system, I figured I’d be one of those who never gets it. You and @Barney have convinced me; I have to get lab work at the navy base tomorrow, and the immunization clinic will be between me and my car anyway.
Thanks for the push!
@magic_cave I hate needles, too, although I’m kinda getting used to them. Kinda (no, never). Anyway, I think you are making a good decision in getting the vaccine. Good luck!
I had it in my late 30s. But I didn’t have any of the nerve pain, possibly because I was already taking two drugs that are used to treat it.
Or, I’m a total freak of nature. Wouldn’t be the first time.
@TheFLP Me, too, and I wasn’t on any meds. The instant I started taking the meds it started clearing up, only a day or two till it was gone. I’ve counted myself very lucky. I wanted the vaccine but last time I asked it was only for those 60 and older. I’m currently trying to get a physical and I’m going to ask for one.
@moondrake
The vaccine is available for anyone, but under age 60 you need a prescription for it. Over 60, you can just get it by asking, same as a flu shot.
I hope I got that that right. I don’t know why younger people need prescriptions.
As @shrdlu points out, there are extremely serious risks for some people … Always good to check first.
You don’t need to ask a physician for it if you are over 60. Just go to a pharmacy that does immunizations and has a relationship with your insurance and ask for it. They will do it for you, prob no charge. 5 minutes.
(good thing to do, barring risks etc)
@f00l I’m not over 60 just yet. I was told that younger people need prescription because a) they didn’t have that much at first and wanted older people to have access and b) it was only tested on people over 60. Not sure why that matters, except the whole child bearing age thing, which I’m not.
Those of us who have no immunity to varicella zoster wish EVERYone would get the shingles vaccine, if possible! ( and stay home if you have a shingles outbreak ) I am also not immune to german measles… sigh – I think we must be related @transplant!
@mikibell P.S. just fyi, in case I sounded like I don’t take the dose of my own medicine, I have had the mmrv, and the chicken pox vaccine by itself. Once I found out I was not immune and I was no longer pregnant, I got all of my vaccines updated – still didn’t take – found out with baby #2. I do practice what I preach, my body is just a mutant!!!
I was talked into getting the shingle-shot years ago by my Dr.
Hope it works.
@daveinwarsh
it doesn’t completely prevent it? It lessens the liklihood. And if you get it, it prob won’t be as bad.
I think. Check w someone who knows.
Sorry about your pain - I empathize greatly… Here is a good read on the shingles and the shingles vaccine…as with anything pertaining to your health - always do your research especially on anything they are injecting into your body… feel better…
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-shingles-vaccine-help-or-hype/
You can get it anywhere, I’m told. A coworker had shingles in his eyes. Don’t know about the pain, but he used every accommodation available to be able to see the computer screen as his vision was nearly gone.
I got it in my 30’s due to stress while my Dad was terminally ill. It was all over the left side of my torso. The pain was bad but not nearly as painful as when I was in my late 20’s and got the chicken pox. I’ll never forget that pain, ever. The shingles were a walk in the park compared to the pox. The worst part about the shingles was the doctor prescribed Valtrex and I found out I was allergic to it. Nothing like having your throat swell shut.
I hope you have a speedy recovery!!
My mom had shingles in her ears. Yes, inside her ears. Took a couple doctor visits for them to figure it out, and then they brought everyone in to look because it was so unusual. This was probably 10 years ago, and she still has dizzy spells because of it.
My sister had shingles. She said it was the worst pain she ever had, and she is a tough lady. She practically forced me to get the vaccine, so I did during last year’s physical. So far so good…
I tried to get the Shingles shot last week and my insurance wouldn’t cover it for another 10 years. Even though I feel old and look old, I’m not old enough according to my insurance company.
@cengland0
If you are currently under 60, u think most insurance will cover it if you get a prescription for it.
@f00l Apparently not Aetna.
@cengland0 I have no idea about cost factors, but down here ( have an odd memory that you’re “down here” as well?) CVS and Walgreens pharmacies have little mini-clinics, and one of the things they offer are flu and shingles vaccinations.
@magic_cave
Yeah but the shingles ones cost like $200 if you have to pay.
Seems like the insurance should cover the cost of a prescription shot from somewhere or other unless it comes out of the deductible. I dunno.
@magic_cave I use a CVS that’s inside a Target for all my prescriptions and shots. Just got the Tetanus shot since it’s been over 10 years. Insurance covered 100% of that shot. Flu shots are not in stock yet because it’s a seasonal problem.
Trying to get as much done before the end of the year because I know I’m going to reach my max out of pocket number.
Thought I could get the shingles done too but that’s not covered at all so I’d have to pay the entire retail amount.
@cengland0 I just checked - my local Publix has flu vaccine and they are GIVING everyone a $10. gift card to take it.
@OldCatLady we must live in the same region. We have Publix here too. It’s a small business so we must live close. I will have to check them out.
@cengland0 I’m in the city formerly known as Cowford, Florida, right near the border with Orange Park. Publix is in many southern states.
@OldCatLady I have an Orange Park address but technically outside of the city. I’m in Clay county in the unincorporated area.
@cengland0 Go to Publix at Argyle Village.
@OldCatLady Ha, that is the closest to my house. We could be neighbors.
@cengland0 Ha, I found this thread again. Email alurawilson at gmail if you’d like to get in touch.
@OldCatLady Email sent. Hope to hear from you soon.
I got these when I found out my SO was pregnant. Stressful shit, stressful little four year old shit now
I have Shingles right now. Wow, this is quite an ordeal and I hope I never get them again.
Started out thinking I had slept wrong & had a terrible back ache. Then I thought I had a really bad case of hives. The look was similar… Then the intense pressure (like my rib cage is being compressed in a vise) with shooting lightning bolt pain began.
The pressure is similar to childbirth.
I’m not kidding!
I’m wondering if I have an very angry hedgehog inside of me.
This is definitely proof that the devil exist and he is an evil sadistic SOB.
I’m in my 6th week. I am improving but still using lidocaine patches and taking hydrocodone every 6 hours. When I start to think I’m better and ease off of the treatment that nasty hedgehog returns.
Definitely not fun.
I got hit by shingles a year and half ago, I’m in my high 50’s. I’d heard shingles pain was horrible. It’s worse than that!
Mine started with left arm pain, that moved into the shoulder & chest area. Bad sign, right? Especially since I had a heart attack 10 years ago. The pain was similar in location, but different in nature.
It got worse and worse over the next couple of days, and I wound up spending a day and night in the hospital getting poked, prodded, blood tested, EKG’ed, x-rayed, and CT scanned. The end diagnosis was basically: “Your heart is fine, we have no idea why you’re in pain, take these pills and go home.”
Over the next two days the pain became absolutely intolerable, and nothing would touch the pain. On the fourth day, after spending a sleepless night curled up on the couch, crying my eyes out, and wishing I could die so the pain would stop, we went back to the clinic. (Note, not suicidal, but death would have been a welcome release from the pain.)
We go through the now-usual drill of “left arm & chest pain, but NO, it’s NOT a heart attack”, and getting yet another EKG - guess what, still not a heart attack! The doc tells me to take my shirt off so she can listen to my heart. When I do, I hear a sharp exclamation, and she says “How long has this been here?” What? “This rash! You’ve got shingles my friend!”
The rash literally had not been there a couple of hours earlier. The doctor said it’s not unusual to have the pain for several days before the rash appears, and it’s not unusual for people to go through the same sort of wild goose chase I did, before the rash is visible.
They gave me Valtrex anti-viral, gabapentin for the nerve pain, and one of the heavy pain killers. The next week was horrible, but at least I had some pain relief. For me the rash was an irrelevant surface symptom, it was the deep nerve pain that was debilitating. The worst of it lasted about a month, and it sort of tapered off over about three months.
It’s the worst pain I have ever experienced, and I never want to go through that again.
I am one of the lucky few to get lingering symptoms (Postherpetic neuralgia - PHN). After a year and half, I still have lingering pain in my left shoulderblade and arm. It comes and goes and it’s more annoyance level pain, and gabapentin keeps it under control, but it’s still there. Frequently it manifests as itching, and my wife still laughs at me when I use the door frame to scratch my shoulderblade.
My heartfelt sympathies to anyone that’s had shingles!
Egads! I guess I got lucky. Only a couple of sleepless nights when I got it a year ago at age 38. Left side on the back and shoulder. The doc hooked me up and I slept well after my visit.
The chickenpox just itched but I had an awesome time because I stayed at the ranch house of a well-off family friend to avoid infecting my baby sister (I was 7 or 8 at the time).
So sorry you are going through this. I had shingles of 5 nerve roots while in the middle of chemo. And they did not give me pain meds. Do they help at all?
I also concur with everyone else - get that shingles shot. Imagine you have put your hand on a hot frying pan. And kept it there. Meanwhile you get a shooting pain (like the dentist hit a nerve), oh, say, once a second on top of that. For days on end. In my case even a light breeze, the touch of my hair caused acute pain were I had shingles. In my case I had pain for about 6 months (and it was caught early) and even now the skin itches while being partly numb. You. Do. Not. Ever. Want. To. Get. Shingles.
Hope you feel better soon.