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Been thinking of getting the vaccine-- my dad had shingles on his face, it was terrible, and finally he went to see the DR. He was a tough old dude that hated Doctors. We had no idea what it was, and I finally convinced him to go get treated-
Now, they have these shots- but not hear anyone say much about it-- I see the Dr 21 Dec-- anyone?
Did you have chicken pox as a child ? If so, then you should get the vaccine. If you don't know or remember, then get it anyway. It is a preventative, like the flu shot. The shot cannot be used to treat a case of shingles after it starts.
My father too had a case of shingles at about age 85. Yes, it was terrible. I got my shot at age 65, now 71. No big deal.
They want you to be at least 60 years old. If younger, than you'll need a special note from the doctor.
My cousin had shingles & ended up 3 weeks in the hospital.
The vaccine doesn't prevent 100% of shingles, but even if you get it than having had the vaccine the shingles should be much more mild than without the shot.
Last edited by daliowa; 12-14-2015 at 09:10 PM..
Reason: edit
When I turned 60, my Doc said, "And I'm giving you the shingles vaccine". I had seen those awful ads, so I didn't protest. It was fine, no side effects or anything.
ok - good-- well can actually get them at any place they give flu shots-- last night did not sleep well as my leg got itchy and burned to the touch - scared me to think I missed that shot-- but I am ok today- why I'm seeing a new DR! and yes over 60- thanks for info on side effects- or lack thereof
The only side effect that I had after the shingles vaccine was feeling a little tired & achy for about 24 hours. No big deal, I still went about my normal day.
Whoever gives you the shot will tell you about potential side effects. It seems that some people get a rash around the injection site - I did not.
My husband got shingles despite having the vaccination. Ok, it was only a tiny little patch that just itched a little. Afterwards, he asked his doctor if he should get another shot and the doctor said that after having shingles, the vaccination is only about 10% effective. Doctor said not to bother getting it again.
Both my SIL and daughter's friend got shingles in their 30's. Again, very mild. Obviously, at their ages, they didn't get the shot. I doubt they will be getting that shingles vaccination, ever, based on what that doctor said.
They want you to be at least 60 years old. If younger, than you'll need a special note from the doctor.
My cousin had shingles & ended up 3 weeks in the hospital.
The vaccine doesn't prevent 100% of shingles, but even if you get it than having had the vaccine the shingles should be much more mild than without the shot.
I got mine a few years ago when I turned 60. No way was I chancing getting shingles if I could prevent it. I didn't have any noticeable side effects.
Just so you know, you can still get shingles after the vaccine.
I have had them about 4x, but very mild cases. The first time, I was in my 50s and the shingles vaccine was new, and my doctor didn't believe in using his patients as guinea pigs. For whatever reason, neither my original doctor or my present doctor think the shot is necessary.
As for me, I know the early symptoms, and I keep a bottle of acyclovir handy to take immediately. My outbreaks have gone away within a week, and I have never gotten a rash. All of my outbreaks have been on the same side of my body.
FYI, early symptoms for me are a severe backache that comes on suddenly in a place on my back where you wouldn't normally hurt, like between the shoulder blades, and a tingly feeling on the skin in which you don't want even you clothes touching it. The virus lies dormant in the spine, and shingles frequently follows a straight line along a nerve.
If you get these symptoms, run, don't walk, to the doctor and tell them what you suspect. My current doctor believed me, even though she always looked for the rash first.
"A bout of shingles may increase your risk for other serious health conditions — namely, a stroke or a heart attack — a new study finds.
People in the study who had shingles, a disease caused by the herpes zoster virus, faced a 2.4-fold increased risk of stroke, and a 1.7-fold increased risk of heart attack during the first week following their shingles diagnosis, according to the findings published today (Dec. 15) in the journal PLOS Medicine."
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why I'm seeing a new DR! and yes over 60- thanks for info on side effects- or lack thereof
Another reason to take the vaccine
