BS: Shingles shot

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 26 Oct 13 - 07:00 AM

Here in UK, the National Health Service offers the vaccine free for people aged 70 and those aged 79, from September this year. Weird, but it's all they can offer, a staggered programme. Anyone between those ages must wait until they're 79. Over 80, sadly, the vaccine has limited efficacy. You can get it done privately if you're over 50 for between £100 and £200, but there are few supplies. Anybody offered this jab should grab it with a grateful heart, because believe me it's a dreadful thing, not only extremely (and I mean agonisingly) painful, but also carrying a risk of blindness if trigeminal, and even death (a certain number of the elderly actually die from shingles each year) Our church organist was terribly ill with shingles a few months ago. By the way, my Doc. sister says Femcyclovir is better than Acyclovir for inhibiting the virus from replicating once the symptoms appear, but it has to be taken within 24hrs. And my own GP said it was too expensive and gave me Acyclovir, which was useless IMO. Anti-Vaccinations people are of course welcome to their views and fears, but I only hope they never get shingles, they'd sell their very soul for pain relief once the post-herpetic neuralgia sets in!

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 10:07 PM

Eliza, one of my older friends (85+) has had shingles around his left eye for a couple of years now. I just spoke to his wife about the vaccine & found out that his Doctor hadn't recognised it when he had his first attack, so he missed the vaccine.

I'd never heard of the shingles vaccine - but found this on a Government health website - 'The shingles vaccine is also available on prescription for people aged 50 years and over, but it must be paid for by the patient'.

We also have nutters who are anti-vaccinations - one major anti organisation has been ordered to change their name ('The Australian Vaccination Network') by the Office of Fair Trading as this name is misleading. The AVN has attracted a lot of government, medical & other opposition.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 09:13 PM

I, too, know someone who went blind in one eye because of shingles in that eye. She had to relearn to do many things, including driving which couldn't have been easy because she was in her 60s. And her husband is a doctor--but a neo-natologist who worked with premies, so shingles is probably not something he would have to deal with.

Science geek, I'm glad you found out you could get the vaccine at a pharmacy. I know you can in RI (though I got mine at a clinic at the senior center) but didn't know if you could get it at pharmacies in other states.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 05:12 PM

I'll probably get it. My history with chicken pox is atypical. I didn't get it until I was in my teens, despite my mother taking me to play with kids who had it. When I did get it, I got it bad.

I'm pretty sure I can just walk into a pharmacy here and my insurance will pay for it, IF I can't get it through my regular provider. They say you should wait until age 60. I'm guessing it's risk vs the possible need for booster shots down the road. Pretty sure I got the one for pneumococcus already.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 05:02 PM

I got the shot today, at a pharmacy. Thanks for the good advice.

I first had to get a prescription from my doctor. Not all drug stores carry it, because it has to be stored at a colder than normal temperature. They told me it must be administered within 30 minutes out of cold storage. So, geting the shot at the pharmacy made sense (the fee for giving it was $20, which seems reasonable). Since my medical plan covers most of it, it only cost me about $50. in total.

I plan to get the pneumococcus shot in a few weeks.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Greg F.
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 04:18 PM

You'd hafta love the fundagelical science-denying anti-vaccination loonie crowd - if it wasn't that they created a serious risk for the rest of us.

Folks should be REQUIRED to get vaccinations for life-threatening or dangerous infections, or they can move to a colony on some isolated island where they won't provide a health rish for the majority of the population.

Smallpox eradicated? - just wait for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 02:14 PM

did some searching on the web and then a question sent to the state health dept... but it seems that in New York State, a pharmacy can administer the shot... but you need an order or prescription from your doctor.

Soooo a quick call to my doctor's office and they will check with my insurance to see what is and isn't covered. I know my plan includes the shot... but it may depend on where I get the shot.

How can anyone not think that our health insurance practices are nuts!?! An office visit involves a co-pay while a visit to the drugstore/pharmacy doesn't. But the damn shot is the same regardless of who gives it to you - only the overall cost differs.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 01:57 PM

I heard you the first time, Spaw. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:57 PM

Ebbie, that is one reason my own Doc is so strong on the shots. His own mother became blind from Shingles so he's on a crusade of sorts. His entire medical group pushes hard for their patients to get the shot.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:57 PM

Ebbie, that is one reason my own Doc is so strong on the shots. His own mother became blind from Shingles so he's on a crusade of sorts. His entire medical group pushes hard for their patients to get the shot.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:53 PM

Yes, Ebbie, it can occur along many of the nerves in the body. In the eye means it was the trigeminal nerve that was affected, which involves the eyes and head. The chickenpox virus leaves copies in the nerve sheaths, which years later at times of physical stress or ill health can regenerate as shingles. I had shingles extremely badly. I was immediately given Acyclovir tablets, intended to diminish the virus' regenerating cycle, but to no avail. My entire back and left side were like raw meat, and after 2 weeks I had Post Herpetic Neuralgia, which doesn't begin to describe the intense pain. No painkillers did any good, and in the end I was given Amytriptillin, an old-fashioned anti-depressant which strangely removes the pain after 3 days. It works by blocking the nerve/pain pathways to the brain. (I wasn't depressed, just in agony!) But after 3 weeks on that, I was doped up like a junkie, my mouth was dry with a metallic taste and I could do nothing but lie on the sofa in a stupor. Luckily, on withdrawal of the drug, the pain had gone, but even now I get weird electric shocks around my side from time to time. So go for the injection please! You do NOT want shingles, you really don't! I'm too old to have it sadly, but (touch wood) never got the thing again and maybe won't.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:36 AM

That reminds me: I did get a shot and/or medication, and the doc said it was good that I had come in immediately. He said, as I recall, that the new medication/shot(?) he gave me "tended" to keep it from coming back. This was a long time ago, and I've forgotten a lot about it.

In recent years an elderly friend battled shingles in her eye. I had never heard of such a thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:34 AM

Oh, and it lasted for the best part of a year in her case. She had it for what seemed like forever.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:31 AM

Seems to be a very sensible option for older people, especially older and vulnerable people. My Nan had shingles in her 60's she said it was the most painful condition she'd ever endured; "worse than childbirth" were her words. I don't know exactly how painful childbirth is as I've never done it, but she was no sissy so if she said it was painful I'm pretty sure it was excruciating, or her case of shingles was at least.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:28 AM

My husband developed shingles a few years ago, and fortunately he knew what it was. He promptly got the treatment for it. By 'promptly' I mean that he called the doctor's office and got the first injection 1.5 hours later. Because if you get shingles, you need immediate treatment, and the doctor's staff knew that.

His mother got shingles years before him. She suffered terribly for weeks. Then, years later, it came back. Poor woman!

I got vaccinated right away when my husband came down. I know I had chicken pox as a child, and NO WAY did I want to risk the misery of shingles. I don't believe the shot offers 100% protection, but I want whatever protection I can get.

Get the injection, even if you have to pay a hefty fee.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: gnu
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 11:19 AM

I am gettin shot today for fle and next week for shingles. Just under $200 for shingles (nb.ca). Meavie Blue Cross doesn't cover it.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 10:51 AM

my mother in law had a terrible case of shingles, so I fully intend to get the shot, since I had chickpox as a kid...

what has been a hinderance is the fact that even though my insurance will cover the shot, my doctor has to special order it... so I get to the office & they never got the vaccine & never thought to give me a call to reschedule. grrr

they should give them at pharmacies, just like the flu shots... it's not rocket science, just paperwork..

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Noreen
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 10:19 AM

www.gov.uk information on UK shingles vaccination programme

Detail:
From 1 September 2013, we plan to:
•offer routine vaccinations to people aged 70 years old to provide protection against shingles
•introduce a catch-up immunisation programme for people aged 79 years

The effectiveness of the vaccine declines with age and so it is not recommended for people aged 80 years or older.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 02:41 AM

From the above it appears that one *can* get shingles more than once. I had wondered about that, but never checked on it.

I got shingles maybe 30 years ago. It was probably not as bad a case as some get - I got a patch of 'burned' skin about the size of an envelope on my ribcage. I remember that cloth touching it was painful.
It was the doctor who identified it- until then I had thought that somehow something steeped in acid or some other corrosive thing had lain against my skin.

And until this moment I didn't even know one could get a vaccination against it.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:33 AM

Vaccine denial is not only silly, it is a public health threat. Here in North Texas Tarrant County (Fort Worth) is the center of a large outbreak of measles and whooping cough. This is because a bunch of religious zealots at one of the local megachurches decided that vaccines were somehow against their god or "dangerous" (a rumor spread and repeated by people who deny science). Now the church has reversed itself and they are holding shot clinics, but it is too late for those who have gotten sick. That horse is out of the barn an in the community at large.

A population stays safe from many of these childhood diseases when a large percentage of the general population is vaccinated. We have gone many years now with these skeptics keeping their children from getting shots and being home schooled so they aren't challenged by school officials who insist on inoculations. It's a selfish way to raise children and can have fatal consequences. There no virtue in denying the sound science behind the vaccine programs that have been in existence for decades, preventing many public health disasters.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,monty
Date: 25 Oct 13 - 12:08 AM

Got the shot 4 years ago
No ill effects
No shingles
Not getting shot foolish as shingles very bad

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: jacqui.c
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 10:00 PM

Both Kendall and I have had the shingles shot with no ill effects. I understand that it is still possible to get shingles but not as severly as might otherwise be the case.

We go for whatever shot is available a nd recommended.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 09:56 PM

Get shot.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 09:42 PM

I got the shingles vaccine as soon as it was available for me. I did have chicken pox, I've seen others suffer with shingles, and because I have some chronic conditions I figure without the vaccine shingles would eventually get me.

I also got the pneumonia while I was hospitalized for 3 months several years ago. I was told I should have it again at 65 and then that would be the last one I'd need.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 08:59 PM

I've had shingles once and sure don't want to get it again. The doc says I should't get innoculated against it for something like seven years, but you can bet I'll be looking for that needle when the time comes.

Get the shot, Ed. While you're at it, get needled against pneumococcus, the wicked little beast that causes bacterial pneumonia. It's good for life, and just might save you a trip to the ICU.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 08:51 PM

Got mine 4 or 5 years ago...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Midchuck
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 08:49 PM

I got the shot 3 - 4 years ago. I never noticed any bad side effects. We won't know if it works until I die, never having had shingles. And then I won't know anything, so I'll never know if it worked.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: bobad
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 05:44 PM

Vaccines are safer than the alternative:

Vaccinate Your Damn Kids

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 05:03 PM

Nerve? WTF?

Look JoeBro, I'm sure your wife is a fine and lovely person, although deranged as she married you, and is quite serious about her work, but I'll go with the CDC.

Shingles is nasty to say the least and I don't need that in addition to a the other little problems I have. I got a shot about 5 years ago with no ill effects.   Although I'm so fucked up I wouldn't notice a side effect.....LOL......All kidding aside, GET THE FRIGGIN' SHOT!!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: frogprince
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 04:55 PM

I got mine a few months back, with no sign of ill effects. I had chicken pox (and measles, and mumps)as a kid. I heard enough horror stories from friends who've had shingles to make me a believer.

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 04:36 PM

I have reservations about this, but I'm getting up the nerve to get a shingles shot next time I go to the doctor. I sure as hell don't want to get shingles. My wife the chiropractor, on the other hand, wouldn't dream of getting inoculated for anything.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 04:19 PM

Shingles vaccine: Should I get it? Who should get the shingles vaccine? If I've already had shingles, should I get the vaccine so I don't get shingles again?


Mao Clenic advice

---

I think it's possible Ed meant the Mayo Clinic: Shingles Vaccine info

Subject: BS: Shingles shot
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 04:12 PM

""Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the virus that also causes chickenpox.""


Anyone get the shingles shot?

My Mother had a bad case of it a year or so ago, and I sure don"t want to get that.

Since I got chickenpox when I was older, I am fearful that I may be a good candidate for shingles. So, I am considering getting it, since my medical plan covers it.

A few years ago I got the hepatitis A and B vaccine, as I was traveling to countries prone to the virus. I also get the flu shot each year. I have never experienced any side effects from any vaccine.