OT-Shingles????

[mtblujeans]

My doctor said no---The Herpes Zoster Virus in chicken pox can activate shingles but it does not activate chicken pox in people. Hope that makes sense

Hugs Mel

I thought I had heard that shingles will give people chicken pox. Thanks!

 

[Gigi22]

Sorry if I was unclear earlier--as far as I know, the shingles vaccine is prescribed for us older folks--approaching 60 years of age or older. DH and I were able to get it after we put our names on a list with our travel medicine dr., who specializes in administering shots. As I understand it, the vaccine is tricky to get because it has to be thawed and diluted to administer, and has a very short shelf life once thawed--a few hours only, if that--so it is unlikely to be available through a g.p.

 

[tinker&belle]

My doctor said I could give people who hadn't had ch pox or the vax (like my younger dd) chicken pox. I am only really dangerous to pregnant women, especially women in their first trimester who never had chicken pox, so I will be avoiding situations such as church this Sunday where I might come in contact with them.

 

[kacaju]

Sorry if I was unclear earlier--as far as I know, the shingles vaccine is prescribed for us older folks--approaching 60 years of age or older. DH and I were able to get it after we put our names on a list with our travel medicine dr., who specializes in administering shots. As I understand it, the vaccine is tricky to get because it has to be thawed and diluted to administer, and has a very short shelf life once thawed--a few hours only, if that--so it is unlikely to be available through a g.p.

Our Walgreens has the vaccine

 

[buzz5985]

Does your ds get them around the same time every year, and in the same area?
I am curious because my dd11 got them last year at the end of June...just wondering if it is something I need to look out for!!

Yes - at first we thought he was allergic to a shrub or something at my parents house on Cape Cod, because that is where it always started late June/early July. On his right shoulder blade. But what was actually happening was the sun exposure was bringing it out. When the Doctor told us about feeling the "tingle" I knew exactly that feeling - I get cold sores on my lips. DS nodded he knows the feeling now. We have a prescription for Acyclovir, 400 mg tabs that he will take 4 times per day for 5 days when he feels the tingle.

Good Luck

Janis

 

[Swimalie]

I thought I had heard that shingles will give people chicken pox. Thanks!

I heard the same thing. We had to go see my husband's grandmother who, at the time, was in her 2nd year of active shingles. Our son was 3 at the time so we wanted to protect him as much as possible. As a result, we got his 2nd chicken pox vaccine about a month before we went on the trip. Our doctor said if the shingles has an open wound it can give someone chicken pox if they have not had it nor had the 2 vaccines.

About the shingles vaccine, it is not available to those under 60 and those over 60 have to go a year with no active break out before they can get it. My mom has had 2 cases of shingles - the 2nd one was last Aug and she's over 60 now. Once the year passes, then they will let her get the vaccine.

 

[mtblujeans]

I heard the same thing. We had to go see my husband's grandmother who, at the time, was in her 2nd year of active shingles. Our son was 3 at the time so we wanted to protect him as much as possible. As a result, we got his 2nd chicken pox vaccine about a month before we went on the trip. Our doctor said if the shingles has an open wound it can give someone chicken pox if they have not had it nor had the 2 vaccines.

About the shingles vaccine, it is not available to those under 60 and those over 60 have to go a year with no active break out before they can get it. My mom has had 2 cases of shingles - the 2nd one was last Aug and she's over 60 now. Once the year passes, then they will let her get the vaccine.

Thank you for both bits of info.

 

[FlyingBelle]

DH had a mild case of shingles on his back last month. Really freaked me out since the baby is due any day now - I had chicken pox when I was 18, but it was such a mild case that I've always worried about getting them again.

Fortunately his never blistered or anything - just looked like a rash. And since it was on his back, he just kept a shirt on all the time. He took antibiotics and they've cleared up - nobody around us seems to have gotten either Chicken Pox or Shingles.

 

[kacaju]

DH had a mild case of shingles on his back last month. Really freaked me out since the baby is due any day now - I had chicken pox when I was 18, but it was such a mild case that I've always worried about getting them again.

Fortunately his never blistered or anything - just looked like a rash. And since it was on his back, he just kept a shirt on all the time. He took antibiotics and they've cleared up - nobody around us seems to have gotten either Chicken Pox or Shingles.

If you have the time to think about this....When you go to the hospital for the baby and IF they draw blood...Ask yuor Dr. if you can have a blood titer done.

My dd11 had such a mild case...yet her blood titer showed she was immune.
We always thought my brother who is now 34 never had CP, but about 4 years ago his best friend and room mate came down with CP and he had the titer done and showed he did indeed have them.