slo’s WEDNESDAY 9/24 poll - Shingles Vaccine 💉

[LadybugsMum]

I would love to get the shingles vaccine, but I'm allergic to one of the ingredients - polysorbate 80. I found out the hard way during my first round of chemo. I'm trying to get in with an allergist to see if I can still get vaccines with PS80 since I can't get the flu vaccine either. I never had an issue prior to chemo; so I'm hoping that a shot in the arm with a minute amount will be ok.

 

[monsterkitty]

DH's aunt did not get the shingles shot. She did get shingles near and in her eye and now has nerve damage to the eye. This has significantly affected her sight.

Get the shingles vaccine.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I had Shingles 3 years ago Nov. I was 61 then. It was absolutely horrible and I didn't even have blistering skin.
I put off getting the vaccine ( YES, you can get a reoccurrence).
I can thankfully say I got my #1 dose 2 weeks ago. yes, my arm hurt for about 72 hrs but that arm pain was a piece of cake compared to having Shingles! I'll get my #2 shot after the seasonal holidays!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I'm well over 50, had chicken pox when I was young, and have not had the shingles vaccine even though we talk about it. I'm worried about the injection. I'm a wuss, and avoid needles at all costs, although I have had 3 COVID shots. For anyone who had the shingles vaccine, how painful is the actual injection? I know it's stupid to be worried about the injection and not the after effects but that's where I am! I know folks who've had shingles and say it would have been worth a dozen shots to have avoided it- so I really should have it.

@WDWEPCOT You are probably right about your outbreaks being stress-induced. This happens with herpes viruses. I can 100% plan on having cold sores if I get my lips sunburned, windburned, or if I'm under a lot of stress- and the blisters are in the exact same spot every time. Both in the herpesvirus family, and are considered "reactivated" viruses- that is, they "hide out" in your system until something activates them. There is a lot that's still unknown about viruses, but with my limited understanding, I'd still guess that yeah, they can both be stress-induced.

This was pretty interesting to read: https://snuggymom.com/are-cold-sores-and-shingles-related/ It's not cited, but the few things I looked up were accurate/solid, so... like I said, interesting.

LeeBee,

Get the vaccine! The pain of the actual injections is merely SECONDS like 3 or 4 seconds IF EVEN.. You simply can not fathom how painful Shingles can be until you have it. God forbid it happens on your face or your eyes as some friends here have told.

 

[LadybugsMum]

DH's aunt did not get the shingles shot. She did get shingles near and in her eye and now has nerve damage to the eye. This has significantly affected her sight.

Get the shingles vaccine.

I also know someone who has had their eyesight affected by shingles; so I'm really hoping that I can get the ok from an allergist. I've also read some recent research that shows dormant cancer cells can be awakened by the inflammation that flu and covid cause. The last thing I need as a solo parent is to have cancer again.

 

[Dan Murphy]

As above, I had the single shot many years ago, about 50% efficacy. When the double came out, with a reported about 95% efficacy, I got those. About 15 years ago. I get all the vaccines. If medical science has come up with something to prevent or minimize some disease illness or condition, I'm all in. As with any vaccine these days didn't feel the needle poke at all. A bit achy arm overnight, that's it. @leebee, please get it. You also, Sandy.

Natalie, now 45 years old, got shingles about 5 years ago. Very severe, involving her spine. She's still dealing with the pain.

spelling​

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have had the shingles vaccine and any booster available.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I need to get the shingles vaccine. I had shingles when I was 28. It was awful. I don’t want it again! 20years later I still have pain from it.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I got the shingles vaccine but not until I was 55ish.

 

[Miffy]

In answer to the poster who asked about the shot itself--if that's the only pain you're worried about, forget that. It takes maybe a couple of seconds to get the shot. It's not like a penicillin shot or dental novocaine (although it's not actually novocaine anymore), if that's what you're worried about. It's a very thin needle in your upper arm. Even if you found it painful, it's momentary and a heckuva lot less painful than shingles.

A lot of how painful (and I use that term loosely, since a vaccination is hardly anything compared to actual, continual pain) the shot will be dependent on the person administering it. There're people who have really great technique. Unfortunately there's no way to know ahead of time.

But just ask anyone who's had shingles, even a mild case. My DH had it last year and he's a stoic but was in immense pain for quite a while and it took months for a lot of the symptoms to subside. Since then, he's gotten the vaccine and so have I.

 

[leebee]

OK, I'll take everyone's word about the injection. I was actually shocked that having the covid shot itself didn't hurt at all! I remember all kinds of shots when I was a kid and they hurt SO MUCH I've just been irrationally needle-phobic and avoid any that I can. Not worried about arm pain, not worried about side effects, just the jab itself!

 

[Kirby]

I received the 2 dose shingles shot when I turned 65. The only side effect for me was a mildly sore arm for a couple of days.

My neighbor got shingles several years ago. He went to the local ER thinking he was having back trouble. Had the rash and was misdiagnosed. After no relief he went to his PCP a couple of days later and found out he had shingles. He printed out copies of information about shingles, what it looks like, symptoms, etc. and took them up to the ER where he was misdiagnosed and passed them around. He didn't have to pay his medical bills for his ER visit.

 

[soccerdad72]

Got it a couple months ago after my last check up.

 

[Dan Murphy]

OK, I'll take everyone's word about the injection. I was actually shocked that having the covid shot itself didn't hurt at all! I remember all kinds of shots when I was a kid and they hurt SO MUCH I've just been irrationally needle-phobic and avoid any that I can. Not worried about arm pain, not worried about side effects, just the jab itself!

leebee, the needles used back then were thicker and not nearly as sharp as today's technology allows. Also, the apprehension you had as a kid would naturally make your muscles tighten up some, including those in your arm, making the shot a bit more difficult. Good to hear you are going to get it. Don't delay.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I probably should get it, but adult me...especially since having kids, seems to react really strongly to vaccines. It's not pleasant but it's probably more pleasant than shingles itself. I did have chicken pox as a kid and was pretty miserable for over a week.

 

[AussieFan8]

Please consider getting the shingles shot if you are eligible! I ended up with shingles the week I was supposed to get my first shot. My husband got it two months later, both of us in our early 50s. It is miserable. I got the vaccination after recovering from shingles. I did have some pain with the injection and got sick for a bit after the second shot, but it was nothing compared to the misery and pain of shingles, and my case was not terrible. My mother in law had a horrible case with terrible pain where it was on her face and almost got in her eye. It is worth getting the shot to avoid all of that.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I didn’t think the shots were painful at all my arm did not get sore I did not have any issues with them it did not hurt to get the shot I’ve had more trouble with flu shots then I had with all the shingles shot
And I’ll tell you what I’d rather get the shot and get shingles you’ll have a whole lot more pain and the itching will drive you insane or shingles then you will avoid getting the shot ymmv

 

[prairie_girl]

I am begging anyone who can get the vaccine to get it! I’m in month four of recovery from shingles and it was AWFUL! I posted a thread about it on the controversial topics board, so I know not many here would have read it.

For anyone curious, here’s what the rash on my arm looked like the day I went to the dr and started meds.

Spoiler: shingles rash

 

[rndmr2]

I had a mild case of the chicken pox when I was a kid.

I got the shingles vax last year when I was 51. Ohh man the first one hurt, not the actual shot but my arm was so sore afterwards for a few days. I was scared to get the second one but that one didn't hurt at all.

My husband had the shingles a few years ago, he was 42 or somewhere around there

 

[snappy]

I brought my mom years ago to get the 2 shingles shot, so I got them too. Injections didn’t faze either of us. One of my neighbors had it this summer and her eyesight is impacted. She also is having cognitive issues that she didn’t have beforehand. She is in her early sixties. She has begged everyone she know to get vaccinated.