Shingles

[jnieman]

Hubby just came down with shingles rash on Friday. He was feeling very tired and felt like sciatia pain in his hips, back and legs weeks before the rash appeared. The urgent care doctor said it is all related to the shingles. They gave him some antiviral medication and some anti-imfamatory meds to take 5 times a day. So far so good. We didn't get the shingles shots but so wish we had now.:yuck:

[rubicon]

I had a case of the shingles back in 2003. Mine ran up my right arm and around my back. The pain last for 5-6 weeks and the scarring for 6 months.

I am told that even if you get a shingles vaacine it doesn't guarantee that you won't come down with shingles.

Sorry to hear that you folks have to experience ths malady.

[buggyone]

I, too, had shingles. Mine was on the face and scalp and even went into my right eye. Heavy duty narcotics did little to ease that pain. I never want that again.

When the nerve endings start to regrow, it feels like an army of ants is crawling around under the skin. That feeling lasted for at least a couple of months.

Sorry for your hubby. Definitely, get your shingles shot.

[flamingo]

I had shingles three times. The worst: on the roof of my mouth!!

[njbchbum]

i hope the urgent care doctor prescribed steroid medication for your hubby. when mine had them it gave him the most relief. the first three days were the WORST! so sorry you and hubby have to endure.

[HelenLCSW]

So sorry --I understand it is very painful.
:sad:

[bandsdavis]

I had a case of the shingles back in 2003. Mine ran up my right arm and around my back. The pain last for 5-6 weeks and the scarring for 6 months.

I am told that even if you get a shingles vaacine it doesn't guarantee that you won't come down with shingles.

Sorry to hear that you folks have to experience ths malady.

We were told by our pharmacist ( a personal friend) when we got the vaccine that it doesn't keep you from getting the disease, but it does significantly reduce the severity of the symptoms and aids in recovery. My doctor advises all of his patients over 60 to get it, even though he doesn't give the shots himself (have to go to a pharmacy).

[BeeGee]

I, too, had shingles. Mine was on the face and scalp and even went into my right eye. Heavy duty narcotics did little to ease that pain. I never want that again.

When the nerve endings start to regrow, it feels like an army of ants is crawling around under the skin. That feeling lasted for at least a couple of months.

Sorry for your hubby. Definitely, get your shingles shot.

I, too, had shingles on face and scalp and was close to going in my right eye - horrible, horrible, horrible.....I thought I was going out of my mind (what's left anyway) It's that "post-herpetic neuralgia" that is so bad...and I'm told that the "shingles vaccine" doesn't keep you from getting another case of shingles, just lessens the severity of the "phn". So sorry that you're husband is experiencing this.

[NotGolfer]

Yes...get the shot (he can too when he's over this) but as another poster said it doesn't guarantee that you'll not get shingles. I have one friend who got the shot though, still got shingles but said she didn't hardly know she had them!! Any medical people out there who can explain any of this????

[rjm1cc]

You can probably get the shoot by calling your local drugstore that has a health clinic. In my state the clinic writes the prescription so no need for a doctors visit. This could cost $250.00 so ask about the costs and check your insurance.

[buggyone]

Veterans can get the shingles vaccine FREE at the VA Clinic. You do have to ask your doctor as it has to be special ordered. You can also get the pneumonia shot FREE at the VA Clinic.

[brostholder]

Yes...get the shot (he can too when he's over this) but as another poster said it doesn't guarantee that you'll not get shingles. I have one friend who got the shot though, still got shingles but said she didn't hardly know she had them!! Any medical people out there who can explain any of this????
I am a pharmacist and perhaps I can help. If someone has ever had chickenpox (varicella), the virus remains in your nerves in a dormant state. If something causes you to have a decrease in what is called your "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) specific immunity", then the virus reemerges as shingles. The Shingles vaccine Zostavax increases your VZV specific immunity. While it is still possible to get shingles after receiving the vaccine, you are far less likely to get it if you receive the vaccine (I think it was from 2 to 3 times less likely). Hope this helps.

[jnieman]

I am a pharmacist and perhaps I can help. If someone has ever had chickenpox (varicella), the virus remains in your nerves in a dormant state. If something causes you to have a decrease in what is called your "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) specific immunity", then the virus reemerges as shingles. The Shingles vaccine Zostavax increases your VZV specific immunity. While it is still possible to get shingles after receiving the vaccine, you are far less likely to get it if you receive the vaccine (I think it was from 2 to 3 times less likely). Hope this helps.

Do you know what could cause you to have a decrease in your Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity? It is my husband with the shingles. Should we worry that there may be an underlying problem that could have brought this on?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I had a fairly mild case of shingles a number of years back. Asked my doc what brought it on. He said it can be stress-related but it usually can't be pinpointed to anything specific.

Bill :)

[brostholder]

Do you know what could cause you to have a decrease in your Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity? It is my husband with the shingles. Should we worry that there may be an underlying problem that could have brought this on?
The two biggest factors that cause a decrease in VZV specific immunity are 1) advancing age and 2) psychological stress such as depression. There may be other factors, but I don't recall them (I too suffer from advancing age). But I believe that those are the 2 main factors for the decrease in immunity.

[MsBrown]

I also had shingles this past year. It is terrible. I had it in my right eye and all over the right side of my face and neck. I also had received the vaccine, but it didn't prevent me from getting shingles. However, the doctor's said it would have been much worse had I not had it. Had it been any worse, or had I not caught it immediately, I probably would have lost my vision. So please, get the vaccine....... it can only help.

[Barefoot]

I am a pharmacist and perhaps I can help. If someone has ever had chickenpox (varicella), the virus remains in your nerves in a dormant state. If something causes you to have a decrease in what is called your "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) specific immunity", then the virus reemerges as shingles. The Shingles vaccine Zostavax increases your VZV specific immunity. While it is still possible to get shingles after receiving the vaccine, you are far less likely to get it if you receive the vaccine (I think it was from 2 to 3 times less likely). Hope this helps.

OK, you're the go to guy for shingles questions!

I've had shingles twice. Both times I immediately took medication so The Shingles virus was stopped in a very early stage. OK, here is my question .... If you've had Shingles already, will the Shot still be of value? My family doctor seems unsure.

[uujudy]

. . . When the nerve endings start to regrow, it feels like an army of ants is crawling around under the skin. That feeling lasted for at least a couple of months. . .

Buggyone, there's a word for that feeling; it's formication. With an M!! :laugh:
Definitions of formication (n)
for·mi·ca·tion [ fàwrmi káysh'n ]
feeling of insects crawling on skin: a neurologically based hallucination in which somebody feels as if insects are crawling on his or her skin.
:p

. . . OK, here is my question .... If you've had Shingles already, will the Shot still be of value? My family doctor seems unsure.

Thanks for asking, Bare. I want to know, too. Does anybody know for sure? :confused:

[bkcunningham1]

Basically, Bare and Judy, the answer as far as I can tell is, who knows.

From Harvard Health Letter "...So there's no easy answer to whether people who have had shingles should get the shingles vaccine. Some pretty good data suggest that the risk of recurrence is quite high and, particularly if you've had a bad case, getting the vaccination would seem to be a prudent precaution. But it's also possible to make a case for the evidence not being all that solid."





http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2011/March/the-shingles-vaccine

[brostholder]

OK, you're the go to guy for shingles questions!

I've had shingles twice. Both times I immediately took medication so The Shingles virus was stopped in a very early stage. OK, here is my question .... If you've had Shingles already, will the Shot still be of value? My family doctor seems unsure.
No real clear answer. It is thought that getting shingles once raises the VZV specific immunity level, just as the vaccine does. But, just as it is possible to get Shingles even with the vaccine, it is obvious that one can also get repeated cases of shingles. My thinking on it is this.....if I had gotten shingles once, I doubt that I would ever want to have it again. If having shingles once (or in your case twice) has raised the level of my VZV specific immune level, and if the vaccine will also raise my VZV immune level, then I would get the vaccine. My thoughts on this are more personal than pharmaceutical because I have not seen conclusive proof of the vaccines benefits after already having shingles. BTW Barefoot, I truly enjoy your thoughtful and kind comments on this site! Good luck with your decision.

[jojo]

Another question - how long is the shingles vaccine effective? I think the pneumonia vaccine is good for 10 years? Realize this is not an exact science.

[Barefoot]

No real clear answer. It is thought that getting shingles once raises the VZV specific immunity level, just as the vaccine does. But, just as it is possible to get Shingles even with the vaccine, it is obvious that one can also get repeated cases of shingles. My thinking on it is this.....if I had gotten shingles once, I doubt that I would ever want to have it again. If having shingles once (or in your case twice) has raised the level of my VZV specific immune level, and if the vaccine will also raise my VZV immune level, then I would get the vaccine. My thoughts on this are more personal than pharmaceutical because I have not seen conclusive proof of the vaccines benefits after already having shingles. BTW Barefoot, I truly enjoy your thoughtful and kind comments on this site! Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for the great information. I guess when a vaccine is relatively new, there are a lot of unknowns and no definitive answers. My family doctor isn't able to give much guidance. But your thoughts about raising VZV immune levels make me believe that a shingles shot would be a benefit. The two times I got shingles, I treated it immediately, before I even consulted a doctor. I was subsequently told that early treatment is extremely important and can alleviate a very serious outcome.

So if you get an itchy rash, rush yourself to Urgent Care and get it checked out!

[brostholder]

Another question - how long is the shingles vaccine effective? I think the pneumonia vaccine is good for 10 years? Realize this is not an exact science.
The vaccine is effective for 6 years. I hear talk that it may be effective for longer but have not found any studies that back it up.

[Villages PL]

Yes...get the shot (he can too when he's over this) but as another poster said it doesn't guarantee that you'll not get shingles. I have one friend who got the shot though, still got shingles but said she didn't hardly know she had them!! Any medical people out there who can explain any of this????

Well, I can tell you that shingles is usually triggered by stress, age and a weakend immune system. We can't help being older but we can live a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy diet, exercising and practicing stress control. Our immune systems get weaker as we get older so it's more important than ever to get everything right. Above all, we shouldn't continue eating as though we are still teenagers. Eating right will help keep up your immune system.

:)

[jdsl1998]

My husband has post-herpetic neuralgia. He got shingles on Labor Day, 2010, yes, 2010, and still has Post-Herpetic Neuralgia. I went for my shingles shot as soon as I realized how much pain he was in. It has been well over a year and he still is on a lot of pain meds. and he only took Tylenol before he came down with shingles. We have tried pain blockers, burns and spine blocks and he is still in pain. I feel so sorry for him. If anything touches his back or upper front it hurts. He sits sideways to not lean on that side. The meds make him tired but help with the pain. He still works full time but comes home and doesn't do much. I wish we could just move down here full time, at least he could have an easier time of things. We have talked about getting off the meds., seeing how the pain is and perhaps we could file for disability but that is not how we usually do things. Oh well, at least we get to visit regularly. I sure hope you get over these nasty things soon and every one...get your shot!

[Irish Rover]

I had shingles on my left foot and calf. That was 3 months ago and my toes are still numb. The scars are fading slowly. My doc said the shot is not full proof and either way I could contract shingles again. For the first two weeks I thought I had very painful poison ivy. Hope it never happens again.

[skyc6]

I got the vaccine a few weeks ago at the Walgreens on 441 up by Spanish Springs. The pharmacists there were great. My Cigna Ins. Pd for it. You could call them there and ask because they were having a flu/shingles shot clinic that day. Maybe they will again or know where else they might.

[chachacha]

when i had shingles (same place as buggyone, scalp, forehead ouch!) the dermatologist told me that dabbing the sores with listerine could relieve some of the itch and pain. i found it helped... best thing is to have valtrex on hand in case you ever get another breakout to take immediately while waiting for doctor.

[NotGolfer]

A friend of mine, up north, has had shingles multiple times! I know of at least 3....maybe 4 times.

[2BNTV]

I got the Shingles vaccine a couple of years ago when I was at my doctor's for a check-up. Also got the pnuemonia vaccine at another visit.

My 98 year old uncle got the shingles in his left arm and it was very painful and cause to use lose use of the arm. He never complained about anything and for him to say he was in pain, it must have been excrutiating. That was several months ago and he is still in pain but I am not sure it's not from other maladies.

I'm sure am glad I got the shot and hope I never get this painful condition.
I sure hope everyone will not suffer too much from the shingles.

[Barefoot]

Best thing is to have valtrex on hand in case you ever get another breakout to take immediately while waiting for doctor.

I agree. Time is critical in recognizing the symptoms and getting treatment. The first time I got shingles, I went to the doctor within 5 hours. He said if I'd waited, it would have been severe and I would have had a lot of pain and damage. I kept Valtrex on hand and treated myself immediately for the second outbreak.

Question. Shingles shots seem to be offered at a lot of places, including drugstores? Does the cost vary or it it pretty consistent?

[logdog]

The county health clinic in Wildwood charges $175

[KatzPajamas]

Anyone who has ever had chicken pox is at risk of developing shingles. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus that remains dormant in the body until the immune system is weakened. It also causes what is commonly called a cold sore. Take 1000-2000mg of L-Lysine/day as preventative, more at the first sign of tingling/eminent outbreak. Works wonders. Oh, and give up that morning grapefruit. It is full of arginine that depletes your body of lysine.
Lysine has also been found to enhance your ability to absorb calcium into born.

"Although shingles isn't a life-threatening illness, it can sometimes result in a debilitating complication called postherpetic neuralgia which causes nerve pain that lasts for months or even years. Fortunately, there is natural help for shingles, whatever the cause of the reactivation. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center web site, lysine can be used to treat herpes zoster lesions. Lysine, also called L-lysine, is an essential amino acid that can speed recovery time from shingles and reduce the chance of recurrent breakouts of the herpes infections, the University of Maryland site states."

Learn more: Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Can Cause Shingles Outbreak (http://www.naturalnews.com/025671_shingles_arthritis_rheumatoid.html#ixzz1kL5 ZAcvl)

[orge113]

I have had chicken pox, shingles and herpetic keratitis in both eyes. Once the herpes virus is in your system it is next to impossible for it to completely disappear. The trick is to keep it dormant. I once went 20 years before having another outbreak.
Basically I agree with all the posts that have been stated on this forum. However, I do have some additional advice. Stress and a weakened immune system can bring out the virus but so can excessive amounts of sun. I know that for a fact as I had a massive outbreak in both eyes in 1997 because I spent too much time on the beach. Another good piece of wisdom I can impart is that at the first onset of a flareup. go see a doctor and go on a combination of Valtrex and either Viroptic drops or Zirgan ointment.
Because I waited too long, I have permanent scarring on my right cornea.
Here is what I do know to try and minimize the chances of an outbreak: (1) Take 1000 mg of L-Lysine every morning on an empty stomach as it seems to be more effective that way. (2) Take 1000 mg of Valtrex every night before going to bed since your immune system is most compromised when you sleep. The regular Valtrex works better for me than the generic version. The down side is it's very expensive. Fortunately, my former employer has provided us with a very good prescription program. I realize my case is extreme and the Valtrex on a regular basis may not be needed for most people.
Hope this helps!

Gary


Gary

[mrfixit]

Question. Shingles shots seem to be offered at a lot of places, including drugstores?
Does the cost vary or it it pretty consistent?

Dr. Vivian Woodard M.D. ( board certified Internal Medicine )
918 Rolling Acres Rd. @ US 441.
Directly BEHIND Bank of America.

SHOT is $245...or Less..............
......................MIGHT be covered by Medicare if you are 65 or over.
...PLUS ...Dr Visit $$ is VARIABLE. (MY ins. co-pay was $15.(Blue Cross PPO))
Emmanuel Christian Health Center (http://www.VivianJWoodardMD.com) <<<<< CLICK THERE<<<<<.

PRICES VARY by your ability to pay, IF not insured.

She is not my regular Doctor... BUT ..I REALLY like her.
...Very nice lady. Checks you over BETTER than my reg Doc.

( MY reg DR's office staff never got around to
calling back as to when Shingles shots would be available..
...after 4 times asking ..and a year... I went to DR. Woodard.)