[PR1234]

Dr. says it's about time to get the vaccine. I know Shingles can be VERY painful....any thoughts as why not to get the shot?

[DaleMN]

None whatsoever. Painless injection; no side effects. No one wants to get shingles.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by PR1234

Dr. says it's about time to get the vaccine. I know Shingles can be VERY painful....any thoughts as why not to get the shot?

First of all, it's expensive. Second, it only reduces your risk by about 1%. That's the way my doctor explained it to me. Let's see if I remember what he said 3 years ago. Your risk now is about 3 out of 100. And if you get the shot, your risk would be 2 out of 100. Well, that's the way I remember it. In any case, I do remember that the advantage is very very small.

[villages07]

Actually, PL, as an old math major it reduces your risk by a third or 33% if it indeed is the difference between 3% and 2%.

I'd like to see a link to those statistics. I sure seem to run into a lot of people who have suffered with it.

[bonrich]

Having an injection for the shingles vaccine is generally painless. Shingles is not something anyone wants to have but the worst thing that can occur for some people after shingles is neuritis which can last many, many months and is very painful. Not everyone who gets shingles will have neuritis but many will and this is the real problem. My husband and I had the shingles injection.

[keithgerri]

Check with your insurance. We have Tri Care and there is no cost. FREE. Can not even feel the shot and no side effects.

[champion6]

I highly recommend that you the the shingles shot. I got mine shortly after my wife's bout with shingles. In her case, she suffered permanent damage to one eye.

[RichieB]

BIG vote in favor of shingles vaccine. Couple of my mother's friends in their 80's got shingles.

As someone else said, you do NOT want to get shingles.

[rjm1cc]

I have gotten it. I see no reason not to minimize the risk of getting shingles or to reduce the problems associated with it if I do get shingles.

[eremite06]

Originally Posted by rjm1cc

I have gotten it. I see no reason not to minimize the risk of getting shingles or to reduce the problems associated with it if I do get shingles.

I got the shot.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by bonrich

Shingles is not something anyone wants to have but the worst thing that can occur for some people after shingles is neuritis which can last many, many months and is very painful.

I know a lawyer who was blinded by shingles. It can have terrible results. As was pointed out in a previous post, the shingles shot doesn't mean you have 100% protection, but it is better than no protection. I think everyone over the age of 50 should get the shot.

I've had shingles twice, but caught it early. If immediately treated, within hours, the effects of shingles are minimal. However, most people don't seek treatment in the early stages, since it doesn't seem like anything serious. Mine started with a mild rash. I realized it was shingles and started self treatment with steroids and anti viral pills. I'm not recommended self diagnosis or self treatment, all rashes aren't shingles. However if you get an unexplained rash, I suggest that you take yourself to Urgent Care and have it checked out.

[RichieB]

pretty good advice on all counts IMO.

[mgjim]

Originally Posted by keithgerri

Check with your insurance. We have Tri Care and there is no cost. FREE. Can not even feel the shot and no side effects.

My wife contracted shingles years ago and she was miserable for many weeks. I've never had shingles and since I was at my annual physical today, I took the plunge. Absolutely painless.

I'm glad to hear that TriCare covers it...I didn't even check ahead of time. I figured this was one illness I could do without.

[fgrider]

Get the shot. My husband and I both had it as I had shingles twice and it is very painful and the pain can last for months. I know that there is still a chance that even with the shot I could get them again but our doctor said that that the chance is only about 2%. Our insurance paid $50.00 for each of us and we paid $200.00 each but we considered it well worth the money. Shingles are something that no one wants to get and any try at protecting yourself is well worth it. Also the doctor told me that if I did get them again it would be a much milder case.

[PaPaLarry]

I'm 100% behind having the shot. Especially for us over 60 crowd. My doctor recommended getting the shot and I did. Had a buddy who didn't want to get the shot, and got the shingles. He said it was very painful, and uncomfortable for a long period of time. Go for it!!!!