The first time I talked to a doctor about getting a shingles vaccination, he told me the chance of getting shingles without the vaccination is 3 out of 100. Then he said, "If you get the vaccination your chance of getting shingles will be 2 out of 100." At the time, it was not covered and would have been expensive so I didn't get it.

Years later it was covered by my HMO and the co-payment was only $35 dollars so I got it.

:BigApplause:

I've had shingles 3 times. The first 2 were fairly small areas but "Very Painful" !!! The 3rd time was horrible. I was in a lot of pain for 6 months. I still have scars from the blisters I had.

Age 60 or Older? Get Shingles Vaccine

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I've had the shot, but my wife has had shingles twice near her eye and scalp. The first put her to bed for weeks.

By the way, apparently you should not get a shingles shot once you have had shingles. And When I had my shot I had to keep away from my wife for 10 days since a live virus is involved.

Again Bonny, I'm sorry for your pain.

Bare - please check. My wife was told by 2 of her docs that she should not ever have a shingles shot since she has had shingles. But she has MS and that may create a separate issue.

No. I never did get the vaccine. Not sure if I'm going to. The really bad time I had it was 2004. The other 2 times were a couple of years before that.

Sounds like your wife suffered as well. :(
I had it on my left side from my scalp to my waist.
I had a couple of blisters around my eye. When one of the scabs came off it took a section of my lower lashes and they never did grow back.
I was in bed for almost 2 months. It was awful.

It is a false rumor that once you had shingles you should not get the shingles shot......WHY! You can get shingles a number of times as some of our posters have had. GET the Shingles Dont wait...you dont want it!

What's up with shingles?
 

It is not a rumor if you have or have had a neurological condition (or certain other conditions). Please be careful about making blanket statements. My wife has been categorically told not to have the shingles shot. And she is an RN to boot.

There may be conditiions that do not allow a shingles shot to begin with.....I was not and cannot address that specific issue. If a person is healthy and gets shingles....they can get shingles again. My whole point is GET a shingles shot especially if your Dr advised you to do so. Highly suggest YOU bring it up with your Dr............be proactivite on this issue.

I agree 100%

My sweetie had shingles a number of years ago, and it was awful. Once he recovered, he got the shot and encouraged me to get it, too. I was dragging my feet until he told me that you can even get it on your face and in your eyes. Got the shot!

Dbussone, thanks for your concern.
I checked with two doctors and my Neurologist before I had the vaccination last year.
They all assured me the vaccine might not prevent a third episode, but if I did get Shingles for a third time,
the vaccination would at least lessen the severity.