I had shingles 3 yrs ago - that was NO FUN! Felt something wront on Thanksgiving evening and ddn't get to doctor until week later. Not much he could do for me - so I had to suck it up. Episode lasted about 4 mos.
DW got shot shortly afterward. After much co9nversations with Blue Shield, finally got her shot reimbursed. They handle shingle shot differently that other shots.
As I understand it, if you had chicken pox, the shingles virus is dormant in your body until body's immune system lower than BAM.