Shingles

[down_home]

Wife has Shingles. Cousin had them Nov and Dec an may still. Haven't talked with her.
I've ran across mentions of others having shingles over a wide area the last several months.
The Doctors talking with me yesterday about scheduling nerve surgery on arm and the subject came up. I have some spots on arms. I couldn't seperate any pains from it if I had it from the other.
I had the Shingles shot last year or before.
Wife and many others didn't get it because of cost.
Maybe everyone had Chicken Pox about the same interval of time and now Shingles is erupting?
Maybe it is the Chicken Pox virus in the air?
As far as I know we haven't been around anyone we knew had either.
Get the shot. It's somewhere higher than 250.00 I hear.
If you're a Vet and VA health benefits you can get it free I think. I did. That pain in your shoulder or anywhere and any kind of spot or and eruptions; get it looked at. It may be why I had to just lay around for a month with a cold.

[PennyPA]

No, the shingles shot will NOT prevent you from getting shingles, no more than the flu shot will prevent you from getting the flu but in both cases, the shots lessen the chance of you getting severe cases of either. And, as bad as shingles can be, post hepetic neuralgia is even worse.

[Desert_Captain]

"The vaccine if free to Vets at the VA if you are over the age of 62."

Got mine recently at age 61 from the VA no charge. Policies must vary from place to place so by all means ask/demand the shot. :C

[lembean]

down home wrote:
Wife has Shingles. Cousin had them Nov and Dec an may still. Haven't talked with her.
I've ran across mentions of others having shingles over a wide area the last several months.
The Doctors talking with me yesterday about scheduling nerve surgery on arm and the subject came up. I have some spots on arms. I couldn't seperate any pains from it if I had it from the other.
I had the Shingles shot last year or before.
Wife and many others didn't get it because of cost.
Maybe everyone had Chicken Pox about the same interval of time and now Shingles is erupting?
Maybe it is the Chicken Pox virus in the air?
As far as I know we haven't been around anyone we knew had either.
Get the shot. It's somewhere higher than 250.00 I hear.
If you're a Vet and VA health benefits you can get it free I think. I did. That pain in your shoulder or anywhere and any kind of spot or and eruptions; get it looked at. It may be why I had to just lay around for a month with a cold.

The vaccine if free to Vets at the VA if you are over the age of 62.

[CA_POPPY]

wny_pat wrote:

Desert Captain wrote:
As a parting gift the Shingles left me with PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia), which is permanent (phantom), nerve pain along the bottom of my foot. Only a small percentage of Shingles victims are cursed with PHN (lucky me), but it lasts forever. Every step I take for the rest of my life feels like I have sharp gravel in my shoe, even when I am barefoot.

Sounds like what I have, but never had Shingles???

I had that symptom, too, it came on suddenly and felt like I had pieces of broken glass or sharp rocks in my shoes. A trip to the grocery store was torture. I went to a podiatrist and he diagnosed plantar fasciitis which is a tendon that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot and somehow gets tightened up. Dr gave me some Spenco 3/4 orthotics to try in my shoes and relief was instant. I went online and bought enough for all my shoes and no more problem! Easiest medical fix I've ever experienced. Oh, and you do have to wear good sensible shoes thereafter, nothing decorative, but it is small price to pay for comfort.

[Lakelady48]

Get the shot for sure. Our High Deductible health plan would only pay if a doctor gave the shot, but no doctors carried the vaccine. After hearing of several people having shingles and how painful and long lasting it is, I really wanted the shot. DH and I got the shot at a Costco pharmacy and paid about $200 each. If it keeps us from getting sick, it's totally worth it.

[trb46]

If you happen to be retired military and have TRICARE for Life (TFL), they will pay for the shot. As someone mentioned earlier, Medicare does not pay for it. I got the shot about five weeks ago.

[rvten]

DW and I got the shot last year.
Medicare did not pay for it.
Got ours at Walgreens. Our doctor did not have the vaccine.

[dirko]

Hi Ho: Look at it this way: If you get the flu shot, you should for sure get the shingles shot. Anybody over 50 should have it. Nothing is for sure, but I can tell you for sure you don't want shingles.

[sayoung]

The virus is also believed to be the cause of "Bells Palsey" which attacks facial nerves on one side of face,usually.Woke up with it 3 yrs ago and maybe 90% recovered.GET THE SHOT.
For a simple help to the immune system add magnesium supplement daily.Dont even ask how many "specialists" I was passed around to for consultation and was told "yep you got it ,wish we could do something,that'll be $375 & pay at desk".

[travel-lady]

I got my shingles shot about 7 months ago had no problem with it and it only cost me $79.00 my HMO paid for most of it.....Money well spent at least I sure hope so......Check around some drug stores charge more at one they wanted $125.00 for it....Also depends on what Ins you have. My husband only had to pay $49.00 for his.....

















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[wny_pat1]

Desert Captain wrote:
As a parting gift the Shingles left me with PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia), which is permanent (phantom), nerve pain along the bottom of my foot. Only a small percentage of Shingles victims are cursed with PHN (lucky me), but it lasts forever. Every step I take for the rest of my life feels like I have sharp gravel in my shoe, even when I am barefoot.

Sounds like what I have, but never had Shingles???

[bsinmich]

I got the shingle shot a couple years ago but DW is allergic to some of the thngs in it so she just has to take her chances.

[downtheroadagai]

Medicare part D pays for shingle shot.

[retired4fun2002]

I had my first outbreak about 20 years ago, and didn't know what it was. My sister seen the marks on my back and told me about it. It was discomforting, so I visited a local Dr. I took pills or something for about 10 days - no more problems for 6-7 years, and they came back - on my stomach area - and I knew it then. Another trip, more pills, and it was gone. I have recently been told my my PC to have the Shingles Shot - not at $228.00. I've met folks who have had serious bouts with this, so I just hope I never get them bad; the shingle shot doesn't do any good at this point - it will not stop them from returning, why bother spending the money. Safe travels.