Thread: Shingles Vaccine ?

Had them once. No fun. Not a lot of pain but I did sit in the dark for about a week. Just felt better there.


Dave

I googled shingles and read about the symptoms. Now I am fretting over not knowing if I have had chicken pox or not.

I was just a kid, 6 or maybe 7 years old but I remember it quite distinctly. An itch you weren't supposed to scratch or you got pock marks for life.

I had them, and thought I had lung cancer, the pain in my ribs was so bad. Years later when my doc said get the shot, insurance will cover it, I ran to the pharmacy. My wife got it too, because she'd had to put up with me moaning when I had them. Luckily, my insurance covered 100% for both of us.

I got the shot. I had chicken pox as a kid and I also had a case of shingles when I was in my 40s.

What they don't tell you is even with the shot there is still a 50-50 chance you can get shingles anyway or I should say 50% of the population seems to be immune to the shot. If you do get shingles after the shot they "say" it will be a milder case but no guarantees on that if you are in that 50% group.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

What they don't tell you is even with the shot there is still a 50-50 chance you can get shingles anyway or I should say 50% of the population seems to be immune to the shot. If you do get shingles after the shot they "say" it will be a milder case but no guarantees on that if you are in that 50% group.

I saw that in my online research. So it is a better bet than just taking my chances. AFAIK no one in my family has had them, but the possible benefits outweighed the negatives IMO.

Had the shot a couple of years ago. I remember the chicken pox well and I was 6 years old
and visiting my Grandparents in Kansas City, Mo., in July with my Mom. No fun that summer.

And on the other side of the coin, my primary doctor wanted to know if I wanted the Shingles shot. This was shortly after getting done with chemo. Asked my oncologist and it was an emphatic\, "No!". Apparently the Shingles vaccine is made up of live organisms and that's a no-no evermore if you've had chemo at any point in your like. I had chicken pox and have escaped the bullet so far. And hope to keep dodging.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

And on the other side of the coin, my primary doctor wanted to know if I wanted the Shingles shot. This was shortly after getting done with chemo. Asked my oncologist and it was an emphatic\, "No!". Apparently the Shingles vaccine is made up of live organisms and that's a no-no evermore if you've had chemo at any point in your like. I had chicken pox and have escaped the bullet so far. And hope to keep dodging.

If you are taking any immune system suppressant it is a no go. I didn't know that in some cases it is a life long prohibition. I would have thought a person's immune system would rebound ? Guess not.

WIfe had shingles 5 years ago. Hers caused nerve damage that bothers her to this day.

She takes that damn lyrica to help offset the pain. She's a worrier, always has been. Hers broke out when the oldest child went totally stupid trying to bring attention to himself. I still want to kick his ass every time she's standing there, hand on her side, and holding back tears.

I doubt I'm gonna get the shot. I've had the chicken pox but I have a tendency to let things roll and not get all bound up. May regret it later.

Had a vasectomy too.