Thread: Shingles Vaccine ?

I'm done asking questions, went and got it today. It is $225.00 and my insurance covered $130.00. At 65 my doctor recommended it. He said, "It is expensive, but if you ever get the shingles you'd pay $10,000 to get rid of it."

I know some people who've had it and decided it is worth the shot (no pun) to take the preventative, even though it isn't 100% guaranteed you won't get it in spite of the vaccine. They say if you do come down it after the vaccine it won't be as severe, and chances of long term pain caused by nerve damage is less likely. So throwing it out there for any other old codgers who might be considering it.

Never had Chickin pox,no worrys.

Been there, done that (80 clams) right after my wife had a very mild (as if) case.

Got a vasectomy once, too. Today I read they're poisonous.

I am feeling a little fidgety.

I've had the shingles on 2 occasions.
Bloody painful stuff.
I'd take a vaccine in a heartbeat to avoid that pain again..

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.