Would you get the shingles vaccine?
May 16, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Would you consider getting the shingles vaccine? Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a virus that comes from the chicken pox you had as a child. You can only get shingles if you had the chicken pox.
What happens is the virus lies dormant in your body for years and then, for some reason, it breaks out and causes pain. In many cases, severe pain (How common is shingles?). 
The rash starts on one part of your body, around the waist line, for example. It then spreads along the nerve line, staying only on one side of the body. If you have shingles on your face, you do run the risk of having it affect your eye or your ear.
Most people recover from the shingles (itching, pain, rash, fatigue, general feeling of not being well) within a month, but about 20% of people who have shingles develop a very painful disorder called postherpetic neuralgia.
There is now a vaccine available for the prevention of shingles (Thousands could be spared pain from shingles) and the Center for Disease Control in the United States is recommending that all people over the age of 60 who have had chicken pox, have this vaccine. You can read more about it in the article, Shingles shots urged for Americans 60 and up.
Image: Newscom
~~~~~
I had a friend who got shingles, and was SO miserable I wouldn’t hesitate to get it.
I’m not old enough yet, but will definitely check it out when it’s time.
HI,
IM a 31yr old male, physically fit and active, and i got Shingles last week while i was camping.
My family instantly said its poison Ivy or poison Oak,, but i have never had issues with that plant in the past.
I went to the doctor yesterday after having these little blisters on my stomoch for 5 days, ,, and they say i got Shingles, and its a good thing I came in because Shingles dont go away if its not treated,,,, then prescribed me some type of anyi-viral meds that i have to take for 7 days,,,,, and then i should start to see the Shingles go away.
They itch a little, but I dont scratch them.,, the sun makes them swell and hurt.
Yesterday, i started vomiting, and got very very dizzy. I took a nap(3hours), woke up still dizzy, ate some food, then ran to the bathrooom to vomit again.. I have not eaten since. And i am still dizzy,,
I have made some strange mistakes , like, turning left when i meant to turn right,, or plugging in my USB jumpdrive into the wrong place on my laptop.
Very strange stuff….
Heck Crabby, having had shingles (3 yrs ago), I’d lie about my age if I had to. Horrible, horrible thing to have.
I got a severe case of chicken pox in my 30s (ouch!) followed immediately by shingles (strange, I know) and was put on Acyclovir right away & got no pain from the shingles. My Mom visited my kids when they had chicken pox (they caught it from me!) and shortly after, she got a bad case of shingles. Watching her suffer made me want to avoid it in the future so I’ll sure consider getting this vaccine when I turn 60.
I asked for and received the shingles shot last year when I turned sixty. The doctor never mentioned the shot, but was happy to comply with my request. I had no reaction what so ever and I hope to be in the lucky group that never gets shingles.
Don’t be afraid to speak up when you want something medically.
Terrie
Old Wife – a friend of mine had the chicken pox as an adult – it was awful, although I do have to say that back then, we weren’t too sympathetic.
Terrie – excellent point. We should be pro-active and ask for something like that if we want it.
I would like to point out, that Zostavax can cause shingles. I was a healthy 64 year old male who received the Zostavax vaccine on 2/5/08. Ten days later, my doctor diagnosed me with “classic shingles”. He put me on Valtrex for 7 days and 1 month later was still suffering with red spots on my (right) chest, severe pain in my right arm and shoulder, and severe itching. I notified Merck and my doctor also did! I read Merck’s “double blind” studies, and nowhere does it simply say: this vaccine can cause you to contract shingles. I have all the documentation as well as pictures. Please caution anyone who wants to gamble with their health. I don’t believe Merck is being as honest as they should regarding the safety of this vaccine.
i am 35 and think i have shingles..can they be around the tailbone area only? i never had this issue until last yr….i thought it was just because i lost alot of weight and you could see my tailbone ..i know gross..but that is where it started and has stayed… i havent felt anything for a few months and now bam …hurts again..help
Hi jen, the only way to be sure if you have shingles or not is to see a doctor. I can’t and don’t diagnose anything. I only offer information.
Good luck.
Is the shot for shingles very painful.
I don’t know arlene as I’ve not had it. But I imagine it’s not any more painful than any other vaccine.
Arlene,
The shot was not painful at all.
Terrie
im 16 years old and i developed patches like the one above all over my side and back. i the went to thew doc and its shingles but how could i have them so young?