Shingles Shots

[Magicman]

Welp, PatD and I got our "Shingrix" Shingle shots this afternoon so if we "croak" tonight you will know what happened to us.

Starting in 2023, they are "free" to us Medicare folks.

Figured that I would just come back home and enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of coffee to celebrate.  

[doctorb]

Magic....

Had mine several years back.  This is the one vaccination that really gave me a sore arm, and made me feel like a dishrag for a couple of days.  Just warning you, this one can be a bit tougher than your standard reaction to your standard vaccine.

[Magicman]

Actually I/we had researched rather extensively and that is what we both had read.  We even considered postponing but why?  2-3 days is 2-3 days and there is never a "good" time.

We have "Cabin" plans for the remainder of the week so whatever it will be, it will be. 

I took a sawing call on the way home and I am "booked up" not sawing in June anyway.  I told him mid-July at the earliest.  The trees just blew over last evening so it will probably be November before he gets ready. 

[sawguy21]

I got shingles, wasn't aware vaccine was available, and was miserable for a few weeks. I don't wish the pain on anybody. :(

[YellowHammer]

It's a two part vaccine isn't it ? Dr told me to get the series, said first was not too bad but second one was memorable.  

[Magicman]

Yes, the exact same vaccination/medication dosage about three months apart.

[peakbagger]

Got mine a few years back. Both my parents got Shingles and it took a couple of years for the pain to subside. 

I had heard about the sore arm from the vaccine but I never noticed it. 

I also got the pneumonia  vaccine. 

[Magicman]

It's only been 3 hours since getting stuck and I already can feel some soreness.  I'll probably take Tylenol or Advil before bedtime.

[bitternut]

i got my first shot back in April on my way down to our woods to cut firewood. Spent the next couple days hauling and blocking up a trailer load of wood. Had plenty of aches and pains the next couple of days. Not sure if one of them was from the shot. Felt fine other wise though. Have to go back right after July fourth for the second shot. Never had shingles and people I know that have all say its not something you will enjoy having. GET THE SHOT

[realzed]

I got a shot for shingles a few years back (2017) and didn't get much in the way of a reaction to it - but I did get full blown shingles itself about 2 weeks later after it..  
Go Figure!
I had marks all over my face and head and looked like I had been in a big time Bar Brawl and ended up on the losing end of it all..
Had one eye shut closed for about a week and had many tests later to see if it had actually compromised my vision - thankfully not though!
Not fun certainly!
Would I have gotten the vaccine if I knew all of this - NOOO!
Note: Some doctors have told me it was just a coincidence that I got shingles as there is absolutely no connection - but just as many others have nodded knowingly and admitted they do see a connection between the shot and the possibility of getting shingles - so your results may differ...

[Larry]

Got shingles when I was about 20, better than 50 years ago.  I didn't have much problem from it than but maybe because I was young.  With that history I got the first shingles vaccine as soon as it came out and than got the latest Shingrix shot when it came out a few years ago.  Maybe I was lucky but never had any problems with the shots.

[Ianab]

I got a shot for shingles a few years back and didn't get much in the way of a reaction to it - but I did get full blown shingles itself about 3 weeks later after it..   Go Figure!

Thing is shingles is caused by the Chicken Pox virus, that we all caught at some stage as kids. Most 5 years old's immune system knocks it back pretty quick, but doesn't seem to eliminate it from the body completely. It's still lurking in your body some place. As you get older your immune system gets weaker, and the virus can make a comeback, causing shingles. 

What factors trigger this? Apart from getting old, it's not really known, but I guess it's not impossible that shots (which play with the immune system) could be the last straw that let an almost ready to spread virus activate more? But the virus was there as a ticking bomb pretty much all your life. Maybe the process had actually started before you got the shots? Maybe the vaccine was the final kick it needed, or the vaccine didn't really "take" (no real reaction), and it was going to happen that week anyway. No way to know  for sure. 

[doc henderson]

Think of the shot as a booster to the immune system and does so by mimicking an infection.  Most pain and inflammation is from our own immune systems fighting a foreign invader.  the aches and pains and fatigue ect. are all from our immune systems.  viral cells are dead packets of dna that have to invade live cells to make more viruses.  your immune system likely kills infected cells to get rid of the virus.  the virus lives in nerve cells and then can come out after your immunity fades.  thus the rash of shingles is in a dermatomal distribution and usually does not cross over the mid-line.  the chicken pox rash is all over, and not as painful.  If you live to be an adult and never get CP you may die from it as it then more likely gets into a viral lung infection.  You might be on a ventilator for a week.  there are antiviral like acyclovir that can help sop viruses.  If you take the vaccine before getting CP, then you are better ready for it if it comes along and will not get shingles likely.  no one knows how long the vaccines will confer immunity, and if it will fade like natural immunity.  remember with viruses and allergies, it is your own immune response that gives you symptoms.

[customsawyer]

As y'all know I like to be a little different. I didn't get Chicken pox until I was in my early 30s. I even tried to catch it from friends kids that had it when I was in the military, to no avail. When I did catch them I got it from my youngest son who was around 16 YO and had come down with shingles. I only had a few actual spots that was around my waist and I first thought they was chiggers. Lasted a couple of days and it was right back to work.

[Magicman]

Both of us have only slightly sore arms this morning and so far, no other problems.  I took a couple of Advil before bedtime last night and PatD took Tylenol. 

[doc henderson]

Jake, you can get blood work to prove you have had it.  have you been vaccinated?  you may not have had it as young folks rarely get shingles and have to have had chicken pox first.  We should prob. ask @Southside as this seems to involve chickens!   :D :D :D

[Andries]

ChickenPox, Avian Flu, the VooDoo Chicken Kiln Ritual, Southern Fried, . . . man, everything comes back to those DanG chickens. 
Good call Doc, let's find the specialist.
.
Customsawyer, I've taken two turns with shingles.
The first round was much like your experience. It came and it went.
Then, the second round, about three years ago, had me out of action for a long week. 
Y'know, from a biological viewpoint, it was interesting to to see so many infected nerve endings along the nerve route, circling around my body, painful as H. and no, no pictures please. 
If you want to avoid that, getting the shot soon would be a good idea.
I got the vaccine as soon as possible after round two finally cleared up. 
Mark me down as convinced.

[Southside]

Man I purposely stay out of a conversation and my ladies still get blamed!  :D

[doc henderson]

Jake your scenario is unusual so make sure you actually had it.  rashes can look like each other.  or get the vax.  I took care of the COO of our hospital in Concordia Ks, on a ventilator for a week as he recovered.  

[Magicman]

Our arms are much more sore and warm to the touch now than they were this morning.  So far no other symptoms. 

[customsawyer]

Doc I never had the shingles. I only had a couple of chicken pox close to my waist line. I was concerned because I always heard they were worse the older you got them. Wasn't a big deal for me.

[doc henderson]

the unusual part is that your 16 y/o had shingles and you caught it from them.  and that you only got a few pox, and not covered in them as a primary infection.  not to be contrary (but it is what I do ) but it may have not been your first infection, and your son had to of first had CP to later have shingles.  usually, shingles is later as the immune system fails, or if on immunosuppressants like chemo or treatment for rheumatoid.  not everyone can look at one and tell if it is chicken pox.  In fact, you have to look at the whole scenario combined with a pock that has a clear membrane with fluid inside.  I hope you had them, and poss. you had them younger and did not realize it.  the old moms used to be good at it, but not anymore.

[doc henderson]

one problem is if you are not sure so you take your child to the doctor, and sit in a waiting room along with other kids, and if you have CP, and another kid in the waiting room has cancer and on chemo, that child will die from CP.  so many pediatricians refuse to care for children whose parents do not immunize.  It is not a snob thing, but to protect the sickest children.

[Magicman]

We are now a full week post vaccinations and our arms are only slightly sore if you rub them.  Neither of us had any other symptoms and neither of us postponed any activities.

[RetiredTech]

  My wife had shingles years ago and I got the vaccination asap. If I remember right it was only one shot. They gave her the same shot later saying it would help prevent them from coming back. Maybe they have something new out now?