Shingles Shots

[Raider Bill]

I got 2 shots so maybe it wasn't as long ago as I remembered.
I don't remember any side effects.
How about the normal flu shot normally comes out each year, Docs. 
Do you recommend?

[doc henderson]

Yes, on the flu shot.  covid is picking up here, but not too sick of patients.  I would think hard about it (covid booster) if you are at high risk, like elderly or on chemo/immunocompromised, overweight, DM, COPD.  shingles will hurt more than the shot.  I asked my wife, and she had no reaction to the first, and a little sore arm with the second.  Pneumonia shot as you get older, and esp. with chronic illness.

[gspren]

This morning on the Today Show they had a Doc saying to quit thinking of the new Covid shot as a booster and just think it's like a yearly Flu shot but now a yearly Covid shot to cover the new strains.

[snobdds]

I don't know what to think for young and healthy people.   My wife got pericarditis after her last booster shot.  She runs and exercises a lot and now she has fluid around her heart.  This woman never gets sick and it's driving her crazy from not being able to exercise.  Now it's driving me crazy. 

That is a topic my age group has a lot...do these Mrna vaccines hurt more then help young people?  

I don't know...

[doc henderson]

the healthier you are the less likely you will get very sick.  That is the gamble.  The goal is to not die or be disabled from the disease.  some of the side effects of the vaccine are the same as the disease.  Back in the day, folks had kids develop seizures after vaccination.  makes sense if all kids get vaccinated.  The overall incidence was the same in the general population, even the unvaccinated.  so, a part of each vaccine payment goes to a fund, to help families with a child with developmental delay or seizures, thought to be from a vaccine even though the incidence of those problems is at the level expected in the general population.  During covid, this all got heated, so I am not trying to convince anyone to go get it.  You could blame the vaccine for any ailment you have after the fact.  Some of the side effects are related, and actually expected, and even hoped for as a good sign.  This is why, folks at the most risk and more likely to have devastating consequences from the disease, are most encouraged to get the shots for whatever.  historically far more people benefit from the programs than the few who do not.  This pandemic made for a rushed implementation, thinking we could lose millions of Americans if we waited.  time to relax a bit and make up our own minds.

[Magicman]

OK, off of the Covid and back onto the Shingles Shot. 

PatD and I both are identifying as officially well from the Shingles shots.  She has no soreness whatsoever, and I can slightly feel mine if I rub my arm.  The Shingles threat should be behind us forever. 

[doc henderson]

Well then, stop rubbing it! 

[pine]

As a point of interest, the FDA finally put out a warning(several years ago, 2021 I think) that the Shingrix vaccine can cause GBS (Guillain-Barré syndrome) within 42 days of the first shot.   
Of course they did not announce that until 2 weeks after I got the first shot.  Having had GBS, I am always very sensitive to any vaccine warning and side effects.  If you have never heard of GBS look into it, NOT FUN! 
It is not a huge risk increase but it is still rather significant.  I had shingles back in 2017 and was ready to get the vaccine when I became eligible.  Did all the appropriate research and said good to go.  Two weeks later they announce the warning.  Good news is I did not get GBS again but I would not have gotten the vaccine if the warning had come out just 2 weeks earlier.
It elicited a pretty strong reaction.

[Magicman]

That Guillain-Barré syndrome, is scary stuff:

Guillain-Barre syndrome often begins with tingling and weakness starting in your feet and legs and spreading to your upper body and arms. Some people notice the first symptoms in the arms or face. As Guillain-Barre syndrome progresses, muscle weakness can turn into paralysis.
Signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome may include:

• A pins and needles sensation in your fingers, toes, ankles or wrists
• Weakness in your legs that spreads to your upper body
• Unsteady walking or inability to walk or climb stairs
• Difficulty with facial movements, including speaking, chewing or swallowing
• Double vision or inability to move the eyes
• Severe pain that may feel achy, shooting or cramplike and may be worse at night
• Difficulty with bladder control or bowel function
• Rapid heart rate
• Low or high blood pressure
• Difficulty breathing

I would think that since it is a possibility, vaccine recipients should be given a list of the symptoms to be looking for.

[doc henderson]

It is caused by the immune response and is usually after getting a viral infection.  It makes sense that the same immune response can cause it from the vaccine.  It is not good but can be recovered from, although it can take years.

[doc henderson]

FDA Requires a Warning about Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) be Included in the Prescribing Information for Shingrix | FDA

looks like there was an increase in incidence of 3 to 6 patients above the usual rate in the population.  not sure if it is causal.  that was in several million elder recipients over 3 years or so.

[Magicman]

Fact is we were given information and I suppose disclaimer papers to sign with lots written information that neither of us read.  :P

[doc henderson]

I think this was added recently, like in the past few weeks as the data was accumulated and processed.  It is very rare and also caused by many viruses potentially.  So, the vaccine may prevent getting GBS from the actual viral infection.  It is odd but the 2nd shot does not seem to have any correlation with it, if the first one didn't.

[Magicman]

We are now 9 days past the booster/2nd shot and with absolutely no arm soreness nor any other negative indicators. 

[petefrom bearswamp]

As I posted before, I had a mild case many years ago when in my 50s.
I still get one slight pin prick sensation under my right armpit once in a while where the infection occurred .
doc Is this an anomaly or a result of the long past situation.
We are waiting for the covid booster to be available here and will get it in conjunction with our annual flu shot.

[doc henderson]

Well Pete, your warranty has since expired.  that is part of it.  It has prob. damaged those nerves.  Imagine any piece of equipment almost a hundred years old.  you may have to replace tires (knee joints) fix wiring issues (nerves) repair hydraulic pumps (heart) change air filters (lungs).  the virus after chicken pox will sequester away from the immune system in the nerves, until older and during a weak immune moment.  then the immune system goes after the virus, and the inflammation irritates and may go on to scar and injure those nerves.  post herpetic neuralgia.  it is interesting that some of the treatment for pain after shingles is "hot sauce" that confuses and interferes with pain signals to reduce pain.  that is how a TENS unit works.  it is like fantom pain, but you still have the body part.

[doc henderson]

It prob was especially if you had a rash that follow nerve dermatomes.  


It should not go across the midline front and back.  It should be on the right half, or the left half.  It was prob shingles if it still bugs you now and then.

[Brian_Rhoad]

I have had shingles at least once a year since 2014. The past few years it's a mild rash and not very painful. The second time I had the rash on my lower right stomach. I have permanent nerve damage on my lower back right side. My doctor put me on Lyrica. If I don't take it, it feels like someone is ripping my back apart. Very painful! I think I have built up some resistance to the Shingles since it isn't as bad the past few times I've had them. I can't get the shot because you need to go at least 2 years without having them.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I got my first shot yesterday and boy is my arm sore. I go back in 2 months for the second booster.

[pine]

I think this was added recently, like in the past few weeks as the data was accumulated and processed.  It is very rare and also caused by many viruses potentially.  So, the vaccine may prevent getting GBS from the actual viral infection.  It is odd but the 2nd shot does not seem to have any correlation with it, if the first one didn't.

Actually the warning was put out on the Shingrix vaccine about GBS, if memory serves me, in April  2021

[doc henderson]

you are correct.  3-24-21.  I did not look at the date, but it referenced a "few weeks ago" in the article.

[SawyerTed]

I got the shingles vaccine this morning at 9:00.  Because the physician of a close family member recommends Emily and I get the RSV vaccine , I got that one too.  Both in my left arm. EDIT:  The close family member has health issues that makes RSV an especially bad virus.  

A doctor friend recommends being moderately active after vaccines so in following her advice I mowed grass on the lawn tractor and rode my motorcycle to do some errands.

After all that, I am feeling a bit washed out and my arm is slightly sore.  The washed out feeling is similar to the feeling I had after the COVID-19 vaccine.  Nothing to worry about but certainly noticeable with a mild headache and some fatigue.  

A dose of Tylenol will help.  

[John Mc]

I got my first Shingles shot at the beginning of October, and got the flue shot at the same time. Got them both in the left shoulder. The shoulder was sore for 2 or 3 days and the area was warm, but I did not really notice other symptoms.

I got my Covid and RSV shots yesterday morning. By evening, my shoulder was sore. Today, the shoulder is more sore and I'm tired and a bit chilled. No other symptoms so far.

My wife's reaction to the shingles shot was quite different. She was out of commission for a couple of days for the first one, and was absolutely miserable for the second one (Seems like it was for almost a week, but it's been a while and I might not be remembering correctly.)

[YellowHammer]

What happened to your wife is why I haven't got mine yet.  

I asked my GP who recently asked why I hadn't gotten my second shingles vac yet what the studies showed about the difference in probability of getting shingles after only one shot vs two, and she said "I don't know, there has to be some benefit or they wouldn't say you need to get two."  I love it when I get such a definitive answer from a health care professional...

[John Mc]

Having seen family members with shingles, I figured risking having a significant reaction was worth it. Shingles is absolutely no fun.