Yes, I had shingles a few years ago. My Mother had them, my husband, and my daughter Cheryl has had them. Each case was different. My Mother's was first diagnosed by the doctor as a yeast infection! She was was very sick with hers. I was the one that told my husband he had shingles when he showed me his rash on his head and around his eye. His was bad. Cheryl's was just a tiny spot on her side. Mine was on my forehead and not too bad. The worse part was before I knew what I had was the fever and the bad feeling I had. I had been to the doctor 3 times before they told me I had shingles. I was the one on the second visit that told them I feel like I have shingles and after I got home I broke out. Then I went back and yes, you have shingles and I took the antiviral medication. I got over it pretty quickly. My Mother suffered for years with hers. Not a fun thing to go through.

Sue

Another risk is that if you develop shingles you can pass it on to others in the form of Chicken Pox (if they've never had Chicken Pox before.)

I got shingles sometimes around the end of May. It was very painful and later itched a lot. The rash is at my waistline and shaped like an arrowhead. It only bothered me severely for a few weeks. The rash is still there, but rarely itches and the pain is gone completely thank goodness. The rash has faded a lot. I don't know if it will go away entirely or not, but as long as it's not bothering me I don't care.

I turned 60 a few months ago and will get the Shingles vaccine the next time I go to the doctor. Here's the link to the CDC if anyone wants more information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shingles vaccine

After my friend had a horrible, painful case of the shingles, I got the vaccine. I saw what she went through and knew I didn't want to take a chance.

We had a long thread about shingles here over a year ago, and that scared me into asking for the shingles vaccine. I carried the prescription around for a month or two, encountering problems in filling it (and also, I admit, forgetting much of the time). The vaccine is frozen, and in my area must be picked up at one location and administered at another.

Anyway, I ended up getting shingles (in the kidney area) before I got the vaccine. I still haven't gotten the vaccine, although I asked for (and received) another prescription. I think I'm probably procrastinating because of my history of reacting to so many things. And I just got over being treated for Lyme.

But yes, one can have serious complications from shingles. If you're over 60, check out the vaccine.

Is the shingles vaccine just like a regular injection, or something different?

Friend has the shingles, now. She is 70.
She had the shingles vaccine, and doctor told her, when she went to see him, her shingles were full-blown.

DH and I got the shingles vaccine in our doctor's office. Yes, it's just a shot. Medicare didn't cover it then, but it should now, as should any health insurance you have, since the Obama administration's health reform bill came into effect this fall. Our secondary insurance DID cover preventive care when we were vaccinated.

The vaccine doesn't promise you will never get shingles; it isn't 100% effective for everyone. It *should* make any case you develop less severe. Now that it is free if you are insured, there's little reason not to get the shot.

I had shingles on the right side of my forehead three years ago. Had to see an optomologist to be sure my right eye was not compromised; it wasn't.

My doctor's nurse diagnosed my shingles the minute I walked in and had an MD confirm it. I thought I'd been bitten by a couple of angry spiders overnight! If you can get on herpes meds within 72 hours of developing shingles, it minimizes the problem. You should stay away from children who haven't had measles until the rash dies out.

Why do you have to wait until you are 60 to get the vaccine? I would love to get the vaccine but I am only 51.

Deb

I got the shingles shot last year at my pharmacist's . The vaccine is frozen and has to be administered immediately which is why my doctor office sent me there. I had relatives including an aunt who were hospitalized with it and aunt lost vision in her eye.

Deb, I don't think you have to be over 60 to get the vaccine; shingles targets people over 60----except in Cheryl's case (Marilyn-Sue's daughter!)

Last I heard the vaccine wasn't approved for anyone under 60.

I'll ask when I go to the doctor. I would really like to get the vaccine because my Mom had shingles really bad. I get fever blisters really bad and have valtrax for when I feel that awful tingle on my lip. I hope that helps keep shingles at bay.

Maire posted a good general info page on the vaccine.

I hesitated a long time, even though my dr recommended it. After seeing how hard it affected a friend of my sisters (who is a very hardy person who rarely gets down with illnesses), I got the shot in December 2008. No side effects. I had to order the vaccine from my pharmacist,...back then there was a 3 to 5 month wait on it. When it came in, I called for a dr appt, then called pharmacy for when I had the appt.

By the way, I had been told that it would cost me some money, but it ended up being totally covered w/Medicare. Call your insurance company prior to ordering the vaccine to see if you will owe anything.

Shirley

Both my husband and I got the shot a couple of years ago. You do have to be over the age of 60 to get it.

I know a lady who is in her mid 80's that has shingles. She has had them for almost a year and has them on the bottom of her feet. I can't imagine how much she has suffered with this for so long. Luckily she has my friend to do her grocery shopping, take her to the doctor and other things for her since she has no family here.

Oh, gosh.....this thread is giving me the push I need to get the vaccine and get it over with. Thank you!

My daughter had chicken pox in kindergarten and then got shingles on her legs when she was 18. She thought it was an allergic rash at first. Went to a dermatologist, who diagnosed it with one glance.

Deb - The reason 60 is the recommended age is because the immunity you have from having chicken pox as a child gradually diminishes as you age. Most insurance companies won't cover the vaccine unless you're 60 or older since that's the recommended age to get the vaccine.

I am reluctant to take the shot :o(

I am, too, Glenda, but I really think it makes sense to do it. I got off relatively easy with my shingles last year--thanks to my doctor, who was quick to diagnose the problem even without the rash. But before I could see him, I ended up in the ER, where they gave me a (dreaded) CT scan (which showed nothing, of course). And the pain prevented me from sleeping because I couldn't lie down....all I could manage was an hour at a time sitting up, even with pain pills. And I missed two weeks of work. But like I said, it could have been so much worse. People have lost some of their vision from shingles.

I had absolutely no reaction to the vaccine.