I got the shot, had no reaction other than a sore arm.

Yes, I got it several years ago after a friend of mine got shingles in his mouth. Also, my brother had it and was extremely ill. Another friend got shingles and it affected her nerves so badly....went to Mayo Clinic and never did get over it...and she still had it when she died from terrible pain and complications. I certainly hope I never have to endure that disease.

I had the vaccine but still got shingles about 2 years later. I understand that the vaccine is perhaps 50% effective, but can also reduce the severity of an attack should you still get it.

I am glad I got the vaccine. If my case was lessened because of it, thank goodness. It's a really NASTY thing to deal with. Like a severe sunburn, and my outbreak lasted about a month.

You are right to better be safe. Who knows if you will still get shingles, but you are doing all you can to help avoid it.

No can't get one since it's a live vaccine and I am taking immune suppressing meds, my rheumatologist said no. No immune system and a live vaccine don't go together.

I really did want to have it though since my mom had shingles and it was so bad. My husband did get his and had no problems with it at all.

My dad got his this week actually. My mom had shingles a couple of years ago and it was no picinic. Glad my dad decided on getting vaccinated.

I got one several years ago and had no problems with it. So far, been lucky!

prairie_rose, does Alberta cover the vaccine? I'm in Ontario, which doesn't cover it, and I think it costs about $150-200 here. My son had an excruciating experience with shingles. They were in his inner ear and it was misdiagnosed as flesh eating disease, because he was only 12 and because there was no outer blistering in sight. They treated him with powerful drugs for that, which of course did nothing, because it was shingles. He was hospitalized and violently sick with vertigo for 2 weeks, due to damage to his inner ear, but a specialist finally identified the ulcerated eardrum as a shingles attack. Luckily, he was tested after he recovered and did not lose any hearing. So it's rare, but it does happen to children as well.

Pickyshopper, what a horrible experience for your son--and for you. I'm so glad he recovered well.

My own case of shingles five years ago wasn't nearly that bad, but it, too, was misdiagnosed--first as an abscessed colon and the next day as kidney stones. I was actually relieved when my doctor got back from vacation two days later and said I had shingles.

I got the shot a couple of years later. It seemed unlikely that it would prevent shingles in my case, but if I did get another bout of shingles the shot would possibly eliminate post-shingles neuropathy.

I did get a small case of shingles--a couple of months ago, as a matter of fact. This time it was on my eyelid, and it was misdiagnosed as conjunctivitis. After several days of antibiotic eye drops, I looked at the eyelid with a magnifying mirror and a flashlight, and realized I was looking at shingles blisters. The eye doctor verified this, and put me on an anti-viral.

Yes, I think the shingles shot is a good idea. Shingles can do a lot of lasting damage, and anything you can to do minimize that possibility is worth doing.

I got the shot last year and did have a reaction to it. The area of the shot itched like crazy and they, the pharmacy, told me to NOT take Benadryl. Waited 2 days before seeing my doc. They said to start Benadryl right away. That sure helped and within a week all was well. I do have lots of allergies, so I wasn't surprised at having a reaction.

DH had the shot, no reaction at all. I asked about it last month as I was getting the newer pneumonia shot (the Prevnar 13), thinking they could do one in one arm, the other vaccination in the other. I was told No, they should be at least a month apart. So sometime around St Patricks Day, I need to go back for the shingles vaccine. No one in my family has had shingles, but I've had chicken pox and DH has been pressing me to get the shot.

Never had shingles. Never had the shot. Have never had a flu shot either.

I got the vaccine in my eye and had shingles last fall. The swelling and crusting over that area of my face was terrible, but the pain was bearable more like an insane intense itch. I also developed a post event intense constant itching called post herpetic neuralgia which was controlled with Lyrica. So although I was very weak and itchy, the discomfort was manageable which the Dr. attributes to having had the vaccine.. I don't regret getting the vaccine!

Picky, I was going to ask Prairie Rose the same thing. I checked with our doctor a couple of years ago and it was $200.(not covered) I also have to make an appointment, because the vaccine has to be refrigerated, or not refrigerated......or something. There was something unique about it, that it has to be a specific app't to get it done.

I wonder about it all the time, if I should get one, because of previous conversations here. I think I will.

Got the shot, not a hint of reaction, not even a sore arm. Always get the flu shot. Haven't had the flu since........I can't remember.

Don't know about in Canada, but my doctor in Michigan told me to go to the local chain drugstore and it would be about $45, whereas he would have had to charge around $300, so that's what I did.

2 years ago my husband had a terrible case of shingles down his right side from his hip to his toes. Doctor tried several different kinds of pain medicine, but nothing worked. The pain was so intense that DH couldn't stand, sit, or lie down comfortably for several weeks. He literally got 1-2 hours of sleep every 24 hours for at least 3 weeks, and he was a zombie. If you ever have a spouse/parent/whoever who repeatedly doesn't get sleep, don't let them make any important decisions! It took me awhile to recognize that he was not thinking clearly.

Anne

Jasdip and Picky,

The shot is not covered by Blue Cross in Alberta, and its $200. My private plan does cover part of it, so it only cost me $69. I didn't care about the cost, I was more concerned about not getting shingles.

The reason I asked the question, was when my pharmacist was getting ready to give it to me, and he went through all the questions, and then gave me the "So you know, this a live vaccine, so you may get a mild case of shingles, and it only gives you 50% protection against getting it, etc. Are you comfortable with that, and would you still like to have it?" I guess there are those who refuse the shot after hearing that they may get have a reaction or still get the disease. Then he also gave he heck, cause I never get the flu shot. I can't remember the last time I have even had a cold, so the flu doesn't worry me. Shingles on the other hand.....

Today, my arm is a little tender where I got the needle, but otherwise I feel great.

Our shingles vaccine was covered by Anthem of Ohio. Some insurers see it as a prevention of more costly treatment of shingles.

My husband's was covered by our insurance and our primary doctor gave it to him. Several of my older neighbors have been getting them at CVS and walgreens because they are much cheaper. If you are paying for it definitely shop around because the prices are drastically varied.

Joliz you got the shingles vaccine in your eye?

My OPERS insurance covers the cost of the shingle shot for anyone over 60. I got it last year at the local CVS Pharmacy. It may have been due to the hot summer but I did develop a mild itchy rash along my bra line that took a few weeks to calm down. Never had rash there before, esp. not like that.

My mother who has lymphoma can not take the shot so she takes the shingle pill. At first she was taking two a day but over time develop so many leg and hand cramps which she swore was a result of the pills (doctors practically ignored her!), her oncologist reduced the dosage to one a day and the cramps are now minimal.

I can't take the shot because there are few meds I can take. I can't even take blood pressure meds. My arthritis doctor wanted me to take a 4 month shot for osteo and my instinct was no. My medical doctor said NO! She said if you get that in your system and have a reaction it can't be removed. I can't take pain meds and just going through the meniscus repair was a nightmare without pain meds. The surgeon, said if the pain doesn't go away the only that can be done is a knee replacement and I won't do that because the pain of the meniscus repair was small compared to a knee replacement.

I had the shot about three years ago, I think, but got shingles last April. I was getting headaches that just "banged" when they hit, plus pain in my eyebrows, of all things. I did not break out in a rash, but lost some sight for a few days, and had viral eye drops plus oral dosage. I was on the latter until a couple of months ago. I still have some itching on the left side of my head and forehead (plus the itchy eyebrow!) but it's not something that is affecting my life, so I am still glad I had the shot. My insurance paid only for the doctor, but I believe that has changed since I had it.

The odd thing about this kind of thing is.........would you have had this outbreak if you had not had the shot? It's one of those things that will we will never have an answer for. If scientist found out the shot caused it they would never admit it.

Having a severely compromised immune system, I can't take live vaccines. I did, however, come down with shingles late in January. Fortunately, a very mild case and the rash and blistering was quite minor - like a little scattering of buckshot on my right side. I did take the 7 day course of anti-virals for it.

Even with all the chatter about shingles, I was slow to recognize the pre rash and blistering pain in my side along the nerve corridor. Should I be one of the unlucky 24 per 10,000 who experience a recurrence, at least I'll recognize the symptoms in a timely fashion.

I would recommend that anyone who can SAFELY take the vaccine to do so.

My son had shingles when he was only 31 years old. He had them in such a spot, he could sit. And when he was in bed, he had to sleep on one side only, and no blankets or clothes. Anything on them and he went through the roof. His were stress related. He was off work for almost 2 weeks. When he returned to work he gave them his 2 weeks notice and the shingles haven't returned.

I don't think it hurts anyone of any age to get them. Once you've had chicken pox, you carry the virus so anyone can get them.

Stress brought on the one case of shingles I had, and both my DH and I have since had the vaccine. (Zero reactions.) Our secondary insurance (after Medicare) paid for ours, but we would have happily paid $200 each for a 50/50 chance of preventing shingles or having less severe cases.

If you had chickenpox and now have any rash you remotely think could be shingles, get it examined. I discovered what I thought were 'spider bites' on my right forehead one morning. DH had had a severe reaction once to a bite and needed antibiotics for it, so I went to see my doctor. It was shingles.

Caught early (within 72 hours), you can be given an anti-herpes medication to lessen the severity of the shingles. I had a very mild case, and I credit getting the anti-herpes meds with that. I was sent to have my eye examined, but it had not become involved. I was also cautioned not to be in contact with babies or pregnant women until the rash was gone, as they could 'catch' chicken pox from me.

A clue to diagnosing your rash is that shingles usually stops at a mid-point on your body. Only the right quadrant of my head was involved. You may only see an outbreak around your side and right up to your spine on your back, or right up to the middle of your body in front. Be suspicious, and be seen!

I had the shingles vaccine 8 years ago. No reaction. My mom had shingles and was miserable for a couple of months. That was before the vaccine was available. I get a flu shot every year and I got the pneumonia vaccine several years ago. I don't understand the anti-vaxxers.

We have BC/BS here in Michigan. BC/BS did NOT pay for the shot, our prescription plan did pay. There was a $35 copay.

I had the vaccine a year or two ago....no problems with it. My two 20 something's got mild cases of shingles on their torsos almost at the same time and they live 400 miles apart...weird.

My sister, who was 78 at the time, got shingles and was in total misery for 1-1/2 years!! She had just been to her doctor right before that and asked if she should be getting the vaccine shot and her doctor told her she didn't need it.

I got the shot a couple of years ago. I got it at Walgreen's after my doctor faxed a prescription for it. My insurance covered it. I, too, decided it was better to maybe have a milder case than the full blown. I did have a slight reaction. My arm got really red and hot at the site, but it just lasted a few days and went away. I looked it up and that was a known side effect, so I didn't worry about it.

I'm over 70 and got my shot last year. I had a little redness and soreness aronf the injection site; That subsided in three days. There was very little discomfort.

Many years ago in high school, I had a very mild case of chicken pox. I had only one or two poxes ani the face and neck. At the time, I wasn't sure if it was chicken pox or acme. It was chicken pox. I'd get sick on schedule at 3 pm each afternoon for 3 days. I'm fairly certain that I carry the virus and did the shot for prevention. Every time chicken pox makes its round through the local schools, I have a little breakout.

I'm not old enough for the shot (8 years to go!), and I had chicken pox, but the descriptions about shingles on this forum -- and on the old Garden Web -- always give me "sympathetic" itches! Psychosomatic, I guess... I just cannot imagine having the blistering near an eye, so Phyllis of Mn., you are one brave woman! I think I would have had to beg my doctor to give me something that would knock me out for a month!

(On a more serious note, I know someone whose life was actually saved by having shingles. The doctor ordered specialized tests, MRIs, to confirm and rule other issues out, and those proved to be early detectors of breast cancer. So thank God for that!)