I'm sure that you are concerned, Annie. That will be an important discussion for you to have with your doctor(s).

Yes, I agree. It's best to speak to your own doctor with your personal set of circumstance.

I got it last year, but DH was stalling. A fitness buddy came down with Shingles. She said it was terrible and actually had an appointment for the shot but got it!

I seemed to be hearing about cases so I forced my DH to get one.

Also, not you Annie, but when you are over 65 they recommend the pneumonia shot as well.

I am hypothyroid and got the shot last July after seeing a friend suffer (for months) with shingles.

My upper arm did swell, felt warm and was red for about 10 days. There was some soreness as well as a feeling of weakness in my arm. All more an annoyance then anything else. Worth it to me to have some protection from shingles.

Wise to consult with your MD first. Who makes the shingles vaccine? It's been around long enough now that there should be extensive literature on reactions.

I'd wonder if the man with the reaction might have had shingles *coming on* when he got the vaccine; double whammy.

I had a mild case of shingles in the upper right quadrant of my head. After I'd recovered, both DH and I got the vaccine. This was several years ago. No reactions.

eld6161 -- Good reminder for everyone to get the most recent pneumonia vaccine; there are two, covering different strains.

I have had shingles before. It was not a bad case. I have not gotten the shot yet. My sister just called, she had gotten the shot sometime in the past and now she has shingles. They told her it would not be as bad as if she had not gotten the shot. I know shingles can be terrible. They have her on some kind of medication. I was on an anti viral medication.

Sue

I too am hypothyroid and had the shingles shot with no adverse consequences.

I think it's important to be aware that the shingles vaccine does not prevent you from ever getting shingles. It may reduce the risk...or result in getting a mild case...but it's not a preventative vaccine.

I'm immuno challenged and tend to have weird reactions to all drugs. My system tolerated the first pneumonia vaccine but reacted so severely to the second one that I had to be treated immediately. I asked my doctor whether he thought I should opt for the shingles vaccine. Like Sue...I had a small case on my face some years ago that responded very quickly to a med. He emphatically replied...NO. I listened!

Every person is different but I, personally, think any shot should be cleared with your doctor. If nothing else...you put him/her on notice that this is what you intend to do. Then...if you do have a reaction...he/she will be prepared to pursue the cause and medicate accordingly. With your health considerations, Annie...I would most assuredly discuss this with your doctor.

Chase, yes there are two. My DH was told to get the new one first and then wait (don't remember how long in between) and get the other one as well.

But, of course he hasn't gotten there yet....

My neighbor has a type of shingles.....in his mouth! Says he's lost about 20 lbs....he was a slender guy that weight lifted as a hobby. Getting the shot is something to think about...

Here's a picture of my arm after the shingles shot, that I got one week after my 60th birthday. It cleared up after about 10 days, then no more effects. (Holy cannolli that picture is big! Sorry!)

Mine did that too. I was concerned at first, but looked up the side effects and that was one of them. No problems since then. My sister had shingles and suffered a very long time. The pain lasted a couple of years!

My friend got shingles and boy was it bad. She had them in her eye as well. It was very, very bad.

Both DH and I have had the shot with no ill effects. My neighbor who was 70+ got shingles really bad. He ended up in the hospital. He showed us his back and it sure looked terrible. He could barely move and had it for a long time. I decided then to get the shot.

Thank you for all the information insights and experience. I appreciate it! I don't think I'll get a shot until I at least see my primary.

Looks like sometimes there may be some advantage to having no grandkids.

ole joyful

I've had shingles twice. The first time, it was on my left eyebrow up into my scalp. I was 13 at the time and I cannot begin to describe the pain and the neuropathy for decades afterward. And no such thing as an anti viral 60 years ago! I got shingles again about 15 years ago - this time on the right side of my face from the ear to my mouth. Again, very painful but with antiviral meds, a milder case and little neuropathy. It did affect the nerves in that area. Every time I've had dental work on the lower right side of my mouth, and lots of numbing shots there), I've had sharp pain in the upper right side. My dentist and I were puzzled - did God mess up my wiring and cross lines? I suddenly remember when having work done in that same area a month ago, that this was where I'd had shingles. I asked my dentist and she said that must be it - damaged nerves that were now connected. Who knew?

So yes, I did get a shingles when they first came available. I think it cost me nearly $300 (insurance didn't cover it then), but worth it to me. I don't want a hat trick of shingles and can only hope if I do, it will be a mild case. It's the worst pain I've ever felt.

my mother had shingles when she was about 70 she'd been a very healthy appearing person until that time my sister had to take her to her home and two aunts came to stay for several weeks just to care for her i'd get the shingles shot if the dr recommended it....

joyful, Nope. No pass for not having grandkids. The T in Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough)) is the tetanus. All of us working in gardens, outside, ever handling anything rusty, dirty, compost, manure....should have one about every 10 years. My last one was Dec 2007, DH too. We'll be due sometime next year.

Jakkom, not similar to tetanus, it is the tetanus vaccine in combination. I have a friend who is our public health nurse, she keeps all of us up on our vaccines (although she's given DH his shingles vac and I haven't had mine yet). In Dec 2007, she gave all of us the Tdap who were doing any storm cleanup...and all of us were ;0) Added benefit was, when there was an outbreak of whooping cough just a couple of years later, we were covered against exposing any babies too and my BIL had a new grandson that season. It was nice to know I could tell the mom I could snuggle her baby with confidence.

Yeah, I agree with morz8. It's a matter of personal health. I can't imagine any reason (or excuse) for not staying current with available immunizations.

Most insurance plans and/or Medicare (for those of that age) cover most immunizations. I understand perhaps not everyone can get the shingles injection for free or low cost as many do. Even if not, it's effective and should be a priority.

Had a mild case of shingles in 2004 or 2005 (can't remember for sure which year). Had blisters on my right arm and a couple on my right leg. The pain was horrible where the large cluster of blisters were, and I still have numbness in my right index finger tip. Took the shingles shot after that and have not had any further issues with shingles - knock on wood that I don't!!

Had the PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccines, but ended up contacting pneumonia twice this spring. My MD and I decided that our great-granddaughter was possibly a carrier as I became sick within 2-3 days after she would go home. It is not uncommon for young children to carry the bacteria in the back of their nose and throat but not be ill themselves.

Hope you keep us updated on the result if you get the shot. I am a bit on the fence on this one; probably should, but the reactions make me nervous. My uncle and mother had painful, and extended, bouts with shingles (lasting for up to 2 years). When I asked my doctor about getting the shot, she said they now have moved recommended age higher, so we will see what she says after I get into that age range.

I have Hashimoto's Disease, take allergy shots and am a type 2 diabetic. Got my shingles shot with no issues!

A few years ago, I thought the age had been lowered? At that point, I recall I was younger than what it had been but older than the new level. My doctor told me to get it and so I did. For both me and my wife, it was an uneventful inoculation though I know that's not always the case for everyone.

I think it's now recommended for those 60 and above.

Elmer, to clarify, they moved the recommended age for me up. Previous primary said to get it at one age; my current doctor is recommending an additional 5 year delay.

I see. I hadn't heard about it getting moved up. My recollection is that it went from >65 to >60 but I could be wrong.

I have multiple auto immune diseases , am on immune suppressing meds , my specialists said absolutely not to the shingles shot. Since I am severely immune suppressed that live vaccine is much more susceptible for me. So if you fall into those categories I would talk to your specialist .

My husband had his with no problems .

I had the shingles shot and there was no reaction at all...not even a sore arm. I've had both pneumonia shots as well. My maternal side of the family all had shingles at one time and my aunt was the worse. She was hospitalized and went blind in one eye.

Elmer--not sure you do. Why on earth would you hear about what my two doctors recommended for my personal care? They had a difference of opinion based upon my medical history. The shot has been approved for people over 50. There may be reasons one doctor might want to give the shot to a particular patient earlier than the generally recommended age of 60, and another doctor might recommend 60, or even 65, for the same patient.

Wow. Is this a touchy subject?

I said what I thought I'd been told by two docs (the one who said Wait retired, the next year the new one said Yes) who I believe each cited the CDC as the source of their recommendation. As I said, I won't swear that's exactly what I was told, maybe i don't have it right. I too was talking about what I was told, not what you were told.

CDC adult vaccination schedule

No, Elmer.

I had a very mild case of shingles when I was in my 30's. Just a small line of bumps under my arm. I got the antiviral. I was told that it was very unlikely that I would ever have a recurrence. So, if that is true, I shouldn't need a shot. Right?

Mdln thanks for the chart. It's hard to read on my monitor.

Elmer is right about the shingles shot being recommended at 60. I just googled it.

But, like everything, there can be exceptions to the rule so it is always best to check with your own doctor.

Annie, I think it is rare to get a reaction and would certainly be worse to get a case of the shingles.

I always wish there was an "undo" button in health, so if you try something and it turns out badly, you can just "undo" it.

I have an auto immune disease -- my Rhumatologist said yes get the shot when you are not on prednisone. I did and had no problem.

As with anything medical, check with your doctor first. I am on chemotherapy and asked Doctor about getting the flu shot, pneumonia shot and the shingles shot. He said YES to the flu and pneumonia shots but ABSOLUTELY NOT to the shingles shot. Apparently the shingles vaccine is live and in someone with a compromised immune system (such as someone taking chemotherapy) is likely to GET shingles from the shot.

Just an FYI...

Kessala

"I always wish there was an "undo" button in health, so if you try something and it turns out badly, you can just "undo" it."

That could also come in handy for life in general, not just healthcare. Alas, forward progress is necessary and decisions need to be made knowing that sometimes there is no clear undo or "never-mind" option to turn to.