My daughter (Kaiser Healthcare Derm Chief) diagnosed me with atypical shingles last night while we were celebrating her birthday at a restaurant. It was just a couple of red bumps on my neck then, but now has turned into welts on my neck and upper chest - left side only. On meds, but I can already see this isn't going to be fun.

Sounds like you (she) may have caught it early. The meds will definitely help reduce the effects. Feel better soon.

I had a case of it two years ago, right side of my face

was not fun and unfortunately I didn't have it diagnosed in time to have the medication lessen the severity

ended up with several small scars above my eyebrow

the worst part was I had 3 welts on my eyelid and was concerned about losing my sight

i'm due for this vaccination. i was told that the wait (at my hospital's immunization clinic) was 6 months or more, but that i could get it elsewhere sooner. should i seek this shot out? how do you get shingles?

Had it 10 years ago. Not fun, but my case was caught late (about four days from onset). I grew to appreciate Lyrica very quickly. Had a very mild case of chicken pox as a kid, but not long after turning 50 and a very stressful holiday season (all factors for it to hit you; age 50 or so, lots of stress, chicken pox as a kid), it got me. Was off work for two weeks.

Paying for the shots was pretty painful also. 1st shot cost me $268 bucks even with decent insurance.

A year or two ago a friend texted me a pic on a Friday night asking me if I knew what "this" might be. My wife said it was shingles so on Saturday morning he was at the urgent care and on Monday I got my shingrix shot at a local pharmacy. A couple months later my second shot. Insurance covered it but if it had been a $1000 per shot I would have paid. I've known three people with bad cases of shingles and it's something I don't want.

I had it on the right side of my face as well, gosh it’s been like 6 or 7 years ago now. I had a mild case and it was not pleasant.

quote:

Originally posted by f2:
i'm due for this vaccination. i was told that the wait (at my hospital's immunization clinic) was 6 months or more, but that i could get it elsewhere sooner. should i seek this shot out? how do you get shingles?

If your doctor will write a script, you can get the shot at the pharmacy. I got mine at a Walgreens.

I'm 49 and am just getting over my first shingles episode. I already had the shot and have been dealing with damned kidney stones as well. I took the antiviral meds and 10 weeks after i am still dealing with it. Hope you have a better time with shingles than I have had.

I had shingles under my arm when I was like 10 years old. It hurt like hell!

I still have a scar under there.

I have that you mend up fast and not suffer too much.


ARman

The new shingles vaccine is called Shingrix.
The CDC recommends you get it even if you previously had the older vaccine, Zostavax.
I just had my second injection; expect muscle soreness for a few days.
Highly recommended!!

If you had chickenpox as a child or teen, you have the virus in your body still and it comes back as shingles, typically after 50.

I got it, and although it was a mild case, it hurt like hell, and continued to hurt even after the rash/welts healed up.

Get the shot if you had chickenpox.

For the OP, take the anti-virals, put the topical on the welts and pray it goes away quickly. Best wishes.

The shingles are probably driving you through the roof! LOL. I laugh but my father had a bad case and as all good fathers do, he said he hoped he was still around if/when I got it so he could laugh at me as well. In all seriousness I hope it was caught early so the medications are more effective.

God Bless you!

I just had Shingles in February. It started with a pain and two spots, and went to the doctor that night. He put me on medication for 10 days and it did not get much worse. Pain from the point of the spots has subsided, but I was told it will be 3-6 months before it is gone.

Good luck. I found hot packs, liticane patches, and muscle relaxers helped the most.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:

quote:

Originally posted by f2:
i'm due for this vaccination. i was told that the wait (at my hospital's immunization clinic) was 6 months or more, but that i could get it elsewhere sooner. should i seek this shot out? how do you get shingles?

If your doctor will write a script, you can get the shot at the pharmacy. I got mine at a Walgreens.

I tried that for the 2nd shot. Giant Eagle Pharmacy here advertised the 2nd Shingles shot for $5.00.

However, they are completely out of the vaccine and expect it to take several months to have any on hand. There is a waiting list.

I've had Rx for the shot(s) for almost a year, but in MT there's hell of a shortage. I've been on a waiting list. Visiting my daughter in SoCal when she found it (a bind man could find the shingles today though) and tells me I couldn't take the shot now even if we could find it. Gotta wait til this goes away :-(

What a miserable bitch of an illness - look like leper and feel like shit. Daughter hopes it will be milder case since she put me on the Valacyclovir on Day 1.

Suggest you all get the immunization so you don't have to go through this.

Shingles is no fun. I've had one bout of it, over my left shoulder blade area. Ouch.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
The new shingles vaccine is called Shingrix.
The CDC recommends you get it even if you previously had the older vaccine, Zostavax.
I just had my second injection; expect muscle soreness for a few days.
Highly recommended!!

My wife and I just had our second shot. Years earlier we had received Zostavax. Normally I have to push her to get the flu vaccine. However, she had shingles when pregnant and waspush for it. Medicare covered the cost of the shots and the grocery store where the phamacy is gave us each a 20% off coupon for groceries.

About the shots. We both felt then for several days afterwards. Not bad, but you knew it was there.

Do NOT skip the vaccine.