I am a roofer by trade, and stumbled into this thread by accident. But the information is very good. I'm glad to hear your shingles are clearing up, as most shingled roofs last 15 - 20 yrs.
ugh i'm sorry, but i'm glad it seems to be a 'mild' case of shingles.
i got the shingles vaccine too, as soon as i was eligible. that vaccine MESSED ME UP lol.
as in, i couldn't raise my arm for a couple of days, i had fever/chills, had to leave work and go home to crash, etc. etc.. nobody warned me!
at least for the 2nd shot i knew what was coming.
i'm thankful and happy i got the vaccine and don't want to scare anyone into NOT getting it, but wow that was an experience that hopefully most people don't have.
A lot of people complain about it and usually I'm a big wuss, but I don't remember it being as bad as the COVID vaccine, which laid me out for three days.
I had zero issues with all of my Covid vaccines, and have never had a problem with any other vaccines that I can remember. I think I was more flabbergasted that NO ONE warned me it could be that bad. When I went back for my second Shingrix shot the nurse was like "yeah it's a bad one". !!!!!! What tha??!! lol.
I think a lot of it has to do with the shot-giver. I often get a flu shot that results in pain like that for days. This year I got a bruise that lasted forever too. And then other years, I barely feel it.
Me, too, Steph, which made me a text chain neurotic warning all my friends while also urging them not to skip it. Which they didn't, and I knew they wouldn't because we're all pleasers, every one of us. It did, however, give me an excuse to catch up on my streaming.
My Shingrix vaccine reaction was rather mild. This is coming from someone who almost went to the hospital after getting a flu vaccine as I was up at midnight shivering uncontrollably, and it only subsided in the nearest hospital parking lot. That was five years ago and no more flu shots. But someone I know had shingles spread to their eye and had a 50/50 chance of losing vision so off to get vaccinated I went. Little known fact, look it up, is they believe the shingles vaccine wears off after 10 years, but you don't need a booster. Why? Because you'll be so old you won't notice the rash and blisters?
I used to get a horrible reaction to flu shots, until one day I found out, via my optometrist, that I'm allergic to thimerosal, which is a widely-used preservative and just so happened to be in my contact solution and was making my eyes turn bright red at random intervals.
Thimerosal is also found in some flu vaccines. Once I learned to ask for a thimerosal-free vaccine (which can take some searching sometimes) no more reaction. People often confuse their reactions to a medication to a reaction they may be having to ADDITIVES in the medication.
As for the lack of a Shingrix booster, my reading leads me to believe that the vaccine is too new for anybody to know if you actually need a booster yet; hence, no incentive to make one. Also, as you get older, your immune response to vaccinations naturally decreases, hence the "high dose" flu vaccines for the elderly. It just takes a lot more to get the elder immune response fired up.
I'm dealing with a small flare-up myself, on my right side. Small patch like yourself. I, too, filled the script for Valtrex (from the Urgent care doctor) but never took it. Based on your reaction, so glad I didn't. I'm using Emuaid Max and Zorvion and taking Aleve, and it's scabbing over nicely. LOL
That's so funny, I think the same thing - I look at it and think, ah yes, nice and dry. Beautiful scabbing. I used Caladryl Clear, which dries and also had a pain killer in it. At least I'll know what to do next time.
Hope you heal up soon! My mom got shingles and ended up in the hospital, its nasty! I got the Shingrix shots which were unpleasant but no more than the flu or COVID shots. Yeah, I occasionally get a reaction to a flu shot.
I'm sorry to hear this, Bev, but appreciate the piece. Good luck, and let us know if you need book and streaming recommendations for any days when you "just can't."
Ugh nooooo, sorry! I got shingles for the first time when I was twenty. They followed a nerve along my scalp and down the side of my face onto my gums. And my brand new boyfriend (now husband) placed his hands on either side of my head so lovingly every single time he saw me, and squeezed. Every. Single. Time.
Anyway, my doc said to get the shingles vax despite already having had it. The next time shingles manifested, it wasn't nearly as bad or long.
The same thing happened to me after being vaccinated, but the shingles was so mild that neither my dermatologist nor myself, and I am a retired dermatologist, didn’t diagnose it early on. I never bothered with Valtrex and I had a little itching and no pain. It persisted the normal amount of time, but it certainly didn’t disseminate, I had very little discomfort and I’m very grateful I had the vaccination.
Thank God you had the shots. My mother in law had it bad, and that made me go get them. If it's any kind of a vaccine, I want it. You can get them all at Costco Pharmacy.
Ahhh, I’m so sorry you got shingles. The redeeming part of your story is that your case is so small ( silver dollar size) with mild itchy symptoms. The vaccine is doing its job.
Shingles usually runs along nerves pathways. If it picks a pathway that is particularly sensitive then there is pain.
If you’re lucky enough that it picks a pathway of low sensitivity then little to no pain.
Vaccine logic is that it has trained your immune system to produce an antibody for the virus wherever it is. So that pretty much means your vaccine failed.
It certainly didn’t set up a roadblock and direct the virus to your thigh.
Unvaccinated = ("only"?)1 in 3 get full-blown, agonizing, potentially life-threatening or blinding shingles with possibly life-long nerve pain.
Vaccinated = 1 in 4 (with your math. Not sure how you got that but it's irrelevant to the argument, which is wrong anyway) get a MILD VERSION OF THE ILLNESS which clears in 2 weeks max, versus months.
Missy" is a condescending way to address someone, typically a young woman, implying a lack of respect or authority, often suggesting they are being childish or should know better due to their perceived lower status
Sir, I'm a 58 year old woman with a master's degree in International Defense Analysis. I think the person with the perceived lower status in this scenario is you.
I am a roofer by trade, and stumbled into this thread by accident. But the information is very good. I'm glad to hear your shingles are clearing up, as most shingled roofs last 15 - 20 yrs.
LOL But seriously, I'm big on standing seam metal roofs.
ugh i'm sorry, but i'm glad it seems to be a 'mild' case of shingles.
i got the shingles vaccine too, as soon as i was eligible. that vaccine MESSED ME UP lol.
as in, i couldn't raise my arm for a couple of days, i had fever/chills, had to leave work and go home to crash, etc. etc.. nobody warned me!
at least for the 2nd shot i knew what was coming.
i'm thankful and happy i got the vaccine and don't want to scare anyone into NOT getting it, but wow that was an experience that hopefully most people don't have.
A lot of people complain about it and usually I'm a big wuss, but I don't remember it being as bad as the COVID vaccine, which laid me out for three days.
I had zero issues with all of my Covid vaccines, and have never had a problem with any other vaccines that I can remember. I think I was more flabbergasted that NO ONE warned me it could be that bad. When I went back for my second Shingrix shot the nurse was like "yeah it's a bad one". !!!!!! What tha??!! lol.
My arm hurt like a bastard for a while but that was it.
I hear you. I could not raise my arm above my waist for several days, and the injection site didn't quit hurting until almost a week went by.
I think a lot of it has to do with the shot-giver. I often get a flu shot that results in pain like that for days. This year I got a bruise that lasted forever too. And then other years, I barely feel it.
Me, too, Steph, which made me a text chain neurotic warning all my friends while also urging them not to skip it. Which they didn't, and I knew they wouldn't because we're all pleasers, every one of us. It did, however, give me an excuse to catch up on my streaming.
If I never got sick or debilitated, I would never get a day off LOL
cheers!
My Shingrix vaccine reaction was rather mild. This is coming from someone who almost went to the hospital after getting a flu vaccine as I was up at midnight shivering uncontrollably, and it only subsided in the nearest hospital parking lot. That was five years ago and no more flu shots. But someone I know had shingles spread to their eye and had a 50/50 chance of losing vision so off to get vaccinated I went. Little known fact, look it up, is they believe the shingles vaccine wears off after 10 years, but you don't need a booster. Why? Because you'll be so old you won't notice the rash and blisters?
I used to get a horrible reaction to flu shots, until one day I found out, via my optometrist, that I'm allergic to thimerosal, which is a widely-used preservative and just so happened to be in my contact solution and was making my eyes turn bright red at random intervals.
Thimerosal is also found in some flu vaccines. Once I learned to ask for a thimerosal-free vaccine (which can take some searching sometimes) no more reaction. People often confuse their reactions to a medication to a reaction they may be having to ADDITIVES in the medication.
As for the lack of a Shingrix booster, my reading leads me to believe that the vaccine is too new for anybody to know if you actually need a booster yet; hence, no incentive to make one. Also, as you get older, your immune response to vaccinations naturally decreases, hence the "high dose" flu vaccines for the elderly. It just takes a lot more to get the elder immune response fired up.
This has been a public service announcement.
Thank you for the PSA. Hey, what's a little mercury poisoning among friends?
You know, someone once told me that flu shots have thimerosol in them, but I had forgotten! Wait, is forgetting a sign of mercury poisoning?
Thank goodness there's none of it in COVID vaccines as I've had so many to this point, I'm on the Public Enemies list of bats everywhere.
I hope you don’t eat tuna, if that’s one of your (probably many) concerns.
I actually try not to. I do have an old can of sardines...
That's how and why I found your blog, after laughing out loud reading your "Funny Times" piece.
I'm dealing with a small flare-up myself, on my right side. Small patch like yourself. I, too, filled the script for Valtrex (from the Urgent care doctor) but never took it. Based on your reaction, so glad I didn't. I'm using Emuaid Max and Zorvion and taking Aleve, and it's scabbing over nicely. LOL
That's so funny, I think the same thing - I look at it and think, ah yes, nice and dry. Beautiful scabbing. I used Caladryl Clear, which dries and also had a pain killer in it. At least I'll know what to do next time.
Hope you heal up soon! My mom got shingles and ended up in the hospital, its nasty! I got the Shingrix shots which were unpleasant but no more than the flu or COVID shots. Yeah, I occasionally get a reaction to a flu shot.
Sorry to hear that, Bev. At least you have a sense of humor about the whole thing. :D
I always manage to get a story out of it LOL
I'm sorry to hear this, Bev, but appreciate the piece. Good luck, and let us know if you need book and streaming recommendations for any days when you "just can't."
I feel like stress has caused this, so I'm spending more quality time on the couch rewatching Lost.
Ugh nooooo, sorry! I got shingles for the first time when I was twenty. They followed a nerve along my scalp and down the side of my face onto my gums. And my brand new boyfriend (now husband) placed his hands on either side of my head so lovingly every single time he saw me, and squeezed. Every. Single. Time.
Anyway, my doc said to get the shingles vax despite already having had it. The next time shingles manifested, it wasn't nearly as bad or long.
I'm getting a lot of horror stories, but yours is the first involving gums, so thanks for that.
Your husband is a keeper.
The same thing happened to me after being vaccinated, but the shingles was so mild that neither my dermatologist nor myself, and I am a retired dermatologist, didn’t diagnose it early on. I never bothered with Valtrex and I had a little itching and no pain. It persisted the normal amount of time, but it certainly didn’t disseminate, I had very little discomfort and I’m very grateful I had the vaccination.
If mine wasn't buttocks-adjacent, I don't think I'd be in any pain at all. Poor choice of location.
I'm 75. Time for the Shingles vaccine. I never refuse a vaccine! Thanks for your story!
I love vaccines LOL
Feel better soon. I can give you one vaccination that is 100% effective. Circle, circle, dot, dot now you have a cootie shot. Take care.
Thanks 😂😂😂
Thank God you had the shots. My mother in law had it bad, and that made me go get them. If it's any kind of a vaccine, I want it. You can get them all at Costco Pharmacy.
Yeah, anybody who knows someone who went through it is a firm believer.
Ahhh, I’m so sorry you got shingles. The redeeming part of your story is that your case is so small ( silver dollar size) with mild itchy symptoms. The vaccine is doing its job.
Yessss 👏 it’s dry now, but still painful. And of COURSE my Irish ass will scar LOL
Ugh. Sorry to hear you're going through this. I'll soon be 60 and haven't even thought of it.
Sigh.
Bad Bob! Get the shots. One in three people get shingles. I don’t love those odds.
Shingles usually runs along nerves pathways. If it picks a pathway that is particularly sensitive then there is pain.
If you’re lucky enough that it picks a pathway of low sensitivity then little to no pain.
Vaccine logic is that it has trained your immune system to produce an antibody for the virus wherever it is. So that pretty much means your vaccine failed.
It certainly didn’t set up a roadblock and direct the virus to your thigh.
I no longer have the energy for nonsense like this.
Sad, but the only way out for those being one of the ever diminishing numbers of people who still believe the vaccine myths.
only 1 out of 3 people get shingles, getting the vaccine means only 1 of 4 get shingles
either way, it's a roll of the dice!
This is a spurious comparison.
Unvaccinated = ("only"?)1 in 3 get full-blown, agonizing, potentially life-threatening or blinding shingles with possibly life-long nerve pain.
Vaccinated = 1 in 4 (with your math. Not sure how you got that but it's irrelevant to the argument, which is wrong anyway) get a MILD VERSION OF THE ILLNESS which clears in 2 weeks max, versus months.
I truly despair of reading skills. Truly.
“Not sure how you got that but it's irrelevant to the argument,…”
I read peer reviewed, published scientific papers ( also information found in the fine print on the TV ads, in case you are interested )
So, before you call my writing / research ‘fake’ you should ‘Be curious, not judgmental’
isn’t the CDC a good enough reference?
https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html
April 12, 2024
Shingles Facts and Stats
Key points
1 in 3 people in the United States develop shingles at least once.
Check your facts there missy, before you open your mouth!
Missy??
it's a derogatory term, akin to 'Young Lady'
Missy" is a condescending way to address someone, typically a young woman, implying a lack of respect or authority, often suggesting they are being childish or should know better due to their perceived lower status
See, you learned something today!
Sir, I'm a 58 year old woman with a master's degree in International Defense Analysis. I think the person with the perceived lower status in this scenario is you.
Come back when you get a doctorate or become a Reader (look it up).
Bravo
Yankee
Echo
or
Alpha
Mike
Foxtrot