[Firedup6975]

I’m on a medication called Acyclivir since I had Leukemia that is taken so I do not get shingles.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

I’m on a medication called Acyclivir since I had Leukemia that is taken so I do not get shingles.

My chemotherapy makes me more susceptible to shingles, so I take Acyclovir as well to prevent it.

[Heybuck]

I had shingles about 15 years back. Started on my shoulder then my neck then my face. All on the right hand side. My mother remarked that when I had chicken pox as a child, it was particularly bad in those same areas. I had some shots and it dissipated fairly quickly except to this day if I get over tired or a bit run down my right jaw line becomes very itchy and tender.

Doctor said if I get shingles again, that's going to be the first break out point.
I've had the vaccine some time ago. Might be time to ask if I need a booster?

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by Stuart

My chemotherapy makes me more susceptible to shingles, so I take Acyclovir as well to prevent it.

Horse pills! I was told I could switch to the shot, but don’t know much about it. I’m going to talk to my Pharmacist.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

Horse pills! I was told I could switch to the shot, but don’t know much about it. I’m going to talk to my Pharmacist.

The Acyclovir pills I take aren't that large and are easy enough to swallow, they look like this:



Maybe your doctor and/or pharmacy can switch brands for you.

[vr1967]

Had shingles back in the mid 80s left side, from middle of breastbone to back bone, but don’t plan to take the shots

[Roy Zink]

Some people in the medical profession say that it can be brought on by stress. Looking back every time I've had them I have had very stressful events in my life. This past April 22, 2020 I had a heart attack and spent about 5 days in the hospital. After about a month I started to feel pain on the left side of my butt that eventually turned into a severe rash that spread all the way down to the back of my knee. To this day, Sept. 2, I still have pain even though the rash is gone. I will get the vaccine as soon as my doctor gives me the OK.

[Jimbobeast]

I love these stories that start with "My neighbor's aunt got the vaccine and her left hand turned into a cucumber", or "My great uncle was in a car crash and he would have died if he was wearing a seatbelt, so I never wear one".
I was an ER doc for 40 years. I have seen disseminated zoster (shingles over the whole body) and post-herpetic neuralgia (permanent damage to the nerve, so the rash area is forever on fire). I got the early vaccine and more recently the two-part vaccine. I've also received the 3 part hepatitis vaccine, 2 part pneumonia vaccine, TDAP (tetanus diptheria and pertussis), meningitis, yearly influenza and hopefully soon a Corona vaccine.
But hey, what do I know? I don't really care if anyone else gets the shingles vaccine, because they can't infect anyone else. Only they will suffer when they get it (remember 1 in 3). They will only have themselves to blame.
It's a free country. Do what you want. But choose based on facts, not anecdotes.

[Jimbobeast]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

I’m on a medication called Acyclivir since I had Leukemia that is taken so I do not get shingles.

Acyclovir is an anti-viral med. It does not prevent shingles, but can lessen the chances of post-herpetic neuralgia (permanent damage to the nerve, permanent pain).

[Jimbobeast]

Originally Posted by Roy Zink

Some people in the medical profession say that it can be brought on by stress. Looking back every time I've had them I have had very stressful events in my life. This past April 22, 2020 I had a heart attack and spent about 5 days in the hospital. After about a month I started to feel pain on the left side of my butt that eventually turned into a severe rash that spread all the way down to the back of my knee. To this day, Sept. 2, I still have pain even though the rash is gone. I will get the vaccine as soon as my doctor gives me the OK.

Have you ever had a month in your life without some kind of stress?

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

I love these stories that start with "My neighbor's aunt got the vaccine and her left hand turned into a cucumber", or "My great uncle was in a car crash and he would have died if he was wearing a seatbelt, so I never wear one".
I was an ER doc for 40 years. I have seen disseminated zoster (shingles over the whole body) and post-herpetic neuralgia (permanent damage to the nerve, so the rash area is forever on fire). I got the early vaccine and more recently the two-part vaccine. I've also received the 3 part hepatitis vaccine, 2 part pneumonia vaccine, TDAP (tetanus diptheria and pertussis), meningitis, yearly influenza and hopefully soon a Corona vaccine.
But hey, what do I know? I don't really care if anyone else gets the shingles vaccine, because they can't infect anyone else. Only they will suffer when they get it (remember 1 in 3). They will only have themselves to blame.
It's a free country. Do what you want. But choose based on facts, not anecdotes.

So is it true, that even if you get the vaccine you can still get the shingles? That happened to my mother, not a neighbors shirt tail relative. Her doctor said it's not 100% effective, but it is supposed to lessen the effects.

I'd like to know because both my parents have had shingles. I'm not at all opposed to taking it, just would like to know if it's possible I'd still get it, but at a reduced intensity.

Thanks for taking the time to address this.

[Jimbobeast]

Originally Posted by Stuart

My chemotherapy makes me more susceptible to shingles, so I take Acyclovir as well to prevent it.

Your chemotherapy makes you more susceptible to disseminated zoster - whole body shingles - because your immune system is compromised, also encephalitis, where the virus attacks the brain.
Viruses can do you a world of hurt.
Chronic acyclovir therapy is a good idea and may help prevent complications, but it does not replace the vaccine (if your immune system is OK).

[Jimbobeast]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

So is it true, that even if you get the vaccine you can still get the shingles? That happened to my mother, not a neighbors shirt tail relative. Her doctor said it's not 100% effective, but it is supposed to lessen the effects.

I'd like to know because both my parents have had shingles. I'm not at all opposed to taking it, just would like to know if it's possible I'd still get it, but at a reduced intensity.

Thanks for taking the time to address this.

Yes and yes. Her doctor is right.
I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.
Shingles (varicella zoster) comes from the Varicella (chicken pox) virus that we all had when we were kids. It sits dormant in your body for DECADES and then just decides out of the blue to show itself. Some say stress brings it out. Nobody knows. The vaccine alerts your immune system to be aware of the virus, so that if it shows it's head you have antibodies ready to kill it immediately.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

Yes and yes. Her doctor is right.
I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.
Shingles (varicella zoster) comes from the Varicella (chicken pox) virus that we all had when we were kids. It sits dormant in your body for DECADES and then just decides out of the blue to show itself. Some say stress brings it out. Nobody knows. The vaccine alerts your immune system to be aware of the virus, so that if it shows it's head you have antibodies ready to kill it immediately.

Thanks, appreciate the info.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by Stuart

The Acyclovir pills I take aren't that large and are easy enough to swallow, they look like this:



Maybe your doctor and/or pharmacy can switch brands for you.

Here’s mine 800 mg. They are an inch long size in comparison to my chemo tablet they also are quite thick. I take the Acyclovir once daily.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.

Everyone expects a vaccine to be 100% effective and in the majority of cases that just isn't how it works. The science to make them 100% just isn't there for a number of factors. It doesn't make the vaccine worthless or "cause the illness" just because someone heard a story from someone else saying so.

[george kujanski]

Jimbo.......nice of you to comment on the subject.

Question, I've heard you can get it if you have had chicken pox. If true, does that also mean if you had NOT had the pox, you won't get shingles?

Thanks, george

[carcrazy]

I'm feeling pretty lucky. Had a mild case about 10 years ago which didn't cause much of a problem.

[66sprint6]

I'm counting my blessings too. I thought I had it bad with a 4" circle of shingles that went away in a week. then I hear these stories and Whoa!. There's a commercial on TV right now about the vaccine. It shows a woman with it on her face. Funny thing is, I asked my doctor if I should get the shot and she said "Meh, if you want".
I do remember that when I got Shingles, I was under a tremendous amount of stress. When you build retail stores and high end office interiors you are always under a lot of stress anyway. But you find out quickly when building offices for companies like Linkedin or Apple that they are not nice people. So I don't know if something like that would bring it on, but it sure didn't help.

[sdbob]

When I got mine I was stressed! Sometimes stress is not realized but there.