And speaking of old guys........

[Pro953]

Damn. I had it in my back way back in my 20’s which is pretty young for shingles, and it sucked. Super painful. Glad it is not as painful for you. Shitty way to cut a hunt short. Sorry that happened.


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[Weldor]

I guess the vaccine is a 2 part thing, anyone get it yet? My friend got the first part, put him down for 2 days. Anybody heard of this?

 

[gbflyer]

I’ve had the 2 part vax. I can’t recall anything horrible about it, maybe like a flu shot?

My dad has had the old vaccine, the new vaccine, and has had shingles 3 times in 5 years. The last time was after the 2 part vaccine. Crazy. It puts him on his ass.

 

[VernAK]

Thats about as bad as Shingles can be, gets into your eye can follow the nerve into the brain. Blind or dead. On Acyclovir?
Had chest wall shingles for 5 weeks in Sept and Oct, started out as abd pain, thought gallstone or pancreatitis, went to the ED, neg ct, dont know whats wrong see your primary care doc. Got the rash 3 days later. Treated with 2 cycles of Acyclovir and 2 cycles of burst and taper steroids. Only pain relief was on day 2 and 3 of the steroids, Pain is neuropathic and unresponsive to narcotics so they use gabapentin which I wont take.

BTDT! The pain over the top of my head into my eye was fearsome. I didn't dare drive. I got to Fairbanks ER and the brought in an eye surgeon. The eye pressure would have blinded me in a few days if not treated . I recovered but the sinus near the eye is still troublesome.

 

[AKDoc]

Thank you Randy for starting this thread, and thanks to those who have contributed with collateral information about their own personal experiences and the severe challenges that shingles can bring.

I got the original (impotent) single-dose vaccine for shingles years ago. As a doctor of behavioral health, I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been avoiding the two-dose shingles vaccine...my lame excuse is that I'm just tired of all the shots that I have gotten every year the past few years and this year, the potential adverse effects, etc.. However, the personal stories that you all shared truly motivated me to stop f---ing around and just do it.

I got my first shot yesterday with no significant adverse effects thus far. Thank you all again for sharing with us...sincerely...it was a helpful kick in the ass for me to do it.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Thank you Randy for starting this thread, and thanks to those who have contributed with collateral information about their own personal experiences and the severe challenges that shingles can bring.

I got the original (impotent) single-dose vaccine for shingles years ago. As a doctor of behavioral health, I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been avoiding the two-dose shingles vaccine...my lame excuse is that I'm just tired of all the shots that I have gotten every year the past few years and this year, the potential adverse effects, etc.. However, the personal stories that you all shared truly motivated me to stop f---ing around and just do it.

I got my first shot yesterday with no significant adverse effects thus far. Thank you all again for sharing with us...sincerely...it was a helpful kick in the ass for me to do it.

Good choice i think. I'll be getting mine as soon as health allows me. I see the eye doc tomorrow for a follow up. Its getting better but still having issues with the eye, temple area and top of head.

Randy

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I had the 2 part vaccine. First one, no problem. 2nd one made me sore and feel like crap for a couple days. But it's better than the alternative.

 

[AKDoc]

Good choice i think. I'll be getting mine as soon as health allows me. I see the eye doc tomorrow for a follow up. Its getting better but still having issues with the eye, temple area and top of head.

Randy

I wish you well, sir.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Well, once you have had it there is little reason to get the vaccine afterwards since only like 5% will get it the second time and when you do its much less extreme since the body is already mostly immune from the virus. I know this from experience and what I read from Mayo about it. Almost zero to get it a 3rd time. I was also unlucky enough to get it on my entire torso and part way down my legs as 95% only get it on one side of the body. It was debilitating as the pain was extreme.....could not even touch my torso anywhere and I had to use a spray-on pain killer which helped somewhat. Had it for 6 weeks...seemed like forever. Sometimes my wife would touch me unintentionally, as she knew my situation, when we were sleeping and I would wake up screaming....DON'T ******* TOUCH ME! That's how intense the pain was......even the sheets could not touch my skin. It was tough to get any sleep at all. Seriously, I had to build a full torso sheath out of paper so I could wear a shirt so I could go to work...in serious pain. Couldn't even wear a tee shirt. I would get to my office and sit in that chair for 8.5 hours and not do a damned thing, the pain would hardly let me concentrate to even type out e-mails. Thankfully my technical guys covered my ass and did everything without me ever having to leave my office. If there were any problems, they would come to the office to discuss it. My manager never even knew and I wasn't going to care if he did. My wife......she really took care of me during that time...I was a real bear to live with. The second time I got it which was about a month after I recovered...I'm like...no F'ing way, not this again. However, it only lasted about 2 weeks and was quite mild and only on my left side of the torso. I'm 100% certain I'm never getting it again as the chance is about zero. I tell everyone...get that vaccine no matter what. The alternative can be really bad.

In most cases you get it when your immune system, for whatever reason is compromised, as your immune system keeps the virus in check. That's why it attacks mostly older people. In my case I was dirt bike riding all day and was really rung out because I forgot to bring any food or water with me that day and was compromising my systems. This could also happen during any extreme physical event, such as backcountry hunting etc. where you can get run down a bit. Bingo, the immune system gets compromised and lets that F'ing virus loose and very soon afterwards...BAM! You are screwed now. Must get the virus meds within 3 days of the first symptoms for it to be effective and lessen the duration of the event. Otherwise, buckle up as it's going to be one hell of a ride. Did I mention, just get the darn vaccine RIGHT NOW if you are 50+.

 

[JustABritCrazy]

Had it in May on my back between the shoulder blades. Itched, burned and hurt all at the same time. Got the first shot in July. Had no issues. Second shot in October knocked me on my butt for about three days.

 

[elkguide]

Hope that you get better soon.

One of the guys that I've worked with for years, retired and slowed down. He came down with shingles so intensely that they almost covered his entire body. He had it so bad that he couldn't open his eyes. In the 6 weeks that he had it he went from 165 pounds to 103 pounds. Doctors said that he was lucky that he didn't lose his sight at a minimum. Once he recovered, (the doctors told his wife that they didn't know if he would make it,) the first thing that he did was to get the first shot.

After watching Arnold go through that, my doctor didn't have to ask me twice if I wanted to get the shingles vaccine! Get the shots!!!!

 

[yfarm]

Had a mild case of L sided chest wall shingles 10 yrs ago, minimal burning sensation hardly noticed then rash showed up and knew what it was. Resolved but later developed a neuropathy that caused occasional intercostal muscles spasms that would stop me in my tracks, also a mass that came and went at the end of the rib which was balled up muscle by ct.
Second episode started in early september was the real deal on the right with severe upper abdominal pain for 3-4 days before rash showed up. So much for immunity. Wife and multiple friends got first shot of the 2 part and got so sick didnt go back for the second.

 

[Dtharvester]

Thanks for this, and glad you’re on the mend.
I never get sick, and even though I have most vax’s. I’ve been putting off the Shingrix - even after my wife had a minor bout with Shingles.
Gonna make an appt to get started this week

 

[Fishmaster196]

I got the two dose vaccine ( Shingrex?) after two friends both had shingles. Both had incredible pain and one had it on their face and eyes.
No doubt about a vaccine for me after that !!

 

[pacoalcracker]

The location of the virus in your spine determines if you get it in the head or the body and the level of your body's immune system when it attacks more or less determines the severity. Your immune system keeps the virus in check..when the immune system is compromised enough it lets the virus loose. That's why it is mostly older people over 50 that get it and even when you are older but otherwise healthy if you let yourself get run down you can compromise your immune system enough to unleash this terrible pox virus.