<p>I got shingles when I was in my early 50s. D had gotten it when she was in middle school or HS. H got it when he was in his 60s. I will ask insurer again if they will cover me, now that I’m still in my 50s (& CDC recommends it for younger folks) & how long it will last.</p>
<p>I have an elderly aunt who had the continuing pain complication (postherpetic neuralgia), which happens to some people who get shingles. She had horrendous pain, to the point where she would sit and cry, and it went on for a couple of years. It was a real nightmare.</p>
<p>I hope they find a vaccine which will prevent all cases, and last indefinitely (or allow for a booster shot).</p>
<p>I belatedly read that CDC link which answered my question as follows:</p>
<p>In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, Zostavax reduced the risk of shingles by about half (51%) and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%. </p>
<p>So I guess it does reduce the severity of the illness or its duration, even if you still get it. I think I want this shot.</p>
<p>My 18 y.o. had shingles two months ago, ended up hospitalized for 3 days, and continues to have pain!! He originally had chicken pox at 4 months, and it was a “light” case, which his docs speculate may have reduced his immunity. It was truly awful and there is no “cure” for the post-herpetic neuralgia. He is requesting the vaccine as he wants to reduce his risk of having to go through this again. I’m just over 50 but am also planning to have the vaccine. I had a fairly mild case of shingles about 10 years ago but think it’s worth paying out of pocket to reduce the risk of going through it, and the possibility of having post-herpetic neuralgia, again.</p>
<p>Interesting about the light case of chicken pox. My mother says that I only had about 3 pox on my stomach - so light a case that they wouldn’t have noticed except that my siblings and all the kids in the neighborhood also had the chicken pox. I was worried that I might get them again when I nursed my three girls through bad cases but I didn’t. Do you suppose this makes me a prime candidate for shingles? Yikes!</p>
<p>I haven’t come across any scientific studies supporting that theory, but according to son’s docs there seems to be a higher incidence of shingles in those who had chicken pox as infants vs. older children. They don’t seem to know why the virus reactivates in anyone though, so it’s really just speculation.</p>
<p>It’s the cases of the post herpetic neuralgia and eye damage that make me sad and frightened. Sad because people are suffering so much for something that might have been prevented. I think the shingles vaccine must be the same or similar to the chickenpox vaccine that kids get. My D had to get a booster of the chickenpox vaccine, so I suspect the same will be true of the shingles vaccine. Interesting that they recommend the shingles vaccine even for people who have had shingles, so there must be some sort of cumulative effect to boost immunity. I suspect it is “only” cost that is driving vaccine schedule decisions.</p>
<p>The 5% figure for people under 60 sounds low, or perhaps I just know a lot of very stressed people! I know of many more women than men getting it in their 50’s, probably another wonderful link to menopause…</p>
<p>I had chicken pox when I was 5. I was covered- inside my mouth, soles of my feet, inside my EARS. I had shingles in my 40’s. I want the vaccine as soon as my doc and insurance will do it and will ask at my next check up.</p>
<p>D1 had shingles when she was 5 … similar to sk8rmom’s son, she had a “light” case of chickenpox when she was about 1.</p>
<p>"…a higher incidence of shingles in those who had chicken pox as infants."</p>
<p>My youngest had a bad case of chicken pox but she was only 6 months old. It seems odd that she would have to wait until she is 50-60 to get the vaccine if she is at increased risk of shingles.</p>
<p>My son had a very severe case of chicken pox at three, and got shingles at 8 years old. He is now 22 and has never had them again. He suffers from panic disorder, which was not controlled at age 8–I am certain the stress triggered them then. His panic disorder is now mostly controlled with medication and management techniques, which may be why they have not recurred.</p>
<p>When my oldest dd was in pre-k and kindergarten I worked in her classrooms. I got shingles one year and whooping cough the next. I was mid 30’s at the time. I think shingles can happen when you are exposed again to the virus. I got very ill with both. The shingles for about 2 weeks and month or so to heal. The whooping cough took me 9 months to feel better and that was because a Nurse Practioner saw me. All the specialist just kept sending me for test. NP actually gave me medicine to help me with the asthma. Everytime I get a cold or respiratory virus I get asthma now.</p>
<p>Okay, stupid question: What about our kids who had the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and a booster before starting college? </p>
<p>Am I right in thinking that since they’ve never had chicken pox, they are immune to shingles (assuming they continue to get their varicella boosters)?</p>
<p>^^^
That is correct, kids who have had the varicella vaccine will never get shingles, as long
as they continue to get booster inoculations as needed. I heard on the news the other day that parents are meeting up through facebook groups to send lollipops to each other that have been licked by infected kids. I wonder if they have even considered that they are also setting their kids up for shingles later in life? The only rationale I can understand is if the immunity to chickenpox eventually wears off and people start contracting it at older ages. Our kids are the guinea pigs for the vaccine, so hopefully they won’t face this possibility.</p>
<p>I got whooping cough when I was in grad school. That vaccine does wear off and unfortunately there is a lot of population out there now that is not getting vaccinated.</p>
<p>I wrote to friends on this since I had never heard of the vaccine. I am in the hinterlands. My Sis said no to it since we are both cancer survivors with compromised immune systems. What do I know, but she is more up on things than me. So I guess I will take my chances.</p>
<p>My husband got shingles at age 41. He was diagnosed the same day that our nine-week-old son was hospitalized with RSV. Since DH could have given someone chicken pox, he wasn’t allowed to visit our son in the hospital. He was also out of work at the time, and interviewing for jobs. It was the Week from Hell. I will get the shingles vaccine when I turn 50, no matter the cost. Shingles is HORRIBLE!</p>
<p>My daughter got shingles. I did some research and while she did all the medical stuff, went to school clinic, etc, ,medicine, she also did some other things to help with healing and pain</p>
<p>She ate the blandest diet possible, cutting outnsalt, pepper, spices, citrus, caffiene, sugar, eating plain chicken, noddles, salad, other vegetables. She alsontook extra vitamin c, e, lysine and some other vitamins and minerals. Seems the bland diet helped with the pain as the nerves were less sensitive or hyper or whatever. She ate very healthy, just simply. She said after a couple of days the pain was much less and they symptoms cleared up quicker then was typical. Again, she was also doing the regular medical treatment as well.</p>
<p>Please don’t rely on the percentages I posted in #15 when making a decision about this vaccine. Make your decision based on your physician’s recommendation.</p>
<p>I nearly died when I had the chicken pox at 8, so I plan to have this vaccine ASAP.</p>
<p>Antiviral drugs, given within the first day or so, can help reduce the severity of shingles. So if shingles is suspected, it’s probably worth getting to the Dr. right away:</p>
<p>[Shingles:</a> Treatments and drugs - MayoClinic.com](<a href=“http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/DS00098/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs]Shingles:”>Shingles - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic)</p>