Oh, no… it’s stories like TempeMom’s that made me ask for the vaccine last year, despite not meeting the age criteria. My internist’s office offered it at his cost, so it was around $180 I think, less than a lot of practices charge.
I heard so many people say they thought they didn’t have the money to get the vaccine, but then once they got shingles, they really regretted not coming up with the money for the vaccine.
Hopefully the antivirals will help!
The insurance companies are playing the odds by not covering it until age 60. They know that it would help far more people to offer it at 50, but look how much more money they would have to pay out.
Originally, it was only tested on those over 60, so the FDA approval was only for over 60, and thus the insurance only covered that. Most insurance companies will not cover non-FDA approved medicines, or approve them for non-approved uses. Then the testing was done on the next group, 50-60 year olds. I don’t know where they are in the approval stage for that as far as the FDA goes.
I’ve had it in my eye many times since 1987, and for the entire year in 1996. Pain doesn’t being to define it. I asked everyone, from doctors to pharmacists, if getting the vaccine would help prevent another outbreak, and no one ever gave me a good answer. The opinion here seems to be that it is 50/50, and that’s good enough for me to invest in it.
I had the vaccine a few years ago and am not 60, it was covered by insurance as preventative.
I hope T has a mild case.
I paid full price at Costco, but had the injection
My 23 year old S just had shingles. A coworker in her 30’s had them a couple weeks before S. Our administrative assistant had them a couple years ago in her mid-20’s. It’s not just an old folks’ disease, I guess. Feel better soon, TempeMom.
When I priced the vaccine a few years back, Costco was cheapest. I paid out of pocket and wasn’t reimbursed by insurer. It was under $200 and I felt it was well worth it!
This is one vaccine, and I think I may have said this when we discussed this last time, that is worth getting even if you have to pay for it yourself. Shingles is a terrible illness and it can have lasting effects. It can hit people of any age but is increasingly dangerous the older you are.
Re #102
“Many times” seems quite annoying. Some sources claim that shingles rarely happens more than once - obviously not in your case.
I had what was probably shingles in my 30s; it was just a slightly itchy slightly oozy rash in a typical shingles place.
My grandmother had recurrences quite a few times. It was pretty bad.
I got mine the day I turned 60 at my HMO free. Actually, never knew I could have gotten it earlier for a price.
Hope you feel better soon soon soon.
Shameful that the vaccine costs so much.
I hope you feel better soon, Tempemom! I still shudder with how bad that was when I had it.
My brother was diagnosed 2.5 weeks ago - he is 45. Unfortunately, he thought the rash was poison ivy so he was treating for that before he realized it was shingles which put him outside the window for the antiviral to be much help
He is very uncomfortable and is getting frustrated that he isn’t feeling much better. Other than Motrin, has anyone had succes with other pain meds?
The rash is definitely on my face/jaw but caught early. No blisters. Looks just like images googled for early shingles face rash. Feels like a really bad sunburn–dry and tight and itchy–you want to sleep flat without touching it to the pillow. If it stays at this level it is manageable and I can work. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the good wishes all!
I was really “lucky” to have had Bell’s Palsy before and this felt almost the same coming on. And, of course, I knew that upped my risk factor.
I’m using just a combo Tylenol/advil method.
Hope you feel a lot better very soon, TempeMom.
Is there some medical reason why it wouldn’t be a good idea to get the vaccine earlier in life? (I asked my doctor the same question about the pneumonia vaccine, and she said it just wasn’t done unless someone had risk factors.)
H and D needed to have narcotic pain meds to be able to sleep comfortably during the worst of their respective shingles. I’m sorry for any sufferers.
I guess what isn’t clear to me is whether the rash will stop where it is since I started the antiviral in the prodomenal (s[p?) stage or if they almost always go on to blister…reports seem mixed so I gather there isn’t actually a clear answer of whether I will get worse…boo.
I started an antiviral within 24 hours of having the first 3 bumps. The bumps never progressed and I never got full-blown shingles and never got another bump or eruption. I was VERY grateful. H and D were each miserable when they had their cases in earlier years.
When the antiviral is started early, there’s a better chance it will stop the virus promptly, but no guarantees.
Fingers crossed! This whole thing reminds me how p.o.'d I am at my doc’s office…the practice was sold and we can never get in and they wanted to give me an appt for next Monday.
I thought it was a mosquito bite on my stomach. It was a small cluster. Also had same thing in one area on my back. Started meds last night. I am in my 40’s. I wish it would just disappear. Back feels sore.