UGH! I may be in my second battle with shingles. Had a severe case of them back in '09. Wasn't pretty.

I know how bad those can be. I’ve gotten my shingles vaccine.

36 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I know how bad those can be. I’ve gotten my shingles vaccine.

Scott, do they say a target age for when you should get the vaccine? And how long is it supposed to last - 5 years, 10 years, life? Thx

I had it when I was 19 and in the midsts of chemo. I thought it was radiation burns until the doctor said it was shingles. From the left side of my chest, through my armpit, to my left shoulder blade is still numb to this day almost 20 years later. 

I was working a project in CT and stayed for the week...it was 3.5 hours 1 way. 

I was driving down @ 3:00 AM on Monday morning on a steamy summer morning and had my left arm out the window. Had to pull over because it was numb. Later that day I notice my speech was slurred.

Jumped in the shower before heading out to dinner and noticed a rash on my left chest. By the end of the week the rash had wrapped around to my shoulder blade and had a total loss of energy. 

Went to the hospital and got tested for stroke because of the slurred speech and arm numbness. Thankfully (I guess) it was a really bad case of shingles.

Like you @12poundbass, I have numbness in my left chest 14 years later.

6 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Scott, do they say a target age for when you should get the vaccine? And how long is it supposed to last - 5 years, 10 years, life? Thx

I’m not sure but you may have to be 60 to get the vaccine. Check with your doctor 

I remember my Grandfather catching shingles years ago.  He had just had knee replacement surgery and was basically chair-ridden at home.  The knee then had an infection, so he had to receive antibiotic injections.  Then he found out he was allergic to that particular medication so he had a reaction to that.  Well, on top of that he then got shingles!  He was 74 years old at the time too.  That was a rough period for Grandpa John.  I remember seeing him and he has this awful red rash all over the side of his face and neck and he said it felt like his skin was on fire.

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

I’m not sure but you may have to be 60 to get the vaccine. Check with your doctor 

Sure will, thx Scott... will be turning 60 soon ?

I remember my mom had shingles back in the late 70's.  It didn't effect her nervous system, but she said it hurt bad all the time.

My doctor just told me I should have gotten the shingles vaccine last year when I turned 50. I just finished my COVID vaccinations and the shingles is next on the list.

On 5/25/2021 at 6:39 AM, Scott F said:

I know how bad those can be. I’ve gotten my shingles vaccine.

I had chickenpox for the second time when I was 41. It. Was. Bad. It's herpes zoster, the same virus that causes shingles. I got the vaccine as soon as I could.