16 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

 Still to this day 20 years later the area from my left peck, just below my armpit, to just left of my spine is still numb. 

Same

57 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

my sister had it on her face and after it cleared there was a waiting period before she could get the vaccine.

 

That's a fact. I think it's something like 6 months after the flare goes out before one can get the vaccine.

yall convinced me. I will get the shots.

I had this a few years ago during Christmas timeframe. Neck and chest - absolutely miserable and surprised me how painful it was. Had double shots of vaccine with little issue - NEVER EVER want to go through shingles again. 

13 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Shingles comes from dormant chickenpox virus in your spinal cord.

Hey @The Bassman if I never had chicken pox, does this mean I can't get shingles?  I've never had chicken pox.

19 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Hey @The Bassman if I never had chicken pox, does this mean I can't get shingles?  I've never had chicken pox.

I'm not @TheBassMan but that's what I've heard.   I "believe" there's some kind of test they can give you to see if you need the vaccine or not.   

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Hey @The Bassman if I never had chicken pox, does this mean I can't get shingles?  I've never had chicken pox.

Yes, as @Woody B mentioned, but adults can get chicken pox. Growing up in the 60's my generation pretty much all caught it. No big deal, just bumps and itching. Got to stay home from school. There's a vaccine for it now so would probably be good to be proactive.

7 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

There's a vaccine for it now

I'm vaccinated for chicken pox.  Pretty standard these days for a lot of kids.  Its possible I may have had it and just didn't know it though.

My mom had shingles back in the late 70's.  She said it was the worse pain that she has ever felt.  Doctor's office keeps wanting me to get it for a few years now, but I have been putting it off.  Doctor's office also wanted my wife to the the shingles vaccine, and my wife politely told them she has never had chicken pox.

On 11/4/2022 at 8:15 PM, The Bassman said:

Yes, as @Woody B mentioned, but adults can get chicken pox. Growing up in the 60's my generation pretty much all caught it. No big deal, just bumps and itching. Got to stay home from school. There's a vaccine for it now so would probably be good to be proactive.

My mom got together with a bunch of the other 1st grade moms when I was a kid... as soon as one guy got chicken pox - they would have a get together with all the boys at that kid's house.  That way we'd all get it and be done with it... 

 

Now we'll probably all get Shingles together too ~

13 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

My mom got together with a bunch of the other 1st grade moms when I was a kid... as soon as one guy got chicken pox - they would have a get together with all the boys at that kid's house.  That way we'd all get it and be done with it... 

 

Now we'll probably all get Shingles together too ~

I would get the vaccine if you can. Might feel rough for 3 or 4 days, then your done. Well worth it IMO.

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

My mom got together with a bunch of the other 1st grade moms when I was a kid... as soon as one guy got chicken pox - they would have a get together with all the boys at that kid's house.  That way we'd all get it and be done with it... 

 

Now we'll probably all get Shingles together too ~

Same here.  Measles and  chicken pox mostly.  My brother and never got the pox until wrte were young adults.  I gave it to him.  He was not happy.

A-Jay 

I remember in my 3rd grade year. I got chicken pox, and some other kids in my class got them too. At the time, I got to stay home from school, so I didn't care too much.

13 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

My mom got together with a bunch of the other 1st grade moms when I was a kid... as soon as one guy got chicken pox - they would have a get together with all the boys at that kid's house.  That way we'd all get it and be done with it... 

 

Now we'll probably all get Shingles together too ~

This definitely used to be a thing. I remember being 4 or 5 when I got chicken pox and I also remember my brother and 2 cousins having it at the same time I did. We were together a lot and my mom and aunt deny it so it might not have been intentional but I've always wondered. 

 

I haven't had the shingles vaccine and it's never been mentioned by my dr but I should probably ask.

21 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

My mom had shingles back in the late 70's.  She said it was the worse pain that she has ever felt.  Doctor's office keeps wanting me to get it for a few years now, but I have been putting it off.  Doctor's office also wanted my wife to the the shingles vaccine, and my wife politely told them she has never had chicken pox.

 

I told my doc that I had never had chicken pox, too.  My sister had them, but I didn't get them.  She suggested I get tested to see if that was true.  It was not.  I immediately got the shingles vaccine series.  Talking to anyone who's had shingles will likely convince eligible folks to get the shots.

On 11/4/2022 at 1:34 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

I remember when I had an EPIC gout attack (in my left foot and right knee), I was at the doc and I said something stupid like, "wow, doc!  this is the most pain any Male can get!"  he replied, "oh..wait until you get shingles!".

and he mumbled something about kidney stones.    

 

I only know two people who have experienced shingles and they both said the pain was terrible.  As for the kidney stones thing, I once had to go to the emergency room in the middle of the night because I woke up to take a leak but was unable to pass any urine.  It was the most horrible discomfort I had ever experienced.  After the nurse catheterized me and the doc saw me, I told him I figured I must have a kidney stone blocking up the works.

 

He smiled, shook his head, and said,
"If that was the case, you'd probably be curled up on the floor in the corner of the room, writhing in pain."

 

If there was a kidney stone vaccine, I would have got that one right after my second shingles shot!  ?

 

Oh... and I forgot to mention: my shingles shots were done at the local pharmacy, no charge (I guess my insurance covered it all), and I had absolutely no side effects other than a very slightly tender arm like one would get after any shot.

 

 

I took the shots . No side effects .  I think the covid shots screwed up my heart rhythm for several months .