"Shingles" not the roof kind.

I know there was a post awhile back on shingles, tried to do a search but unable to find it. Wanted to get some input from some of you who have been through it. My reason for posting is this, if you have not had a shingles vaccine, by all means have one. I am in my 4th week of this horrific, extremely painful disease and not even sure when it will end. I thought about the vaccine when I read all of your posts but said to myself, nah, it won't happen like everything else. Am I ever sorry. All I can say to all of you out there, if you have not had it, do some serious thinking because I would not wish this on my worst enemy!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to hear you have shingles and hope you will get some relief soon. I got the shingles vaccine a few years ago and so glad I did. I have friends who had the disease and were still suffering the effects for over a year so very nasty indeed. Your advice to get the vaccine is certainly a good one and hope it makes people consider doing this as soon as possible. Springtime is prime time for shingles!

I had my husband go in and get the vaccine. He thought the fact that I am not doing it, what am I trying to do to him. His insurance paid for it when he reached 60 years, I am not there yet. I told him I remember my dad dealing with shingles, and he said it was the most painful thing he ever went through. And truth be told, I looked into that shingles vaccine when it was on TTOL before.

Thanks to the original poster for posting here again regarding shingles. I need to check into it again to see if my insurance will pay for it, as when I checked before, it would not. Eric had it several years ago and it was incredible painful for him..

Even if your insurance doesn't pay for it Carol, it is a good gift to yourself!No amount of money is worth that kind of pain.

I completely agree, Elizabeth!

I will check into it further.

I was told my insurance would not cover it. Got the shot and submitted the bill to insurance. They paid it in full.

Carol, Elizabeth is soooooo right. I had the opportunity a few years back but it was expensive. So far I have spent $500 on anti viral meds with $300 of that on lidocaine ointment plus Percocet. Nothing really helps the pain. It's been 4 weeks of he!! so far and there is no guarantee when this will end. I strongly encourage all of you out there, don't even think twice.

I did get the vaccine a couple of years ago.....because of this forum.....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

My wife had Shingles in her early 50's. Apparently, she can still have them again. She has chosen not to have the vaccine. I got the vaccine about a week after I turned 60, when it became covered under my insurance.

Some things to think about:

Less than age 60, your insurance probably won't cover it. Check the price, and think about just paying for it.

It's a temperature-controlled vaccine, and it may be hard to find.

Your Primary Care Physician, your local Walgreens, Riteaid, CVS, or whatever may not stock it.

I ended up going to the specialty Travel/Walkin-Center at a hospital in my covered plan, which covered it 100%.

If you're 60+ you should get the vaccine, it's no guarantee that you won't get Shingles but get it anyway, and take the time to seek out a place where you can get it covered by your insurance plan.

I posted information after I had shingles while on the island about 4 or 5 years ago. My wife first noticed them while on the beach at Club O. Started at my incision in my lower back, after I had back surgery, and ran almost to my ankle on my left side. Awful in the evening since the sores were very [censored]. Had to sleep on towels so as not to mess the bed. At first I thought it was from too much sun. Then my wife, who had a very mild case of shingles a few years before, said she thinks it is shingles. The funny thing is ... I had absolutely NO pain. I went to the pharmacy in Philipsburg for some type of cream to help and when I showed the pharmacist, she said it was shingles. She sent me down the street to a clinic and the doctor had to look it up on his computer before he pronounced it shingles. Told me it was too late to do anything about it. I still have awful scars all up and down my leg and my family doctor told me the numbness, and at times pain as if I am being shocked, that I still have in my foot is due to the shingles. Nothing I can do for it, not even Lyrica. I now have a hard time walking. I got a shot AFTER the event since you can get it over and over I was told. Make sure you get a shot. Wouldn't wish it on anyone! Click on my blog link directly below this story and type in shingles in the white search block at the top left. Scroll down thorugh a few stories and you can see what they looked like when first had them.

So sorry to hear this. This was why I posted earlier to let people know there is a vaccine and by all means do not hesitate to get it. You apparently went through hell and I can now relate after 5 weeks my pain has finally subsided. I still have the after effects of Percocet but am on the road to recovery, as they say. Just hope some people get this message and the vaccine.

My Physician highly recommends the Pneumonia Vaccine also.

My Insurance Company said they would pay for the Shingles Vaccine if I got it from the Doctor's Office, but if I get it at Rite-Aid, CVS, Winn-Dixie, or Urgent care, they would not pay anything. They also won't cover the Pneumonia Vaccine until I turn 65.

We all need to remember that the insurance companies don't determine the medical care we get, only the care they're willing to pay for. I've been fortunate that I was able to get the shingles vaccine, and my insurance paid for it; but to be honest, I'd pay twice the cost if it didn't, knowing what I do about this awful disease!

You are right. If the cost is not covered by insurance, if you can afford it, go for it. It is a horrible disease, the pain is unbelievable. What it cost me for medication I could probably have had the shot for the same amount.

And you may want to try this coupon, if you're too young.

https://www.helprx.info/zostavax-discoun...fPnVRoCf47w_wcB

Pauline