I have a very bad case of Shingles...

[CTyankee]

Went to to my doc today. It's the worst case he's ever seen. And it is very painful. I will not get healed for a month, he said. He put me on an anti-Shingles med and a good, strong painkiller.

My neck, shoulder, back and chest running down my right side only is now in the pustule stage. I was traveling over the weekend when it started to develop and my doc's office was closed. By the time I reached him I just decided I'd wait til I got back to come by his office. He'd already prescribed me the anti-Shingle med at my local pharmacy and wrote me one for the painkiller in his office which I have filled.

Once this is over I plan to get a Shingles vaccine. I never want to experience this pain and agony again. The vaccine costs $245 and is not covered by Medicare! But it's worth it never to have to experience this again.

If you are over the age of 60 get the vaccine for god's sake! Don't let the cost get in your way (like I did, stupidly). It is a helluva way to spend a month of your life. You don't want to experience it, believe me...

[randys1]

1. I am curious which painkiller was prescribed for this, as I have heard this is extremely painful

[CTyankee]

7. it's the one that is a combination of oxycodone and aceteminophin.

Valtex is the anti-shingles pill.

[randys1]

14. Thanks, just called my pharmacist, I had the shot in 2011 and was under

60 at the time, he says there is a new one coming on the market in two years that will be even better.

I had read that it was a one time shot, but not really the more I read it is only good for around 5 yrs.

So I will wait to get the new shot when it is available.

Good luck!

[tanyev]

2. Bummer. Hope you feel better soon.

One of my co-workers planned to get the shingles vaccine at 60, but came down with it anyway in her late 50s. I find that very unnerving.

[think]

3. Sorry to hear. It's unfortunate the vaccine isn't covered. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I hope you heal and feel MUCH better!

I often consider that shingles was one of the curses Job had to endure.

I went through a virulent case of chicken pox (shingles lite) when I was 26. I looked diseased and medieval. I could only soak in a tub of oatmeal bath to help speed the healing. I avoided infection the best I could. The vesicles were everyone and I do mean everywhere.

Take good care.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. I have a co-worker, in his mid 30's, who came down with a bad case. Take care. n/t

[truebluegreen]

6. I have had reports that the vaccine is only 50% effective,

not that a 50% chance of lessening the occurrence or recurrence wouldn't be worth it (I had them last year and still get twinges), just a head's up.

[Warpy]

8. I'm so sorry, it sounds really miserable.

Do keep it all covered (thank goodness it's finally winter) because those pustules will burst and the liquid in them is infectious. Anyone who is either unvaccinated or in need of a booster is at risk of catching chicken pox.

I honestly don't know how I've avoided shingles, I had chicken pox, I'm immunosuppressed, and I'm on Prednisone. In my case, it's laziness, one has to make an appointment to get that vaccine around here since few can afford it and it's rarely kept in stock.

[CTyankee]

9. A friend of ours said he got his for $160 and we are going to follow up with him.

Hubby wasn't going to get one but after seeing what I am going through and what i look like he is going to!

Doc said his own shot wasn't painful at all. He said he had more trouble with his flu shot this year. It wouldn't matter if it was painful because it would only be a moment and if it is at the very least preventable it's worth it...

[longship]

10. Oh my dear DU friend, get well soon!

I send my best wishes to heal soon. A lot of good that will do! Nevertheless, suffice to say that I will be thinking of you.

[CTyankee]

12. thanks, dear. Please get the shot, tho.

And, for all my art friends out there, I'll be back in another week or so. I just can't concentrate enough on it now...

[Sienna86]

11. My mom had the vaccine and still had the shingles.

I've been hearing a lot of anecdotal reports that people are coming down with shingles after receiving the flu shot. I'm a big believer in the flu shot, but it does interest me.

[NCjack]

13. I have Medicare + BC/BS. Got the shot for $25. A good friend got shingles

and it attacked her eyes. It was so painful that she telephoned every person she knew over 60 and made them promise to get the vaccine.

[49jim]

15. I understand how you feel....

I had a bad case of shingles about 17 years ago. I didn't know what it was or where it came from. I had it for about 4-5 weeks before it felt better.I went to the emergency room (on weekend...dr. office closed). I thought it was a reaction to seafood I had the day earlier. As soon as I took of my shirt the nurse said...Shingles! I got a shingles shot this year even though I had a case in the past. Get well....

[grasswire]

16. been there, done that

I was sick for a month with shingles.

[brer cat]

17. What a bummer.

I had a mild case and it was bad enough. I hope the pain meds will keep you comfortable...a month is a long time to hurt.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. I had the same severity you describe. My doc said the same thing, about how bad it was.

What I found helped was wrapping the torso snugly . It actually helped with the pain caused by moving around.
I ripped up a sheet and mummified my torso, really made a difference.

There is a good chance you could have post-shingle nerve pain, given the area of the attack.
It's like a itch you can't scratch under the skin, and a deep constant, very distracting, ache.
Luckily, my doc knew about Amitriptyline ( generic for Elavil) which , in low doses, has been used for years for nerve pain.
Who knew?
And it does work, thank god.

You have my deepest sympathy..would not wish such an attack on my worst enemy.

Cheney, maybe....

[CTyankee]

31. I don't have what you experienced. For onething it's primarily on the right side of my face

and neck, shoulder, and a bit on my back and chest. I don't touch it. I gently splash cool water on the face and just avoid that whole side of my face entirely. I don't want to touch it and then accidently touch my eyes. I had only a bit of nerve pain streaking down the right side of my head and face but that went away and now it's just the blisters on my neck that really are the most uncomfortable.

[dixiegrrrrl]

37. Sorry, I musta mis-read.

I hope you heal quickly. Nasty thing to have.

[CTyankee]

38. well, I just talked with my dtr who reminded me that she had shingles 10 years ago

and she was not yet 40! She didn't get pain meds but wished she had.

So I'm checking with my doc to see if I could possibly be contagious at Thanksgiving. My dtr thought that once you are in the outbreak stage you've passed the point of being contagious...

[sheshe2]

19. I have employer based insurance.

My shot was covered. My mom had shingles, her case was milder.

Feel better soon, so sorry you are so sick, CT.

[phylny]

20. I'm so sorry you're going through such pain!

I work with children (and had the chicken pox as a child, of course) and I got the vaccine several years ago. The insurance company said, oh, you're under 60, we won't cover it, and I said "Thanks but no thanks, I'll pay for it myself."

I know for a lot of people it's a lot of money (at the time, I think I paid about $90) but from what I hear, it's worth it.

Heal up soon!

[NV Whino]

21. Medicare part D covers the shingles shot.

[CTyankee]

22. Unfortunately, it does not, accordng to my doctor and my pharmacist...

[goldent]

24. Could it be based on your age?

In the UK, it will be paid for only for people in their 70s (not younger or older). Generally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence determines coverage on cost/benefit/risk.

[CTyankee]

32. No, I'm in the prime age category...mid 70s.

[NV Whino]

25. It does under part D

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/shingles-vaccine.html

Shingles shot

How often is it covered?

The shingles shot isn’t covered by Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Generally, Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) cover all commercially-available vaccines (like the shingles shot) needed to prevent illness. Contact your Medicare drug plan for more information about coverage.

Only if you don't have the drug plan, will it not be covered.

[CTyankee]

29. I don't know why my doc or my pharmacist didn't tell me that . I'll call them both today.

I can't get the shot until this episode of shingles is finished which is weeks away but my husband is anxious to get one.

[Jim Lane]

23. Is there any good reason this vaccine is NOT covered?

I'm not on Medicare yet, but soon after my 60th birthday I looked into getting the vaccine. My private insurance would not cover it. It seems very strange, with an increasing emphasis on prevention throughout the health care field, that this vaccine (even if only 50% effective) is treated as a luxury.

I'm also curious about why it's so expensive.

By contrast, the flu vaccine is pretty cheap (I often see it advertised for $25) and generally covered. After reading your post, I'd rather get the flu than get shingles.

As of January 1, my insurance will be with a different carrier (multiple problems with BC/BS affiliate in NJ). If they don't cover the vaccine, then I guess, based on what you write, I ought to shell out for it anyway.

So, all right, as (very small) compensation for your pain, you've badgered one more person into getting the vaccine! Thanks for the first-person account.

[CTyankee]

30. I have no excuse really. I didn't do my homework.

But it is interesting that my doctor didn't mention it. He has had one and he is just 65...

[DesertFlower]

26. so sorry. hope you feel better soon.

[MADem]

27. A friend of mine had this recently. I picked up a tub of this stuff in UK for her.

She said it helped enormously--I selected it on advice of a friend.

Turns out you can buy it on AMAZON. I don't think it is available in USA but I think it is similar to DESITIN.

For the nerve pain after the worst is over, she went for acupuncture, and that helped as well.

Feel better soon--it does suck.

[CTyankee]

35. I asked my doc about any lotions, etc I could use and he said no so I didn't press him.

I guess he would have told me is something would help. I have some Calamine lotion onhand but if doc says no, then I follow his orders.

[MFM008]

28. My poor mom

got it in the worst place imaginable.... she was lucky it went away after a couple weeks not a month. good luck.

[Nay]

33. Has your doc given you an antiviral shot like acyclovir? If you get that

shot within 72 hours of onset, it will lessen the severity of your shingles. I feel for you!

The day after I turned 60, I got the shingles vaccine. Insurance paid half, I paid the other half ($110).

When I was 64 I got a mild case of shingles (left side of forehead, patch above left eye, left side of scalp). I raced to the doc, got the acyclovir, and over a month or so, it mostly went away. I still have the occasional ache in my left temple.

All you other folks, get the vaccine! Now!

[CTyankee]

34. My doc sees lots of shingles given the age of his patient population and he prescribed Valtrex.

So I trust he's right on target with the meds.

I'm glad yours was a mild case. perhaps you won't get it again or if you do, it will be a mild case. I'm taking Advil for mild pain and Percoset at bedtime. I slept from 7 pm last night til 6 am today. I must have been exhausted. I think pain itself tires the body. I know it does me. It's almost as if the body uses everything to fight pain and then you just can't stand up any more...but the sleep helped a lot...

[Nay]

36. It sounds like VAltrex does the same thing as acyclovir. Oh, my case was already

mild, thanks -- I feel like I got off easily. The doc and my eye doc said I could be feeling pains occasionally for a year. (!!!) And yes, I could get it AGAIN. And AGAIN. Nice.

I took mild pain killers as well, esp for the forehead pain/headache. At night I'd take a Diclofenac for a little more pain relief.

[CTyankee]

39. Actually I just checked to bottle and Valtrex IS an acyclovir...LOL...

[Nay]

40. Well, there you go!

[LiberalEsto]

41. Apple cider vinegar helped my husband

He applied water-diluted vinegar to his waist and also drank glasses of water with about a teaspoon of the vinegar mixed in.
Don't know whether it will help you, but in any case I hope it goes away ASAP.

[leftyladyfrommo]

42. I asked about the shot at Walgreens last year.

I am on Medicare and have Humana and my cost would be $95.

I asked my doctor and he said he has seen 2 people who got shingles after the shot.

I think I will get it as soon as I can afford it.

[CTyankee]

43. My husband is checking with Medicare and our Optum coverage.

We might be able to get this straightened out...