So, those of you who have kept up with me, I may be a preschool teacher soon. I have heard you can get chickenpox more than once, even as an adult. I have read the threads about the connection between (possible) AD & shingles. I was thinking, to be on the safe side to get this innoculation. But I think what I read that it is only available to those over 60.
The shingles vaccine is to prevent shingles in older people who had chicken pox when they were children. It is only recommended for people over age 60. It does not prevent chicken pox in these people, although the virus is the same as in the vaccine for children. Since children are now getting the chicken pox vaccine you should not have any problem with pre-schoolers. Since shingles can be such a devastating disease, I strongly recommend the vaccine for anyone over the age of 60. Both my wife and I have had our shots. It is expensive, but some insurances cover it.
I have a cousin who had shingles & he was way younger than 60. It was very painful. I had chicken pox when I was a child, & I am afraid of getting exposed to the virus again. I don't want shingles for the obvious reasons, but since it was brought up as a connection to AD, I especially don't want it. Would a dr. be willing to give me the vaccine? I would pay just about anything to avoid the consequences, AD. I am 58.
I can't answer for your doctor. You will have to ask him/her. At 58 my bet is he/she would consider giving it. And, yes, people under 60 can get shingles.
Val-if you have to sell a cat to pay for it get the vaccine. The pain I had with shingles was worse than anything I have ever experienced. I still have the pain of post hepatic syndrome. About 20% of victims get this. The pain can last for years.
Val, I've had shingles, I would have been, what, 48? Got 'em on my head, including my eyelid (made the eye swell totally shut) and forehead, and the side of my head all through my hair to the back of my head. The viral shed made the lymph nodes under my ear swell -- my first thought was that I was getting the mumps again. I looked like a chipmunk with a full facial pouch who'd been through a mustard gas attack. I am very fortunate that the residual pain has been minor. (At first, I thought I was having dental problems, but the dentist couldn't ever find anything wrong. The light finally came on...)
To get shingles, you must have had chickenpox. While you are sick with the chickenpox, the virus gets into your nerve cells, and goes dormant. Many years later, it can suddenly "revive" and start reproducing again and cause shingles. No one knows what triggers the new viral outbreak. You do NOT have to be exposed to the virus again -- it's already in your system.
My DH had shingles about 10 yrs ago, Pain lasted 3 months. We had a friend who got shingles when he was getting chemo, plain never went away, 3 yrs later he died, still had the pain. I didn't know there was a shot and I'm going to get one as soon as I can. I did think though that you could only get shingles once. Is that true.?
It was some of the worst pain & mental fog I have ever had. Nothing helped--6 wks plus and then residual (but bearable) pain for a long long time. It took my strength to the point that I could not walk across the room--no exageration! Doc said it was worst case he'd seen in 30 yrs, not an honor I really wanted. It happened a couple years into my DH AD and, it is my understanding, it usually comes out w/stress. Now what could have caused that!
Betty-how could stress possibly cause shingles. My nightmare case began right after two hurricanes devastated our area. Try living with a leaky roof, no water, electricity, mail or even a newspaper and a husband who is in his own world.
One other comment on shingles - sometimes the pain comes before the rash. I had a patient once who had such severe pain that I thought it was a kidney stone and put her in the hospital. Every day I checked her and got no further in diagnosing the pain, until a week later when the rash came out.
This happened to me. Doc thought I had hurt myself, had no symptoms but terrible pain, had a full body scan, negative, then a week or so later the rash came out. By then, the shots did not help.
Wow! Going to talk to my primary care physician about the vaccine!!!! Thanks so much for all the input. I did have chicken pox & sure as heck don't want shingles. NOT, NOT selling my CAT. I love her. Would sell my husband first. Maybe one of those foreign ladies who want a ticket into America. (Just kidding.)
Well, heck, Val, that's not a bad idea. You need the money, and they sell practically anything on Ebay. (I wonder how that woman did who was trying to sell her soul the other day?)
You have GOT to be kidding! I'm amazed to hear of some of the stuff that actually get sold on Ebay. Like a jar of air from such & such a place. If you hear that someone bought her soul, let us know.
They had a piece about her on CNN. She seems a bit ... ditsy. Guy wanted to know her refund policy if he wasn't satisfied with the item, and she thought HE was nuts.
Oh -- and she intends to send it in a magic 8-ball that she's treasured since she was a child.