jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I watched an interesting video about shingles last night. If you had chicken pox as a kid, you could have shingles as an adult.

When a child gets chicken pox, his body builds up defenses against it and eventually defeats it. The virus settles down in the area near your spine. As time goes by, your body realizes it doesn't need that chicken pox defense any longer, so it gradually fades away. In a small number of cases, the dormant chicken pox virus realizes that it's free to do its thing, and the person gets shingles.

Since 1995, kids have been getting vaccinated for chicken pox, so they will not have shingles when they get older. Here's the interesting part (you were hoping they'd be an interesting part, right?). If a kid with chicken pox comes near an adult who had the disease in childhood, the adult's body will be alerted and strengthen its defenses against it. Ironically, sick kids keep adults healthy. With kids now getting immunity to chicken pox, adults will not be getting that random booster, so more of them will get shingles. Eventually, those adults will get old and die. The upcoming generation will have no experience with chicken pox, so they won't get shingles. It's an odd cycle.

There is a new, much more effective vaccine for shingles, given in two doses. I got my first, and my second is about due.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

My uncle got shingles a couple of years ago - said it was the worst thing he ever had. I got both shots last year

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

A friend woke up one morning with paralysis on the left side of his face. The emergency room diagnosed him as having had a mild stroke, he was treated for it and was released a few days later with the appropriate meds. He repeatedly told the staff that he had pain in his left ear and they told him it was nerve damage due to the stroke. The next week he went to his doctor for a follow-up and told the doctor that he was experiencing pain in his ear. She looked in his ear and told him he did not have a stroke, he had shingles in his ear. The stroke medicines were immediately discontinued and treatment for the shingles was begun. It was over a year before he regained the use of the muscles on the left side of his face and I don't believe it was 100%.

I had both shots last year; I had chicken pox as a young child and I don't want to experience shingles.

Dodie

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Got both shots of the Vaccine about a month apart -- After effects = After each shot -- Felt like crap for about 4 days
"Assume" that to be a whole bunch better than getting the real thing

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's quite a story.

Laramie Loc: Tempe

A Work friend got shingles. He is a big, burly guy from Montana. shingles put him down for three weeks, he said he never hurt so bad. I got my shots last year too.

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

I worked with one of the researchers involved with the first round of shingles vaccine and I got the shot. When they came out with the "new and improved" version we we're in ground floor area during a tornado alert and to (ahem) *liven* things up a bit with him (we actually weren't too concerned) I asked him what was the story on the "new" version. I implied everyone wanted a new car or a hot tub so they had to come up with something new. He laughed and said this one was much better but that I "may" experience a little soreness and sluggishness. I'm not fond of doctors term "may." Yup, I was sore and with the second shot I was a little sore and (ahem) "sluggish" for about a day. But after photographing a number of folks in the dermatology clinic that had shingles and seeing what they were dealing with, I knew my little issues were totally worth it. Bottom line if you had the chicken pox get the shot.

bw79st Loc: New York City

It turns out that even if you never had chicken pox as a child you may still be in danger of getting shingles. My wife or I never had chicken pox but it was around. Our doctor ordered up blood tests for both of us and we both tested positive for the antibodies. So we both got the shot. It looks like we will have to get the new shots just to be safe.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I had no reactions after the first shot.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny you should say that. I had no recollection of having chicken pox, but a blood test said I did.

BrHawkeye

I knew two people who got shingles twice. I got it once. After recovering from it, I got the vaccine.

Texas George Loc: Stamford, Texas

I had shingles on the left side of my face 1 1/2 years ago. I went through periods of intense pain starting from my ear and radiating to the rest of my face. Luckily I only had one episode while driving and was able to pull over before it peaked. Really wish I had gotten that shot. Still have numbness.

Dannj

I had chicken pox in my thirties. Is my shingles risk the same as for those who had chicken pox as kids? Any experts out there want to chime in?

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

Thanks for the info and alert Jerry. I got both shots last year. Bad news is they weren't covered by insurance and cost me $180 EACH.

Saycheeze Loc: Ct

GoodRX has a coupon for a discount on the Shingrix shot. Check it out it’s free