Shingles

Vasco,

I am truly sorry to learn about your bout with shingles.

I never thought about or considered that shingles and treatments for PC could be related. 

About eight years ago, my primary care doctor said that I need not fear getting shingles unless I had chicken pox. In fact, he advised against getting shingles shots if I had not had chicken pox. Consequently, I have not had the shots--and I have not had shingles. Knock on wood!

Old-timer

Shingles Vaccination?

Sorry about your bout w/shingles, Vaco.  Thanks for the info.

I've always been suspicious of mass media campaigns that push the treatment of certain diseases and, since I'd never heard of shingles before and no one I've known has ever had it, I lumped it into the suspect category and have never gotten vaccinated for it.

However, this is what WedMD says are the risk factors:

Things that increase risk for shingles include:

• Having had chickenpox. You must have had chickenpox to get shingles.
• Being older than 50.
• Having a weakened immune system due to another disease, such as diabetes or HIV infection.
• Experiencing stress or trauma.
• Having cancer or receiving treatment for cancer.
• Taking medicines that affect your immune system, such as steroids or medicines that are taken after having an organ transplant.

See: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-what-increases-your-risk.

I've had chickenpox TWICE, am over 50 and have been treated for cancer.  So, I guess I should reconsider and go ahead and get vaccinated for it. 

Herpes zoster

I had Shingles when I was 22 and was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. I NEVER want to go through that again, particularly at my much further advanced age. Any weakening of the immune system may allow the dormant Herpes to restart. Zostavax is a vaccine that limits the chance of shingles for those who had chicken pox (herpes) in their past, most likely in childhood. Zostavax does not give complete immunity but any protection is worth it.

My case at age 22 first looked like poison ivy or some other plant oil reaction. I ignored it until the tiny nerve endings were swollen and then burst open and the pain of a thousand exposed nerve endings is about what you would imagine it would be. Shingles almost always presents on one side of the body only. In my case it was the torso on the right side. It can also be on one side of the face, a more serious situation because of eye involvement. Seek attention immediately if there is an apparent rash or redness or streaks on one side only (or even both side, really). Early intervention can reduce the outbreak.

Shingles one time

It is unclear if a person who has a second outbreak of shingles is actually experiencing a second event or a recurrence of the first. Since this Herpes Zoster lies dormant for years in the body it may be impossible to tell which event is occurring.

Another problem is that for those exposed to H. Zoster (chicken pox) they may not have expressed the symptoms and thus are unaware of their compromised immunity. This is often in childhood and memories are missing.

If you are in the group unvaccinated as children for chicken pox and you are over 60 now a Zostavax shot may be in your best interest, regardless of your shingles history. Check with your doctor.

I had chicken pox as a child and shingles at age 22. My doctors both recommended the vaccination.

Swingshiftworker said:

Cost of Shingles Vaccination

So, I looked into getting a shingles vaccination via my health care provider at UCSF, which is covered by the Hill Physicans Group under CA Blue Shield.

Strangely, UCSF doesn't seem to have any means of providing shots/vaccinations for its health care patients and I've always been directed to get shots elsewhere.  This was no exception.  My doc said he'd send a prescription order for the shot to my local Walgreens.  I called to confirm that they received the order and was told that it was NOT covered by Blue Shield and that it would cost me $225 (plus tax - about 9%) out of pocket.

However, Hill Physicans told me that it is reimburseable up to $250 under my Blue Shield Plan.  In fact, they have a reimbursement form online that I printed out which says the same.  Found it very interesting that the amount of reimbursement is almost exactly what Walgreens will charge me (including tax) for the shot.   I wonder if the cost would be $100 if that's what Blue Shield would pay for the shot instead.  Hmmm . . .

Anyway, since it's fully reimburseable, I guess there's no good reason NOT to get the shot.  So, I'll be getting it shortly -- probably after TG in case there are any unexpected side effects.

 

 

Shingles Vaccine Experience

I had mine about 15 years ago, when I was in my late 50ties. At that time, the shingles vaccination  was becoming available to the public. My lady-friend was and is an advanced practice nurse in a hospital setting. She read about the "new" vaccine. 

We were each patients of the same Kaiser Doc, although he was not aware that we knew each other.  I  brought supporting information, and asked him to write a script for the new vaccine. He mentioned to me that only one other  patient asked about getting the vaccine. At that time Kaiser did not have the vaccine, but it was available six months later. (By the way my Lady-Friend was in her early 50ties when we received the shots).

hopeful and optimistic said:

Shingles Vaccine Experience

I had mine about 15 years ago, when I was in my late 50ties. At that time, the shingles vaccination  was becoming available to the public. My lady-friend was and is an advanced practice nurse in a hospital setting. She read about the "new" vaccine. 

We were each patients of the same Kaiser Doc, although he was not aware that we knew each other.  I  brought supporting information, and asked him to write a script for the new vaccine. He mentioned to me that only one other  patient asked about getting the vaccine. At that time Kaiser did not have the vaccine, but it was available six months later. (By the way my Lady-Friend was in her early 50ties when we received the shots).

Shingles Vaccine Experience

My mother went through a terrible month of pain with shingles when she was in her 50's- couldn't even stand the bedsheets coming into contact with her skin, had to "tent" the bedsheets.

One Sunday morning, while shaving, I noticed red welts/rash on my left arm - so odd-looking that I immediately went to Emergency at our local hospital. Within an hour they had diagnosed shingles and started me on famciclovir tablets. Because I started treatment so quickly, my case turned out to be mild, lasted about a month, with only mild pain on the back of my neck. According to the hospital, the famciclovir is most effective if started within 24 hours of the outbreak. In my case, it was significantly less than 24 hours.

I've been told I could get a second attack, but typically it would be less severe than the first, so getting the shingles shot is probably not necessary. My shingles was at least 3 or 4 years before my PC diagnosis, so likely no connection at all.

A final word on any vaccinations/injections: I had my annual flu shot in mid-October, which was administered 'way too high on my arm - almost, it seemed, into the shoulder bone itself, and I suffered pain for the better part of a month. The condition, (news to me) even has a name: SIRVA or Shoulder Injury Related To Vaccine Administration.

Check out  http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/6/919.full

and pay attention to where they plan to jab you for those shots.

 

 

 

 

HolyMole said:

Shingles Vaccine Experience

My mother went through a terrible month of pain with shingles when she was in her 50's- couldn't even stand the bedsheets coming into contact with her skin, had to "tent" the bedsheets.

One Sunday morning, while shaving, I noticed red welts/rash on my left arm - so odd-looking that I immediately went to Emergency at our local hospital. Within an hour they had diagnosed shingles and started me on famciclovir tablets. Because I started treatment so quickly, my case turned out to be mild, lasted about a month, with only mild pain on the back of my neck. According to the hospital, the famciclovir is most effective if started within 24 hours of the outbreak. In my case, it was significantly less than 24 hours.

I've been told I could get a second attack, but typically it would be less severe than the first, so getting the shingles shot is probably not necessary. My shingles was at least 3 or 4 years before my PC diagnosis, so likely no connection at all.

A final word on any vaccinations/injections: I had my annual flu shot in mid-October, which was administered 'way too high on my arm - almost, it seemed, into the shoulder bone itself, and I suffered pain for the better part of a month. The condition, (news to me) even has a name: SIRVA or Shoulder Injury Related To Vaccine Administration.

Check out  http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/6/919.full

and pay attention to where they plan to jab you for those shots.

 

 

 

 

geeze
How stupid can someone who is supposidely trained to give injections be ?

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

differenf

SSW, I live in a different state and our BC plan covers the vaccine in or out of a doctor's office at 100%.  

Ouch ! Our sales taxes here are 5%.  Nearby Tennessee and Florida have no (zero) income tax. Tennessee does have an average sales tax of 7%, but localities do stick on substantial municipal taxes in many areas. I am not sure how medicines are taxed in those states, if at all.

max

Wonderful CA!

Hey Max: I'm a native Californian but I've been thinking about moving out of state for awhile. 

The high cost of living (including taxes) is just one reason BUT I have enough $ to live here.  So, there aren't enough reasons to make me move YET but, if I do, I'd probably move to the Southwest (AZ, NM or TX) which are the most appealing states to me.  I've also thought about moving out of the country -- most likely Mexico -- but it would take even more motivation for me to do that.

Actually, the quality and low cost of medical care under under BS at UCSF is my main reason for staying put where I am.  If I move out of state, I'd still have BS but not UCSF and, if I move to another country, I'd pretty much be own my own as far as medical care is concerned UNLESS I can come back to the US for medical treatment under BS.

 

 

Swingshiftworker said:

Wonderful CA!

Hey Max: I'm a native Californian but I've been thinking about moving out of state for awhile. 

The high cost of living (including taxes) is just one reason BUT I have enough $ to live here.  So, there aren't enough reasons to make me move YET but, if I do, I'd probably move to the Southwest (AZ, NM or TX) which are the most appealing states to me.  I've also thought about moving out of the country -- most likely Mexico -- but it would take even more motivation for me to do that.

Actually, the quality and low cost of medical care under under BS at UCSF is my main reason for staying put where I am.  If I move out of state, I'd still have BS but not UCSF and, if I move to another country, I'd pretty much be own my own as far as medical care is concerned UNLESS I can come back to the US for medical treatment under BS.

 

 

Trend
SSW,
I have read that the Southwest has a lot of former Californians in it, both individuals and corporations. I have not been west of Kansas, but love that region generally. A friend in Colorado Springs tells me Colorado is now "California East."

I am from the Southeast, and we are now under a heavy, long term influx of people escaping the taxes and cold in the Northeast, the so-called "snow birds." Most go initially to Florida, but when they discover that it is too hot there, they become "Half Backs": folks who move half way back, to SC, NC, or Virginia.

All of the former "Rust Belt" industries moved here decades ago, and more continue.
max

Swingshiftworker said:

Cost of Shingles Vaccination

So, I looked into getting a shingles vaccination via my health care provider at UCSF, which is covered by the Hill Physicans Group under CA Blue Shield.

Strangely, UCSF doesn't seem to have any means of providing shots/vaccinations for its health care patients and I've always been directed to get shots elsewhere.  This was no exception.  My doc said he'd send a prescription order for the shot to my local Walgreens.  I called to confirm that they received the order and was told that it was NOT covered by Blue Shield and that it would cost me $225 (plus tax - about 9%) out of pocket.

However, Hill Physicans told me that it is reimburseable up to $250 under my Blue Shield Plan.  In fact, they have a reimbursement form online that I printed out which says the same.  Found it very interesting that the amount of reimbursement is almost exactly what Walgreens will charge me (including tax) for the shot.   I wonder if the cost would be $100 if that's what Blue Shield would pay for the shot instead.  Hmmm . . .

Anyway, since it's fully reimburseable, I guess there's no good reason NOT to get the shot.  So, I'll be getting it shortly -- probably after TG in case there are any unexpected side effects.

 

 

Shingles Shot Reimbursement

I had shingles about fifteen years ago. 

So, after reading this thread, I've decided to get the shingles shot tomorrow at my doctor's office.  Medicare doesn't pay any part of it, I'm told, but my Medicare Supplement (United Health), Part B pays for $20 of the administration fee and Part D pays the serum fee after an $85 deductible.  Without insurance my doctor said to be prepared to write a $250 check.