What Was Your <b>Shingles</b> Experience Like?

So here I am, almost six weeks after developing shingles, which SHOULD be gone by now.

And it’s not.

So it turns out that the pieces of information I had about the onset of shingles, and the duration of shingles, were different for me.

My shingles didn’t begin with burning and a rash.  It began with heavy duty pain in my right shoulder blade.

And long after I should be past it, my shingles is still hanging on. The rash is 99% gone, but the pain… oh the pain.  It seems I have developed post-herpetic neuralgia, the name for shingles that lasts many weeks, months or years beyond the rash.

My frustration is that I spent quite a bit of time roaming the internet for information about that back pain I started with – and found nothing. No references to shingles and this sort of back pain.

So I want to change that for the next person who starts to have the same start-up symptom, so that he or she can figure out it’s shingles, start taking the drugs sooner, and avoid post-herptic neuralgia.  I don’t want others to suffer from shingles like I have.

How about you? If you have had shingles, what was your experience? Did you have the classic symptoms or did you have unusual ones? Any complications? How long did it last?

Read more about my experience with shingles, and then please share your experience, too.  I hope we’ll cover all the possibilities so that when someone else searches, they’ll figure out early on what their diagnosis is…

Then quicker treatment will mean a quicker recovery – I hope!

•  Share Your Shingles Experience (This is a special page for reporting – please don’t comment below with your experience – use this page instead.)

•  Read about my shingles experience - see if any of it sounds familiar to you

• And – regarding the vaccine – try Do As I Say and Not As I Do

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Agree? Disagree?

Share your experience or join the conversation!

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Do You Need the <b>Shingles</b> Vaccine? Small Doses - GoodRx

Shingles (Herpes zoster) is viral illness that can occur later in life if you have had chicken pox (Varicella). It is a common illness in the elderly, and can cause significant discomfort. People with weakened immune systems are also more likely to get shingles.

Shingles occurs when the chicken pox virus reactivates in the body, leading to a blistering rash, nerve pain, and other nerve-related symptoms. When the infection is active, you can’t give anyone else shingles, but you can spread chicken pox to anyone who hasn’t already had it (this is unusual in adults). Shingles can result in chronic symptoms of severe nerve pain, spreading to the eyes or brain, and other complications. One of the most common complications is the development of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is a chronic form of deep nerve pain that occurs in one out of every five affected people.

How do you treat shingles?

Shingles will generally go away on its own. However, treatment will shorten the duration of the outbreak, and reduce your chances of developing post herpetic neuralgia. Treatment involves a short course of antiviral medication during active infection (acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) are most common, and relatively inexpensive generics).

What about the vaccine?

The Zostavax vaccine is recommended if you are above the age of 60 or if you’re at high risk. It should only be given if you don’t have an active infection. You’ll only need to get one shot as a subcutaneous injection.

The vaccine is not a guaranteed cure, meaning that you can still get shingles if you’ve had the vaccination. However, it does substantially lower your risk of getting shingles, and it decreases the severity of nerve pain and complications.

The vaccine is not recommended if you are allergic to any of its components, if you are pregnant, or if you have a weakened immune system. Side effects include localized pain, redness, itching, or bruising. Zostavax is a live vaccine (meaning it contains a weakened version of the virus), so talk to your healthcare provider if you will be in direct contact with pregnant women, newborns, or anyone with a weak immune system.

Where can you get vaccinated?

In most states, you can find the Zostavax vaccine at your pharmacy and have it administered by your pharmacist, with no need for a doctor’s office visit. It is covered under most Medicare plans, and may be covered by your regular insurance; otherwise you can pay cash or use a discount card at your pharmacy.

Always talk to your pharmacist or health care provider if you have any questions.

Till next week,

The GoodRx Pharmacist

Low-cost <b>shingles</b> vaccine available for eligible seniors - Times <b>...</b>

Humboldt County seniors who want the shingles vaccine may be eligible for a reduced immunization fee through the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program.

Department of Health and Human Services Public Health staff members can help seniors apply for a subsidy for the Zostavax shingles vaccine, which is recommended for people 60 and older.

Applications for the patient assistance program for Zostavax are available at the Public Health Clinic, 529 I St. in Eureka, or the Garberville Public Health Clinic, 727 Cedar St. in Garberville. Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Eureka clinic at 268-2108 or the Garberville clinic at 923-2779.

There is a short enrollment process and applicants will know within an hour if they qualify for the reduced Zostavax immunization fee.

People may be eligible for the program if all three of the following conditions apply:

– They reside in the United States.

– They have no health insurance coverage.

– They have an annual household income less than $44,680 for individuals, $60,520 for couples or $82,200 for a family of four.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. Anyone who has had chickenpox may get shingles, though the risk of disease increases as a person gets older. About half of all cases occur among men and women 60 or older. Those with weak immune systems are also more susceptible to shingles.

Shingles usually starts as a painful rash on one side of the face or body, according to the CDC. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clear up within two to four weeks.

The Zostavax vaccine lowers the chances a person will get shingles, shortens and lessens the severity if shingles is contracted and prevents long-term pain that can occur after shingles.

The Daily Dot - Worst bachelor party prank ever ends with <b>shingles</b>

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One groom’s friends planned to kidnap him as part of his bachelor party. What they didn’t expect was for the groom to get shingles and almost miss the wedding as a result.

The friends stopped Ollie McAninch and his fiancée Clair Hart as they drove down a country lane. Wearing ski masks and armed with bats and smoke grenades, the friends grabbed McAninch out of the car. They took him into a nearby van where he was bound, gagged, and dressed in a jumpsuit.

Hart was in on the prank, so she screamed and watched from the car as her fiancé was taken away.

McAninch was under the impression that the stunt was real as he was driven to Devon over 100 miles away. Once he was let in on the joke, he was forced to bike the last 10 miles to his own bachelor party wearing nothing but a green mankini, similar to the one Sacha Baron Cohen donned in Borat.

“For more than two hours I was in that van,” he told the Sun. “I’ve never been so scared.”

As a result of the stunt, McAninch developed a case of shingles, which can sometimes be brought on by stress.

Since sometimes one can pass on symptoms of shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox, McAninch was advised by doctors to avoid contact with Hart for at least a month.

The couple married as scheduled, but the groom has logged the incident “for future vengeance.”

You may want to exclude him from planning the next bachelor party.

H/T Gawker | Photo via jonmillsswns/YouTube

Ollie McAninch: Groom develops <b>shingles</b> after 'kidnap' stag do <b>...</b>

A petrified groom almost didn’t make it to his wedding after being kidnapped by a masked gang as part of an epic stag do prank.

Ollie McAninch, 33, was left so traumatised by the staged abduction that he developed shingles, leaving his big day in doubt.

A groom is kidnapped as part of a stag do prank (Picture: YouTube / jonmillsswns)

The Somerset man was driving along a country lane with his fiancée Clair Hart, who was in on the joke, when 16 of his friends wearing ski masks jumped out of a van.

With smoke grenades adding to the drama, the gang then pulled him out of the car and forced him to wear a Guantanamo Bay-style jumpsuit.

The masked men drove the groom over 100 miles away (Picture: YouTube / jonmillsswns)

They tied his hands and threw him in the back of a van before driving him over 100 miles away to Devon where they let him in on the prank.

‘For more than two hours I was in that van. I’ve never been so scared,’ he told The Sun.

Best stag do prank ever? The group surround Ollie (Picture: YouTube / jonmillsswns)

He was then told to cycle ten miles to his real stag do dressed in a Borat-style green mankini.

The marketing consultant later developed a painful rash as a result of the ordeal and was advised by doctors to stay away from his bride-to-be for a month.

Ollie developed shingles after his ordeal (Picture: YouTube / jonmillsswns)

‘I was really worried I would miss the big day,’ he said.

The wedding went ahead as planned earlier this week, with the groom vowing to get revenge on his prankster mates.

MORE: Groom tricked by friends into stag party ‘bungee jump’

Vaccination against <b>shingles</b> for adults: Q&As for healthcare <b>...</b>

Shingles is a common disease that can cause long-lasting, severe pain. It can cause permanent disability, and it occurs more frequently in those over 70 years old, who are also more likely to have worse symptoms

It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox – varicella zoster.

A universal routine herpes zoster (shingles) vaccination programme for adults aged over 70 years will start in September 2013. The aim of the universal vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles disease in older people.

<b>Shingles</b> vaccination: training slideset for healthcare professionals <b>...</b>

[unable to retrieve full-text content]This slideset contains an update for healthcare practitioners on the shingles vaccination programme.

<b>Shingles</b> (herpes zoster): the green book, chapter 28a - Publications <b>...</b>

Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of a latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, sometimes decades after the primary infection.

Primary VZV infection typically occurs during childhood and causes chickenpox (varicella). Following primary VZV infection, the virus enters the sensory nerves and travels along the nerve to the sensory dorsal root ganglia and establishes a permanent latent infection. It is not known what causes reactivation of the latent virus, which leads

to the clinical manifestations of shingles, but reactivation is usually associated with conditions that depress the immune system such as immunosuppressive therapy, HIV infection and/or old age.

The incidence of shingles in England and Wales is estimated to be around 790 to 880 cases per 100,000 people per year for those aged 70 to 79 years.

The risk and severity of shingles increases with age.

Introduction of <b>shingles</b> vaccine for people aged 70 and 79 years <b>...</b>

From 1 September 2013, we plan to:

• offer routine vaccinations to people aged 70 years old to provide protection against shingles


• introduce a catch-up immunisation programme for people aged 79 years

The effectiveness of the vaccine declines with age and so it is not recommended for people aged 80 years or older.

Which are the Best Roofing <b>Shingles</b> for Your Home in Ottawa?

If you’re looking into installing roofing shingles to your home you may be wondering which material is the best for your home in Ottawa. Click here to learn more about the most popular type of shingles. There are a few to choose from, so it’s best to understand how each functions and the cost to match up with your budget. You can also call the Ottawa Roofing Professionals today at (613) 800-3131 for a FREE quote on installation and roofing services.

Ottawa Roofing Shingles

Asphalt

• Most popular choice because it is inexpensive


• Shortest lifespan of the major roofing materials


• Least environmentally friendly – asphalt is made with petroleum, which is a major contributor to global warming, and recycling for asphalt is rare so most end up in our landfills

Cedar (“Organic”)

• Most expensive due to not only the material, but especially because of labour & installation costs


• Slow installation since each shingle is nailed to the roof, usually by hand


• High in maintenance because you want to keep it as dry as possible


• May need to add a fire deterrent


• Time & weather will reduce performance


• “Organic” because they can be composted

Fiberglass

• High durability because it absorbs less moisture & is more resistant to heat


• Usually holds up better if a roof has poor ventilation


• More resistant than organic

Metal Roofing Shingles Ottawa

Metal

• Not cheap, but worth the investment as it lasts 2-3x longer than asphalt


• Easy to install


• Fire-resistant


• Excellent durability


• Environmentally friendly – recyclable, some are even made from recycled metal

Rubber

• Environmentally friendly – made from recycled rubber


• Excellent lifespan


• Aesthetically pleasing – manufactured to look like either slate or concrete

For more guidance on which material would be best for your home in Ottawa, as well as what shingle options we have available for you (algae, wind, hail, solar, etc.), just call the Ottawa Roofing Professionals today at (613) 800-3131. You can also get a FREE quote for shingle installation services!

Lastly, no matter which type of shingle you choose, for either preference, environmental or financial reasons, quality is key when it comes to the shingles you use. A high quality is always best to choose. It is better to have high-quality asphalt shingles than low-quality fiberglass or cedar shingles. You also should make sure that they are properly installed in order for your roof to last. If it’s improperly done, it will not last; if it’s done right, you only need to do it once. With the Ottawa Roofing Professionals, you can rest assured that our trusted pre-screened trades professionals can repair or install a roof for you with professional workmanship guaranteed. To have peace of mind and have your roofing shingles properly installed, call the Ottawa Roofing Professionals today at (613) 800-3131. At Ottawa Roofing Professionals, we give you superior quality and excellent service to provide you with affordable modified bitumen roof installation.

Roof Shingles Price

Roofing Shingles Prices

Best Roofing Shingles

Solar Roof Shingles

<b>Shingles</b>: Should I Get Vaccinated? - Medicare Made Clear Blog

Shingles: Should I Get Vaccinated?

Shingles, also referred to as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Even after the chickenpox is gone, the virus stays inside the body and can “wake up” years later and cause shingles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will get shingles. There are an estimated 1 million cases each year in this country. About half of all cases happen to men and women 60 years old or older.

There is no cure for shingles, but there are medicines to help lessen symptoms and shorten the length of the infection. Getting vaccinated can help prevent getting shingles at all.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

• 
  

   The first symptoms of shingles are usually pain and burning. The pain is usually on one side of the body and generally occurs in small patches.

  
  
  



• 
  

   An itchy, red rash typically follows. The rash can wrap around from the spine to the torso. It can also occur on the face and ears.

  
  
  



• 
  

   Eventually, the rash can turn into fluid-filled blisters that break and form a crust.

  
  
  

Some people experience other symptoms as well, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle weakness or an upset stomach.

Most cases of shingles clear up within two to four weeks. Shingles rarely recurs more than once in the same individual.

Complications from Shingles

Complications are rare, however they can occur. Complications may include:

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  long-term pain as a result of nerve damage

  
  
  



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  bacterial skin infection

  
  
  



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  vision loss if the shingles occurs near or in the eye

  
  
  



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  Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which occurs when shingles affects a facial nerve, causing facial paralysis and hearing loss

  
  
  



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  death

  
  
  

Who’s at Risk?

Shingles can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. However, there are certain factors that can increase the risk for some people, including:

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  being 60 or older

  
  
  



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  having had chickenpox before the age of 1

  
  
  



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  having a disease that weaken the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer

  
  
  



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  having had chemotherapy or radiation treatment

  
  
  



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  taking drugs that weaken the immune system, such as steroids or medications given after an organ transplant

  
  
  

Prevention is Key

Adults who have never had chickenpox should get the chickenpox vaccine.  The vaccine does not always mean that you won’t get chickenpox, but it can help reduce the severity of your symptoms.

Adults who are age 60 or older should get a shingles vaccine. This vaccine can help prevent severe shingles symptoms or complications from shingles.

The vaccine may even help people who have already had shingles by helping to prevent them from getting it again.

Does Medicare Pay for the Vaccine?

Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine; however, you may have to pay a copayment. Many private health insurance plans also cover the vaccine for people age 60 and over. Some plans cover the vaccine for people age 50 to 59. Talk to your plan provider to find out if you are covered for the vaccine.

Talk to your doctor to find out if you should get vaccinated or if you have questions about the disease. 

For more information, contact the Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048. If you have questions about Medicare Made Clear, call 1-877-619-5582, TTY 711, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Resources:

Shingles Overview Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)

Shingles American Academy of Dermatology (aad.org)

Shingles: Symptoms, risks, treatment, prevention–MedicareMadeClear.com

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