Is Shingles a real problem or are all the ads on teevee just hype?

[Stinky The Clown]

I know what Shingles are. I know a few people who had them, and it isn't any fun at all.

But what's with all the teevee ads for Shingles remedies?

[Warpy]

1. If you have had chicken pox, it's a real potential disaster

The herpes zoster virus likes to hide in nerve tissue, where the blood/brain barrier prevents efficient immune system disposal. It just waits for us to get older with somewhat weakened immune systems or a high stress level and up it pops, following the route of whatever spinal nerve it's been hiding in. That can be around the midsection, down arms or legs, or most worrisome, anywhere around the head or neck.

Intensely painful in any place it strikes, it can cause blindness if it migrates into the eyes and there are even fatal cases where inflammation has spread to the brain.

So yeah, it's a real problem. Unfortunately, the vaccine is quite expensive, so most people are taking their chances.

[CTyankee]

27. My PCP says that the fact that I have had repeat episodes of zoster (mild) might mitigate

against my having a full blown case of shingles. But might not. We just don't know. Right now I am counting on it keeping me from a full blown case but I really don't know. What do you think?

[elleng]

2. I haven't seen any ads about shingles,

but suggest the stuff, unless its the prophylactic injection available from MDs, may be bogus hype. (I've received the innoculation, and Dad had shingles a few years ago.)

What Warpy said.

[Blue Owl]

3. I thought Shingles was the nickname Mitt Romney gave to his dog

n/t

[madrchsod]

4. if you are an old guy like me...yes

but since i`m on that government insurance plan the booster shot costs me close to nothing as do my flu shots....hmmm and a lot of basic check ups that i used to have to pay for are now free or dam near nothing.

dam government insurance !

[Rain Mcloud]

5. Stinky

may I call You Stinky?
I love that name.
What I hear is that the vaccine has a limited span of about 15 years.
I was told to wait until I am older to get it since I am but a young 50 years old.
I had Shicken Pox bad as a kid and am scarred to hell and gone from them,so I dread getting Shingles.
If someone has better information,then I would be delighted to hear it as well and not rely on the street soliloquies from a man who knows a man who knows a doctor et. al. infinitum.
Damn shots are like $300 bucks and I doubt my caddilac state insurance covers it.
Thanks for bring this up,would love to hear more from the greybeard's here on DU.

[pnwmom]

7. I think it's possible to get the vaccine twice, if you live long enough.

[Rain Mcloud]

13. I looked on WebMD

and maybe I won't screw up the link.[link:http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-vaccine|
Hope this answers some questions.
I think I'll get the shot,regardless of insurance.

[Nay]

16. At Walgreen's, the shot is $219. I think that around $200 is the usual cost. My health plan

paid for half, and I got the shot on the day I turned 60. (insurance won't pay for anyone under age 60 to get the shot.)

[pnwmom]

6. My sister had it and it was awful. I'm getting the vaccine.

That's better than some remedy.

[Roselma]

8. It is horrible. My mom had shingles and

said it felt like someone was holding a blow torch to her arm (where she broke out). Her doctor took pity upon her due to her pain and admitted her to the hospital for three days so that they could pump her full of pain meds and she could sleep. Overall, her attack lasted about 7 months during which time she was using huge amounts of hydromorphone. That was years ago, so maybe they have some other treatment. But when mom had it, she said the pain beat anything she'd ever suffered before in her life - that includes the pain of giving birth to six kids, the pain of fractures, and the pain of cancer. When I am of the suggested age, I'm getting that vaccination.

[pipoman]

9. My favorite shingles story,,

http://dontevenreply.com/view.php?post=67

[laconicsax]

11. !

[grasswire]

10. I had it as an adult

I was sick for a good month -- out of it the first week. Tylenol 3 worked for me for pain. It appeared as a rash on my trunk. I had no idea what was causing my pain, but the doc spotted the rash and knew immediately.

So I guess the warnings are a good idea.

[Politicalboi]

12. I've seen those commercials

I don't know if it's hype. But the commercial I don't see anymore was one with women in it telling you to call 911 if you feel chest pains. Or if you feel hot, or if your arm tingles. I couldn't believe all the things they were saying to call 911. So menopausal women should call 911 when they get flashes? Not all chest pains are a heart attack. Not all tingles in the arms are a heart attack. The commercial seemed to over do it.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. My grandmother had it years ago. There was no real treatment then.

My sister had it recently and it was very painful, but now treatable.

[Uben]

15. I had shingles in '97.....

...at age 42. Them buggers are tough! My wife had them last year. You DO NOT want them! When I had them, there was really nothing they could do for you, so any product that eases the discomfort would be welcomed. I would take the vaccine, but since I've already had them, a reoccurrence is rare. BEst way to avoid them....stay healthy.

[newfie11]

17. It affects people differently

I had it and yes it is painful. I was on vacation ( at home) and had chest pain but no skin lesions for a week. My doctor kept saying it sure sounds like shingles. I did stress tests, ekg, etc looking for heart problems. Nothing. Finally the lesions showed up on a line from the front to the back of my chest. I called the doctor and let her know it was shingles. She prescribed a drug for it. In my case it went away after about a week and the pain stopped also. I did not take the drug she prescribed but used something else. I have many drug allergies.

I hear the horror stories and know some folks that lived them. Shingles is not always bad but it can be. I was told stress can bring it on. In my case it was the neighbor from hell. LOL.

[liberal N proud]

18. If you get them, it is a problem

Otherwise, it looks like another pharmaceutical company pushing drugs.

[mopinko]

19. the demographics make it a big deal.

boomers are at the age when they are going to start getting them, and most of us had the chicken pox as a kid.
thanks to "obamacare" i was able to get the vaccine for free.

[cbayer]

20. You are hearing about it because the vaccine is relatively new.

To be honest, I found out about the vaccine about 2 weeks too late and probably would have gotten it had I known it was available.

Shingles can be a debilitating nightmare.

[mopinko]

26. you should still get it.

it lessens or stop subsequent outbreaks. i had a tiny outbreak, and was told to get the vaccine anyway. hope that is the end of it.

[hedgehog]

21. Shingles put my MIL in the hospital and left her with scarred corneas.

So, yes, it can be a real problem!

[Odin2005]

22. I've been told it hurts like hell.

Fortunately I've had the chicken pox vaccine, so I'm safe.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. Shingles Vaccine Update

I emailed my doctor. She said I should get a vaccine. It is covered under my plan.

[cbayer]

24. Good idea. It's a wretched condition and if you can safely avoid it, you should.

I would give you details, but I'm eating lunch.

[HuckleB]

25. Why are you watching television?

Let's start there, and then we can get to the propaganda.

[eShirl]

28. the anti-shingles VACCINE (not remedy) is new

if you don't get the vaccine, you may one day develop shingles and be desperate to find an adequate remedy until it goes away on its own

[Stinky The Clown]

29. I got the vaccine. See number 25, above.

The shot was no big deal, but my doc says the disease IS a big deal.

[eShirl]

30. my point was the vaccine is to *prevent* developing it, not a *treatment* for full blown shingles

Sorry, I know I used the word "you" when I should have used the word "one;" I didn't mean you personally.

[SheilaT]

31. My younger son, (he's 25 now) came home

from his freshman or sophomore year of college with an odd rash that ran a very narrow path down one side of his neck. I sent him to the family doctor, and now cannot recall what the doctor said. A day or two later son came to me and said, "Mom, I think I have shingles. Let me show you what I found on the internet."

Sure enough. He went back to the doctor, got some sort of treatment that was quite effective in short time. What's not entirely clear to me if someone that young getting shingles so early is more at risk for getting it again. He'd originally had chicken pox when he was about three or four. Normally it's the many decades later that something triggers shingles, which is why older folks are encouraged to get the vaccine.

I also understand that it is the very fact that kids today get a chicken pox vaccine rather than getting the actual disease is why older people are now getting shingles at far larger rates than in the past. Apparently, being re-exposed to the chicken pox virus helped keep the immune system working properly rather than allowing the virus to re-activate as shingles. Which might indicate that once the population of people who got chicken pox rather than the vaccine for it dies off, shingles will also disappear.

[Irishonly]

32. I have had shingles

We didn't have insurance at the time so we doctored ourselves. I am not sure if there were any medications at the time but I can tell you I was miserable. The scars have faded now but my trunk was covered for several years. I am thrilled there is relief for shingles.