Shingles Support Group

Though it is rare to get a second outbreak of shingles (about 10%) the Zostavax will work to PREVENT a second occurrence
Dr O

I also had shingles about 2 months ago and I am scared that I might get them again. I have heard that if you are under a lot of stress they could break out again. I don't want them again. I had them under my left arm by my arm pit and some on my wrist and they were very painful. I am 49 yrs old and that was the last thing I thought I could get. Should I get the vacinne to prevent it.

didnt know there was a vaccine for shingles!!good grief! I suffer from it in one eye,the kast one was very severe.The silly thing was that the doctor diagnosed me with conjunctivitis!!huh?..I pleaded for my medication,got it after crying the hospital down,was very stressed with it,and after the 3rd tablet,I felt better!!!
I know my symptoms,before the initial onset,why cant a doctor ????
Dont have much faith with the medical system,and can the vaccine be bought in australia?

My pops was MISDIAGNOSED as having a poor reaction to a dog bite...however, a couple days later (after the outbreak became full-blown to his right upper arm, armpit, right chest, and right shoulder blade) he was confirmed as having the WORST case of Shingles that doc had EVER SEEN!!

I cannot stand to watch my pop go through this!! It sickens me to see him suffer...it sickens me to see him suffer the SAME type of nerve-related pain I have had since 2004.

It seems that he is in Stage 3-4 right about now, however, he still has some sebaceous cysts (right in the fold of his armpit). He is in horrible pain...he says it feels like fish hooks are being pulled from his skin!!

Can he get a vaccination right now!!?? ALSO...is anyone familiar with Zomidex? I found it on the left side of this page....in the ads by Google under treatfast.com/shingles...

I'm 45 and in the process of going to get the vaccination for shingles. They say you have to be free of the blisters for 6 wks before getting it. I've had reoccurrences about every 2-3 months for the last year or two. Shew....about to blow my mind....

I am only 21, and have had shingles twice.

I do not know a lot about the shingles virus in particular, but in general, vaccines are designed to mimic the pathogen (in this case the Herpes zoster virus). Typically, either noninfectious portions, or heat killed viruses are injected. It is intended that this will stimulate the immune system against the pathogen, so when the real thing tries to invade, your immune system is ready to fight it off.

This makes me skeptical about a vaccine for shingles. Shingles results when the virus that has remained dormant since you had chicken pox, becomes active again. So your immune system always has been exposed to it, how would a vaccine help?

Also, I had it twice in six months. What better 'vaccine' can you get than having the full blwon infection?

I am a little skeptical about the vaccine myself, and I am also fearful of injecting anything that could mimic the virus into my system. I am also terrified of getting the shingles again and I am constantly vigilant of this. Doctors will tell you that you can't get it again or that it is rare, but it seems many people in the group have had it many times. I don't want to ever go through having it again!

April

i have had shingles outbreaks twice within the past 18 months. i have phn that has changed my life dramatically. i am on many medications to ease the pain, however nothing works. i have lost 20 ibs., i am starting to become depressed. i had never experienced nerve pain before and it is like a pit bull has latched on to my left side and won't let go....24/7 the pain continues.

I am in the very small percentage of people who developed shingles (not a-typical) over 13 years ago. It has literally taken my life away with pain/fatigue/weakness. Sometimes for me the weakness is worse than the pain. I just feel like I will be out and I am going to drop on the floor. What I have found (from my experience) is that this disease is viewed by most doctors as one that is a one-time thing. You get it and it goes away. It took awhile for my doctor to realize how serious this is. The PHN resulted from the recurrent shingles. But I had a case where it did not even have to come to the surface. It was just there. In fact, it is always present in my spine. I have done research about the vaccine and found that it does help those who have had shingles for the first time. Several doctors and pharmacists told me that if you have had recurrent shingles for a number of years, it will not help you. And, for me, I cannot imagine injecting this disease into my body when I have just gone through one of the worst bouts with it in my life in August. I even lost part of my hair this time. So, it is a personal choice. But I do know women who have had it and got the vaccine right away to stop it from coming back further and of course to stop any neuro damages. I just hope that we find something to fight the damaging effects of shingles and subsequent neuro damage soon. I keep checking on clinical trials, but we our monies and sources are limited. Best of luck to all.