# So I Have Shingles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448 "2024-05-12T15:32:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/81 "2024-06-23T20:53:27Z")
What kind of place did you work at, where she was allowed to do that? I had an elderly grocery-store customer who suddenly had chest pain that her doctors couldn’t quite figure out, until she woke up one morning with a big stripe of shingles under her left breast. Later, she came in wearing a nylon windbreaker in 100-degree heat, and said, “I’m 82 years old and had 4 children; I’m not into that braless look!” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/82 "2024-06-23T21:10:00Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > What kind of place did you work at, where she was allowed to do that? This was in the 90s and a small manufacturing plant. It was a nice company in some ways, but allowed some odd things in other ways. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/83 "2024-06-23T21:34:09Z")
A phase I/II trial of a Pfizer mRNA shingles vaccine began in February 2023. I haven’t seen any updates. Meanwhile, another form of mRNA shingles vaccine has reportedly been very effective in (literal) [guinea pigs](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202310886). ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/84 "2024-06-24T02:41:53Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I don’t want to have to talk Mr. brown into getting it again in ten years I’ve read recently where they stop recommending them for people 80 and older because by 80 most immune systems aren’t robust enough to gain enough immunity from it to offset the vaccine side effects many experience, so if you or hubs are north of 71 or so, isn’t going to be an issue as things are currently in the US. I’m hoping by the time I’m 80 they will have developed a kinder, gentler vaccine that works ok for us geezers. **🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻** I’m _just_ old enough to have gotten the even nastier Zostavax two-fer series a few years before the much more effective Shingrix duo came out, so I got to do it twice. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/85 "2024-06-24T03:47:23Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I’m _just_ old enough to have gotten the even nastier Zostavax two-fer series a few years before the much more effective Shingrix duo came out, so I got to do it twice. I had them both, but if I had a bad reaction to either, I really don’t recall it. I guess I’ve been lucky? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/86 "2024-06-24T04:19:29Z")
It’s been over 6 weeks since I got it around the eyes and I’m still fighting it. It seems to be retreating from the back of my head but the core areas around the right side of my face are still active. By active I mean pain and swelling but no blisters. I’ve had 2 episodes of pain that were way beyond the pain I had in the hospital for 4 days. They came on instantly with no warning. The first one was pain around the eye and the 2nd felt like I had pepper spray in my sinuses. Both times my only thought was an ambulance couldn’t arrive in time. This was “I would rather die” kind of pain. Luckily I discovered ice to the temple area shuts it right down. And I mean right down. So if anybody has a similar event then put an ice cube directly on the area that seems most affected. Mine is my temple area. If you have Shingles around the eyes then keep a zip-lock with ice in the freezer or freeze water bottles. I now carry a frozen water bottle with me everywhere. I carry it in a Yeti bottle and I carry that in an insulated lunch box. I’m doing OK managing pain but my eye is still swollen to the point I can’t effectively see without causing pain in that eye. I would gladly get a shot every year if that’s what it took to avoid this. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/87 "2024-06-24T04:28:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I would gladly get a shot every year if that’s what it took to avoid this. I am so sorry this is happening to you. Sadly the duration of it is not unusual. I’m hoping post-hepatatic neuralgia is not in your future. Thank you for the tip about the ice, I’m going to remember it. > [@Magiver](#): > > So if anybody has a similar event then put an ice cube directly on the area that seems most affected And get yourself to an ophthalmologist that same day. If that isn’t possible get to an Emergency Room that will get an ophthalmologist to come to you. Shingles anywhere near an eye are not to be messed with, either pain wise or risk to eyesight. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/88 "2024-06-24T05:23:02Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I am so sorry this is happening to you. Sadly the duration of it is not unusual. I’m hoping post-hepatatic neuralgia is not in your future. Thanks BippityBoppityBoo. I’m glad I had ice handy and got the pain sorted out quickly. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/89 "2024-06-26T04:40:24Z")
So, just reporting to this thread, I hit 50 this month. Back in #25, I mentioned that in my early 40s, I had some comprehensive blood work that showed I hadn’t had chickenpox, and immediately got the varicella vax, because, duh. Which means I _probably_ wouldn’t develop shingles at all, but no test is perfect, and so, today, out of an abundance of caution, got my first Shingrix dose. Injection site pain, and now, about 11 hours later, I’m absolutely running a moderate fever, but otherwise okay. My doctor was totally okay with extra care, and stated she was surprised and happy that I asked for it considering my brand-new status as oldish fart. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/90 "2024-06-26T13:56:52Z")
I had shingles a couple years ago. No matter how nasty the vaccine side effects may be, they CAN’T possibly approach actual shingles. I’m eligible for the vaccine in a couple months. I’ll be first in line that morning. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/91 "2024-06-26T15:14:17Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > I had shingles a couple years ago. No matter how nasty the vaccine side effects may be, they CAN’T possibly approach actual shingles. Enough people telling me this over the years was why I got that first shot on my 50th birthday. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/92 "2024-06-26T16:23:55Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s been over 6 weeks since I got it around the eyes and I’m still fighting it. Oh, you poor man. I am so sorry you are going through this and hope that it clears up soon. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/93 "2024-06-26T18:39:31Z")
Shingrix first shot update: 24 hours later. Last night was… unpleasant. Much higher fever than earlier, head and body aches, alternating between sweating and chills. Sleep was, as to be expected, crap. Got up this morning, added more NSAID, and back to about where I was in my prior report: achy (especially injection site) with some head and body pain (which may be just as related to the horrible sleep), and low to mid range fever. But no more sweating/freezing cycles. With only a little luck, more/better sleep, and enough painkillers, figure I’ll be able to do everything I need to do tomorrow. NOT looking forward to the second jab at the end of August (thankfully scheduled right before the weekend) but it’s a necessary “evil”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/94 "2024-06-26T19:29:22Z")
Husband’s getting the shot this weekend. Wish me luck! 🤞 I mean, him. Wish him luck. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/95 "2024-06-26T19:46:37Z")
🤞 Best of luck wished. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/96 "2024-06-26T23:36:04Z")
Definitely wishing him good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/97 "2024-06-27T03:40:50Z")
FYI, I’m finding that using ice to help lower swelling in my eyelid seems to agitate the surrounding affected areas later on. Not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/98 "2024-06-27T03:57:09Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Oh, you poor man. I am so sorry you are going through this and hope that it clears up soon. Thanks. I’m making progress but it’s taking way longer than I thought. Yesterday was the 1st day I could open both eyes at the same time without double vision. It’s kinda wonky but eventually both eyes sync up. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/99 "2024-06-27T12:34:59Z")
This is making me really glad I got the shot a few days ago. It’s been almost a week and the pain in my arm has pretty well subsided by now. I just went in for a routine checkup and the doc says “Want some Shingrix?” and I shrugged “sure.” That was a lucky break; I wouldn’t have thought of it otherwise. Besides a sore arm I got fatigued for several days. No big. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448/100 "2024-06-27T12:39:34Z")
And don’t forget to get the second shot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-shingles/1001448.md?page=6)