Originally Posted by
Jim3k
I dunno about the suicide part, but the life-altering feature is accurate and very tough. I had been given the first shingles vaccine in 2010 (I think). It was known for being about 50% effective. I was in the wrong 50% and got shingles on Valentines day last year. The shingles was extremely uncomfortable, but bearable. It was, and is, the post-herpetic neuralgia which has been the life-altering factor now consuming my daily life. The shingles attacked my right forearm and ring and little fingers. I am daily gobsmacked by pains covering the gamut from the electrical-style to simply a slow burn. The prescribed medication, gabapentin/neurontin, is helpful, though sometimes only marginally so. When things are really bad, I have to resort to an opioid, Norco. That at least helps me sleep. The docs have said the neuralgia lasts only about a year, but I'm past that now. The pain has changed some. Perhaps not as unbearable, or maybe I've learned what to expect and can steel myself against it.
Anyway, it affects appetite, energy level, balance, coordination and sleep pattern. And, as mentioned above, shingles can return. The chickenpox virus is one that continues to give; it sits in the nervous system waiting to strike. So my wife, fearful of what happened to me, got the Shingrex vaccine. And I did, too. I have now scared everybody I know into getting it. My wife had no reaction other than a few days of arm pain at the injection site. I only had a few hours. We are both in our seventies. People our age do not weather this off-the-wall type of attack well.
So my message is, spend the money if you have to, but if you had chickenpox get the two-shot Shingrex. Do it today. I think Medicare covers it and most insurance plans will, too. You don't need a prescription. My HMO covered the full price.