So my sister has the shingles.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

The poor girl is miserable- hope it doesn't last very long.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

Ouch! I hope it doesn't last too long too. Isn't she taking care of you? I hope you two are managing all right.

[HeiressofBickworth]

2. I know two people who have had shingles

One had it across her neck and suffered greatly. The other had it in her eye causing her to have a cornea transplant that now, after 7 years, has failed and she has to have additional surgery on her eye. She is nearly blind in that eye. Thanks for posting this; it reminds me to make an appointment for the shingles vaccine.

[AtomicKitten]

3. It is supposed to be really, really painful.

[pinboy3niner]

4. I hope she gets through it soon

I've known a couple of people who had to deal with shingles, and it was very painful for them. When they got through it, though, it was like being reborn for them. They could've done the "Oh, what a relief it is!" commercials.

Best wishes for your sister.

[sarge43]

5. Has she been to a doctor? There are meds that can give some relief from the pain.

Any relief is better than none.

The shingles virus is the chickenpox virus gone over to the dark side. If anyone had chickenpox as a kid, possible to get shingles. There is a vaccine now for shingles. Get it. As note shingles can be a dangerous condition.

[hedgehog]

6. From the CDC:

The vaccine for shingles (Zostavax®) is recommended for use in people 60 years old and older to prevent shingles. The older a person is, the more severe the effects of shingles typically are, so all adults 60 years old or older should get the shingles vaccine.

The shingles vaccine is specifically designed to protect people against shingles and will not protect people against other forms of herpes, such as genital herpes. The shingles vaccine is not recommended to treat active shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone) once it develops.

Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific time that you must wait after having shingles before receiving the shingles vaccine. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your health care provider. Generally, a person should make sure that the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vacc-need-know.htm

[csziggy]

9. I plan to get the shingles vaccine as soon as possible

For over forty years I've had an infection in my left hand. A couple of years ago it was finally diagnosed as the herpes zoster virus. When it flares up, it feels as though someone is putting a cigarette out on the spot. Fortunately, it is only a small area and only flares up every year or two, though it can do it more when I am stressed. Oncve it was diagnosed as herpes, I could take Valtrix to control it and shorten the duration. Previously my doctor thought it was an anti-biotic resistant strep infection, so this is a big relief.

I turned 60 three weeks ago but could not get the vaccination due to my knee replacement surgery. My doctor is interested to see if the shingles vaccination will stop this infection from recurring. Plus I am very likely to get shingles since I had chicken pox as a child. Hopefully when I see my regular doctor in a couple of weeks I will be cleared for the vaccination since it will be four weeks out from my last knee replacement.

This is what gives us hope:

Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific time that you must wait after having shingles before receiving the shingles vaccine. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your health care provider. Generally, a person should make sure that the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated.

[hedgehog]

10. I wasn't aware that you could get shingles more than once,

or that the vaccine will prevent a second occurrence!

[csziggy]

11. Apparently so

I know I have had this same herpes zoster infection flare us many, many times over the forty years I have had it.

I hope the vaccine works - while the Valtrix shortens the length of time of the flare, it does not stop it and the place still really hurts a LOT.

[Fla Dem]

15. My doctor, had been after me for a couple of years to get the vaccine. I kept putting it off.

Then my sister got the shingles. She was so miserable and in so much pain. Needless to say, I got the vaccine. I am now after her to get it as well. A person who has had the shingles has a better chance of getting it again and much more severely. The vaccine is still effective even for those people who have had the shingles in the past.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Very sorry to hear that. My hubby had it for a few months last fall. My uncle had it 3 times &

has permanent damage to the nerves in his leg from it.

[geardaddy]

8. I hate shingles.

Had 'em once. I can sympathize with your sister. Hope she's better soon.

[Raven]

12. I had it once and it is miserable. Lasted

for about a month as I recall. It was on my neck and the left side of my face. It had gotten just to the edge of my eye when it stopped. I didn't realize until I read this thread that I could get it again...a shot is definately in my future!

[RebelOne]

13. Did she have chicken pox as a child? There have been notices on TV

that if you had chicken pox as a child, you are more apt to get shingles when are an adult. I had chicken pox, and fortunately, I have never had shingles. Hope your sister recovers soon.

[HopeHoops]

14. Just read today that it's usually two weeks (and the shot won't help a damn bit).