Shingles?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/jessek]

I think it’s a few years before I’m eligible for the vaccine but I’m getting it as soon as I can.

[u/Wild-Sky-4807 → u/jessek]

If you have already had shingles, you are at risk for getting it again. This means you might be able to get the vaccine sooner. Just posting this for anybody who might find it useful. That's how I got mine at 45 instead of 50.

[u/cupcake_burglary → u/jessek]

I just signed up for it at CVS online. They didn't care. Sometimes they'll ask, other times they'll just do it for you. If you're worried, just dial for dollars until someone says sure, why not.

Why it's gate kept for a certain age anyway idk. I had it when I was 17, am I still too young now? What a stupid argument, just let me do the thing

[u/unbalancedcentrifuge]

Sorry you are dealing with this...I hear it is unpleasant.

We are the generation most vulnerable to shingles. Theory is that, use to be you got the chicken pox and then were re-exposed decades later when your kids got it and this boosted your immunity. However, our kids got the vaccine so they never got chickenpox and we never got our immunity "boosted". Now when our immune system weakens, that little virus can crawl right back down a ganglion and cause painful chaos.

Everyone else, go get shingles vaccines. I think they might be loosening up the age requirements.

[u/SmallSaltyMermaid]

I know two peers who both had an outbreak before 50. And fun fact ladies, our hormones can trigger an outbreak. Another fun possibility of perimenopause.

As soon as I’m eligible to get the vaccine at 50, I will definitely get it

[u/natty628 → u/SmallSaltyMermaid]

Oh fuck me i can’t handle one more inconvenience because of this bitch. 

[u/satype]

Talk to your PCP, they can write a RX to authorize you to get the Shingrix vaccine before age 50. Brace yourself though, the induced fever and chills can be intense.

[u/SaltBag666]

I got it and went to the ER. The vaccine is only approved for 50+. For pain I was prescribed gabapentin. I also took a lot of Tylenol and cold showers multiple times a day. Good luck. Fuck shingles.

[u/GingerLawyerGirl]

Idk if this will work for everyone, but I deadass went to Walgreen's and lied about having an underlying condition so they'd give me the shingles vaccine before 50. I said I had Crohn's. Pharmacist didn't ask any questions -- just gave me the Shingrix vax.

Too many of my friends have had shingles in their 30/40s and I did NOT want to be next. I feel a billion times safer having had the vax. 10/10 would lie to the pharmacist again. 🤷‍♀️

[u/No_Distribution_9590]

I'm eligible for the vaccine in two years. Someone told me to get it as soon as possible. They said they got shingles 1 day short of being eligible. How sucky is that?!?!?!

[u/MajesticEmergency]

I had it in my early 30s. It took me 2 days to even realize what it was. So painful. I wish I knew what could make it subside faster, but get well soon.

[u/cthulhu_on_my_lawn]

Way too many people my age getting shingles, given I'm not eligible for the vaccine yet.

[u/Frosty_Cloud_2888]

How old are you? I had the pox as an early teen and it was miserable. One of the worst experiences of my life.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/Frosty_Cloud_2888]

However bad chickenpox was, shingles is a berjillion times worse.

Source: I've had both.

[u/probablyatargaryen]

In case this helps anyone, almost all docs will give a prescription for Shingrix if asked. You just have to pay out of pocket for the shots ($400-600). On someone else’s advice, I (41 at the time) took my script to Costco and the pharmacist charged my insurance without asking any questions.

I know that won’t work with everyone’s insurance, but if you are prepared to pay out of pocket anyway, check Costco first. You don’t have to be a member to use their pharmacy.

[u/slover-the-moon]

Had it in my 30s. Calamine lotion. The pink stuff. Helped a lot.

[u/feeen1ks]

I got a stye in my eye last week, eye swollen shut. Had no idea what was up so went to urgent care and the doctor asked if I had chickenpox as a kid because she wanted to rule shingles out. New fear was unlocked. IT CAN START IN OUR FUCKING EYE?!?!?!?

Thankfully this isn’t that, it’s just a clogged oil duct behind my eyelid. It still hurts really bad, but nowhere near what I imagine shingles feels like.

[u/krystopher]

Careful if it goes near your eye. I was sent to an ophthalmologist and got a prescription. Had to follow up to make sure the infection didn’t spread there.

I randomly got shingles after being under general anesthesia and thought I had a reaction to that.

[u/catsdelicacy]

I got shingles when I was 40 fucking years old

I went to the clinic and said I think I might have shingles and this 22 year old doctor told me I wasn't old enough to have shingles.

He sounded pretty embarrassed when he called a few days later to tell me I did have shingles but now it was too late for meds to stop it so good luck with those symptoms.

Which are awful. I got a 4 inch strip on the back of my waist and that sounds like nothing, right?

My whole existence became narrowed down to that patch, which burned and itched to a level I cannot properly describe.

Also I just had miserable flu symptoms, chills and fevers, muscle pain, all that garbage.

I went to my actual doctor when I recovered and told her I wanted the shingles vaccine. She told me I didn't need it now I'd had it and I told her i shouldn't have had shingles already and she gave me the shot.

Aaaaargh!

[u/Traditional-Goose-60]

Shingles. I am stubborn. I am a carpenter and when it started hurting, I thought I tore a muscle, like BAD. They made fun of me because I was working with tears in my eyes. I told them idk, I never hurr that bad before and kept on working. When the sores came up on my chest and back, I thought it was a heat rash so I started doctirung them accordingly. That was a rough 2 months until finally, a scab came off my chest and green pus started oozing out. I went to three doctors before they confirmed it was Shingles. She had to do blood work. She came back in with a puzzled look and said "it is Shingles, both what did you do to them?" They were supposed to be draining and I had healed the outside. They had abcessed bad. The pain until that point and the two months until they were healed were hell. I was delirious from the infection. Apparently I walked down the street in my underwear ripping bong hits and busting off my pistol in the air. My dad stayed with me and fried me So. Many. Tater. Tots. They were the only thing that made me feel better. Yeah. So shingles....

[u/FradinRyth]

My wife got it a few years ago and yeah man that sucked!

[u/kitcasey726]

I had it in my twenties which was odd

[u/Ianthin1]

I had a mild case a year ago. By mild I mean small rash on the right of my chest and back, and what I assume was the sensation of having a heart attack about 18 hours a day for three weeks.

[u/GruntPickle]

I had it five years ago all down the back of my head and neck. It was excruciating. Sorry you’re dealing with that and hope it passes soon.

[u/Plastic_Ball8282]

Shingles is absolutely brutal. Try cool compresses and loose clothing, anything that keeps fabric from rubbing against the rash. Hope you get some relief soon