OT Been to see the doctor

FLOLDFORD · Mar 7, 2013

Hadn't felt good the last few days. Felt like I had the flu last week then started hurting on my right side just under my ribs around to my back. Found out this morning that I have shingles!!! Doc put me on a couple of different meds to try and slow it down and make it less painful.Said it was going to get worse before it gets better. He also said at 52 I was young to be having them but not unheard of. Always thought I was pretty tough but this put me down pretty quick only thing I've had worse is kidney stones.They have a nnalert for the shingles now but most doctors will not give it to you until your 60 I know most of us on this forum are my age or older so next time you see your Doc ask them about it cause this is not fun at all!!!

Jim Plunkett · Mar 7, 2013

I had them about that same age , 4 or 5 years ago. There not something you forget very easy, last for a week to 10 days.

John B. · Mar 7, 2013

I had them on my shin one time when I was around 30yrs old. My brother got them on his forehead in his early 40's and my wife got them around her waist in her early 50's. With the right medication they clear up pretty quick.

Tom in TN · Mar 7, 2013

Hey Jim,

Sorry to hear about your bout with shingles. I have three close friends who've had them during the past year, including one who had them on his face and in his eye! My wife and I got the nnalert last fall.

By the way, are still playing football for the Oakland Raiders? You're a great quarterback.

Tom in TN

Tom in TN · Mar 7, 2013

That would be, "Are YOU still playing football for the Oakland Raiders?"

I wish we could edit posts after we've submitted them.

Tom in TN

sotxbill · Mar 7, 2013

btdi..

Have you been under some kind of stress lately. That will bring em on faster than anything else. Having to do something that really makes you uncofortable?? Or physical stress as well as mental..

Got mine during the strike where I had to climb poles and work right handed as all the terminals are mounted on the right side of pole and I'm a lefty. Sure was glad to see them settle so I could go back to being a engineer and leave the acrobatics for the righties.. Did I tell you that I dont particularly like heights??

Stay out of the sun, and keep it dry and cool.. and take the knock out stuff the doctor gives you.. You'll be fine in a couple of days.. But dont drive on the drugs... You might end up in another town.

JF in MI · Mar 7, 2013

BTDT and I feel sorry for you. BTDT with the stones too but the shingles thing lasts longer. It crops up on "branches" of the nervous system. I had it on shoulder and back. After it was gone I had a huge area of my back that would itch. Got smaller with time but took a year or more. Good luck.

Jim

pat sublett · Mar 7, 2013

Saw on TV, there is a near epidemic of shingles. Could'nt be because they developed a nnalert. If shingles is caused by the chicken pox virus that is still in your body from when you had it, it dosen't seem logical to have nnalert of live virus injected in you to prevent an outbreak. Don't know anything about such things but logic tells me .......anyway strange that they develop the nnalert a few years ago and now we have an epedimic. Of course there are a lot of us old folks around.

El Toro · Mar 7, 2013

My wife's oldest sister had them a few years ago. She's in her mid 90's and you would never think she's that old when she calls. She also had both hip replacements about 8 years ago and gets around good. I think she's going to out live her son and he's only 68. We both had shots for shingles in 2011 when they offered them free at Kaiser Permanente. Hal

El Toro · Mar 7, 2013

My wife's oldest sister had them a few years ago. She's in her mid 90's and you would never think she's that old when she calls. She also had both hip replacements about 8 years ago and gets around good. I think she's going to out live her son and he's only 68. We both had shots for shingles in 2011 when they offered them free at Kaiser Permanente. Hal

Dan in Ohio · Mar 7, 2013

Asked my doc about the nnalert last year at 58, he said wait till age 60. Seems like the shingles do not wait till 60, wonder why the nnalert is with held, the virus is already inside most of us.

grandpappy · Mar 7, 2013

I had them 7-8 tears ago,not completely over them yet. No drugs touched them for me. DO NOT take a hot shower or itch them. Only way I got relief was rub Preperation H on them.

Dick2 · Mar 7, 2013

I was told at the clinic that my health insurance would not cover it and the shot would cost me $289.

Did some checking and found out that my health insurance would pay for the shot if I went to Safeway Pharmacy. Got the shot and it didn't cost me anything, not even a co-pay.

Nate V. IA · Mar 7, 2013

I had them the week before Christmas, I'm 34, the doctor was as surprised as I was. I got some anti viral medicine but it didn't seem to help, they ran their coarse in about three weeks. I think I got lucky with very little pain after the blisters healed, but I had them on my cheek and neck and there is some scaring. I don't think the Dr. can give you a nnalert until you are 55 but recommend waiting until you are 65.

Nate

Wile E · Mar 7, 2013

What is Shingles? I have heard of it before, but I dont know what it is.

FLOLDFORD · Mar 7, 2013

If you had chickenpox as a child you have the shingles virus in you body just takes something to set it off usually after the age of 60 but as you can tell by the replies it can happen at a younger age I learned a lot about it on the Mayo clinics web site. Hope I get over mine soon hasn't stoped me but sure has slowed me down some. Out in the shop working on my new barbeque grill right now just not moving as fast as I was a week ago. I not crying there are a lot of people out there a lot worse off than I am

Dick L · Mar 7, 2013

My wife has the order for me to get the shot in her purse. The Doctor told me to go to the Pharmacy.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 7, 2013

I had shingles at 30. The wife had them at about 45 and then again at 65. The first took years for all of the "shingle nails" to disappear. She had a couple spots that lasted a long time.

Areo

GordoSD · Mar 7, 2013

You can get the shot at th VA if you are a 20+ year retireee.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 7, 2013

As a community pharmacist I did the training a few years ago to give the shingles nnalert. This teacher offered a theory why shingles cases are increasing. Most people used to get the chicken pox, their children, grand children, etc. This would boost your immunity even though you wouldn't be aware of it. All children now recieve chicken pox vaccinations, therefore no boosting the immune system of us older people. As time passes we loose immunity may get the shingles. This makes some sense to me.

Russ from MN · Mar 7, 2013

BCBS of MN encourages the shot and pays for it, it's preventative medicine. We have a very high deductible but they paid the total cost of 2 shots.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 7, 2013

I wish we could edit posts after we've submitted them.

Tom in TN

Another advantage of Modern View is the ability to do just that, hit the edit button, make your changes and hit submit, there, your post will be edited.

armand tatro · Mar 7, 2013

I am a truck driver and I sit most of the day. Guess where I got the shingles?! Also where no man should EVER have shingles! Talk about raw meat! I was 65 years old when I had them. Had a no fun 2 week "vacation"! Armand

armand tatro · Mar 7, 2013

Also had kidney stones 20 years ago. Have to agree; Would rather hase kidney stones! Armand

504 · Mar 7, 2013

I talked to my Doc two years ago about the nnalert and he said by law he could not give it till I was 60+. The next yearly check up he said that the law had been changed and I could have it but not by him. He said that the nnalert must be refrigerated and it was expensive, and insurance would not pay for it.

BANDITFARMER · Mar 7, 2013

I had shingles in the summer I turned 19, 90 degres no AC only a fan. Most miserible month I ever had to endure. When it was over the left side of my chest looked like I had been shot with a shot gun, That was over 30 years ago and it still hurts from time to time. I hope you get over them soon with little pain. Bandit

Jiles · Mar 7, 2013

I went to my doctor for a check up about a month ago. I asked about the shingles shot because I am 67 years old.
He said Medicare would not pay him--I have to go to DRUGSTORE and MC will pay!!!

Eldon (WA) · Mar 7, 2013

I got them at age 37....on my face in the temples. I was working one of those jobs where you are constantly looking over your shoulder....so I think stress is the cause when you are young. Definitely not a pleasant experience. I had an idea of what was wrong so I went to the doctor and he confirmed it....gave me some free pills to take that were being tested. Seemed to work well enough, but I haven't heard of anyone else taking pills for shingles since.

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