Shingles Vaccine problem

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Jimbob
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Shingles Vaccine problem

Post by Jimbob »

. This is a cautionary tale of an ongoing personal experience on vaccines,. My doctor in Australia suggested as an older guy I should get a free shingles vaccine as shingles is more likely as you get older. ‘Free’? ‘Oh, Ok’.
My knowledge of shingles was then minimal and limited to hearing via third hand knowledge that he or she has had shingles and it’s not nice, it’s painful, you get blisters etc. I examined the glossy government brochure with big photos and little facts which had nothing negative to prevent me getting the ‘free’ jab. ‘Yeah, I’ll have it’. I assumed at some stage I had had Chicken pox as a child, a precursor for shingles.
The doctor jabbed me in the left arm and warned of local swelling etc. Now it so happens I have a sore left knee that will soon need specialist attention. After 24 hours I started to get flu-like symptoms: particularly leg joint pain. A few days later, back to the doctor I went to report marks and a lesion on my lower back. ‘Ah, I think that is a ‘staph’ infection’ says he and took a swab for a pathology test. (Now I had been crawling on my back under the house recently, perhaps that’s the cause)
Twenty four hours later the doctor rang to advise yes, its ‘staph’… and SHINGLES.
He prescribed a short course of viral drugs and off you go. I did not appreciate the shingles was also in my bad leg. I thought a sneaky Thai kick boxer had snuck up on me and kicked my lower back hip femur and knee on the left (jabbed side). He left no bruises. I also didn’t remember leaving my left leg in the sun to get severe sunburn. No, that’s shingles in the nerves. The upper surface of the leg was so sensitive that clothing had to be minimal at home. In bed I could feel the quilting on the mattress when rolling over and sleep was difficult. The knee became very sore. I tried ‘over the counter’ sleep medication but found out they don’t work for me. (A ‘paradoxical’ reaction said the pharmacist).
So, back to the doctor who then prescribed some nerve pain medication. I now found out this pain may last months. The medication has reduced the pain so I can hobble about looking out for the kick boxer. Of the 125 patients the doctor jabbed I was the only adverse reaction which didn’t make me feel better. I have since heard from other medicos that I was not alone in reacting to the ‘live’ vaccine virus.
My mistakes:
• Believing glossy government brochures.
• Believing all vaccines are good for you. This year I will skip the flu vaccine
• Not doing a due-diligence search on the internet first. Subsequent information has only added to the mental pain and to know shingles can return, affecting eyes and elsewhere.
If that’s Shingles vaccine outcome I’ll skip any syphilis vaccine.
laphanphon
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Re: Shingles Vaccine problem

Post by laphanphon »

OUCH..........yes, stay clear of vaccines, especially us 'more mature' folks.

I feel your pain.........literally, as had / have a dose of shingles myself. Actually the leg nerve doesn't sound so bad, as mine was a back, extending to front chest nerve. And at the time, thought I was having a coronary, which seems to be the norm for nerves in that area.

And the residual pain.........months........you should be so lucky. Mine has endured for years, and still flares up.

Count our blessings. Just think if it had affected the optic nerve...........can we say suicidal.

NOW......... for you other folks, yea, stay clear of that vaccine. AND .......... if you hear of some village kids with a dose of chicken pox, do go hang out with them, share some beverages with them, same glass, and get yourself exposed. This will boost you antibodies to the shingles, and help you avoid this unpleasant experience.

Localized rash, that blisters up like sunburn..........need meds immediately. Won't stop it, but supposed to lessen the immediate, and long term effects. Then it's experiment on all kinds of new psycho drugs to deaden the nerve signals from the brain to nerve to muscle. An experience of its own.

Extreme caution advised, as most have warnings of extreme mental stimulation from just fun nutty to suicide..............LOL............and that wasn't a joke. Harsh warnings come with these meds. Not for the mentally unstable. OH CRAP
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keepitfun
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Re: Shingles Vaccine problem

Post by keepitfun »

Experienced and still experiencing the joy of shingles. Mine happened during a burning the candle at both ends for a prolonged period at work. Double pneumonia at the same time...shingles was on my head and neck. That was 12 years ago...now if I have a stressful time (I have teenage children) get the odd blister on my head - fortunately I have enough hair to cover it, but still very unpleasant..

I had chicken pox big time as a 5 year old. If there was such a ting as a vaccine I would recommend it, but not if it does what the OP says.

My sympathies to you
laphanphon
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Re: Shingles Vaccine problem

Post by laphanphon »

There is a vaccine, and if in the US, a damn expensive thing it is. And not exactly a proven science either, if reading the studies, quite crap really.
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hhfarang
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Re: Shingles Vaccine problem

Post by hhfarang »

^ Yep, when I got my flu shot last fall the nurse asked if I wanted a shingles vaccine. I asked it it was fully covered by Medicare as is the flu shot. She said no and that it cost $175. I opted out. Now I wonder if the reason it's not covered by insurance is that there is a risk of the insurance company having to pay even more because of the side effects than it has to pay for shingles treatments themselves. Insurance companies have figured all the odds to save money and this may be one of them.
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