My newfound respect for people w/chronic pain/issues w/xPAP

archangle wrote:That reminds me that I need to get my shingles vaccine.

I understand they've recently dropped the age limit from 60 down to 50.

They may or may not have done that, but I bet insurance won't cover it under 60, if that is true.

Current recommendations for shingles vaccination from CDC:


http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shi ... d-know.htm

Well, I had shingles in the face around my right eye. Wasn't on CPAP yet, but had them during Thanksgiving. Thank goodness for my family, when they arrived from out of town everyone went to work, and prepared everything, and I didn't have to do it. But I was sent to the ophthalmologist right away by the Urgent Care doctor.

I was way under 50 when I got them. I see my doctor next week, I might just ask her about that vaccine, but then it may be too late for me.

Good Luck jnk!

Jnk,

Sorry to hear about the shingles.

As for that follow-up contact concerning getting more details about the mask exchange and other issues newbies face---if the doc's office doesn't call you, after you're feeling better you could call them and remind them of your conversation with the doc.

Ouch Jeff!
I hope the Acyclovir does it's job soon.
O.

JNK, you sick, twisted, guitar play'n, mask wear'n, pressure analyz'n,
trouble mak'n, shingle hav'n.........baby face kid.
Guess I didn't realize that you're just a kid.
Nice avatar.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that is
the lovely Mrs. JNK. If it isn't .....just wink. It's all good.

Sorry that you are feeling bad.
I have never had or seen shingles so I don't
have any advise.
I'm sure that better living through
chemistry will pull you through.

3yrs.......It's been quite a journey.
The difficulties and frustrations of those first months
are starting to dim for me. It's just so easy now.
Really glad that we came through it together.
Be well, my friend.

Looks like you found a hot new girlfriend to share your pain and provide comfort. Good for you and good for healing.

Have a speedy recovery,

Feel better!

CruzTerri wrote:Good Luck jnk!

Thanks!

robysue wrote:you could call them and remind them of your conversation

The doc and I are pretty good friends. But his role at the clinic keeps his hands in a lot of things. I know the RT by reputation, and I ain't impressed yet. But I'll eventually remind the doc of the conversation if he doesn't initiate anything more.

ozij wrote:I hope the Acyclovir does it's job soon.

Thanks, O. I can't believe how quickly it started doing its thing! Within 48 hours, spread was halted and progress was accelerated. Sores are already starting to clear, believe it or not. Still some redness and scabbing, but pain is manageable, and swelling has gone way down. I would have to file that stuff under miracle drug. Not quite as miraculous as CPAP, but pretty awesome nonetheless.

carbonman wrote:I didn't realize that you're just a kid.

Just 46. But with your air-fountain of youth, you'll be as young as I am soon!

carbonman wrote:guess that is the lovely Mrs. JNK.

Yep, that's her. Thanks. She is amazing in every way. A constant joy to be around. I had no idea marriage could be this great. We married back in 1989, and I don't have one complaint. She deserves a medal for putting up with me, though.

carbonman wrote:Really glad that we came through it together.
Be well, my friend.

Thanks, Carbonman. I can't put into words how helpful your posts have been to me these three-plus years. You manage to be a character and an everyman all at once, somehow. And you manage to have common sense but with a unique perspective all at the same time, too. Your unassuming kindness and straight-talking bluntness and poetic turn of phrase and wacky sense of humor and inspirational artistic photography and athletic prowess all combine to make you a unique presence here, and elsewhere I'm sure. I don't know how you do it. I've never met you, but I would have no trouble trusting you with my life. Thanks for being my PAP brother through it all.

So Well wrote: hot new girlfriend

Hot, yes. New, no. But she'll always be my girlfriend.

SleepingUgly wrote:Feel better!

I'm sure tryin'! Thanks.

Hope you are completely recovered soon, jnk. It sounds horribly unpleasant!

Vader wrote:

archangle wrote:That reminds me that I need to get my shingles vaccine.

I understand they've recently dropped the age limit from 60 down to 50.

They may or may not have done that, but I bet insurance won't cover it under 60, if that is true.

My primary care physician wanted me to get the vaccine, even though I am under 50, because of my health issues. The pharmacy that gives the shots said no one under 60 is getting them around here, because of the limited supply.

Deborah

In the USA, The rules for who can get the Shingles vaccine seems to be a moving target. I was told three years ago that one could not get the vaccine unless patient was over sixty because the the vaccine had only been tested on those who were sixty and older. Therefore it was a safety issue. Half the people who get Shingles are over sixty, meaning half are younger, but can not get the vaccine.

The vaccine itself must have special handling and is therefore not stored at a doctors office. For me to get the injection at the docs office, I must pay an incredible amount of money advance. Someone had to go to a pharmacy with a prescription in hand (not me, but an clinic employee) and directly bring it back to the docs office.

Medicare would not then cover the cost, I think two hundred, might be three hundred.

As of now, no doctor will prescribe it because I have already had Shingles, although there is evidence that the vaccine can be useful in preventing the recurrence of Shingles. Also the last doc I spoke with said his clinic did not give the injection at all, not only because of the storage issue, but because of the associated liability issue. That is, their medical liability insurance will not allow the clinic to give the injection, just like they are not allowed to do general surgery on the clinic premises (emergency surgery for a life threatening condition is different). Two years ago, I was told that no insurance pays for the Shingles vaccination.

Never heard the one about it really being in short supply, altho no one wants to handle it. I think it must be kept frozen until used. As a Pharmacy must guarantee that it never defrosted, well, you see the problem.

I have continuing chronic pain from Arthritis, Shingles was unbelievably painful. The important thing to know about Shingles is how to recognize it. Usually a rash on the left or right side of the body that stops exactly in the middle of the body, (in any body area that has part of the spinal column) and get to the doctor (even going to the ER) to start treatment as soon as possible. People can go blind, or get brain damage from it.

FDA, NIH, and the insurance companies are all acting as accomplices to create all kinds of suffering which could be prevented by the widespread vaccination. Anyone know what the rules in Europe?

Jeff, I'm late to the coversation...I'm so sorry you're suffering!

Doc offered me the vaccine; I refused..I have mild-moderate cytokine storms from vaccines. Doc gave me the list of side effects of shingles; I still refused, I prize my brain function too much and that inflammatory reaction is just too damaging.

Had a friend experience an episode of shingles; she was pretty uncomfortable until it stopped.

I rely on L-lysine to create an inhospitable environment for herpes...it's worked for me for the past oh maybe 40 yrs 'cept for the few times I've run out of L-lysine and gotten a cold sore...miserable things and a great reminder of why I take L-lysine daily. Might do some investigation and see if adding that supp might help; too, coconut dissolves the outer lipid membrane of herpes destroying the cell. Things to consider.

To answer a few questions raised here:

yes you must be 60 years or older to have the vaccine covered by insurance.

The vaccine seems to be in short supply,periodically. I missed out twice because they ran out.

My vaccine was shipped frozen by FedEx overnight. My Doctor kept it stored frozen until just prior to receiving the injection in his office.

My vaccination cost $274, but my insurance covered most of it. My out of pocket expense was $38.

The vaccine is "mostly" effective in preventing the return of shingles. If you do get shingles sometime after being vaccinated, it will most likely be a much milder case.

I have had absolutely NO side effects that I'm aware of.

Vader wrote:yes you must be 60 years or older to have the vaccine covered by insurance.

My Medicare prescription plan covers it with no specification as to how old I have to be. No prior authorization needed.

Paper_Nanny wrote:

Vader wrote:yes you must be 60 years or older to have the vaccine covered by insurance.

My Medicare prescription plan covers it with no specification as to how old I have to be. No prior authorization needed.

But don't you have to be at least 65 (unless you have a disability or ESRD) in order to even receive medicare?