Still Unhappy Camper, but Better

My doctor said he thinks that those who do get shingles after getting the shot tend to get much less severe cases.

All this talk about shingles reminded me to check into getting the vaccine. Was told it is not covered by Medicare and is over $200. Oh well, I had good intentions. Keep us informed Maddie of how this all progresses.

Maddie I hope you are getting some relief today.

My mum had shingles last year on her upper back. Every time I visited I would have to scratch her back in places where she couldn't reach, quite often I find that she had gouged bits of her back because it was so itchy. It was actually a couple of months before she started getting what I called pocks. They reminded me of chicken pox marks. Unfortunately it took a long time for the pain to settle down and the ointment she needed was expensive.

Btw, you have every right to have a bit of a whine. Its not healthy bottling it up, and you need to be able to 'let it all out' to people who understand/empathise with the plethora problems that plague us humans.

I am FINALLY starting to get relief. My back still hurts and I have to be careful about how I move, but it's better. I still have that shingles-type stinging/burning, but it's much less intense and tolerable. I think the increased gabapentin is helping a lot with that.

Assuming this trend continues (and I'm sure it will) I will investigate some physical therapy if the vertebrae/muscle issue is still bothering me next week.

Aside from being a little extra tired, I'm doing a lot better.

Thanks again for all the help and kindness.

That's great news! Hope it gets better every day!

I've had more than a few bouts with shingles after I turned sixty and luckily haven't had a really severe case yet. Still, it comes and goes whether I get the vaccine or not. My GP says that it really reduces the intensity of shingles but how would I know if that's the case? Still, I count myself lucky that my flare-ups are not disabling in the least. Thought for the day: How come I can barely get my vegetables to survive in my garden over the summer, but shingles lives on in my body for five decades totally unperturbed.

Hubby got shingles after having the vaccine. Twice.
They say there is a chance that prevention is not always 100%
On the chance that this expensive vaccine has been improperly stored, diluted, or counterfeited;
have valacyclovir handy to treat an outbreak as quickly as possible.

My husband told me last night that our doctor gave HIM the shingles vaccine last year (I swear I do NOT remember him telling me). I am curious why he would give my husband one and not me. Our next checkup is February and assuming I don't need medical care before then, will ask the new doctor at that point.

Feeling better has a nasty side effect - I tend to overdo and set myself back, which is exactly what happened the last few days. With my husband's help, I fixed dinner two nights in a row and spent a couple hours yesterday organizing my K-cup storage drawers (lots of reaching). I realized last night when I got out of my recliner to go to the bedroom that I was hurting a lot worse, but realized it was from overdoing it.

But even set back, I am way better than I was so I am NOT complaining. My back muscles are still very tight and sore, but the shingles type pain is minimal, so I will take it.

Good to hear that things are better.

I am guilty of overdoing when I am feeling good and my RA sure lets me know!

Continued good things!