Got my second shot yesterday with an attitude of “let’s get it over with.” I was fearful of side effects beyond what I experienced first time (sore arm for a few days and achy feeling for a short period), but all I have experienced is the sore arm. Feeling lucky!
Got my 2nd shot this afternoon after encouragement from a co-worker to “get it over with”. We showed up at the pharmacy at the same time! That shot hurts like a #####. Took 2 Advil. Hope I feel OK tomorrow. But- it’s DONE!
If anybody still needs encouragement to get the shots. My husband is still experiencing pain and numbness after three months.
Unfortunately my doctor won’t prescribe the vaccine for me, I’m only 41. Problem is, I had shingles when I was 37 and I’m told I’m more prone to them now. My shingles developed right of the midline on my scalp and it constantly felt like my hair was being set on fire. Had the phantom pain for months and months after. Those who get them on the scalp, be very careful with your hair and scalp in that area…I was told that any scabbing in those areas would likely cause permanent hair loss.
Counting down until I can get the vaccine at age 50!
@kiddie , pain and numbness from the shot or shingles? I’m going to make an appt. after the holidays, if the pharmacy has the vaccine, I read it’s only good for 7 years. I also heard it hurts, as @MomofWildChild mentioned.
Do they give the shot slowly, is that why it hurts? Or do they stick it deep in the muscle?
@conmama Only good for 7 years??? I should hope not, then what I gotta get it again???
@RuralAmerica I did not have a prescription; you can get it a pharmacy as long as they have it. You might have to pay out of pocket if your insurance doesn’t cover it before age 50.
From having shingles (sorry - I had mentioned it earlier in the thread - so I wasn’t clear)
@SeeksKnowledge , webmd says 5 years. What a bummer.
I have had the flu, shingles and second in series of pneumonia shots (I didn’t realize there were 2 pneumonia shots, and I also didnt remember I’d had the first last year!!) But, of the 3 I have gotten recently, the pneumonia was the one that made my arm the most sore for a few days.
@conmama the CDC website says protection is at least 85% for four years…
I don’t look at the shot or think about it, but it seemed long. The pharmacist said it’s a bad one.
Have no idea if this makes a difference, but I get the shots administered by a nurse, not a pharmacist. I wonder if the fact that the nurses likely give shots more often than storefront pharmacists , that they might be skilled in being more gentle?
“Unfortunately my doctor won’t prescribe the vaccine for me, I’m only 41. Problem is, I had shingles when I was 37 and I’m told I’m more prone to them now. My shingles developed right of the midline on my scalp and it constantly felt like my hair was being set on fire. Had the phantom pain for months and months after. Those who get them on the scalp, be very careful with your hair and scalp in that area…I was told that any scabbing in those areas would likely cause permanent hair loss.”
Isn’t this what money is for? Personally I’d put this before going out to eat, clothes, vacation anything. When I was a destitute college student I had to pay out of pocket for some medical care and lived on ramen for a month. I almost forwent it’s until a friend knocked some sense into me about what to prioritize in life. What is more important than avoiding this sort of suffering? Go to the pharmacy and get the shot. If you have to tighten the budget a bit to pay out of pocket I’d say it’s worth it.
@jym626 I don’t think so. This is known to be a very painful shot. I think the pharmacists do just fine- and I have a real shot phobia. There aren’t a lot of doctors around here that are carrying the shot, so you are left with pharmacies, Sam’s etc. It’s in the upper arm- doesn’t require all that much finesse anyway.
@MomofWildChild - It was just a thought, since nurses probably routinely give more injections than pharmacists. I fortunately didn’t have any worse discomfort with the first shingles shot than with the flu shot (got them simultaneously in each arm a few months ago). Someone I know got a shot at a pharmacy, and the person accidentally injected too high or too low (I forget) and into a tendon instead of muscle. Caused all sorts of ongoing problems for them. Sorry, I know that must not help your shot phobia!
I have to say I agree with this. Why take a chance? If you DON’T spend the money this way, a case of shingles could derail your vacation plans!
My insurance didn’t cover my 1st shingles shot—zostervax, even tho my docs recommended it. I even appealed. It was as under $200 and I considered it money well-spent. This time around, mine, H’s and my folks had coverage 100% for the vaccine between my private policy and their Medicare.
I would definitely get the injections even if I had to pay out if pocket. My H and D both had shingles and were miserable and needed codeine to take the edge off so they could sleep.
I honestly felt fine except for some discomfort in the arm where I received the injection for 48 hours with both injections. H had a flu-like reaction for 48 hours but was still glad for any protection against getting shingles again. My folks didn’t mention any reaction.
I wound up with a fever by the end of the first 24 hours and felt really crummy that whole day. I was fine the 2nd morning. Not 100% but close.