SHINGLES!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear of your shingles outbreak.  I know so many people who have had bad shingles illnesses.  I asked my PCP about the shingles vaccine, and so she prescribed it last week.  Went by the pharmacy and it is not covered by my insurance.  It costs $206, and it's just not in the budget right now, but maybe I will rethink before I start rads.

Good luck to you,viviraselena!

Blinx, I just went to the CDC website and the recommend age is 60. If you know where else is says is has been lowered please let me know and I will fight my insurance on it. Thanks Lynda

V, I hope you're feeling better.  Shingles are awful without rads too.  Take care.

Not wishing to be the voice of gloom but while the vaccine lowers the chance of an outbreak, it doesn't eliminate it. Also it only lasts for a certain number of years.  My mother--83 and not dealing with any cancer issues--is getting over her first case of shingles.  She did get the vaccine.  Her doctor is thinking it was lowered resistance from other meds and stress.

If you have had the vaccine, check to make sure you don't need to have it re-done.

I finished rads on 7-15-11 and saw the first indications of shingles rash on 7-23, a week later.  For several days before I had a really bad backache, including burning along my spine.  I couldn't figure out what it was until I saw that damned rash.  I'm on Valtrex now, but I am miserable with burning pain.  Does anyone have topical suggestions?  I've tried dabbing red wine vinegar, Aveeno Calamine & Pramoxine, and this morning Aquafor.  My problem is burning pain, not itching.  I welcome suggestions.  Tryiing to stay strong, but this is tough.  Enough already!

I'm wondering if shingles can be a pre-cancer flag as well?  I had shingles four years ago, running across my back and breast--the area that coincides with my rad fields.  I think the rads, in fact, have reactivated those damaged nerves, as I now feel the same kind of tingling in my back that I felt after the shingles blisters had gone away.  Disturbing.  I think I'm going to get the shingles vaccination in two months.  I do think there's evidence that shingles can recur.  (I know that doctors tell you poison oak/ivy can't recur, but for years after I had a bad poison oak breakout on my ankle, I'd break out each year at the same place and during the same month as my original breakout.)

If you'd not had shingles, you certainly don't want it.  Vivi, hope you're feeling better soon.

Ugh, Michele I'm so sorry you have had to go through it. I am so paranoid about getting them now. I start chemo tomorrow. I called last week and asked about getting the vaccine and they said that wasn't usually a standard part of their protocol and that they "rarely" see people in my age group come down with it (I'm 31). If it comes on, they will give me stuff to get it under control. But come on, "rarely" means nothing to me anymore. All I can do at this point is hope like hell I don't get them. Grrr.

What letlet said about tell your doctor fast if you suspect shingles.

I thought shingles was reactivated chicken pox virus so not something you can "catch." and what sets it off is STRESS. . . .like we need more of that right?

But cheer up! my cousin--a guy--had one outbreak of shingles and nothing since.  He told me it was when he was very very stressed.

shingles attacks when you have a lowered immune system...yeap, rads will do it!

I figure lowering my risk of the reoccurance, is worth it

also, I used cortizone 10 cream on mine, as i was on vacation when I noticed it first, when I got to my doc, she said that was a good idea as for bad cases, they at times give cortizone shots

not sure of the last but cort 10 cream, I loaded myself up on it!

Thank you Letlet! I had read that you got them after you were done your chemo and we're pretty much the same age. I was annoyed when the nurse told me that people in our age group rarely get them, because I know it happens. I will definitely be on a diligent lookout for those buggers.

Wishing you healing!

I have learned from my insurance that the shingles shot is covered through the medical part of my insurance and not the prescription part,(they cannot just give you a prescription it has to be done at the doctors office) I was about to get it at Costcos for $188.00, I decided to call HealthNet (HMO)  to check to see if it was covered. After some hassle from the doctor (I had Healthnet call the doctor to explain how to get the approval and how to bill for it) I was able to get it without a co-pay. HealthNet has lowered the age from 60 to 50 and the IPA group had to approve it. But to save $376.00 it was worth it (me and my husband).