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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI just got a Shingles shot a few hours ago. **Update**
Last edited Thu May 25, 2023, 03:56 PM - Edit history (1)
We have a small pharmacy nearby, and the guy who does the shots there is fantastic. Once again, I felt absolutely nothing when he gave me the shot.
So far no side-effects. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Update 5/25 1:00 pm: So, 27 hours since the shot and a little bit of soreness at the injection site when I woke up this morning. No swelling or redness and only sore if I touch it now. Pretty much the same for my wife. She has a lot of allergies to all kinds of medications and this is the first vaccine she has not had a negative reaction to.
walkingman
(7,669 posts)hippywife
(22,767 posts)had any reactions at all. Doesn't mean you won't, but it beats the shit out of getting shingles. If you've ever known anyone who's come down with them, you would be running to get the vax without hesitation over reactions.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)I had shingles when I was 12 (very rare). When I had the second of the two shingles shots I had a fever reaction for a few hours. It's nowhere near comparable to having shingles. Worse, shingles can make you go blind so...
hippywife
(22,767 posts)and can not only get in your eyes, but your ears, as well as the brain and spinal cord. There is just no fucking around with it, it's dangerous.
3catwoman3
(24,054 posts)One of the nurses in the pediatric practice where I worked got a terrible eruption on one o her legs. She ended up on an anti-seizure medication to try to calm down the inflamed nerves.
Even if you have one of the more pronounced reactions and feel like crap for 48 hours, that is an infinitesimal price to pay to minimize the risk of getting this awful virus.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)six months apart. I had no reaction to either of them.
TomSlick
(11,110 posts)I've seen shingles - it ain't pleasant. No reaction to the shots can come near shingles symptoms.
walkingman
(7,669 posts)TomSlick
(11,110 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)RandySF
(59,264 posts)No problems.
MissB
(15,812 posts)It took about six hours before I felt wiped out and feverish. I was mostly fine the next morning but went down a bit on Sunday again, mostly because I did so much on Saturday and Sunday.
Pharmacist said most folks get the flu-lie symptoms side effect and it goes away in about 48 hours.
My first shot took me down harder than the second.
Golfnbrew
(47 posts)No regrets at all.
I had a light hit of shingles when I hit 40, 25 years ago, and I don't want any more to do with it!
First dose was easy - peasy, but count on two days off for the second dose. Google it... Very common for the second shot to take you down for a day or two.
Still, no regrets.
Solomon
(12,319 posts)I don't recall much reaction except a sore arm for a couple days with both shingles shots. I was glad to get them over with.the
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)for about 30 minutes. Gone now.
Response to Mr.Bill (Original post)
Tetrachloride This message was self-deleted by its author.
Jerry2144
(2,114 posts)Sore arm and feverish feeling for me the next day. Nothing some generic ibuprofen or acetaminophen couldnt help with. If you get a knot, try ice, gentle massage, and possibly heat.
Sleep will be your friend for a day.
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)Sleep is my friend every day.
Jerry2144
(2,114 posts)I have to rely upon meetings and web-based training to catch up on my sleep
Shermann
(7,446 posts)ChatGPT, take care of that will ya?
brewens
(13,623 posts)ache all day.
Sanity Claws
(21,854 posts)I felt soreness in my arm for a while. The side effect was nowhere near as strong as with the COVID vaccination.
brewens
(13,623 posts)30 days apart. Just a sore arm both times.
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)I asked him about the current Covid booster since my last one was six months ago. He said to wait until September to maximize the protection during the winter months. Sounds like a good idea.
brewens
(13,623 posts)I'm almost certain I never had chicken pox, but no one knows for sure. It was free so I got it.
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)My mom could not remember. I had extensive blood work done when I began a volunteer job at the hospital, and one of the things they checked for was if I had chicken pox. I did have the antibodies in my blood. Besides, my doctor said whether or not you think you had chicken pox, if you were alive in America in the 50s, you were at least exposed to it.
Raftergirl
(1,294 posts)I had antibodies for everything except mumps, but that vax didnt come out until I was in high school so never got the vax for it. So I had to get the 2 shot MMR series. I did have chicken pox as a child but only had a single pox.
I got the first iteration of the singles vax and then a few years later the Singrex shots. Except for a sore arm I had no side effects at all.
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)Basically, it's the same vetting any hospital employee goes through. I was told they spent $1,400 on the federal background check which took 30 days.
Oh, well, I worked there for six years so they got their money's worth.
Sky Jewels
(7,147 posts)I was just low-energy for a day each time. That was it. So it's possible to escape without a bad reaction.
debm55
(25,453 posts)and asked him. I had Shingles on the right side of my face,As a result I am blind in my right eye,Now he told me one,/i hope he was right because it was hell.
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)The shot I had was called Shingrix.
debm55
(25,453 posts)maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)IIRC.
Neither one hurts going in. It's not acid.
hippywife
(22,767 posts)No reactions at all from either dose. Posts like yours can scare people sitting on the fence away from getting the vax.
maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)for a needle phobe.
hippywife
(22,767 posts)Some people really do fear injections.
maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)good lord.
hippywife
(22,767 posts)NotVeryImportant
(578 posts)Sometimes very much so.
However, the bottom line is that they're good, pretty much a must.
That said, what is the recommended age to get your shingles shot?
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)I was able to get mine earlier (40s) because I'd had shingles as a youth.
Lunabell
(6,111 posts)for several days, it was warm to the touch and there was a lump. Both shots. But, much better than having a shingles outbreak.
Shermann
(7,446 posts)There seems to be contradictory information.
I had my two shots last year, no issues.
hippywife
(22,767 posts)The old vax was 5 years, but there doesn't seem to be a time I can find on the Shingrex. It does say it stays strong for 7 years but no rec on receiving it again.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html
Discontinued vax info was 5 years.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/zostavax/index.html
JenniferJuniper
(4,515 posts)long enough to say but they now say no boosters needed for at least 10 years, probably longer.
mcar
(42,376 posts)I've had shingles and hope to never repeat that nightmare.
Montauk6
(8,079 posts)I was going to get it the same time I got my COVID booster but the pharmacist advised against it.
Glad to hear you're doing fine!
Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)But as I said in another post, he advised waiting until September to maximize protection during the winter months. My last Covid booster was in late November.
JenniferJuniper
(4,515 posts)Arm pain was nearly as bad as Covid shot 2.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)me feel pretty crappy for a day.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)It will likely trigger a mild immune response, and you might feel like crap starting less than 24 hours later, through 48 hours. I sure did. But I'm glad I'm immunized.
localroger
(3,631 posts)The pharmacist at Wal-Mart of all places reminded me that it would be free under my insurance, so I went for it. Had to come back for the second shot of course. Neither caused any problems for me.
SouthernDem4ever
(6,617 posts)I never had chicken pox but my Dr said get the shot anyway. High Fever, flu like symptoms for 3 days. Covid shots were a piece of cake compared to that shingles shot.
LymphocyteLover
(5,654 posts)felt flu-ish for about 24 hours but today am basically fine, arm is still sore though. Definitely worse than the covid shots for me
camartinwv
(51 posts)It is still worth it. Shingles is MUCH worse.
Emile
(22,945 posts)the second shot sucked. Very sore arm and headache for two days. Today is Wednesday and I still feel like my arm is a little sore.
iemanja
(53,072 posts)Hopefully it will be the same with you.
PaulRevere08
(449 posts)But having had shingles, the minor inconvenience is with it.
catbyte
(34,458 posts)because of it from Post-Herpetic Neuralgia. Shingles runs in my family and almost every relative on my dad's side has had multiple bouts but I'm the winner. It sucks. The shots didn't do me any good because they trick your body into thinking you've already had shingles but that doesn't seem to matter in my case. I'm on a daily antiviral which has prevented an outbreak for over 13 months and for that I am grateful.
Again, good for you!
electric_blue68
(14,949 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,330 posts)I must say I'm glad I didn't read this thread before thinking about getting the shot.
I feel badly for those who have had a rough time with it. It does sound unanimous that it's better than getting shingles.
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)A misplaced needle, it has been suggested to me.
OTOH, my cousin has been suffering for months now with shingles (not vaccinated).
What to do, what to do.
DiverDave
(4,887 posts)Get the reaction I got.
I slept for 2 days. I was so tired.
Same reaction both times...