Update of info on shingles vaccine.

[CTyankee]

I posted a while back about the shingles vaccine for older patients, like me. I recently had my yearly checkup and here is what my doctor told me:

The vaccine may or may not be covered by my Medicare supplement plan.

There is a difference of opinion in the medical science field as to whether you can even get shingles if you have had zoster as an adult. I have and the doc told me if I DO get shingles it would probably be less severe since I have built up antibodies. OR, he said, I may not it all.

Based on this information, I have to weigh a decision to get the vaccine. Right now I am leaning towards not getting it, but I don't want to be sad and sorry. OTOH, it makes sense that having had chicken pox as a child and zoster as an adult I might have immunity but at the very least I would have a much milder case of shingles, if my immune system were so impaired that I would be at risk. Some of this decision would also depend on my Medicare supplement (thru AARP) paying for it.

I am also a little worried about taking medication I don't really need. Is there some "unintended consequence" awaiting down the line?

[RKP5637]

1. Christ, why would someone unrec this! n/t

[elleng]

6. 'Someones' weird!!!

:hi:

[RKP5637]

25. Hey, it's DU! ... those weird socialist dems! LOL

:hi:

[CTyankee]

7. Oh, hell, they unrec ANYTHING! Maybe they don't wanna hear about shingles.

I don't blame them. It ain't a nice thing, is it?

[RKP5637]

23. I had them once decades ago, what a horrible experience that was ... went

across my chest and around part of my side. Damn those things hurt. My dad had them in his 70's, really bad. I sure don't want to go through that again. I have no idea either if an immunity is built up, I've heard some say yes and some no. I think I might get the shot anyway. I had chicken pox too as a child.

[elleng]

28. If you're thinking of it, RKP, check w your doc first;

as I recall few years ago, stuff not easy to come by, had to be ordered in advance.

[RKP5637]

29. Thanks!!! n/t

[RKP5637]

30. Here's what I just found out on a search. The Walgreens clinic here has it. Here is

what the CDC says on Medicare coverage.

"Reimbursement for Vaccination

All Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine. The amount of cost-sharing (money you have to pay) for vaccination varies.

Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine. If you have private insurance or Medicaid, your plan may or may not cover the vaccine; contact your insurer to find out."

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vacc-need-know.htm

[RKP5637]

2. RECOMMEND!!! n/t

[CTyankee]

12. Hi there and thanks! I really only wanted to be helpful to folks...

sorry some don't feel that way...

[eleny]

3. kr

i'd like to hear some thoughts on this, too.

[Uben]

4. I'm in the same boat.....

....had chicken pox as a child, had shingles at age 45. Reoccurrence is rare, so I'm not getting the vaccine. It's not a money thing for me, I just think it's unnecessary. I would suggest people get it if they have not had shingles yet, as you might expect. It's not fun.

[CTyankee]

8. Zoster in my case was very strange. I had a lesion on my side that I thought was a spider bite.

It was early spring and later I learned that zoster returns at a season's edge. There is medication that works called (I think) acyclovir. It keeps the lesion from full "blown" status. The lesion also would develop on the horizontal opposite other side. It was fascinating, actually, the way this thing works.

My guess is that if you never had chicken pox or zoster (as an adult) you think seriously about getting the vaccine...

[Uben]

18. Coincidence?

You are not going to believe this! After posting in your thread, my wife asked me to look at her neck. She had a couple of bumps and it was burning. She thought it might be a spider bite, too. I swear, I'm 90% sure she has shingles! God I hope not, but she has all the symptoms and the lesions are spreading on her neck as we speak. How odd is that? I told her we'd definitely know by tomorrow.

[CTyankee]

19. As I recall, the doc I had at the time knew instantly what my lesion was!

At my recent visit, my doc told me that zoster often DOES look like a spider bite!

Go quickly to get her medication. You might be able to slow it down, altho once the blisters start to form it's more difficult to control. If she can remember the early symptoms, a kind of ache in the area, she could be able to get the acyclovir and that would prevent the eruption of the bumps to blisters, which are the real problem. When I took the medication, it was over before it even started with the really bad bumps. It's a matter of days tho. Get to it early!

[Uben]

24. We're going in the morning

It's been 15 yrs since I had Zoster, and I have forgotten how long after the lesions appear that the burning spreads. Mine eventually affected the entire left side of my body, from the tips of my toes to the the tips of my hair! Do you remember how long after the bumps appeared that the burning started to spread? I was in my early forties when I got it, but she just turned 60 yrs old. Is cyclovir still the medication of choice or is there something newer? I remember them giving me a tube of Capsacin, but it really didn't help much. Mine lasted about two weeks to the day, but I know some people get chronic cases that can last for months or years. I have an online acquaintance whose wife has had Zoster for over ten years! Jeez! Poor woman.

[CTyankee]

26. If you catch it early, the cyclovir can stop it in its tracks. I'd try it if I were you.

What do you have to lose?

don't waste a moment's time, tho. Get it done an over with asap. If lesions haven't yet formed you don't want them to. It gets worse as it develops.

I've had symptoms I recognized, got the medication and had the thing stopped before the lesions came to a head. But I knew what to expect from the symptoms. Not everyone does. And I certainly didn't with the first case I had. It went all the way to oozing lesions, which is not what anyone wants. In my case, it was just a spot on my side. I can't imagine a whole body of it! Good god!

[Uben]

31. Well, she has them!

Doc gave her a script to a generic Valtrex, some sleeping aids, and a tranquilizer (Tranxene I think). The latter being for stress, which probably caused the onset of Zoster. She has been working night and day for two weeks putting together a leadership program for our community and has had some conflict with a close friend who is co-sponsoring the event. This lady is a republilcan and my wife is "blue to the bone". They're both strong personalities, but they have been getting along fine as long as they keep it business. It's a strange relationship that is on and off.

[elleng]

5. Don't know about unintended consequences or zoster;

had chicken pox (I think,) and had the vaccine couple years ago. Dad had shingles few years ago; not hugely bad, but a pain.

:hi:

[CTyankee]

10. Hi ellen!

glad you got the vaccine. Better safe than sorry!

Off the Amsterdam tomorrow, 6 pm out of JFK! I'll post pix on DU! I actually learned how to do it (or I think I did!). So I'll try, for all the art lovers, to get some museum shots (which may not be possible but I'll ask respectfully). I'm so excited!

[elleng]

14. THOUGHT tomorrow was your day! BON VOYAGE!

Was in Europe at this time in 1957 w family; departed Idlewild October 4! (Google that date!) (England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, if its Monday it must be >?>?>?)

GREAT you've learned how to take and post pics; next, you get to teach me!

Will check your itinerary so think of me following you!!!

:hi:

[CTyankee]

20. Oh, I will, my friend! Thank you so much!

HOpe the pics turn out OK. I'm really hopeful.

We'll see.

[DURHAM D]

9. Do you have a Medicare Supplement Plan or Medicare Advantage?

I have Medicare Supplemental (not Medicare Advantage which is strangely called Part C) and Part D (meds) with two different insurance companies. It was Part D that paid for my shingles shot.

[CTyankee]

11. I have a no-copay plan under United Health Care with AARP.

I haven't called about the vaccine because I haven't decided whether I should get it. I'm leaning against...

[DURHAM D]

13. I don't understand why anyone would not get it.

I don't like to take medicine (usually have a reaction) or get shots but did not hesitate on this matter. Had absolutely no reaction to it. Everyone I know that has had shingles had chicken pox as a child. Have no idea what zoster is about.

I believe you have Medicare Advantage, not Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) - they are two different things.

[CTyankee]

21. I do not have Medicare Advantage. I don't think AARP even sells it sinc e it is

a nonprofit organization.

Zoster is an adult form of chicken pox. In my case it was a lesion on my side. It can take a form on other parts of the body, too. So what happens, as I assume from what my doc told me, is that if you have zoster as an adult your body builds up antibodies against it. Based on that information, the doc told me I would probably have a milder case of shingles, if I were to have it at all.

all of that is really supposition, altho based on some buildup of science. I don't know any more than that, but neither do you, so what do we know? I base my conclusions on a kind of risk/cost analysis...

[HuckleB]

15. Further information on safety, and advocacy for making it available to all.

Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax) Confirmed Safe
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/shingles-vaccine-zostavax-confirmed-safe/

Familiarity and the Shingles Vaccine
http://umrscblogs.org/2011/01/18/familiarity-and-the-shingles-vaccine/

[nichomachus]

16. A friend of mine just went through a bout with shingles

He was in absolute agony for months. Even oxycontin didn't help. You don't want to go through what he went through -- for anything.

[HuckleB]

17. +1

[CTyankee]

22. Well, in that case, try like hell to get that vaccine at the best (or no) cost possible!

I also hear it is horrible.

[RKP5637]

27. +1, n/t

[Vinca]

32. I think I've decided not to get it. I read somewhere that it is only 50% effective

and since I've had shingles 3 times - each bout less severe than the first - I figure I must be building up an immunity. I would strongly recommend anyone who has had chickenpox and not had a bout of zoster to get it though. My first outbreak was followed by the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced when I had a complication called postherpetic neuralgia. I landed in the ER and IV morphine barely touched it. It eventually went away, but has come back to a lesser degree after the successive bouts. I have been taking gabapentin almost nonstop since the neuralgia started and that has helped me a great deal. The neuralgia is back again after the last bout of shingles, but this time all I can feel is mostly tingly nerve sensations as opposed to pain. It's a very annoying condition because you think you've seen the last of it and it appears again.