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3:24 pm
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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My surgery just called, inviting me to have one against Shingles. I really dislike vaccinations as I always react badly to them, so has anyone here had one for this disease and what were the side-effects?
I'll try that again!
3:38 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 30-Jan-11
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I've never heard of a shingles vaccination, Toni, is this a new thing?
Fortunately, I've never had shingles myself, but know people who have and they all said how painful it was. So if I was offered a vaccine against it, I'd probably go for it.
I have a flu jab every year and sometimes, not always, have a mild reaction to it. Had the pneumonia one the year before last (that lasts for 10 years for most people, just 5 for sufferers of certain conditions like diabetes) - I had no reaction at all to that. What does your surgery say about the likelihood of a reaction?
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
6:14 pm
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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I didn't ask Sue, I was speaking to what sounded like a 'work experience' chap. I know that when I had a flu jab and a tetanus one I ended up being rather ill for weeks.
I'll try that again!
6:59 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Toni, and Sue - I have had shingles in the eye/face - extremely painful, and it has left a couple of scars too. I was very ill for a while. I wonder about these shingles vaccinations, whether, as I've had the condition, if I would be protected already. Probably not.
As soon as I felt the odd sensation of thousands of needles penetrating my face, I went to the doc, and it was a locum, who didn't know what it was and gave me a bit of acupuncture into the nape of my neck (!). Obviously had no effect ... another visit to a doc, who immediately recognised shingles.
Listening to the radio on Monday, the doc was saying that when shingles affects the face it can result in losing the sight in that eye if it isn't caught early, so I was 'lucky' that didn't happen. She also said that it is an urgent medical condition (on the face) for that reason.
Like you, Toni, having bad effects after these inoculations makes you a bit wary of more of them! 
4:20 pm
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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I remember you having shingles, Val. I am still undecided but haven't researched anything about it yet.
I'll try that again!
9:17 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Toffeeapple said
I remember you having shingles, Val. I am still undecided but haven't researched anything about it yet.
Yes, it isn't something I'd like to repeat! 
My eye was so swollen, it closed up. The pain was frightening, too.
12:29 am
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Is it related to chicken pox or measles? I have had both of those and, as a child I had a bad reaction to small pox.
I'll try that again!
7:03 am
Expert
New members
Tue 9-Nov-10
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Shingles is the same bug as chicken pox - it lurks for half a lifetime and then pops out along a nerve. Nobody seems to know what will make it flare up, but the vaccination can only be against the bug, so how it works is beyond me.
You are only supposed to have chicken pox once then be immune for life. Not true - I had it at four-ish and then again when I was nineteen. It was horrible, the second time round.
I shall be getting the invite before too long and I am not at all sure I want to take advantge - I passed on the flu jab last year because I was fed up with the flu-y reaction that dragged me down nicely for the winter and then they admitted that the previous year the mix had been useless. So don't expect any advice from me.
Shut up, I'm counting
7:43 am
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Strangely, unlike the flu jab, the shingles vaccination is a 'one-off', so ...
Why is it then, that having had shingles, I am not immune? Interestingly, some sufferers end up having shingles many times, so, how would the vaccination help if that can happen?
I read that, if anyone is under 70 years old, and would like to have the injection (who would?), then it could cost, privately, anything from £100 - £200. See here.
5:03 pm
Expert
New members
Tue 9-Nov-10
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I don't actually understand shingles. It is caused by a virus - the same one as chicken pox. Supposedly if you have had chicken pox, your immune system has the antibodies, so if you meet it again, you are immune. So the virus particles lurk within you and sometimes - for no apparent reason, they come out of hiding and cause the anguish. Rather like cold sore virus particles never go away and will flare up at will. So why doesn't your immune system deal with them second time around, when it has supposedly got the ability to do so. And why will the magic vaccine make any difference? I just don't get it.
It is like a lot of these magic medical miracles - they tell us what they think we want to hear, but I suspect them of having their fingers crossed behind their backs. Thank goodness my GP knows me for the hardened old cynic that I am! Still, wish me luck - next Wednesday he is having the priviledge of giving me an injection that is intended to stop my shoulder hurting(like hell) and I just might be able to get the sewing machine out - if it works.
Oh, and when they offer, I will be saying thanks but no thanks for the shingles thing.
Shut up, I'm counting
6:44 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Thank you for your input ladies. I had a text from the surgery this morning, so I feel that they are harassing me to take the vaccine so that they can earn money from Pharma. I am not going to have it. Val and Sue you have helped me to clarify what was confusing me, thanks again.
I'll try that again!
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