The Cardiologist's Wife

Pimento Cheese, Not Your Grandma's Spread

Pimento cheese is one of those foods that has been so corrupted by the food industry that it has become synonymous with other crappy foods like Spam. I'm not even certain what store bought pimento cheese might contain, nor do I want to find out. It's a shame because pimento cheese can be a delightful treat, even if it does Read the full post…

Plum Good BBQ Sandwiches

In a few days it will officially be fall but the temperatures are still warm enough for me to continue swimming for a few more days. The breeze was a little cool but that didn't stop me from swimming several laps this morning and I felt great afterwards! Have you exercised lately? With fall's cooler temperatures and fewer insects, you Read the full post…

Shingles Vacine and Treatment

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don't want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The Read the full post…

Vegetarian Tacos are muy delicioso!

There are times when I think I could easily become a vegetarian, especially when I try a new dish that is as good as the vegetarian tacos I had at Local Lime restaurant in Little Rock and the tofu fried rice at Sai Tai here in Jonesboro. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary this past weekend by spending Read the full post…

Midyear Health Check

Summer is winding down , the year is more than half way over and our January resolutions are long forgotten. It's time for a health reality check. First of all, how is your health lately? If you have enjoyed good health, are you thankful? Take some time to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be healthy, for your family to Read the full post…

Vacation Lessons For A Healthier Life

I'm back from a lovely beach vacation and I wish I was still there with all my heart. Wouldn't it be nice if our every day life was as nice as a vacation? If we could relax, eat well, sleep and exercise just enough without having to worry about bills, work, illnesses and school, our lives would be perfect. But Read the full post…

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Shingles Vacine and Treatment

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on September 10, 2013 ][ In Medical and Health Information ]

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don’t want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your system until something triggers it, like another illness. The rash most often forms a wide band around the back and chest, following a nerve path from the spine. However, it can also appear on the scalp, neck or face. The pain associated with shingles can be quite bad and may last well after the rash heals.

If you experience any combination of these symptoms, get treatment right away: headaches, sensitivity to light, flu like feeling but no fever, itching, burning, tingling or pain in a certain area. This is where the rash will appear later. There is an antiviral drug which will help lessen the severity of shingles if taken before the rash appears. The virus is contagious so caution should be taken when caring for someone with the shingles. However, anyone exposed to the virus will probably get chickenpox, not shingles.

If you know you have had chicken pox, get the vaccine which helps your body fight the disease and reduces your risk of getting shingles by about 50%. If you do get shingles after getting the vaccine, it shortens the course of the disease. The vaccine is recommended for anyone over 50 since shingles is more common after that age though it can occur at younger ages. You should NOT get the vaccine if you have a disease which affects your immune system, you are being treated with corticosteroids, you have cancer or tuberculosis. The vaccine is covered under Medicare only if you have Part D Prescription Drug Plan. You should check with your insurance company to determine whether it covers the cost of the shingles vaccine. If you have to pay for it yourself, be prepared; the shot can cost anywhere from $200 to $275, even at a pharmacy.

I plan to get the vaccine soon, no matter how much it costs. My mother got shingles in her 70′s, well after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She suffered quite a bit from the pain and the rash made it impossible to wear a bra or her normal clothes. Between her Parkinson’s symptoms and the pain from the shingles rash, her life was miserable for several weeks. It is definitely worth the money to prevent this amount of pain and suffering and loss of wages from missing work.

Upadated on September 10, 2013

One Response to “Shingles Vacine and Treatment”

Lisa Tedder says:

September 11, 2013 at 3:26 pm

My friend also reports that a local pharmacy, Shinabery’s, compounds a cream with antiviral, nerve meds, NSAID pain relievers that works well but is pricy if your insurance doesn’t cover it. However she says it is well worth the price.

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