Surviving A Shingle Shot

Well, I finally bit the bullet yesterday and got a shingles vaccination. We have a commercial running currently that was effective in terrifying me about the extent of associated pain. It reminded me about the pain my father suffered with an outbreak both on his leg and surrounding his EYE. He described the patch on his leg as if somone had laid an iron on his skin, and the doctors were forced to call in a specialist for the eye.

I actually got my vaccination at the pharmacy. The pharmacist spent some time warning me about the possible but not probable side effects--swelling and reddness at the injection site and/or light rash reminicient of chicken pox but not nearly as severe. None of that happened, though I needed to be aware that the rash could happen during the coming two weeks, when I am also slightly contagious to the very young or old who have not been vaccinated.

The pharmacist also suggested getting my flu shot at the same time. That worried me, but she said that if I had them done at the same time, there would be no problem, but if I didn't have them done (one in each arm) together, I would have to wait 3-4 weeks before getting the flu shot. I decided to get both done, and so far so good.

Shingles is a viral response to chicken pox. Chickenpox (varicella zoster) is a common virus among children that causes mild illness and lifetime immunity. The varicella virus remains dormant in the body, however, and if the body’s immune system is weakened (by aging, stress or other infections), the virus can reactivate and cause shingles, a far more serious illness than chickenpox.

Most common in adults 65 and older, the shingles (herpes zoster) virus spreads down the nerves and causes a painful, blistering rash that patients can’t bear having touched, even by clothes. Though more common on the trunk of the body, the excruciating rash may break out on the limbs, head and in the eye (causing blindness), an emergency reason for the involvement of an ophthalmologist as well as a physician, who can treat the disease most effectively at onset. The rash pattern, blister fluid and blood samples can confirm the diagnosis. Despite the size of the rash (sometimes a small patch that seems out of proportion to the extent of the pain), the patient may feel very ill—feverish, exhausted, achy, and often depressed.

Medication can be particularly helpful within 72 hours of first symptoms. Usually within two weeks, blisters burst and crust over, sometimes leaving scars. The pain may subside as the rash recedes, but not always. Some are left with pain in that area for months and even years (called post herpetic neuralgia).

In addition to antiviral medications (which lessen disease severity and duration), steroids for inflammation, pain killers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants, topical agents may be prescribed. Shingles isn’t contagious, but the virus particles are in the blister fluid. Someone who hasn’t had chickenpox could become infected.

To learn more about shingles, contact the National Immunization Hotline at 800-232-2522 or visit www.cdc.gov. Call the National Chronic Pain Outreach Association at 540-862-9437 or visit www.chronicpain.org for information about chronic pain management.