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Mr.Bill

(24,282 posts)
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:33 PM May 2023

I 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.

63 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I just got a Shingles shot a few hours ago. **Update** (Original Post) Mr.Bill May 2023 OP
Following to see any reactions, if any. I have been speculating whether to get mine or not. walkingman May 2023 #1
Neither I nor my husband... hippywife May 2023 #13
Yup zipplewrath May 2023 #16
They're incredibly painful... hippywife May 2023 #21
You do NOT want to get shingles. 3catwoman3 May 2023 #32
I got both Shingrix shots luvtheGWN May 2023 #52
Get the shots! TomSlick May 2023 #57
THANKS EVERYONE - Y'ALL CONVINCED ME. DW AND I WILL BE GETTING OURS NEXT WEEK!! ☮ walkingman May 2023 #59
Good call. TomSlick May 2023 #62
Very smart thing to do. n/t RKP5637 May 2023 #2
I got it, too. RandySF May 2023 #3
I had my second one last Friday morning MissB May 2023 #4
Yep, it's the second one that gets ya! Golfnbrew May 2023 #56
I thought the shingles shots hurt a bit more than the covid shots. Solomon May 2023 #5
I felt some mild pain at the injection site Mr.Bill May 2023 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author Tetrachloride May 2023 #6
Good. Glad you got it. Shingles sucks Jerry2144 May 2023 #7
I'm retired. Mr.Bill May 2023 #12
Lucky you Jerry2144 May 2023 #14
Some web-based training has a quiz at the end Shermann May 2023 #28
Expect a sore arm. It was only bad enough that it reminded me when I made the wrong move. It didn't brewens May 2023 #8
So far. Sanity Claws May 2023 #9
Was that the only one you need? A few years back I got mine but it was two shots, I think brewens May 2023 #11
The Pharmacist said second shot in 2-6 months. Mr.Bill May 2023 #17
Yeah. It could have been more than 30 days for mine. It was maybe seven years ago. brewens May 2023 #19
I'm not sure if I had chicken pox either. Mr.Bill May 2023 #33
I had to get a titer done for my volunteer job at hospital, too. Raftergirl May 2023 #36
It amazed me what the process was just to be a volunteer. Mr.Bill May 2023 #37
I had very mild side effects after both of mine. Sky Jewels May 2023 #15
Mr Bill, very glad you got it, With Shinglex you only need one shot. I got my Covid booster today debm55 May 2023 #18
He was very clear about it being two shots. Mr.Bill May 2023 #23
I think I'll give a call, since I am blind in right eye from the Shingles, debm55 May 2023 #26
Shot #2 is the one that hurts. maxsolomon May 2023 #20
Maybe for you it was, but not for me. hippywife May 2023 #22
Right, my post is the straw that breaks the camel's back maxsolomon May 2023 #38
It could very well be. hippywife May 2023 #40
Now do posts 27, 30 & 41. maxsolomon May 2023 #42
Welcome to ignore. nt hippywife May 2023 #43
Everyone reacts differently to vaccine shots. NotVeryImportant May 2023 #24
They said 50 years old. Mr.Bill May 2023 #25
50 is the minimum age to assure there's supply available. maxsolomon May 2023 #39
Mine hurt terribly Lunabell May 2023 #27
How long are the two shots good for anyway? Shermann May 2023 #29
I'm not sure. hippywife May 2023 #34
The new vaccine hasn't been around JenniferJuniper May 2023 #50
They flattened me but it's worth it mcar May 2023 #30
I'm due for my 2nd shot Montauk6 May 2023 #31
Same here. He said at least two weeks between those. Mr.Bill May 2023 #35
Got my second on Saturday JenniferJuniper May 2023 #41
No significant arm pain for either, but the shingles booster made Ilsa May 2023 #45
It's the second shot you need to plan around. Ilsa May 2023 #44
I got mine when I got my second Covid booster localroger May 2023 #46
The shingles shot knocked me on my ass SouthernDem4ever May 2023 #47
I got one Monday LymphocyteLover May 2023 #48
I had the set of two shingles shots. The first was easy. The second made me ugly for 2 days. camartinwv May 2023 #49
I got my second shot on Saturday. No problem with the first shot, but Emile May 2023 #51
I didn't have any reactions to speak of iemanja May 2023 #53
Good Luck! Got my second shot Friday and my upper arm has hurt all week. PaulRevere08 May 2023 #54
Good for you. I've had 13 bouts of shingles since 1994 and have permanent nerve damage catbyte May 2023 #55
TY for the reminder. Put it in my alarms settings as a Reminder for early next week. 👍 electric_blue68 May 2023 #58
Well, so far, so good. I still feel okay. So does my wife. Mr.Bill May 2023 #60
I'm still having significant pain from my flu shot in Nov. Grasswire2 May 2023 #61
I hope you dont DiverDave May 2023 #63

hippywife

(22,767 posts)
13. Neither I nor my husband...
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:43 PM
May 2023

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)
16. Yup
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:52 PM
May 2023

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)
21. They're incredibly painful...
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:57 PM
May 2023

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

(23,973 posts)
32. You do NOT want to get shingles.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:27 PM
May 2023

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.

TomSlick

(11,097 posts)
57. Get the shots!
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:40 PM
May 2023

I've seen shingles - it ain't pleasant. No reaction to the shots can come near shingles symptoms.

MissB

(15,805 posts)
4. I had my second one last Friday morning
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:38 PM
May 2023

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

(46 posts)
56. Yep, it's the second one that gets ya!
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:20 PM
May 2023

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

(12,310 posts)
5. I thought the shingles shots hurt a bit more than the covid shots.
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:38 PM
May 2023

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

Response to Mr.Bill (Original post)

Jerry2144

(2,099 posts)
7. Good. Glad you got it. Shingles sucks
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:40 PM
May 2023

Sore arm and feverish feeling for me the next day. Nothing some generic ibuprofen or acetaminophen couldn’t help with. If you get a knot, try ice, gentle massage, and possibly heat.

Sleep will be your friend for a day.

brewens

(13,574 posts)
8. Expect a sore arm. It was only bad enough that it reminded me when I made the wrong move. It didn't
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:40 PM
May 2023

ache all day.

Sanity Claws

(21,846 posts)
9. So far.
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:40 PM
May 2023

I felt soreness in my arm for a while. The side effect was nowhere near as strong as with the COVID vaccination.

brewens

(13,574 posts)
11. Was that the only one you need? A few years back I got mine but it was two shots, I think
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:42 PM
May 2023

30 days apart. Just a sore arm both times.

Mr.Bill

(24,282 posts)
17. The Pharmacist said second shot in 2-6 months.
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:53 PM
May 2023

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

(13,574 posts)
19. Yeah. It could have been more than 30 days for mine. It was maybe seven years ago.
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:56 PM
May 2023

I'm almost certain I never had chicken pox, but no one knows for sure. It was free so I got it.

Mr.Bill

(24,282 posts)
33. I'm not sure if I had chicken pox either.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:33 PM
May 2023

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

(1,285 posts)
36. I had to get a titer done for my volunteer job at hospital, too.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:46 PM
May 2023

I had antibodies for everything except mumps, but that vax didn’t 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

(24,282 posts)
37. It amazed me what the process was just to be a volunteer.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:51 PM
May 2023

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

(7,069 posts)
15. I had very mild side effects after both of mine.
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:50 PM
May 2023

I was just low-energy for a day each time. That was it. So it's possible to escape without a bad reaction.

debm55

(25,163 posts)
18. Mr Bill, very glad you got it, With Shinglex you only need one shot. I got my Covid booster today
Wed May 24, 2023, 03:55 PM
May 2023

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.

hippywife

(22,767 posts)
22. Maybe for you it was, but not for me.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:00 PM
May 2023

No reactions at all from either dose. Posts like yours can scare people sitting on the fence away from getting the vax.

 

NotVeryImportant

(578 posts)
24. Everyone reacts differently to vaccine shots.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:04 PM
May 2023

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?

maxsolomon

(33,310 posts)
39. 50 is the minimum age to assure there's supply available.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:53 PM
May 2023

I was able to get mine earlier (40s) because I'd had shingles as a youth.

Lunabell

(6,078 posts)
27. Mine hurt terribly
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:15 PM
May 2023

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

(7,412 posts)
29. How long are the two shots good for anyway?
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:20 PM
May 2023

There seems to be contradictory information.

I had my two shots last year, no issues.

hippywife

(22,767 posts)
34. I'm not sure.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:35 PM
May 2023

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

(4,510 posts)
50. The new vaccine hasn't been around
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:11 PM
May 2023

long enough to say but they now say no boosters needed for at least 10 years, probably longer.

Montauk6

(8,075 posts)
31. I'm due for my 2nd shot
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:22 PM
May 2023

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

(24,282 posts)
35. Same here. He said at least two weeks between those.
Wed May 24, 2023, 04:37 PM
May 2023

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.

Ilsa

(61,694 posts)
44. It's the second shot you need to plan around.
Wed May 24, 2023, 05:11 PM
May 2023

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

(3,626 posts)
46. I got mine when I got my second Covid booster
Wed May 24, 2023, 05:53 PM
May 2023

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)
47. The shingles shot knocked me on my ass
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:02 PM
May 2023

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

(5,643 posts)
48. I got one Monday
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:05 PM
May 2023

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)
49. I had the set of two shingles shots. The first was easy. The second made me ugly for 2 days.
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:09 PM
May 2023

It is still worth it. Shingles is MUCH worse.

Emile

(22,679 posts)
51. I got my second shot on Saturday. No problem with the first shot, but
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:14 PM
May 2023

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.

PaulRevere08

(449 posts)
54. Good Luck! Got my second shot Friday and my upper arm has hurt all week.
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:17 PM
May 2023

But having had shingles, the minor inconvenience is with it.

catbyte

(34,374 posts)
55. Good for you. I've had 13 bouts of shingles since 1994 and have permanent nerve damage
Wed May 24, 2023, 06:17 PM
May 2023

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!

Mr.Bill

(24,282 posts)
60. Well, so far, so good. I still feel okay. So does my wife.
Wed May 24, 2023, 07:05 PM
May 2023

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

(13,568 posts)
61. I'm still having significant pain from my flu shot in Nov.
Wed May 24, 2023, 09:26 PM
May 2023

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

(4,886 posts)
63. I hope you dont
Wed May 24, 2023, 10:04 PM
May 2023

Get the reaction I got.
I slept for 2 days. I was so tired.
Same reaction both times...

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