Hubby has shingles...

[Grace]

Shingles is bad - but so is getting Chicken Pox as an adult.

My son got it at age 34 - brought home by his kids. Fortunately, antivirals were available and he got on them the first day. When I worked in Neuro ICU almost 30 years ago, I cared for a 35 year old woman with Herpes Encephalitis - a complication of Chicken Pox.

Kids diseases can be killers for adults.

[Karen]

There's a big poster up in my doctor's office for the elderly to get their Shingles vaccine. I forget at what age it is recommended, but will get mine when the time comes. My neighbor had it and it was just dreadful for her, painful and the pain sometimes lingers after the "episode is over " .... a real nightmare.

[chocolatepuppy]

I hope your husband gets better soon.

[Grace]

There's a big poster up in my doctor's office for the elderly to get their Shingles vaccine. I forget at what age it is recommended, but will get mine when the time comes. My neighbor had it and it was just dreadful for her, painful and the pain sometimes lingers after the "episode is over " .... a real nightmare.

The age suggested is 60. However, I hear all the time about folks younger than that getting shingles.

[CountryWolf07]

I had a mild case of shingles on my arm & chest. It lasted about at least 3-4 weeks. That was four years ago. First time I ever had it. Hope I don't get that again. I learned you could get that through stress/worrying too much.

[kokopup]

I had a pretty severe case a few years ago and to my knowledge I had never had chickenpox. If I had the pox the case was so mild no one knew I had them. If getting the Vaccine will prevent you from getting them I would advise you to get it even if you have to pay out of pocket.

I had radical lymph node surgery, a heart attack, followed by stints, and shinges all over a week and a half period. Strange all three gave me unbelivable pain in my left shoulder so my doctors were really scratching their heads. Long unreal story.

[cyber-sibes]

My mother had them after she had radiation & chemo for lymphoma - they are indeed extremely painful! She told me she couldn't lie down to sleep, & cried for hours on end, too. I had a very mild outbreak when I was 30 & pregnant - I have some nerve damage from it, sometimes it hurts even 27 years later.

Your hubby has my sympathy - hope it clears up soon.

[krazyaboutkatz]

A co-worker had it last year and she was only 50. She didn't know what it was so she went to the doctor and he told her it was shingles. She was put on medication and it cleared up quickly. She also said it was painful. She was told that she wouldn't get it again that once you've had it you won't get it again.

I had a severe case of chicken pox when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I had my tonsils taken out and while recovering, I ended up getting chicken pox. My mom wanted my brothers to get it so then we'd all have it and be done with it. Both of my brothers had very mild cases compared to mine.