OMG Mark, so glad to hear your ok. Kudos to the significant other for her knowledge base. Shingles are just as bad and hoping all turns out well our fellow VDF buddy.

Man I know all here wished we would of payed a little more attention

to our days of being “youtts”

Been there and done that. It is nasty and painful. In my case, it was a work induced stressor.

Hope you get better very soon Mark.

Thanks to everyone for your support! My face is about 95% cleared up. The issue now is that the infected area is still numb and my eye is still a bit sore. To add insult to injury, I just had an "episode" about an hour ago. For the second time, the infected, numb, area begins to get a searing, burning, pain. It comes on very quickly and lasts almost a minute. It has to do with the affected nerve, which, in this case, is the trigeminal nerve on the right side around the temple. The pain is almost unbearable. Since this is the second time it has occurred, I knew about how long it would last. It leaves my right eye red and also very sensitive to light.

Again, if you are good with vaccines, PLEASE get the shingles vaccination and don't end up like me!!

-Mark

A friend of mine is blind in one eye from the shingles. So take care Mark!

All the best to you, Mark!!

Cheers

Wow Mark, that is a bad case. I recall Bobby Chiasson menitioning that his wife had suffered tri-geminal neuragia and it was debilitating to some degree thought the details are no longer in my recall.

I hadn't heard of a vaccine for shingles. Thanks for that head's up on behalf of everyone here. If you've had shingles, do you know if you develop any immunity from future cases?

Hi Dan! First, I want to wish you a happy holiday...depending on which you celebrate!

Since my last post about my "episode", I suffered another only 3 hours later. My sister had to drive me to Urgent Care, where I saw an excellent doctor. Since the Urgent Care I went to is part of my normal medical center, he was able to view my file and what has been done for my Shingles. The doctor got me back on a viral medication for 10 days, as my symptoms suggested that the shingles may be trying to make a come back! Due to continuing pain in my right eye, he suggested I get back to the ophthalmologist ASAP and to see my primary doctor within 2 weeks. I will be making appointments come Monday morning.

To answer your question about any immunity. the best course of action for anyone who has had Chicken Pox, or can't remember having it, is to talk to your doctor, who will most likely recommend the Shingles Vaccine.

I've been through a lot of pain and agony from my bout with Shingles and can't help but believe that this could have all been avoided had I gotten my vaccine a year ago when I was supposed to.

Please don't end up like me! The last thing I do not want to do is to post pictures I took of my face, documenting the Shingles progression!

-Mark

Mark,

I took the Zostovax vaccine many years ago, but then a few years ago they came out with Shingrix, which is purported to be far more effective in preventing shingles. I had been trying to get the Shingrix vaccine for about a year but no one around here had it available. I was on numerous waiting lists. Then Covid hit, and I forgot all about Shingrix. Thanks to your story, I went and got the first of two shots today. My medical plan covered it. I am very sorry you are suffering, but know your pain is not completely in vain - you spurred me to get protected. And about those waiting lists I was on: not one of them ever called me to advise they had the vaccine in stock!

Josh

Hi Josh!

Thanks so much for your excellent story and information regarding the vaccine. I'll write it down for future reference when I'm able to get the vaccine!

-Mark