Well damn. I got shingles. Anybody got any helpful suggestions?

[Walleye]

I went to the doctor just for a regular check up and when she looked at my back, she said, does this rash itch back here? And I said, well a little bit, it’s in a spot I can’t see or reach. She said it’s shingles and it’s pretty well healed over so she didn’t prescribe me anything. For some reason I didn’t expect it.I was putting off the shot because Medicare doesn’t pay for it. So far it’s not too bad if she hadn’t pointed it out I would’ve gone on ignoring it. Anybody here had it?

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Medicare paid for mine totally, no deductible.

Get the shot to avoid it coming back. The shots (there are two of them) hurt like the devil and can make you a little under the weather, but it beats a bad case of shingles!

[Walleye]

3. I gotta figure this out, they told me at the pharmacy Medicare didn't pay

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I got mine at Walgreens.

[Hoyt]

7. I think Medicare Part D drug plans cover it, as do Medicare Advantage plans that

include drug coverage.

[Walleye]

10. That sounds right, thanks.Guess I gotta pay, I canceled my Medicare advantage didn't like it

[LakeArenal]

23. My supplemental no pay. Husbands will pay.

[Walleye]

24. Aha. Well I'm convinced even if I do have to pay. I don't need any more disabilities

[LakeArenal]

25. $249 at Walgreens

[Walleye]

26. Whoa! I think it is slightly less than that at the giant supermarket pharmacy.

No doubt it has gone up since I asked about it a year ago. I can manage it. I just have to budget. At least I got my Dentist all paid off this month. At age 73 it’s all repair and maintenance from now on it seems

[LakeArenal]

29. Remember the movie: Death Becomes Her?

Yeah like that…..😵‍💫

[Freddie]

9. My doc told me Medicare pays only if you get it at a pharmacy

Not at the doctors office.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

22. I only got 1 shot of

Shingrix. What is the other shot and jow long before you can get the 2nd dose?

Anybody know?

[zeusdogmom]

32. Part 2 of the Shingrix

Any time between 2-6 months from the first shot.

[elleng]

2. Some here have had it BAD; good yours isn't bad.

I encourage everyone to get the shot.

Glad to see from someone that medicare DOES pay for the shot.

I had little if any 'reaction.'

[Walleye]

5. Do I need to wait any period of time to get the shot after this clears up?

[elleng]

12. Dunno; ask doc + pharmacist.

[multigraincracker]

27. I go to a small local Independent drug store.

They are the best. Always has time to talk with me and answer my questions.
I've kept up with the plain old traditional MC. might pay a little more up front, but I can go to all of the good doctors, and I do. I have my Union BC/BS to help with deductibles. After $600 for the year, I don't have any. I usually hit that by June or July.

Best of luck with it. My friend got it in and around one of her eyes. That got me to get mine.

[Walleye]

28. Wow thanks. Guess I'm lucky mine is on my back

[zeusdogmom]

33. For sure. Shingles in the eye sucks big time.

Sorry for the bad word but it is the perfect descriptor. Nearly lost the vision in the affected eye. I’m good now but the cornea specialist and I are good buddies. 😂.

[Walleye]

34. Wow. Glad you are OK

[electric_blue68]

36. Holy 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Oh @$@_#_&?)$@##+!!!!!!!!!

I had not idea you could.... (speechless)


Well, I guess I'll continue taking my chances (going through a non medical upheaval) for several more months and get it in early Oct.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. Do you have part D prescription coverage?

I think you need that but I would call medicare and ask or go to medicare.gov and type in shingles.

[Hoyt]

8. Think you are right.

[Walleye]

11. I just saw that my state has a website for helping with prescription prices. I will look that up

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[Srkdqltr]

13. Some in my area, Michigan, got the shot at the health department in our county. Free.

That was probably 2 years ago. Might check that.

[Walleye]

15. That's a good idea I'll look into that thanks

[Achilleaze]

14. One day decades ago Olde GrandMammy Achilleaze wagged...

...one of her chubby fingers at me, grimaced, and then told me to go get a shingles shot or I'd regret it.

Having listened to the shingles horror stories of friends and family near and far over the years, I am glad I heeded her warning.

[Walleye]

16. I know. I remember when I was a little girl, my grandfather had it. He got real grumpy

[Historic NY]

17. First shot I got and it was covered.

[hlthe2b]

18. Antivirals effective started within 72 hours of first (earliest) symptoms. Beyond that, no point in

prescribing. Unfortunately, most people won't get to a health care provider that early. Good luck.

[Walleye]

20. Thanks. Mine was too far along for medication according to my doctor

I’m hoping if I ignore it it will go away. Taking Tylenol and ibuprofen

[sdfernando]

19. Got both shots

My insurance covered most of it and the pharmacy I use covered the co-pay so out of pocket for me was $0.00. I had almost no reaction to the shots. It was pretty much the same as with tetanus shots...a bit of a sore arm for a day or two and that was it. I count myself very lucky as I usually tolerate shots very well.

[Walleye]

21. Thanks. I will get the shots one way or the other.

I am lucky in that I tolerate shots pretty well too. I’m glad to hear you had mild reaction

[louis-t]

30. I was offered the vaccine during a checkup for hernia surgery.

I said "Nah, I'm good." 4 months later, I had shingles. It was terrible. I used Terrasil topical for the pain, calamine for the itching. Took two weeks to go away.

[Walleye]

31. Thanks for the tip. I don't think I need any medicine yet

[Warpy]

35. Maybe

It was a red streak down the back of my right calf, itched and hurt when I scratched it. A couple of blisters popped up and scabbed over a day later (I'd covered them when I found them). A week later, the streak had faded and the itch was gone.

Once the blisters scabbed over, I used some CBD lotion on the area, it did a reasonable job of killing both the itch and the pain.

I have severe neuropathy in my feet, so I'm used to nerve pain. I can imagine being freaked out by the pain level if that hadn't been the case. The gremlins running a red hot wire down the back of my leg were nothing compared to the gremlins going over my toes with a grater and driving 8d nails into my heels.

OTC lidocaine patches will also work to reduce the pain. I couldn't find mine.

I've balked at the cost of the vax, also. Bad nurse. However, if that's the worst it will be for me, pfft.

[pacheen]

37. I've had shingles 3 times

We are up for shot # 2 next month.

Got the old Zoster vac shot 2016 but it only has 50 percent efficacy.

The last two times I had it I knew right away what it was. It’s an itchy, burning rash. Both times I went to urgent care asap and got on the antiviral. I think getting on the meds early helps lessen the severity quite a bit.