So, I got Shingles

[PoorSucker]

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

I Suggested topical  lidocainefor pain, not itching. Shingles does not usually itch. 

Got Vilerm 800mg tablets, Vilerm cream.

Pregabalin 150mg and Naproxen 250 for pain

[newbee2022]

23 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Have you consulted a doctor?

 

It is important to start antiviral medication within 72 hours, not only shortens the duration but more importantly decreases the risk of long term complications. However there are contraindications to these drugs (e.g. kidney disease) so medical supervision is wise.

 

Besides antivrals, drugs like gabaoentin may be given to reduce pain,  as well as paracetemol and/or NSAIDs.

 

I found topical lidocaine applied to the rash helped a lot.

 

Topical treatment (antibiotic) is in most cases sufficient. Cooling (anti itching) lotions in addition. 

No need to swallow any antiviral drugs

[Stevemercer]

Get the vaccine. There is some evidence to suggest the vaccine may also help against dementia.

[Watawattana]

I got shingles, and it affected my eyes (keratitis).  I luckily went to my GP almost immediately I got symptoms; I was told that if I'd delayed I'd likely have been rendered blind.  I got a bit lucky.  I still have minor symptoms, with nerve endings pinging away every so often and sensitive and itchy skin around my forehead.  Not annoying enough to bother about.  I got the vaccine just in case.

[johng]

2 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

Get the vaccine.

What is the point of getting the vaccine  whist you are suffering from the disease it is supposed to stop you from getting in the first place ? 

[lou norman]

3 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Got Vilerm 800mg tablets, Vilerm cream.

Pregabalin 150mg and Naproxen 250 for pain

Pregabalin really helps with the pain, but is quite addictive. I speak from personal experience. Be careful.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

How do they tell if something is effective vs one's natural immune system ?  Especially for something like shingles.

Medical studies are based on a test group, and a control group given a placebo.

 

It doesn't take long for statistically significant differences to appear, if the medication or vaccine is effective.

[johng]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Medical studies are based on a test group, and a control group given a placebo.

 

So not 8 mice ?

[GroveHillWanderer]

14 hours ago, short-Timer said:

I've haven't had it again since then, luckily. My doctor advised against getting the vaccine at this point, as he believes I’ve developed natural immunity. He also mentioned that the vaccine’s efficacy is only around 50%, which is relatively low compared to many other vaccines.

That's the older vaccine, Zostavax. For the newer Shingrix vaccine, the following is the info: 

 

Quote

Shingrix, the recombinant zoster vaccine, demonstrates high efficacy against shingles (herpes zoster). In immunocompetent individuals aged 50 and older, it shows over 90% efficacy. 

 

[thailand49]

I got it 2004, just over 50, my dad had just passed away I remember that day well I remember being constantly being punched in the side and back. in bathroom I pull up my shirt and notice the rash starting called up doctor went in confirmed he gave me some pills and ask how I know years back I remember my mother had it.

I have a high tolerance for pain aside from the pills given I never took anything even continue working my labor job.

I took a co-worker advice to soak daily in cool water with baby oil to ease the itching it really helped I believe it also helped with the scarring after two weeks Dr. Visit it was as if I never had it.

When vaccine came I declined so far so good.🤔

[short-Timer]

5 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

That's the older vaccine, Zostavax. For the newer Shingrix vaccine, the following is the info: 

 

 

Thanks. As I mentioned in a previous post, Ive now already read about it. 

[gargamon]

22 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

which vaccine? Shingrix or Zostovax. I got 1 shot of Shingrix at Bkk Pattaya and that was before Zostovax came out. So, I am curious. Going to look into Zostovax when  I return to thailand

From what I can find, shingrix was the vaccine in the study. Lots of info out there if you google it.

[gargamon]

23 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I haven't heard of any chickenpox outbreaks in Thailand, have you?

Big outbreak in the Philippines now. It's only a matter of time till it gets to Thailand.

[FolkGuitar]

Worst medical experience of my life.  Two years ago rushed to the ER at 3 AM with a fever of 104.5°F, burning pain, with a massive rash covering half my back and part of my stomach. In hospital for a week, then home in bed for the next three months. It took almost 6 months before I felt like I had enough energy for a normal life.

Unfortunately, the intense pain didn't stop for a year. I took all the anti-virals, but no doctor at that time suggested nerve regrowth medicine. When I finally found one that did, the pain began to diminish.

It's now been over two years, and there is just one 5" spot of burning on my back. I treated the pain with CBD oil, taking it internally and rubbing it on externally, which helped more than anything else.
And yes... as soon as I was able, I got the two doses of vaccine. I don't ever want to go through that again. You CAN get it repeatedly, but the vaccine reduces the symptoms.

[JimHuaHin]

23 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Yes, but he's a big boy (not fat), got the regular vaccination but apparently he needed double dose compared to Thai children, got chicken pox age four on his birthday, Shingles at 11.

He's 13 now. 170cm and 75kg. 

He have a baritone voice, everyone thinks he's 17.

Half Finnish, half Thai.

I am sorry, I was not clear enough.

 

For memory, and I maybe wrong, a person with shingles cannot be vaccinated until the outbreak clears up.

 

I was referring to why you did not get vaccinated.

[GroveHillWanderer]

6 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

For memory, and I maybe wrong, a person with shingles cannot be vaccinated until the outbreak clears up.

Your memory is correct. 

 

Quote

Some people shouldn’t get the shingles vaccine. These people include those:

 

Who currently have shingles.

 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22996-shingles-vaccine

[scoutman360]

On 4/21/2025 at 12:55 AM, still kicking said:

So I am turning 78 shortly, I do not remember if I am vaccinated for chicken pox, I very much doubt it since my mother was impoverished, so is it advisable to get any vaccination? 

If you are 78, they didn't have chickenpox vaccine back in your day. It was created in the 1970's and didn't reach global availability until the 1980's. I remember when the chickenpox was a right of passage for children back then. The whole school population had to suffer through it.

 

Yes, I would get the vaccine. You don't want to go through that suffering at 78.

[VR333]

On 4/21/2025 at 3:55 AM, still kicking said:

So I am turning 78 shortly, I do not remember if I am vaccinated for chicken pox, I very much doubt it since my mother was impoverished, so is it advisable to get any vaccination? 

 

If you want to be 100% sure whether you had chickenpox as a child, you can get tested.

I was sure I had never been vaccinated against it and didn't think I ever had chickenpox, but there was no one left for me to ask for confirmation.

I didn't want to pay, at the time, 2x $300+ for a vaccination that I might not even need.

As it turned out, like most children of my era, I did have chickenpox when I was young, but I have no memory of it.

In Australia, the VZV test is less than $100.

 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, VR333 said:

 

If you want to be 100% sure whether you had chickenpox as a child, you can get tested.

I was sure I had never been vaccinated against it and didn't think I ever had chickenpox, but there was no one left for me to ask for confirmation.

I didn't want to pay, at the time, 2x $300+ for a vaccination that I might not even need.

As it turned out, like most children of my era, I did have chickenpox when I was young, but I have no memory of it.

In Australia, the VZV test is less than $100.

 

I thought AU has free universal healthcare, guess not.  $100 for a simple test  

[VR333]

40 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I thought AU has free universal healthcare, guess not. 

 

Healthcare in Australia is free to a certain extent. You still pay less overall than in many other places around the world.

 

40 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

$100 for a simple test

 

Less than $100 is what you would pay if you had to pay out of pocket.

I quoted that amount as a guide, as I don't know the cost in Thailand.

The test and a vaccine for chickenpox, if you find out you've never had chickenpox, is going to be a lot cheaper than 2x Shingrix in Thailand.