they all reported vague malaise for 8-12 hours.

be a good day to stay in bed and watch movies and check into DU!

Had it Wednesday and Wednesday night I kep waking with fever, then chills. Finally woke up enough to take 800 mg of Ibuprofen. Problem solved. Spent a lazy Thursday, long nap in the recliner. Fine after that.
Small price to pay for the shingles experience of my neighbor. 6 months, terrible pain, could not bear clothes to touch her body. 6 months in a mumu at home. Lots of pain for her and pain pills didn't help much.

My arm ached for over a week after the second shot. Another friend of mine had the same experience. In fact, she said she couldn't sleep on her side because it hurt when she laid on her arm.

I've been on two waiting lists since the beginning of the year for my first.

me because I wanted to get some chores done tomorrow and do some cooking. However I guess it's better than getting shingles, so it's worth it.

Felt lousy (achy, fatigued, queasy) for a couple of days after the first shingles shot, with no side effects whatsoever after the second one. No severe arm aching with either shot.

first shot didn't bother me at all.

I had shingles before I got my shingles shots.

You don’t want shingles.

As shots go, yeah it’s kinda like having been kicked by a donkey. A small price to pay though.

many people here at DU talking about getting it. I am really grateful for the wisdom of people on this site. I never would have thought to ask if it hadn't been for you guys.

as bad as it could be. I got the shot because I have very sensitive skin and I know that if I ever got it, it would drive me mad. Whatever the side effects of the shot, I think it will be worth preventing the disease.

I hope you are feeling better these days.

She’s 85, so got them when she was 80. Wound up in hospital as shingles became infected. She has had neuralgia and painful scars for 5 years now!

I've been on the waiting list for almost 9 months. Apparently they can't even come close to meeting demand. They keep claiming to ramp up production, but the wait times just get longer and longer.

and the pneumonia shot (although I am a little young for that, so we are putting it off for a while). I asked about the shingles shot because I heard so many people here talk about it and she gave it to me during the visit. I go back in December for the 2nd shot.

Where do you live? I wonder why there is such a shortage?

When your name eventually comes up on one of them, you can cancel the others. You will need to get the second shot within 1-3 months of the first.

It's first-come, first-served, if you happen to walk in and they have their 10 doses for the quarter.
According to my MD, the timing to the second shot is not as critical as they might make it out.

I’ve had both shingles shots.... the first one made me feel a little bit “off”, as in sort of tired and slightly achy, but it wasn’t really bad enough that I had to curtail any routine activities. I did take a nap in the afternoon. The second one didn’t really affect me at all. I wonder why your doctor gave you both the flu shot and the shingles shot together? You’re going to have a sore arm, I’d think! Good luck to you, I enjoy your posts.

all to me at once so she decided to wait on the pneumonia shot because she thought that was the lesser risk. I'm pretty healthy, so it was just a precautionary thing. She said if she had given them all to me at once I would feel terrible so we decided to postpone.

The flu shot doesn't really affect me much at all. Maybe a tiny bit of soreness, but barely noticeable. I think she thought I would be fine with both. Thanks Ohiogal! I enjoy your posts as well!

Sorry I swear so much. Its funny but in real life, if people ever hear me say even a minor swear word they are shocked. They find it so out of character for me, but for some reason when I am on here and talking about DT or republicans, I seem to swear like a drunken sailor!

I write the F word here sometimes, but, like you, hardly if ever say it out loud. In fact if I use that word at all, then my husband knows I’m REALLY mad. Usually I use it in reference to our mobster of a President and his crime family, er, I mean, political party. They just bring out the worst in all of us!

Only had the first one, have to go back and get the 2nd one.

I can handle soreness, but I was hoping to be somewhat productive tomorrow, so hoping I wasn't going to feel ill. Who knows, maybe I will feel fine. I am planning to sleep in anyway since I got so little sleep during the week.

We'll see how i feel after the 2nd shot.I got the shingrix shot, which I think is the new one.

Guess it can affect individuals differently.

I've never had any reactions to any vaccines. Only thing I reacted to was a course of penicillin I had to take after minor gum surgery. The night I took the last doses of penicillin (5 day prescription) I broke out in terrible hives. I wanted to cut my arms and legs off the itching was so bad. It went away within 24 hours. But the worst night of my life.

I don't feel sick, just tired, but that is because I really didn't get much sleep this week so I will probably take a nap later today.

Sorry to hear about your penicillin reaction. That sounds awful! I react that way to opiates. The worst hives ever and projectile vomiting. I was itching so badly that I was black and blue (I was taken off them after a day) but the symptoms combined with the pain of my broken arm were just hellish. I definitely know how you felt!

why do some shots hurt later on and some don't?

I want to get the shingles shot soon because my mom got it twice -- the first time wasn't as bad as the second bout. now she still has that Postherpetic neuralgia that doesn't go away when you are very old. (she's 92)

cells to the site since it perceives an invasion. Not sure what the actual scientific reason is but it's something along those lines. Anyway, it's temporary, and much preferable to coming down with whatever you are being vaccinated against.

I read the info about shingles when I was in the Dr's office today and Postherpetic neuralgia can be one of the horrible side effects from shingles (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160253.php) so if you can avoid getting shingles in the first place, you can avoid that. It sounds terrible. I am so sorry for your mom. It must be especially difficult at her age.

I'm not sure how old you are, but it is probably a wise idea to get the shots if your mother came down with shingles. Nobody in my family has ever had it, but I have heard enough to know that I don't ever want to get it.

if I should get a shingles shot. He would only say it wouldn't hurt, couldn't get a yes or no. I got the shot a couple years ago, my arm may have a little sore that's all. I got the flu shot and pneumonia shot a couple weeks ago same thing made my arm a little sore that night.

immune or if we are more at risk. I neglected to ask, but I thought a little prevention couldn't hurt.

It seems like most people only had a little soreness, which I can deal with. I guess some people feel like they have the flu for a day or two but that doesn't seem like the norm, which I am glad to hear. Thanks for your response.

Previnar 13 - [covers 13 different strains]

Pnuemovax 23 - [covers 23 different strains]

Each version requires only one shot of each and you have lifetime coverage. Medicare requires you space them out - one version one year and the next version the following year.

They do it is way because although cost free to you - these inoculation are quite expensive for them, and they absorb the total tab.

Medicare considers this part of their wellness benefit approach - it is cheaper for them to pay for the shots and keep you healthy - than to let you risk getting sick and in the hospital to recuperate. Those costs would be astronomical. Pneumonia is often an ICU visit for the elderly.

She said I am too young and in good health so that the pneumonia shot was not really urgent for me. She would give it to me later in the year if it turns out to be a bad flu season when I get my second shingles shot, but she doesn't really think it's urgent.

I have health insurance through my company, so I don't think it will cost me anything, or at least not much, but I will check that out. They might only pay for it if you are past a certain age (I think 65+ is the recommended age). I had pneumonia as a child so I am a little more paranoid about it than most people, but I'll go with her advice.

Thanks for the info, it's good to know!

... as the immune system becomes less and less robust as we age.

For some reason I assumed you were getting your medicare inoculations in order and up to date. You are way ahead of me on those shots. I have been doing research about all the shots recommended and especially the new shots recently out to keep ahead of the curve.

When you sign up for Medicare, that would be an ideal time to gently remind your PCP of the issue once again about both pneumonia shots. But currently you sound well versed, up to date, and way ahead of the curve on these inoculation matters.

It is nice to see threads like these that delve into these issues, because the folks who might for one reason or the other be behind the curve, now have a resource for - food for thought. It may offer the needed impetus and information needed to get the ball rolling to get their inoculations current and up to date.

Flu and pneumonia are major killers of the older population, and shingles is a major burden. If people are current and up to date with their inoculations the dance with the grim reaper can be significantly moved/pushed down the road. Spending more time with your grand children and great grand children is a happy thing to do.

Nice thread.
Nice chat.

I appreciate your contribution!

I think I am am member of the "worried well" club, but I guess I would rather nip these things in the bud than have to wait until they become a problem later in life.

neither were annual physicals. Of course back then, flu shots were like $5. I was a claims examiner and denied claims for a lot of flu shots. I am really glad so many of these necessary things are now covered.

She wouldn't give me more than two shots, but she thought I could handle both. I have never had a bad reaction to the flu shot, so maybe that is why.

I went ahead and got the flu shot; make no mistake, I'll be getting the shingles shot soon

edited to add: logically, it's probably because if you have a bad reaction to a shot, they want to know which one

..... in response to your comment #25.

I thought you meant you doctor would not administer the Flu and Shingles shot simultaneously this fall, for some reason.

You stated you got the Flu shot. I suggested you schedule the Shingles shot come May and maybe alleviate the doctor's unknown concern of getting both shots on the same visit. But this seven month separation would satisfy any apprehension of the doctor and achieve your desire that the inoculation be administered to you.

yes I got my flu shot earlier this month - I had the flu once, when I was in my 30's, and it slammed me very hard...I always get the shot now

I am interested in the shingles shot because my mum and a brother had shingles, and it was not too pleasant!

only reaction to either was slight discomfort on 'shot' arm, difficult to sleep on it for a few nights. Nothing more.

I am hoping that is all it will be. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I didn't feel bad in any way afterward, but my arm hurt for nearly a week - not horribly, but worse than a flu shot for sure.

morning. The flu shot usually only causes the slightest bit of discomfort. Nothing could be worse than a tetnus shot. I hope to never have to go through that again! So painful and terrible side effects!

12 hours after the shot. The booster made me sicker, with the fever lasting about a day, and I felt achy for another day.

But I'm glad I got the new vax, as it is supposed to be about 90% effective.

even if the worst happens I have two days to recover. I figure it's a lot better than eventually coming down with shingles.

that the person getting vaxxed might be ill the next day.

have varying reactions. Some people feel like they have the flu and have a lot of pain in their arm and some people feel barely anything at all. That is why I was asking people here. I wanted to see what the various reactions were, but it doesn't sound so intolerable. Much more tolerable than actually coming down with the disease.

Felt generally lousy until taking my drug of choice Ibuprofen.

very helpful as well.

still so much better than actually coming down with shingles. I appreciate your warning. I am so sorry for what you went through. It sounds like a nightmare. I didn't realize you could get it in your eye. I hope you didn't have any lasting effects from it.

Anyway, thank you for your advice!

but missed 2 weeks of work and ended up with a slightly warped cornea. The virus breaks out along the path of a nerve - in my case it was the ophthalmic nerve, which made me look like a WW III survivor for a time. Now the concern is a recurrence should I have cataract surgery in that eye. I’m hoping that after the new vaccine has been in use for awhile it will prove to offer better protection against that possibility.

But just do it my friend. The upside in my case was that I was young and healthy when it happened to me and I was strong enough to make a good recovery.

been much worse if it had happened if you were older. I hope you don't have to ever deal with a recurrence. It sounds like you have had enough. Take care!

Otherwise felt slightly under the weather and "not right" but without any obvious or identifiable symptons. Believe me, you DO NOT want to have shingles. Had it years ago on my ankle and calf and it was brutal (and I have a very high tolerance for pain). Felt like my skin and the underlying flesh was on fire.

I thought that maybe it wouldn't be worth it, but now I know that no matter how bad I feel tomorrow, it will be worth it in the long run. Thanks so much for your input!

My arm felt sore for about a day, but otherwise felt normal.

I watch my mother suffer from shingles; she was in agony and almost lost her sight.

You were wise to get one.

shingles. I am so sorry for your mother. I can't imagine how painful it must be, especially at an advanced age. It must have been hard for you to deal with.

If you have any loved ones, you do not want to put them through that.

He had temporary facial drooping and poor balance and horrible pain. The pain got better with gabapentin and the facial drooping and poor balance went away. He has been doing lots of exercises and hopefully soon he will be able to eat.

Yeah, I got my shingles shot and felt a little fluey for one day. Low grade fever. No biggie! I sure don't want what my relative has.

The more I hear about shingles, the scarier it sounds. I hope your family member recovers soon.

The shot and it's side effects definitely seem worth it when I hear about the pain and agony the actual disease causes.

Thank you for sharing that.

but that 's not surprising. If we both have a cold, I always get well faster and my symptoms are never as bad as his

who have no reactions at all. It's now after 2am and I'm still feeling ok. Slight soreness, but nothing major. Thanks for your input.

There were no adverse reactions to that one. I'm on a wait list for the new one.

When I was a baby my older sister got chicken pox. My mother took me to the doctor and I was given a shot of gamma globulin, a fairly common thing back then. This would have been in mid-1949 probably. Anyway, I got some of the symptoms of chicken pox, but never broke out in the pox. My sister had a very bad case and had scars on her forehead for many years.

But obviously I did develop an immunity, as I was exposed many other times over the years and never got it again.

Chicken pox, at least back in the day, was a somewhat minor illness. But if a person doesn't get it early in childhood, it can be much worse. Which is why the chicken pox vaccination is a good idea.

Side note. My older son went through any number of chicken pox outbreaks at his elementary schools, in two different states. I was beginning to get very concerned that he wouldn't get it (this was before the vaccine) and finally he did. Hooray! He and his younger brother were exposed thanks to a cousin who had it, and broke out the very same day. Lucky me. Back before the vaccine it was common for children in a family to get it sequentially, which was a huge inconvenience.

Personally, I don't do the flu shot. I got flu several times in my youth and so far have strong confidence in my immune system. And please do not try to tell me that just because I don't do the flu shot I'm necessarily a non symptomatic carrier of flu. I would NOT suggest anyone else not get the shot if that's what you think is right for you. But I last got flu probably 45 years ago.

Factoid about smallpox vaccinations. The last smallpox outbreak in this country was in 1948. There was evidence (based on who got smallpox and who didn't) that vaccination even 50 years earlier conveyed immunity. I'm old enough that I've had more than one smallpox vaccination (kept on getting them when I traveled abroad in the early 1970s) so I'm reasonably confident that I probably wouldn't get that disease, were it to be released. Hope I never get to test that hypothesis.

being exposed numerous times, and there was no vaccine back in the 70's that I was aware of. I wasn't sure if I should get the vaccine since I am still a little young for it, but I was worried since I had never come down w/ the pox and thought I might be a greater risk.

I get the flu shot because years ago I came down with a terrible case of the flu that was just debilitating (I had not been vaccinated that year) and I was down for weeks. I know it doesn't always provide 100 percent immunity, but even if I do catch a touch of the flu, it's never that bad and I get over it pretty quickly. I don't find that there is much of a downside for me, so I get it.

as a child, just an unusually mild case, still sufficient to give you immunity, which is why you never got it (more correctly, didn't get it again) from later exposures.

So yeah, you've had chicken pox and the shingles vaccine is a good idea.

the arm it was very painful.

But it's better than getting shingles!!!

...upper arm was sore for a couple days!
Nothing that slowed me down, though.

A little soreness, but not feeling sick yet. Just kind of tired from a bad week of very little sleep. Thanks!

But it goes away pretty quickly. That's it!

he offered me a shingles vaccine. "Naw, I'm good" I replied. 4 months later I got shingles. Luckily, it only lasted 2 weeks but for about a week, I thought there was a knife sticking out of my back. And the itching? I was in a head-on collision 20 years ago. Guess which one hurt more.

Knocked me down at the 24-48 hour post vaccine interval. Same for a workmate, after first day got really fatigued and down. Second dose is due when they get inventory and will be taken on a Friday early to allow for weekend downtime.

agree as said above, this is a good thread. good to hear peoples' stories and good reminders to get it (flu or shingles) shot.

update: I saw you posted the answer this morning.

The first one pretty much affected me not at all. No sick, no hurt arm unless I touched the site. Second one made me feel flu-ish for one day, under the weather a bit for maybe two more. Not horrible, but I wouldn’t do it the day before something I wanted to feel great for.