News Taffy

You might not have heard of shingles before, or if you have, not know much about this nasty virus. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and can take up to four weeks to go away. If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you are at risk for getting shingles. The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your system until something triggers it, like illness, injury, stress or certain medicines. Shingles is more common in those over 50 but can occur at younger ages.

You may notice several symptoms before the rash appears, so seek treatment if you experience any combination of these: headaches, sensitivity to light, a feeling like the flu but no fever, itching, a burning or tingling sensation or pain in a certain area. This is where the rash will appear later. There is an antiviral drug that will help lessen the severity of shingles if taken before the rash appears. A doctor will also prescribe pain medication and an ointment for the rash.

The rash usually forms a band around the back and chest, following a nerve path from the spine. It can also appear on the neck, scalp and face. The pain may last for some time after the rash finally heals and can be quite bad. The shingles virus is contagious, so caution should be taken when caring for someone with the virus. However, anyone exposed to the virus may get chickenpox, not shingles.

Most importantly, there is a vaccine which helps your body fight the disease and reduces the risk of getting shingles by about 50 percent. For those who do get shingles after getting the vaccine, it shortens the course of the disease. The vaccine is recommended for anyone over 50. Since many Americans have had chickenpox, perhaps millions are at risk for getting shingles. You should NOT get the vaccine if you have a disease which affects your immune system, you are being treated with corticosteroids, you have cancer or tuberculosis. The vaccine is covered under Medicare only if you have Part D Prescription Drug Plan. You must check with your insurance company if you have private insurance to determine whether it covers the shingles vaccine. If you have to pay for it yourself, be prepared: the shot can cost anywhere from $200 to $275, even at a pharmacy like Walgreens.

I will be getting the shingles vaccine no matter how much I have to pay. My mother got shingles in her 70s, well after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She suffered quite a bit from the pain, and the rash prevented her from wearing a bra and normal clothes. The pain lasted well after the rash cleared up and in combination with the Parkinson’s, made her life miserable. It is definitely worth the money to prevent this amount of pain and suffering if you can afford it. Hopefully, the price of the vaccine will drop and make it more affordable for everyone.

Until next week,
Lisa