when i turned 60 i did get the vaccine. i spoke to several of my drs; pcp, neuro etc and the conclusion was that the benefit outweighed the risk (of getting shingles).

i did fine. i also get the flu vaccine every yr and do fine. some people don't but i do. so, that may be the Q you need to ask and answer for yourself. does the benefit of the vaccine outweigh the risk of getting shingles.

I had shingles 5 l/2 years ago, running from my left hip to the foot. It was the most painful thing I've had, but the pain was helped a lot by demerol in the hospital. Also one of the anti-shingles drugs (forget which one) cured it rapidly. That is the key for me--that there are medications which cure shingles rapidly. So, knowing that if I got it again it could be cured rapidly, I would rather not risk taking the vaccine.
For me, the problems with vaccines are the adjuvants, the things they add to make the disease-related part work better. I've looked at lists of adjuvants in flu vaccines and I know they would make me sick, as they are usually poisonous in themselves. For many people, detoxing these poisons is a job their metabolism takes care of easily. For others of us, the metabolic process may not work so well to detox these things. That's why I can't take them any more.
It took me two months after shingles to walk without a walker, and I was on demerol for a few weeks afterwards. It was not fun but there WERE things to help, that's the ticket for me.
Erika, one question: If L-Lysine helps with Shingles, would it help neuropathy? I have neuropathy in the legs and feet, and sometimes the neuropathy runs down the same nerve as the shingles did, only less severely (not at demerol level). I take a lot of supplements to fight this, especially including magnesium, and often I can fight off all of the pain, although not the numbness in the feet, which is dangerous in walking, although good shoes (Wolky sandals) help a lot. I have not had success with taking amino acids in singularities, but I am still curious as to what L-Lysine does in this case.

I got to thinking about this and Googled it. Unfortunately, yes, it can come back. Also, the vaccine is only around 50% effective. So maybe it wouldn't be worth it for someone who has a higher likelihood of having a bad reaction. And it scares the bejeebers out of me that I could still get it!

But it's true that they have medications that can help a lot once you have it. Seems the key is to contact a doctor ASAP because the window of opportunity is very small. Go to a store clinic if it's the weekend or evening...don't wait!

Mariel,
To the best of my knowledge, L-lysine does nothing for the symptoms of neuropathy. It does apparently inhibit replication of the herpes zoster in the nucleus of the nerve cells, which causes shingles though.

I take a high dose of Omega 3 for the neuropathic pain along with LDN and those seems to take the edge off of many symptoms for me; including neuropathic pain.

With love, Erika.