I will. I was first concerned about having an allergic reaction. So far, I am fine. I do have a bit if a headache, but that could also be due to the weather. I will let you all know if I have any problems in the next few weeks.

Good for you, Barb! You are such a good example for all of us.

Here's what I wrote about my shingles experience:

I was "only" 54 in 2008 when I had a bad case of the shingles. Most cases
are in people over 60 which is why the shingles shot is normally available for people over 60.

I am SO glad not to get them in my mouth or near my eyes. I've read shingles
can cause blindness if they are in your eyes. Shingles can appear on any
part of your body. Any part...yes, boys and girls, even "there".

Fact: Shingles are only contagious while the blisters are weeping.

The only pre-requisite to getting them is having had chicken pox some time
in your life. You cannot give shingles to someone who never had chicken pox,
but I understand they can get chicken pox from your shingles, then later in
their life they too, can get shingles.

My shingles began on my back at the bra line, just to the right of my spine. At first it felt like someone had punched me in my back. That continued for a couple of days. By the third day the blisters began.

They spread from my back, along the bra line, under my right arm, and
immediately below my right breast. And then continued to cover the entire left side of my right breast, stopping at the center of my chest.

I went to an Immediate Care center where the doctor said my symptoms were
classic shingles which he confirmed by seeing all the blisters circling the
right half of my torso. "You've got a GOOD case", he said. Good not meaning
a positive thing.

Two years later it still hurt along the bra line and on and under my right
breast, too much wear a bra. Some say that their shingles pain can last a lifetime. The pain finally vanished for me.

The blisters were all sizes, but the largest ones - several of which were
dime-sized - were the ones on my breast itsself. They all hurt like h*ll. In all,
it took about 4-5 weeks from beginning to end for the physical blisters to heal, leaving scars.

I've attached a photo I took of my shingles. Click the photo to enlarge.

And to top it all off - you can get shingles more than once. Oh goody.

MsBluIs

Attached Images

Shingles 072908.jpg (9.4 KB, 83 views)

You can get the shingles vaccine even if you have had shingles previously. Most insurance plans are now paying for the vaccine at the age of 50 now.

I'm glad you got the vaccine. Let us know how you do over the next several days!

i got the vaccine when i turned 60. no problems at all.
to me it was worth the risk of any reaction from the shot vs the risk of getting the shingles.

I understand that getting the shingles vaccine gives you only a 50/50 chance
of not getting shingles? If it were a life/death situation, sure, but not for shingles.

JMO..

Sally, if you had ever had shingles I think you would rethink your theory of "...but not for shingles."

I guarantee if you had never personnaly experienced the undescribeable torture that can be associated with the large, irregular-shaped, puss-oozing,
disfiguring "globs" of spreading pain that does not fade for three weeks, that is so painful you can't stand to wear any cloth against your skin, that shuts you away from the others in your life . . . a 50% (I thought it was 30%) reduction in the chance you could skip such hell is something ALL adults should jump on.

Ok. I'm done with my lecture. Pray you don't get them, Sally.

MsBluIs

The tetnus booster should also be safe for you.... I don't have a definite diagnosis yet and had a tetnus shot after putting a nail through my foot, I did end up with a twitchy eyelid for quite a few months afterwards, but far better than lock jaw

here are the shigles vaccine facts, straight from the CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccination.html