Are you at risk for 'Shingles'? Should you get the vaccine?

When Mr. Maven presented at the ER with the horrible pain in his shoulder this week, once the cardiac possibilities had been ruled out, the doc thought “hmmmm, could be the onset of shingles”. Yikes.

Shingles is a really nasty disease - that we can all get if we have had the chicken pox as a child. The virus lays dormant in the nerves throughout the body for decades, and can spring up again, usually after the age of 50 -  but that’s not carved in stone. Even children, in rare cases, have had shingles. My sister-in-law really suffered for nearly two years with it when she lived in Minnesota, and she was in her 50’s then.

Actually, I got thinking about taking the vaccine earlier this year when Mr. Maven and I were getting all our vacinations for going to Western Africa, but somehow didn’t follow up. Then when I got my flu shot a month ago - yes, I’ve already got mine - I asked about it and balked at the $325 price tag. Ouch.

But this most recent event really got me thinking about it - damn the cost if it hurts that much. After asking my doctor about my risk and how it might relate to my status as a cancer survivor, it’s clear that I absolutely should have it, and Mr. Maven too. My doctor said that I should absolutely positively get the vaccine.

You see, anything that could affect my arm on the side where I had my mastectomy - and three levels (21) of lymph nodes removed - could be really, really bad in that it could cause lymphedema that might not be treatable. And that’s not the half of shingles. The complications can be serious.

That said, Mr. Maven and I are both on the waiting list for the vaccination at the end of December when it becomes available.

The first signs of shingles can be unexplained intense pain, followed a few days later by a bad rash similar to those of chicken pox and weeping/oozing blisters. Whoa. That’s sounds harsh.

From the Mayo Clinic:

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who’s had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus can enter your nervous system and lie hidden for years. Eventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles.

Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, followed by a red rash with small, fluid-filled blisters.

The reason for the encore is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older. Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weak immune systems.

Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Because of this, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Having had chickenpox
Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. Most adults in the United States had chickenpox when they were children, before the advent of the routine childhood vaccination that now protects against chickenpox.

Age
Shingles is most common in people over the age of 50. The risk increases with age. Some experts estimate that half the people who live to the age of 85 will experience shingles at some point in their lives.

Weakened immune systems
People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing shingles. A weakened immune system can be caused by:

• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer or cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy
• Prolonged use of steroids, such as prednisone
• Drugs designed to prevent rejection of transplanted organs

Complications from shingles can range from a mild to severe, ranging from minor skin infections to postherpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia
For some people, shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia, and it occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. Pain medication, antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may help provide relief until the pain subsides.

Vision loss
Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result in vision loss.

Neurological problems
Depending upon which nerves are affected, shingles can cause:

• Encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain
• Hearing or balance problems
• Facial paralysis

Skin infections
If shingles blisters aren’t properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.