Vaccinated

[tractor]

Sept 19, 2022 15:33:27 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Updated COVID booster done!  

Now I need to schedule the first Shingrix shot.  

The shingrix shot was much worse for me than any COVID shot. Don't be surprised if you need a day to recover.

[dannylion]

Sept 19, 2022 20:28:03 GMT -5 tractor said:

Sept 19, 2022 15:33:27 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Updated COVID booster done!  

Now I need to schedule the first Shingrix shot.  

The shingrix shot was much worse for me than any COVID shot. Don't be surprised if you need a day to recover.

Friends who have had the Shingrix series have said the same thing.  I should have had it ages ago.  I kept forgetting to make an appointment and when I did remember, there was always something planned that I didn't want to jeopardize in the event I had a significant reaction, so I would put it off, but then I would forget to make the appointment later.  And that continued until now.  So, we'll see whether I manage to make the appointment this time.  

[tractor]

The recovery time from the vaccine is a very fair trade off to actually getting shingles. Just do it! 😊

[daisylu]

Sept 20, 2022 11:18:21 GMT -5 tractor said:

The recovery time from the vaccine is a very fair trade off to actually getting shingles. Just do it! 😊

 My sister had shingles at a young age (late 20s, my family has some weird stuff), and she said it was definitely top 5 of the worst pain she ever felt in her life. She still occasionally gets flare ups, thankfully they are small spots. 

[Tiny]

If you get a rash from the Shingrex shot (where you got the shot) - get a Hydrocortisone 1% Cream and use it - don't tough it out. I thought the hot itchy redness would go away in a day or two - it didn't - it got bigger. after 4 days of mild but never ending annoyance from the rash a friend suggested the Hydrocortisone cream. That did the trick. It took 2 weeks for the hand sized splotch of red to completely go away. The anti itch cream made it totally bearable..
Don't suffer like I did (thinking it will go away quickly).

FWIW: I was pretty sick after 1st Shingrex - had a fever for two days and spent 4 days feeling like I got hit by a truck (in addition to the annoying painful, itchy, hot spot on my arm).

I spent 2 days feeling crappy and with a less aggressive, smaller but still painful and itchy red spot on my arm after the 2nd shot.

I'm betting you won't have much of a reaction to the vaccine. I seem to be in the minority.

Everyone else I know  (dozens of people)  who have gotten the Shingrex shot(s) were like "meh, yeah I felt tired for a day but that was it."

Everyone I know who got the Covid 19 shots were like "meh, I had a headache and I was tired for about a day and that was it. 

I was sick (with fever and in bed with a sore arm) after every single one of the Covid19 shots. Took me 3 days to recover from each shot. Although my arm was less sore after each one. Had the same fever and "hit by a truck" feeling. I feel like I have a crappy immune system.

[Tiny]

I'm getting a flu shot tomorrow and I'm hoping I don't feel crappy afterwards.

I need to be careful with scheduling a Covid19 booster shot - I got a full calendar for October. I think I'm gonna need to block off 4 days for the booster.

[TheOtherMe]

I have had Shingles.  You do not want to go through that.

I did not have a reaction to either Shringrix shot but I did have reactions to the first two Covid vaccines.  For the others, I was tired for a day.

[NastyWoman]

Sept 20, 2022 14:48:32 GMT -5 Tiny said:

If you get a rash from the Shingrex shot (where you got the shot) - get a Hydrocortisone 1% Cream and use it - don't tough it out. I thought the hot itchy redness would go away in a day or two - it didn't - it got bigger. after 4 days of mild but never ending annoyance from the rash a friend suggested the Hydrocortisone cream. That did the trick. It took 2 weeks for the hand sized splotch of red to completely go away. The anti itch cream made it totally bearable..
Don't suffer like I did (thinking it will go away quickly).

FWIW: I was pretty sick after 1st Shingrex - had a fever for two days and spent 4 days feeling like I got hit by a truck (in addition to the annoying painful, itchy, hot spot on my arm).

I spent 2 days feeling crappy and with a less aggressive, smaller but still painful and itchy red spot on my arm after the 2nd shot.

I'm betting you won't have much of a reaction to the vaccine. I seem to be in the minority.

Everyone else I know  (dozens of people)  who have gotten the Shingrex shot(s) were like "meh, yeah I felt tired for a day but that was it."

Everyone I know who got the Covid 19 shots were like "meh, I had a headache and I was tired for about a day and that was it. 

I was sick (with fever and in bed with a sore arm) after every single one of the Covid19 shots. Took me 3 days to recover from each shot. Although my arm was less sore after each one. Had the same fever and "hit by a truck" feeling. I feel like I have a crappy immune system.

That is useful info. Iam getting my first shot next Tuesday and you can be sure I will have that at hand just in case. Thanks.

[Deleted]

Sept 20, 2022 16:57:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have had Shingles.  You do not want to go through that.

What convinced me to get the Shingles vaccination was a 20-something acquaintance who had had a shingles attack and said the pain was so bad she was in tears.  I'm pretty minimalist about vaccinations (although I drove 75 miles to get the first COVID shot and have had both boosters), but that scared the crap out of me.  I have now had the old shot as well as the two Shingrx ones.  No real reactions at all other than a sore arm.

[pulmonarymd]

Shingles is miserable, it appears to be as painful as anything in medicine based on my experience with patients who have had it. And the pain can persist for weeks to months. WHy wouldn't you do something to prevent that? Also points out that just because it isn't fatal that it may not have a significantly negative impact on your quality of life. 

[Tiny]

Yay! Just got my flu shot.

Now I just need to find a good time to get a Covid Booster.

[TheOtherMe]

Sept 21, 2022 8:51:22 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Shingles is miserable, it appears to be as painful as anything in medicine based on my experience with patients who have had it. And the pain can persist for weeks to months. WHy wouldn't you do something to prevent that? Also points out that just because it isn't fatal that it may not have a significantly negative impact on your quality of life. 

My doctor actually gave me a prescription for pain pills.  While I was in pain, I didn't want to take pain pills so I never filled it.

He also told me that if they get in to your eyes, you can potentially end up blind.

Thankfully mine were not that bad, but I don't want to go through it again.

[Cookies Galore]

I got my new Covid booster on September 9, pretty much the day my area CVS' got their supply of shots. I'm pretty busy through most of October and we had a quiet weekend a couple weeks ago, so I figured it was the perfect time to get it. I lucked out and only had mild general fatigue and a mild headache. I was still able to do one lit drop turf (for get out the vote efforts) but a 20 house turf was more than enough effort. I would not have been able to do that after the prior booster or second shot.
I'll get my flu shot in mid to late October, per usual.

[busymom]

DS & I are scheduled to get the new booster next week.  The time slots are filling up more quickly now, otherwise we would've tried to get in this week.

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2022 8:51:22 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Shingles is miserable, it appears to be as painful as anything in medicine based on my experience with patients who have had it. And the pain can persist for weeks to months. Why wouldn't you do something to prevent that? Also points out that just because it isn't fatal that it may not have a significantly negative impact on your quality of life. 

I'm grateful for the encounter with the woman who told me about her case. I don't take every vaccine they offer.  My decisions are based on my chances of getting the disease and the likely severity.  Shingles sounded ugly.  Similarly, I jumped at the first opportunity to get the COVID vaccine because the consequences, including possible long COVID, were scary, and I've kept up with boosters.

I rarely get flu shots and I can't remember the last time I had the flu.  I did get that and the pneumonia vaccine in late 2020 because the health care system was overwhelmed with COVID cases and I didn't want to be in the middle of that.

[TheOtherMe]

The Health Care system is still overwhelmed because of all the people who work in health care that quit.  My niece has to spend one night a week at the hospital for 24 hours because they can't fully staff the OR.  It's mandatory.  She gets paid one amount if there is a procedure and a lower rate if there is not.  Those hours do not count towards her regular work week.  When she is on call she can get to the hospital within 15 minutes but that is too long in an emergency.

She says every department at the hospital is short staff and Covid patients are increasing again.  Long wait times to get appointments to see doctors, even for established patients.  

That is why I will be getting both the flu and Covid vaccine on Monday.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Wife (74), MIL (99) and myself (75), just got flu and covid booster shots at Walgreens.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I get the flu shot because I get paid to.  I'm not 100% convinced they're all that helpful though.

[anciana]

Sept 23, 2022 10:23:21 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Wife (74), MIL (99) and myself (75), just got flu and covid booster shots at Walgreens.

I'm trying to find time that will work for everyone in the family but it's just not possible, so it'll be just the kids and me, hubby will need to get his scheduled on his own.
Another wrench is, I'll need to go to two different places to get both shots.

[pulmonarymd]

Sept 23, 2022 10:45:19 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I get the flu shot because I get paid to.  I'm not 100% convinced they're all that helpful though.

They decrease the risk of hospitalization and death by 40-70% depending on the flu strain that predominates that year.

Not sure why you have the concerns.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Sept 23, 2022 11:03:31 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Sept 23, 2022 10:45:19 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I get the flu shot because I get paid to.  I'm not 100% convinced they're all that helpful though.

They decrease the risk of hospitalization and death by 40-70% depending on the flu strain that predominates that year.

Not sure why you have the concerns.

Never said I had concerns. 

[pulmonarymd]

Sept 23, 2022 11:10:29 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 23, 2022 11:03:31 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

They decrease the risk of hospitalization and death by 40-70% depending on the flu strain that predominates that year.

Not sure why you have the concerns.

Never said I had concerns. 

OK, you aren't sure of their value. The data suggest otherwise

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2022 9:32:54 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

The Health Care system is still overwhelmed because of all the people who work in health care that quit.  <snip>

That is why I will be getting both the flu and Covid vaccine on Monday.

Ok. I'm convinced!  I have a mammogram scheduled 12/19 which means I better get the flu shot at least 8 weeks before then.  (I know that the COVID shot can produce an immune reaction that may show up as suspicious areas in a mammo; don't know if the flu shot does that or not. )

[raeoflyte]

Ds had the flu right before Halloween when he was 2. I didn't think we were *that* late on the vaccine - I had appointments set for 11/1.

He was little and didn't have a severe case, but he was pretty miserable for a few days.

I think getting the flu shot each year is what really provides protection. Since the strain isn't always known, but if it's similar to a previous one your body should be able to fight it off better. At least I think that's how it works.

My mom has severe asthma and is hospitalized with the flu every 10 years or so. We stay away if anyone is having cold symptoms but reducing our chance of passing things on to her is important.

[TheOtherMe]

Sept 23, 2022 12:59:12 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Sept 23, 2022 9:32:54 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

The Health Care system is still overwhelmed because of all the people who work in health care that quit.  <snip>

That is why I will be getting both the flu and Covid vaccine on Monday.

Ok. I'm convinced!  I have a mammogram scheduled 12/19 which means I better get the flu shot at least 8 weeks before then.  (I know that the COVID shot can produce an immune reaction that may show up as suspicious areas in a mammo; don't know if the flu shot does that or not. 

  I received an email from Medicare that the Covid vaccine is 100% covered by Medicare.  In my case the flu shot is covered by my BCBS.

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2022 17:23:15 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I received an email from Medicare that the Covid vaccine is 100% covered by Medicare.  In my case the flu shot is covered by my BCBS.

They did take my Medicare info. I don't worry about that part. If I'm convinced I need it, I'll get it as long as the cost is within reason.

[TheOtherMe]

As long as you have Medicare Part B (and I think you do), the flu vaccine is covered.

My uncle decided his wife didn't need to have Part B.  She never dealt with their finances or drove.  When he died she found out she didn't have Part B and had to pay for her flu shot.  She still got it.  I also don't understand my uncle's thinking but that's in the past and wasn't my decision.

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2022 17:42:36 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

As long as you have Medicare Part B (and I think you do), the flu vaccine is covered.

My uncle decided his wife didn't need to have Part B.  She never dealt with their finances or drove.  When he died she found out she didn't have Part B and had to pay for her flu shot.  She still got it.  I also don't understand my uncle's thinking but that's in the past and wasn't my decision.

I really hate it when women outlive husbands who made bad decisions that have repercussions after the husband dies.  Classic example I've cited before:  step-Grandma's first husband elected to take his pension as a larger amount with no survivor benefit.  She found out when he died.  (That's happened so much that they now require the spouse's notarized consent for a survivor benefit that's zero or minimal.)

I sure hope she signed up for it after she found out.

[zibazinski]

I just got the latest covid vaccine. I was supposed to get my flu shot this Thursday but it looks like Ian is going to mess with that plan. I’m going to Greece October 8-20 so wanted to be prepared. I may stop by the hospital and just get it today.

[azucena]

Sept 26, 2022 3:56:51 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I just got the latest covid vaccine. I was supposed to get my flu shot this Thursday but it looks like Ian is going to mess with that plan. I’m going to Greece October 8-20 so wanted to be prepared. I may stop by the hospital and just get it today.

Greece?!  Have a great trip, and you know many of us YMers love vicarious travel!