Meanwhile, back in the olden days...

[seeker630]

That's interesting that he had taken no precautions before you came over, and that he was actually even personally responding to any sexual tendencies to call you in the first place. Shingles do not equate to sexual desire from my experience. While they are blistering and active, YOU are at as much risk as the one who is suffering thru them, to contract them.

 

Shingles are not a bruise or something you throw a bandage or make-up on to continue enjoying your day. Shingles, from my and my Mom's experience, humble you to the worst pain and discomfort you have ever experienced before they came along. They are not isolated to just a leg, or any other body part which they infect, although, that is possible. They spread. Like wildfire.

 

Inviting anyone over for sex, let alone paying for it, when you're having a shingles outbreak, is one of the most unbelievable situations I could even ever imagine. Your client must have some selfish, uncontrollable, testosterone levels.

 

Not all cases are equally severe, and in most cases, the rash/blisters is fairly localized, according to WedMD, etc,; the 2 people I know personally who had shingles had very localized eruptions (a single site). Only the fluid from the blisters is contagious (carries the virus), and it won't give you shingles, tho it may give you chickenpox if you haven't already had it. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html)

[Rick Munroe]

I'll never forget when they found the cure for ham.

[tyro]

That was so bad it was ALMOST good.

T

[Rick Munroe]

That was so bad it was ALMOST good.

 

LOL I'll settle for that. (thanks for your PM, btw)

[Boner]

Not all cases are equally severe, and in most cases, the rash/blisters is fairly localized, according to WedMD, etc,; the 2 people I know personally who had shingles had very localized eruptions (a single site). Only the fluid from the blisters is contagious (carries the virus), and it won't give you shingles, tho it may give you chickenpox if you haven't already had it. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/transmission.html)

 

According to WebMD, is a generalization. Your outbreak will vary.

 

Only the fluid from the blisters is contagious (carries the virus), and it won't give you shingles, tho it may give you chickenpox if you haven't already had it.

 

Exactly Seeker, and exposure to one can possibly lead to the infection of another. To casually suggest that exposure to the shingles virus in no way puts you at risk, is irresponsible based upon ALL of the medical facts.

 

That's all I'm saying.

[maxwellissmart]

That's untrue, and irresponsible commentary.

 

According to the NY Department of Health website:

 

"A person must have already had chickenpox in the past to develop shingles. A person can not get shingles from a person that has it. However, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox or been vaccinated through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles. The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. A person with shingles can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person is not infectious before blisters appear or if pain persists after the rash is gone (post-herpetic neuralgia)."

 

I understand why you would be concerned, and like I said—the affected area was bandaged and left alone.

[Boner]

I'll never forget when they found the cure for ham.

 

Sugar and salt have made rim-seats very difficult and unfriendly for the "cured" ham.

[maxwellissmart]

Sugar and salt have made rim-seats very difficult and unfriendly for the "cured" ham.

 

I might have to go grocery shopping.

[Boner]

According to the NY Department of Health website:

 

"A person must have already had chickenpox in the past to develop shingles. A person can not get shingles from a person that has it. However, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chickenpox or been vaccinated through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles.

I understand why you would be concerned, and like I said—the affected area was bandaged and left alone.

 

I wasn't so much concerned with you (although I was) as I was about your information for everyone else. Once you have been exposed to the shingles virus, you are then susceptible to chicken Pox, which then in turn makes you susceptible to shingles. As you age, your immune system fails you in more ways than you want to imagine. So yes, shingles, indirectly, is potentially contagious. Perhaps that is the distinction which I should have previously made.

[Samai139]

FWIW: CDC says people over 60 (without disqualifying factors) should get it even if they have already had episodes of shingles: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vacc-need-know.htm#get-vaccine.

 

Seeker630: Thanks for the CDC link which provided me with the correct information regarding those of us over 60 who have already suffered from a bout with Shingles and the vaccine to possibly prevent another outbreak. For those who did follow the link----the rate of prevention for those between 60-69 is 51% and for those older, somewhat less. Apparently they do not recommend those under 60 receive the vaccine

Now I have to confer with my MD and see what he thlnks about giving me the vaccine and finding out if my insurance will cover the cost, which is not quoted on the CDC site, but I've heard is not cheap.

[maxwellissmart]

I wasn't so much concerned with you (although I was) as I was about your information for everyone else. Once you have been exposed to the shingles virus, you are then susceptible to chicken Pox, which then in turn makes you susceptible to shingles. As you age, your immune system fails you in more ways than you want to imagine. So yes, shingles, indirectly, is potentially contagious. Perhaps that is the distinction which I should have previously made.

 

Right. I've already had chicken pox, so I'm already exposed to that potential of getting shingles eventually. I would hazard a guess that the majority of everyone on the board has been infected with chicken pox, since the Varicella vaccine came out in 1995.

[Boner]

Right. I've already had chicken pox, so I'm already exposed to that potential of getting shingles eventually. I would hazard a guess that the majority of everyone on the board has been infected with chicken pox, since the Varicella vaccine came out in 1995.

 

I hate hazard guesses, but whatever. So yes, you're probably most likely benign. For now.

[Epigonos]

I had a rather severe case of shingles in the mid 90’s. The rash extended from the inside of my right ankle up my calf and thigh to my crotch. I came down with the rash on a Friday and didn’t get to my doctor until Monday morning. I was so uncomfortable that weekend that I had to sleep on the sofa with my right leg propped up on the back of the sofa. The doctor started me immediately on some, very expensive, pills that were originally developed to combat genital herpes. They certainly did the job and I started to improve almost immediately. The one funny thing I remember, about the entire incident, is that I asked my principal if I could teach in loose sweat pants and he said NO. I then told him that, in that case, I would need a substitute for four to six weeks. He paused a moments and then said the sweat pants were looking better and better by the moment.

 

I am now 71 and my current physician does not recommend that I take the shot. He recommends that if I start to come down with the virus again I come to his office immediately and he will start me on the say pills my previous doctor prescribed. The vaccine is somewhat expensive (about $90.00) and Medicare does not cover it. Many pharmacies have one of their pharmacists trained to give the injection. My sister and brother-in-law recently had it given at the pharmacy in their local supermarket.

[rguer]

The vaccine is somewhat expensive (about $90.00) and Medicare does not cover it. Many pharmacies have one of their pharmacists trained to give the injection. My sister and brother-in-law recently had it given at the pharmacy in their local supermarket.

 

Medicare covers the shingles vaccine under Part D prescription drug coverage. Your personal physician is not a Part D provider and so the cost of the vaccine itself is not covered in an office visit. Your pharmacy would be the place to get it if you have Part D coverage. Most people on Medicare do have Part D, I think, but not everyone does.