I caught it and stopped it, when the first small spot started hurting like crazy, near my eye. I got the medication in me fast and  stopped it from developing.

I think I deserved a break, seeing that I had chicken pox when I was 32. It almost killed me.  

Hope you get relief soon, and thanks for the PSA about the inoculation.

I was told I caught it early also. Woke up one morning saw the rash from the center of my chest to the center of my back. Was at an urgent care within the hour. Got the script they gave me. They said good thing you caught it early!! My doctor says I am going to be one of the lucky ones that may have it for a year or two.

It is MICH more effective than the old one, which I got.  I plan to get one soon.

There seems to be no universally typical case.  I got my shingles shot about 2 years ago and last year when the doc saw me he took one look and said, "you've got shingles man!  But you dodged a bullet because of the vaccine.  It would have been much worse."  Even so, it took about 6 months for everything to disappear, although the cream and prescription meds he gave me kept the itching and pain from being excruciating.  No fun at all.  Hope for the best.    

I am amazed and thankful that people have posted  here regarding Shingles. I`m just getting over a mild bout of this (Compared with others) cruel virus and I wouldn`t wish this on my worst enemy. The big key here is to diagnose it early and  then your doctor should prescribe Valtrex which will make the symptoms much milder. Again, big thing here is the earlier you catch it the better. Valtrex also helps with all types of herpes viruses which are in the same family. For pain my dermatologist prescribed Gabapentin which worked quite well without side effects, YMMV. He said no steroids or creams work on this shit and you just have to ride out the storm.

It`s been 5 weeks since he diagnosed me with this and I`m 85% back to normal. I did get the Shingles shot 2 years ago and had I not he said  my Shingles would have been much worse. (I couldn`t imagine that) Think burning, stinging and tenderness that comes and goes without warning! It only manifests itself on either the right or the left sides, never both and only on the upper torso so says my dermatologist and I believe him.

The virus has 2 stages. When you first contract it your sores are oozy and moist like. That`s when it is contagious. After a while (8 days for me) it morphs into a scabby stage much like your chicken pox did as a kid. Then it`s no longer contagious so adjust your intimate liaisons accordingly. If you`ve ever had chicken pox then you have the Shingles virus in you forever and hopefully it will lie dormant. Everybody should/ must get the vaccine and the new one is  better than the previous one.
If you suspect that you might have it, get to a dermatologist  ASAP.  
I pray none of you get this as it is one nasty Mother-fucker, excuse my French. Hope this helped, good luck

...to have the vaccine available. I went through the full-blown experience back in '95 and had extensive coverage around my mid-body on my left side. QUITE painful and trying NOT to scratch? OMG! and trying to sleep? Good luck!

I was lucky in that once the episode was over (about 4 weeks), I didn't continue with post-herpetic neuralgia. That's where you continue to have the debilitating pain of the inflamed nerve sheath for months (if not years) afterwards.

I've been through 4 cracked vertebrae and had to be flat on my back for 7 months is a body cast -- the shingles was worse! So if you can save yourself the "experience" with a vaccine, I would HIGHLY recommend doing so.

is how I have explained it. I have cracked ribs 3 times and said at least that pain you do things to avoid the pain. With shingles you can't.  I was never able to get the old vaccine because of medication I'm on but I can now get the new one January 2019. I have to wait 1 year from when I got shingles.

is on backordered with my big chain drugstore

Depending where you live, the new shingles vaccine may be on back order.   Supplies are trickling in very slowly.  I live in the Washington D.C. area and have been on the waiting list at CVS since last August.  

Put myself on their waiting list, and 4 days later they had it. Pharmacist said that there had been a 3-month wait, but they got two shipments within a week.  She said the supply is starting to get better.   I had chickenpox as a kid, and had the original shingles vac about 10 years ago. This one is supposed to be much better.

Was visiting Vegas last month for a sporting event and was able to get my shingles vaccine at one of the local CVS pharmacies.   I've been on waiting list in the DC area for over 6 months.  I need to get the second shot within 2-6 months.  The local CVS pharmacy told me that those on waiting list for the second shot get a higher priority spot.   So, we'll see what happens.  I guess I could always go back to Vegas for the second shot.  

You don't need a shingles vaccine.  After all, the shingle is just a piece of toast at the bottom, and most guys who have been in the military have already built up their immunity to any adverse consequences.  

Got my 2nd and final shingles shot about 2 weeks ago at one of the local county health centers in northern Virginia.  I got my first shot at CVS on March 1st when I was visiting Vegas for a sporting event.  If you've already got the first shot, than pharmacies/clinics will give you a higher priority on receiving the second shot.  The second shot should be received between 2 to 6 months after the first.   Some areas don't seem to be getting the serum as frequently as other areas.  My insurance picked up the tab, but typically the shots cost about $175 each without insurance.  My niece told me that her mother-in-law recently came down with shingles.  She said that it was very painful for her.

...at the local Rite Aid.  The PharmD told me that my arm might be sore and that this shot tends to be more sore than most other vaccinations.  He was right.  My left arm is killing me right now.  I'll go to the gym tomorrow and do upper body, so maybe I'll work out the kinks...  I saw my 80-something dad with a horrible case of shingles in his final years.  Arm soreness is well worth it.

I appreciate having read this thread, and it comes just in time for me. A couple of months ago, I had an appointment with my primary care doctor, who noticed in my chart that I was either due or overdue for the shingles vaccine, and asked me if I wanted to be placed on the list to get it. I shrugged and admitted that I knew nothing about shingles, but if I needed the vaccine I was game to get it. They scheduled me for another appointment about 10 days later, and I got the first injection. Just this past week, they called me in again for the second injection, i got it, so I'm fully vaccinated against shingles.

I was given the old shingles vaccine a couple of years ago (one shot). Received the shot about 9 A.M. Around 5 P.M. I became tired. At 11 P.M. until 3:30 A.M. felt like I had the flue.

I had the new vaccine two months ago, It is two doses, the second one I was not prepared for the side effects. It put me down for five days. I know shingles suck, but be ready for some side effects of the shot.