SHINGLES VACCINE

Thursday Marty and I did our thing at Kaiser. He had blood work done for his Thyroid. His medication is fine. I had my blood pressure officially checked and I got a Shingles Vaccine. I routinely check my blood pressure at home. I knew it was up and kept hoping it would drop. No it didn't. So my doctor upped my medicine. This upsets me because I already am on so many medicines. But that does beat having a stroke. For the next month or so they will closely monitor me and see if the medication works.

The Shingles vaccine in my family is an emotional issue. My father died from complications of shingles. Several people in my family have had shingles. Both sides of blood kin, in laws, and friends have had it also. It is a mean, awful disease. It is painful, disfiguring, and for some goes on forever with the pain. This new vaccine is a wonderful gift to us. But some of us have side effects after taking the vaccine.

I am "one of three" with the redness, soreness, swelling at the site of injection. They gave me the shot in my "less used" arm, the left one. That sounds good, except I am almost ambidextrous. So the left is used a lot. I got the shot Thursday. I was fine. Friday afternoon the injection site started swelling and the pain became intense. Saturday morning my arm was red and swollen from my shoulder to my elbow. It was hot, swollen, and had a knot the size of a golf ball. I was in pain. Tonight at almost midnight, the swelling is almost gone. The pain is only if I touch my arm. Trust me, I don't touch it. In the morning I think it will be back to normal. Even if it lingers with a little pain, it will be nothing like what my Father went through.

This vaccine will protect me from the terrible pain and disfigurement he went through. And the pain that many in my family have gone through.

Talk to your doctor and see if you meet the requirements for this vaccine. For one thing you must be over 60. I am not sure if I understand that requirement. My nephew was about 38 when he had shingles. Oh well. They always have rules.

Check it out with your family doctor. Better a sore arm for a couple of day than months of horrible pain.