CassieMay 20

Today is my three year anniversary from the date I got Shingles. My hip, knee and abdominal muscles on my right side are still fucked up from the nerve damage it caused.

I'm finally, as of about a month ago, down to a one 75mg pill a day of my nerve pain medication, after a high of 300mg a day for a long time.

Go get your shingles shot if you're eligible (ie 50+ or immunocompromised) and have had the chicken pox. Do it.

Show threadJohn Francis 🇨🇦🦫🍁
@casseagull I play old man hockey with some players that are Conservative and tend towards antivax but they all get their shongles shit. One fellow got the shongles at 49 and he was fried for 6 months before he could return and drag himself around the ice is slow motion.
May 20 at 2:25pmWeb
Show threadCassieMay 20
@johnefrancis Glad that even the antivax curious don't fuck with shingles.
Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 20
@casseagull @johnefrancis You can get the shingles vax at 50, but it's not free, right? (Guess who turns 50 in a few weeks)
Show threadCassieMay 20
@mariellequinton @johnefrancis Yes that's right, though if you have insurance often the insurance will cover it.
Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 20
@casseagull @johnefrancis I don't get why the delay of paying for it. Sigh.
Show threadCassieMay 20
@mariellequinton @johnefrancis It has something to do with the rate of infections being highest in that age cohort but it makes no sense at all because the two younger cohorts added together make more than the targetted one. If you give the vaccines earlier, you can nip the higher and more life-alteringly impactful infections in the bud.
Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 20
@casseagull @johnefrancis Exactly. As it currently stands, it's a vaccine for the wealthier. Plus, I'd imagine better uptake with seniors if it starts at 50.
Show threadackackMay 20

@mariellequinton @casseagull @johnefrancis Yeah - I was bummed that it wasn't covered by OHIP (because it should be), but I paid for mine out of pocket last year (in Ottawa) and it wasn't cheap!

I know someone who had shingles on his face and almost lost his eye, so... it made it seem a lot cheaper. 😬

(Great PSA Cassie!)

Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 20
@ackack @casseagull @johnefrancis Yeah, my mother had it bad, but oddly her doctor never recommended she get the vaccine after. I had to tell her to get the vaccine because it could come back. This is another reason why I think earlier is better. The delay of a few years is less of a big deal at 50 than 65 and I imagine lots of people don't get it right at 65.
Show threadCassieMay 20
@mariellequinton @ackack @johnefrancis Oh yeah you can get it repeatedly. I've heard of some people having a prolonged shingles infection over many months that never really ends. It's super important to get the vaccine.
Show threadAuntie MameMay 20
@casseagull @mariellequinton @ackack @johnefrancis My sister has had shingles 4x (she’s under 50), other sister had it twice (under 40), and I had it once at age 15 (I’m now 50). Got the vax as soon as I hit 50! It left permanent scars 35 years ago. All of us sisters also had chicken multiple times. It’s too bad we all had to wait until 50 for the vax.
Show threadmegabyteGhostMay 21
@ymasumac @casseagull @mariellequinton @ackack @johnefrancis what the heck you can get it as young as 15? that's terrible
Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 21
@megabyteghost @ymasumac @casseagull @ackack @johnefrancis Is there a generic component to it, I wonder? Plus I've never known someone to get chicken pox more than once. Hmm.
Show threadCassie6d ago
@mariellequinton @megabyteghost @ymasumac @ackack @johnefrancis It's the same virus, sitting dormant in your system waiting to be activated (which it can be over and over again). I have a friend who had it when she was ... 19, I think? It's often triggered by stressful periods.
Show threadAuntie Mame6d ago
@casseagull @mariellequinton @megabyteghost @ackack @johnefrancis Stress is a major component. My parents had just announced a move from RI to IN. I broke out into shingles. My sisters have kids, so stress there. Our family is very susceptible to issues manifesting in our skin. Chicken pox, shingles, hives, rashes, stress bumps, acne, warts… *le sigh*
Show threadgardencat6d ago
@megabyteghost @ymasumac @casseagull @mariellequinton @ackack @johnefrancis
My ex had shingles as a 5 year old... It isn't great.
Show threadGabriel Pettier3d ago
@megabyteghost @ymasumac @casseagull @mariellequinton @ackack @johnefrancis can confim, a friend of mine got it as a teen.
Show threadThe DoctorMay 20
@casseagull @mariellequinton @johnefrancis Really, really good insurance will.
Show threadAuntie MameMay 20
@drwho @casseagull @mariellequinton @johnefrancis my BCBS ins covered it 100%. It better for $900/mo premium.
Show threadMarielle QuintonMay 20
@ymasumac @drwho @casseagull @johnefrancis Canadian health insurance is quite a bit different (drugs being the only thing you have to pay for here, generally)