Our internist, who had taken very good care of Diane and me for 30 years, died suddenly a month ago. He was 75. Diane and I decided to stay with the same medical group (to avoid all the paperwork and prescription hassles). Diane was assigned to Dr. Patricia O’Donnell (who Diane really likes) and I was assigned to Dr. Eric Koch (pronounced “Cook”) who I’ve only met once, but he impressed me with his thoroughness. I have to go in for blood work before our October appointment. And, I also need an echo cardiogram. Dr. Koch wants his patients to have an echo cardiogram every two years. Diane and I asked both of our new doctors for the Shingles shot. Those ominous ads on TV have freaked us out. And many of our friends have come down with shingles (very painful they report!). So Diane and I both got the Shingles shot and the pneumonia shot. You might consider getting these shots if you’re in your sixties.
Jackie is freaked out by those shingles ads too.
Jeff, we’ve had many friends who’ve come down with shingles. One friend had shingles twice! Very painful. But Diane and I now have been inoculated so we should be safe.
Yep, we got both. Although the echo cardiogram sounds like a good idea. I bet our health plan doesn’t suggest it without symptoms.
Patti, I have Cadillac health insurance. Doctors love to treat Diane and me because EVERYTHING gets approved. After both total knee replacement surgeries, I never saw a bill. Everything was covered.
Did your insurance cover the shingles shot? When my doctor suggested I have one because I did have chicken pox as a child, I asked them to verify coverage. It was not covered and it was going to cost me over $200 out-of-pocket, so I have to take my chances–at least until my insurance changes their coverage or I change my insurance.
Deb, I actually called my insurance Customer Service number to check on whether the Shingles shots would be covered. The Service Rep took my ID number and then chuckled, “Dr. Kelley, you amd your wife can have any shot available, including the Shingles shot, and we’ll cover it totally.” That’s why I’m still working!
My mother had shingles a couple of times and had a lot of trouble with it.
Jeff, we had a friend who got shingles on his head and almost went blind. Scary!
I had a shingles outbreak years ago and it was agonizing. What Deb said about insurance was my experience. My medico said she went to the drug store for her shots because they were too expensive at the clinic. Even though she worked there, she wasn’t covered. I keep meaniong to call my insurance to see if I’m covered but I hate talking to institutions on the phone.
Bob, your experience with shingles sounds frightening! I don’t understand why the insurance companies are reluctant to cover the Shingles Shot. Yes, it’s pricey but the alternative is agony and possible additional health problems.
George, I haven’t heard of shingles or shingles shots in India unless it’s known by another name here. I googled the word for India and came up with “roofing shingles” which I guess is not the same thing! I learnt that it’s also called “herpes zoster” (named after a distant star discovered by NASA half a century ago)! Perhaps, the Tropics are spared of it. But “1 in 3” is scary. Here we have better odds with the mosquito-borne dengue, malaria, and chikungunya during the rains.
George, by coincidence I got an email this morning from my friend Bob in England that he is suffering his first (and he hopes, last) bout with shingles.
It’s everywhere (except India, apparently)!
Jeff, it looked like it. However, I did come across a report that said Indian medical researchers had “great success” with treating shingles by injecting 500 mcg of vitamin B-12 into patients suffering from the illness. So, I guess, it’s around, somewhere.
I got the shingles shot last year. My Dad suffered with shingles several times throughout his life. It just made sense.
Beth, we’ve heard nothing but horror stories from family and friends about shingles. Getting the shot just made sense for us, too.