Our local newspaper has a medical column in the Sunday edition by Dr.
Anthony Komaroff.
www.ask doctor k.com Sunday had a column titled "shingles vaccine is a
good idea for adults over 60". A healthy 65 year old woman asked - what
is shingles and should I get the shingles vaccine. The doctor explained
shingles and the vaccine. Here is a portion of the article.
"Getting the vaccine does not gurantee that you will noy get shingles.
But it does reduce your chances by 50 percent or more. And it does an
even better job of reducing your risk of postherpetic neuralgia.
I've had patients worry that the vaccine itself could give them
shingles. That's because the shingles vaccine is made with a weakened -
not dead - form of the virus. And a tiny percentage of people do get
either a shingles or chicken pox - like rash within a month or so of
getting the vaccine.
You may wonder if the risks associated with the shingles vaccine, though
minimal, outweigh its benefits. And if we were only talking about
shingles, you might be right. It's not pleasant, but most people get
through shingles just fine.
Postherpetic neuralgia is another story. It can last for months, even
years, and be debilitating. The shingles vaccine can cut the risk of
that happening by two thirds. And I'd say that tips the balance in
favor getting the vaccine. I've voted with my feet. I got the vaccine,
because I've seen too many of my patients suffer from postherpetic
neuralgia. Chronic pain can disrupt a person's life"
(end of article)
Jim,
I think this is a question for a neurologist. Unfortunately, I haven't
seen mine in three years so I cannot ask for you. I think it would be
good of all our Tmers who are seeing a neuro to call and ask if the
neuro votes yes or no for the vaccine and post the results for us.
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Regarding the flu shot:
I did not have a flu shot proir to my TM that was later lableled
idiopathic - undetermined cause. I was also asked dozens of times
during my hospitalization and rehab if I had had the flu shot thus
determining that all medical personal thought the shot causes TM. Not
so. Medical personnel asked if we had had the flu shot because they
know the flu shot can cause various reactions and it is one of the many
questions they ask a patient.
The neuro who diagnosed me with TM asked if I had the flu shot during
his first observation of me. I saw him for five years post TM and
learned that he, his wife, and children received the flu shot annually.
I asked my PCP in September why he didn't ask me if I wanted a flu shot.
He said, "Do you?" I questioned if he takes one and he said he did not
because he is not prone to getting the flu and he will not push them on
his patients. That was the best answer I've received yet. I am not
getting the flu shot.
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Patti - Michigan
