Worried about Getting Shingles?
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
Midland, Michigan
May 23, 2016 8:43am CST
A member's mother had shingles recently and we were discussion how one gets it and whether or not you had to have chicken pox first.
I used to think that only those that didn't have chicken pox or that had a light version could get shingles, but it's the opposite. Only those that ever had chicken pox can get shingles, and that's probably whether it was a light or normal version of the disease, although if light, I know that the person could get chickenpox again too, unless you've never had chickenpox before.
A gal at work just got over shingles and after talking to her I was reminded that stress is the reason most will get shingles later in life. So do your best to remain stress free, or just get the vaccine to be safe.
If you're around someone with shingles you won't get it like you could if around someone with chicken pox. Unless...
Edited to reflect info found in DaddyEvil's link:
Also, you can only get cp if the person with shingles doesn't have their rash covered up, and you never had CP, or if you have a low immune system, or if you're a premature or low-weight infant, or a pregnant woman that never had CP.
Therefore, if you ever get shingles, keep the rash area covered, don't scratch the area and wash your hands often.
12 people like this
12 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
23 May 16
One lady that was getting the vaccine was worried about giving it to her newborn grandbaby. The doctor told her that only if she got a small outbreak from the vaccine might it be possible to pass it on as babies and the elderly are the most susceptible to chickenpox. This was told to me by someone else though as she asked her doctor about it.
Most people do not get the small outbreak, although for many vaccines it's usually one in several thousand as it's not guaranteed. When I got the shot, I didn't even get any fever, so I was unaffected.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
23 May 16
I think I remember you talking about that before, Marie. I'd not want that either, that's why I got the vaccine. My sister had a case of it some years back and even though it didn't go into her eyes, it was still very painful. A lot worse from what I've heard than even chickenpox when we were younger.
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
26 May 16
Good thing there is a vaccine now...when we were young nobody in households out here knew there was some link between chicken pox and shingles. So if one had chicken pox, they were allowed to play with others so that all children get it during the vacations and are done with it...my neighbor had shingles last year...I saw how much she suffered...thanks for letting me know that stress plays a role. I will opt for the vaccine route though. :)
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@vandana7 (102698)
• India
26 May 16
@MarshaMusselman ... So it is not only in India? Wow...as adults yes, I would think it must pain...one of my former bosses had it.
I wonder though if Chicken Pox and Shingles come together...if they do, it must be really terrible and I should feel grateful that I had Chicken Pox early on.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
30 May 16
@vandana7 No, Vanny, a person could never get both chicken pox and shingles at the same time. Only if you ever had chicken pox in the past might you get shingles, but not when you're exposed to anyone with either illness. It's more stress related, just like stress can cause heart attacks and other ailments. So, it behooves all of us to find other ways to maintain and eliminate stressful situations in our lives.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
26 May 16
I don't think all Americans know about the link between both of them either, in fact many of us thought you could only get shingles if you didn't have chicken pox first. I think it was common in many countries possibly, to try to get your child exposed to some of those childhood illnesses early on in life, for many of them in their normal state are still difficult if contracted for the first time as an adult. By normal, I'm talking about chicken pox rather than shingles. I don't know whether children ever would get shingles especially since most of them aren't under the type of stress that adults let themselves live with.
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@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
26 May 16
@MarshaMusselman I am not sure. I thought chickenpox virus causes shingles.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
30 May 16
@Shavkat No. If you never had chicken pox, you can't get shingles, but stress and possibly other factors cause shingles, but it has nothing to do with being exposed to someone with either shingles or chickenpox as many of us thought before.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
23 May 16
Actually, you probably had chickenpox, Shavkat, not shingles. Shingles is only available to those that had chickenpox, and they don't 'get' it from someone else like you can get chickenpox. You get shingles from stress in your life.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
24 May 16
So I've heard. My sister had an episode of this some years ago. It's interesting to me how stress can be the underlying cause of so many ailments that may not bother a person otherwise.
@JESSY3236 (22246)
• United States
24 May 16
I had the chicken pox, and I'm afraid to get shingles.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Jun 16
You shouldn't worry about it, Jessica. Just do your best to remain stress free. Even those with a lot of stress don't always get shingles. Stress can cause many other ailments too, and none of them are good for us.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
23 May 16
Are you sure? I'm sixty-four, almost and they gave it to me. The elderly are under stress just like anyone else, I don't know why they wouldn't give it to you too. My mother, who is in her eighties, got it when it came out, I think. I'd have to ask my sister to be sure.
One article I just read from the NHs, which is probably the National Health Service talks about people aged 70 and 78 getting it, but that they don't give it to those over 80 as they don't think it works that well. I've not yet looked at the other links.
Find out who can have the shingles vaccine on the NHS, specifically older people aged 70, 78 and 79.
@DaddyEvil (174378)
• United States
7 Jun 16
Uhm... I just had shingles around Thanksgiving or Christmas... It can be contagious if the person has blisters or open sores. It is the fluid from the blisters that can spread the virus to those who have never had chicken pox.
Even though I am a good candidate to have shingles again, I do not qualify for the shot. I am not old enough, according to my doctor, my pharmacist and the nurse who takes calls to explain about emergency care for my work.
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@Marilynda1225 (91069)
• United States
23 May 16
Lucky for me I've never had shingles but I hear they are horribly painful
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@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
23 May 16
I guess i was misinformed as well. I thought it struck those who had not had chicken pox. oops. i am often stressed.
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