Have You Ever Had Shingles?

United States
February 7, 2026 4:45pm CST
Amber's post about COVID testing made me think of shingles for some reason. I had a friend in his 40's who got shingles from being over-stressed and malnourished while going through a divorce. They were very painful. I took care of him and brought him soup and put calomine lotion on him. He had sores in his mouth and on his face and on his back. They left scarring. I haven't had Shingles, but I've had the Shingles vaccines. I hope to never get them. Have you had shingles or have you gotten the Shingles vaccine?
8 people like this
8 responses
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (129190)
• Marion, Ohio
7h
I need to get my vaccine. Might get that started next time I go to town
2 people like this
Vicki, #1 Creek Girl
@1creekgirl (44428)
• United States
1h
Both. I had the vaccine, then later got a mild case of shingles. Then years later got two vaccines. No shingles since then. They can be so horrible.
Sandy
@velvet53 (24123)
• Palisade, Colorado
4h
I have never had shingles, thank goodness. I did get the first part of the shot for shingles and need to get the second one now.
DE
@DaddyEvil (167296)
• United States
4h
I had shingles three times while working at Walmart. My doctor-at-the-time advised me to find another job... I did get the shingles vaccination when Missouri lowered the age to get it to 50 years old. I was miserable!
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (371050)
• Rockingham, Australia
5h
My Mum had shingles but we've been vaccinated now.
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (118083)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4h
Thank goodness I have never had shingles before.
Four Walls
@FourWalls (82736)
• United States
5h
Thank God, no. I’ve never had chicken pox, which is a prerequisite for having shingles, so my doctors have concurred that I don’t need the vaccine.
Fleur
@Fleura (33823)
• United Kingdom
6h
Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. The virus stays in your body and when something happens to reactivate it or your immune system is weakened (e.g. through stress) it can cause Shingles. I have never had chickenpox but I have had the chickenpox vaccine and that saved me from catching it when Big One was little. I'm not sure it protects against Shingles though because although it saves you getting ill from the chickenpox virus that doesn't mean you have never been exposed to the virus and that would mean that you could still be carrying it without getting ill and so then it could get activated later. I'm confused about that.