If you haven't taken the shot for it I HIGHLY recommend it. Mom had mentioned to me about getting one and I never did. Guess what? I have shingles. It is very painful. I did catch it before getting too bad. At first I thought the breakout was a couple of other things but then it was painful and breakouts have never been painful only itchy. I broke down and went to the doctor and so glad I did. As if I needed anything else going on. Insurance does not pay for the shot until you are 50 for 60 and it is expensive but my insurance company said to have my doctor write a letter that my immune system is low and send in an appeal. Especially if you tend to get really stressed out I highly recommend it. Even though it does not cause it trauma/stress can make it surface. I was hurting in several areas and didn't understand why until after reading about shingles on computer. You can start having pain before breakout or some people never breakout. Anyway just thought I would post to hopefully keep some people from experiencing it. Oops! just noticed I posted on help need advice now. Oh well not going to type over.

I got the shingles on my butt cheek 2 months after having my j-pouched hooked up and It felt like someone put a torch to my butt. I think if your imune system gets down and you have had the chicken pox there's a chance they will come on.
To start with I thought it was a very painful rash I got from using creams down there, so I didn't get it taken care of right at first.
Very painful and last for weeks.

Ugh, shingles are the worst! I had a break out before surgery when I was on Remicade. So painful. Hope you feel better soon.

What does the flu shot have to do with shingles? I thought they were related to the measles virus.

There is a different shot for shingles, it's not the flu shot. I'm going to try for insurance approval as both of my parents have had shingles and I don't want it. I'm not 60 so that's the age my insurance company won't approve until. At this point I think I should pay for it myself if they won't. I'm not sure of the cost but think it's at least $150.

Thanks for the post, that made my mind up to do it. I've been worrying about it.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Tough-
So is it a chicken pox vaccination since that's what shingles is? Do you know if I can get shingles again since I had it once before? I don't think I ever asked my doc that and if I did I don't remember. I don't ever want to get that again.

Yes, you can get them again. I know a man and woman that says they continue to get them. If you have had the chicken pox the virus is in you. For some people it may never surface. trauma/stress does not cause it b/c you already have the virus in you but it triggers it. I had been told several answers to when you can get the shot after having it so I called the health dept. and was told a year after. In the meantime I am asking the doctor to write me a letter to submit to my insurance company to see if they will pay for it b/c of my health condition. Because my resistance is so low and I tend to get stress out easily I am afraid it is going to occur more often for me. someone posted what does flu shot have to do with shingles and I am not sure why b/c I don't think I mentioned flu although I am also getting a flu shot. I am doing better. thanks for the replies.

kk-
thanks for the info. I wasn't sure you can get it again but it makes sense since it lays dormant inside. I will ask my family doc about the vaccine next time I see him.

kk and everybody thanks. I've got a call into my insurance company and like I said may pay for it myself, both of my parents and my daughter have had shingles and I had chicken pox really bad, so knowing me I'd get a bad case.

Good subject!

Shingles can show up again but what I've read it isn't likely that it will happen. There is a name for Post shingle pain that effects some people and this can go on for a long time, it has a name maybe someone will come up with it. If you google Shingles there is a lot of info. on them.
I can't belive there is a town in California named Shingles.