JudyS
TUG Member
The medical literature says that people with a normal immune system generally can't get shingles more than once, but I've come across several people online who say they've had it twice or more. Getting shingles multiple times (if your immune system is normal) doesn't seem very common, though.I had shingles about 3 years ago, and it was a very mild case, just on my shoulder toward my back, and it really didn't spread further. I wasn't at all miserable. I think I am now immuned to it? ...
Unfortunately, people whose immune systems are suppressed (including people on chemo and most people with organ transplants) have greatly increased susceptibility to shingles and other herpes infections. Once you've had a particular herpes infection, that herpes virus remains in your body for the rest of your life, and one needs either a healthy immune system or anti-herpes drugs to make sure the virus doesn't "reactivate" (start replicating again.)I don't think you can get immuned to it. I had a very mild case of shingles and my chemo nurses spoted it before it started to spread and I had to stop chemo for few weeks. I was given Valtrex and it cleared up fast. But after my stem cell transplant, I cannot have the vaccination. I have to take Valtrex (now I am on Acyclovir generic) for the rest of my life so that shingles will not appear again.
Acyclovir isn't exactly the same drug as Valtrex. (Valtrex is valacyclovir.) There is recent research saying that Valtrex is absorbed better and is more effective than acyclovir, so this is something to discuss with your doctor if the shingles ever comes back (which it hopefully won't!) Valtrex is very expensive for daily use, unfortunately.
A quick question for people whose insurance covered the shingles vaccine -- are you over 60? (A few people mentioned that their insurance only covers shingles vaccine for people over 60, but not everyone mentioned whether this was the case with their insurance or not.)
The reason the vaccine is usually only given to people over 60 is that they are far more likely than other people to get shingles. If you are say, 30, there might be something better for shingles by the time you are 60. (Plus, the immunity might not last 30 years, so the vaccine would just be a waste.)
Shingles, VZV, and chronic fatigue are all topics of great interest to me, so if anyone wants to ask questions, feel free to email me!