Wish me luck! First dose of Shingrix.

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geekspice@reddit

First one was fine, second one was a freight train.

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shasta15@reddit

No problem with first shot in July, the second shot was yesterday and I’m currently feeling like a truck hit me. Just plan for it over a quiet weekend and you’ll be fine.

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Katy_Bar_the_Door@reddit

I just got my second one today! Feeling okay so far other than a sore arm and tired but can’t sleep!

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Well I felt fine last night and this morning g just a sore arm so I made the mistake of going out to do tours today and overexerted myself. Got a high heart rate warning from my watch. Heart rate came back down when I sat down in air conditioning and has been fine ever since. But now everything aches and I feel congested. Good job me. Ordering pizza and watching tv tonight!

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DockmasterSC@reddit (OP)

Hang in there! Pizza always helps. 😁

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Sconniegrrrl68@reddit

First shot....nothing, second shot....hit me like a freight train! Thank GOD I had a prescription for Zofran for my migraines! That's the only thing that held me together!

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LayerNo3634@reddit

I had no side effects. Wish you the same.

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used2B3chordguitar@reddit

I was fortunate, I had no reaction to either shot. Good luck and godspeed.

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jepeplin@reddit

Neither did I.

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smartguynycbackupnow@reddit

Not only protects against shingles but may also reduce risk of dementia.

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/03/shingles-vaccination-dementia.html

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cyvaquero@reddit

Yeah same here. I may have felt something but it had to be mild because I don’t remember it and it was only two years ago.

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AnnOnnamis@reddit

I didn’t have much reaction either.

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used2B3chordguitar@reddit

After all the bad stuff I’d heard about it, I was shocked. Still not sure if I got a placebo or not.

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AnnOnnamis@reddit

If you were not part of a clinical trial and you/insurance paid for the shot, you got it.

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Successful-Jacket-64@reddit

I got it at 50. No issues with either shot.

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FzzyCatz@reddit

Good luck! I have no memories of first dose. Second dose wasn’t terrible but lying down for 48 hours was an appealing activity. Very tired.

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Kitchen-Apricot-4987@reddit

Was fatigued after the first dose for 1 day and my arm was sore. I got the 2nd dose yesterday afternoon and was expecting to be laid out today. Nope, I just have a sore arm.

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Prior_Equipment@reddit

I got my first shot about 6 months after having shingles, and had almost no side effects beyond a sore arm. The second shot was rougher, with a fever the night after but overall not terrible.

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EmceeStopheles@reddit

Hope you aren’t at work today. I got my first shot last Saturday and was completely zonked out on Sunday.

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Ladnarr2@reddit

I wish I could justify the cost. By all accounts it sounds like something bad to have. I’ll just have to risk it until I reach the age old enough to get the vaccine from the government.

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dotandtoto13@reddit

I got it at 55. Couldn’t function for days and ached so badly. Still have not gone for my second one. I am afraid of going thru that again.

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Bobofettsixtynoune@reddit

Wait till the second one 😂

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No_Bee_3957@reddit

Second dose was pretty rough for me, sore all over and felt run down. Glad it’s over and protected.

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FrauAmarylis@reddit

r/oldpeoplefacebook

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Trusfrated-Noodle@reddit

I was very sick with both. Each time, it started exactly 12 hours after I got the shot (fever of at least 102°). Shingrix is efficacious but is known to have the worst side effect profile of all vaccines. Like actual influenza. However, those side effects only last about 48 hours.

People who didn’t have the side effects make me wonder if they had the previously available vaccine (Zostavax, which is no longer available because Shringrix efficacy is so much greater. That’s why it can be given it at age 50).

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OutOfContext-1901@reddit

My first dose was pretty rough BUT I got it the same day I broke a finger and also got the. COVID booster with it. Second dose was much more mild, just tired with slight headache. Take some Tylenol and a Benadryl

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peanut-butter-loverr@reddit

I got the 1st dose today at CVS after work. I have the weekend to rest if need be ✌️

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DockmasterSC@reddit (OP)

Good luck, fellow first doser!

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Entire_Parfait2703@reddit

Oh gosh my husband and I were so so sick for about a week, husband had chicken pox as a child, I never got any of the childhood diseases, good 👍🏻 luck

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ToothFairy_atl@reddit

My arm was sore as hell with both shots. Nothing other than that.

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TLKimball@reddit

Second dose is the one you have to worry about.

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TurnItOffandOn26@reddit

Everyone tells me the second dose is the worst. I had the opposite experience. My first dose knocked me on my ass for 3 days. Only a sore arm for the second.

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SquidgeApple@reddit

Me too - I thought I was going to die

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OkMine2235@reddit

Same

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SubstantialGuest3266@reddit

Same.

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ZephyrtheNoodle@reddit

One day of feeling like shit is so much better than getting Shingles.

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TLKimball@reddit

I got my second. It was rough but no regrets.

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Cookiecakes71@reddit

But get it!!!

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TLKimball@reddit

Absolutely!

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f700es@reddit

Correct

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Winter-eyed@reddit

Just got my second last week. Hang in there. Even if it sucks, it’s still better than getting shingles.

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ivypurl@reddit

I had shingles 5x between the ages of 18 and about 23-24.

Took Shingrix shots last year. The first one flattened me for a couple of days. Felt very fluish. The second one gave me no problems at all.

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Donnaandjoe@reddit

You’ll be feeling shitty but you’re ok. Rent a movie, order Chinese food , and cuddle with your husband. Even immunizations can be fun. PS. Ibuprofen. 🙂

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Justify-my-buy@reddit

I got my 2nd dose today. First one was like having the flu for 24 hours. It took me a year & 1/2 to go get the 2nd. We will see in the next 12 hours? Everyone who has had shingles says get the shot!

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dkrbst@reddit

Got my 2nd today along with with the flu. So far only pain in my shingles arm. Unfortunately a patient came in sick with Covid the day before my Covid vaccine and I was sick for the week. My first time.

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Nonbelieverjenn@reddit

The second dose kicked my ass. But a former coworker had shingles and was miserable so I went with the vaccine.

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rrhogger@reddit

Got the shot and no issues, know people who got shingles and suffered.

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Beauphedes_Knutz@reddit

Currently between doses. That first shot hurt like a Martha Fokker for a week. It was five days before I could raise that arm up over my head. I had the damnedest time putting shirts on and taking them off.

Just typing about it is making my arm ache again.

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ByWillAlone@reddit

I had a pretty bad case of shingles (luckily no permanent damage) 20 years ago and I also had the round of shingrix a couple years ago. On an annoyance scale of 1 to 10, having shingles was level 9000 and getting the shingrix round was almost a 3.

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goldimom@reddit

No side effects from either dose, except the most sore arm I ever had!

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sunshore13@reddit

I felt so sick from both doses.

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YupNopeWelp@reddit

You'll be all right. You might feel a little punk for a couple of days. Honestly, I felt worse after the second dose. Take Tylenol and/or ibuprofen.

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grzebelus@reddit

Is it a big needle? I’m a total baby.

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ArtisticDistrict6@reddit

Maybe cause I got the shingles, pneumonia, flu and covid on the same day but I was knocked on my ass for a day and a half. Fever of 100.4, fatigue headache cold chills, muscle aches. I have never had any kind of side effects with a vaccine, ever and I get every one I'm eligible for. Going to schedule my second shot when I have 2 days off. Been a nurse for a long time, I know i do not want shingles!

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stefaniki@reddit

First dose is fine. 2nd will knock you on your ass a few days.

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jumprope4heart@reddit

It’s how you might feel after an exotic insect bite. Just had my first one this week. Experienced a pounding headache, muscle aches and nausea on day two and three. Day four- rash near injection site. Day five - Weighed in 5 lbs lighter and feeling svelte.

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roxywalker@reddit

Recently got my first shot (53) and my arm was sore for a bit but not much else. I’ll have to wait and see how the next round goes.

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forkedquality@reddit

I got my second dose a couple of weeks ago. For me, both were mild, bordering on a non event. Fingers crossed!

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General-Razzmatazz@reddit

There is increasing evidence that the vacicne orotects against dementia.

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RightAd4185@reddit

This is the main reason why I’m considering getting it.

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websnyper@reddit

I don't recall any side effects from either dose.

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Unlikely-Solid-3083@reddit

The only side effect I had was a sore arm. I was really worried about the side effects, too. But I was fine.

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AJM_1987@reddit

I got my covid shot and shingles #1 same day around noon. Spent the evening with my family at a fundraiser and felt 100% fine. Stepped out into a light drizzle and felt a slight chill, by the time I got to the car was shivering uncontrollably. So bad that I pulled over a couple miles and had my wife drive since I was worried about crashing the car.

This was a few weeks ago during shorts and tshirt weather where we live, and I slept in flannel pajamas, wool socks, and a hat! Slept 9+ hours and felt fine the next day.

Never reacted like that to covid shots, so assume it was the shingles. Hoping shot #2 isn't worse.

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HoneyWyne@reddit

My husband and I were both lucky. Sore arms and a little lethargy, and that was all.

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shmoobel@reddit

My husband had no effects from the first dose. The second dose (a few days ago, in fact) caused chills and mild fatigue for less than 24 hours. In any case, shingles is much worse.

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Good_Nyborg@reddit

Drink lots of water throughout.

Move your arm around throughout, and at least get some basic exercise.

Eat decent foods and don't go nuts on alcohol, sweets, etc.

That's my usual plan for shots, and they typical go smoothly. Think the first Shingles shot made me feel slightly nauseous the first and/or second night. Ended fairly quickly, and i never felt I had to do the "sit by the toilet just in case" maneuver.

Good luck!

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Scifidelis@reddit

I have had both, second shot just made me feel fatigued and a few body aches. I would gladly go through that once a year not to get shingles.

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p001b0y@reddit

I got my first dose two days ago. I have other health problems and had a Covid booster the same day as the first shingles vaccine. I chose the same arm for both and my arm was pretty useless for about 24 hours. I couldn’t put any weight on it. It hurt pretty badly. I had chills about 12 hours later and felt like I had the flu but I think that was from the Covid shot. That also lasted about 24 hours.

Good luck!

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Rshoffa@reddit

I had both doses 2 months apart when I turned 50 and other than a sore arm, no other side effects. Good Luck!🍀

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Lugknots@reddit

Have your hubby hit you with a baseball bat on the non-shot arm and you will not even feel the shot on the other arm.

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Kettle_Whistle_@reddit

I mean, this is Science…

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emccm@reddit

My first dose was fine. Second laid me out. I’ve had shingles. It was worse than the vaccine.

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Sauterneandbleu@reddit

I also had shingles in my early 20s. I've never been so sick in my life! I got shingrix 2 years ago. It made me unwell for a day or 2. But it was better than fucking getting shingles again!

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Hagfist@reddit

Hope yours goes as smoothly as mine. No issues

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nygrl811@reddit

I was tired and had a sore arm, but didn't feel sick with #1. #2 in 2 weeks. . . 🤞🤞🤞

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Historical_Lynx9211@reddit

Both my husband and I had nothing other than sore arms with both doses. Hopefully you are the outliers like us!

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rks1743@reddit

1st dose was worse for both me and my wife. It was kinda fun slapping each other in the arm when we were bothering each other.

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PeriwinkleWonder@reddit

I only had a sore for both shots. You have a good chance of being just fine

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NoCartographer3974@reddit

It sucks but I have heard from MANY seniors I worked with (people in their 80 and up) that shingles is worse than having an HSV 2 outbreak AND chicken pox... glad you got the shot and I hope it works.

Speaking of I guess I am overdue for ...shots... from the doctor.. I haven't had a PCP in more than ten years... I am going to get so many shots and tests ... *shudders* .. I don't mind the needles... (I love tattoos and donating blood) but i hate... just feeling icky after the shots.

Hoping you do not have side effects!!

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AmongstTheWaves206@reddit

You can always go to your local pharmacy to get any vaccine you need.

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NoCartographer3974@reddit

yes but i am a scared little bitch about vaccines

I had a VERY bad reaction to the last covid booster (still having issues to this day and that was 4 years ago)

to add I think Vaccines are GREAT but someon like me who has had bad reactions should be seeing a doctor to make sure any new symptoms are PROPERLY recorded by a doctor so the government doesnt go oh you are crazy its not our fault have fun suffering with side effects we didnt know about and wont own up to -.-

(long story short I had side effects and only doctors believe me, but i was doctorless during covid so my issues were 'unconfirmed' and invalid so i get to suffer on my dime instead of making the vaccine makers take care of it. )

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AmongstTheWaves206@reddit

That doesn’t sound like any fun. I also went 10 years without a PCP. Finally found a Dr. I,like so I have been playing catch up on tests and the recommended vaccines.

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NoCartographer3974@reddit

number one.. CONGRATS!! Finding a dr you like and trust is not easy

number 2.. just got one of those myself! so itll take time but I will get caught up. ugh and I am 45 so I am due for ALL the tests.. boobs squishes, vagina check, butt check, stomach check... ugh

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AmongstTheWaves206@reddit

I just had my first dose yesterday. So far only side effects is a really sore arm.

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Master-Dimension-452@reddit

Same

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AmongstTheWaves206@reddit

I had shingles 12 years ago at 40.

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Massive_Dirt_9377@reddit

I had chicken pox twice( first time was very mild, second time I had sores inside my mouth). I had an extremely severe case of Bell’s Palsey in 2011. It took almost a year for my left eye to properly close. I took the vaccine AS SOON AS I QUALIFIED!! First shot was ok ( had a fever and huge sore bump) second shot was rough ( felt BAD for 2 days).

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Olderbutnotdead619@reddit

I had no after affects, just lethargy after 2nd

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Penelope_Pitstop25@reddit

It was easy peasy for me. Now they want you to get the two doses within 3 months of each other, so maybe it's easier than it used to be. I didn't have any problems with either dose. Good luck! In any case it can't be as bad and scary as the shingles commercials. LOL.

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