TLDR: Shingles is nothing to mess around with. The vaccine complications are real, but shingles is way worse and because it’s viral, the symptoms can flare up over and over.

When I entered my 40s, all of a sudden I became one of those “lucky” people whose immune system overreacts to getting most vaccines. I have to plan a vaccine for a Friday so I (hopefully) don’t have to take time off work to be sick. I don’t get flu shots anymore bc I’m willing to roll the dice on not getting the flu vs virtual guarantee of being down for at least 2 days after a flu shot.

However, I’d heard such terrible things about shingles and how painful the eruptions are that I didn’t hesitate to get the series of two shingles vaccines as soon as my provider recommended it.

I have a nasty history with herpes viruses. When the other kids at my babysitter’s got chicken pox, I developed a systemic viral infection that caused painful sores inside my mouth and esophagus. I was 4 yo and still remember it. Terrified my parents bc my pediatrician had no idea what it was and had to send them to a university hospital hours away for answers. They determined the symptoms were caused by a herpes virus related to the herpes virus that causes chicken pox. At that time, early 70s, anti-viral drugs weren’t what they are now, so my poor parents (who were in their mid-20s) were sent home with a diagnosis, sympathy and advice about managing the symptoms until the viral eruption subsided. Also a screaming child who wouldn’t eat or drink anything because of the painful sores.

Shingles are caused by a herpes virus, so given my history, I figure there’s a decent chance I’m especially susceptible to herpes virus-related illnesses. I used to get cold sores (also caused by a herpes virus) every couple months for decades, which was mortally embarrassing as a child and teen. When I was in my mid-30s, I went to a new primary care physician for an annual physical and happened to have a cold sore. He asked some questions and told me I’d never have to suffer like that from now on, wrote me an Rx for acyclovir, which completely changed my life. It prevents most outbreaks, and if I feel that awful tingle that signals a cold sore coming, I take a double dose and that usually stops it in its tracks. And the ones that break through are smaller and heal much faster.

The shingles vaccines were semi-painful going in. First one was a lot worse than the second, I think bc the Walgreen’s pharmacist administering it was in a hurry and the pharmacist at our local independent pharmacy who gave the second shot wasn’t so busy and took his time. They’re pretty big vaccines, volume-wise, so technique matters. And I have kind of scrawny arms these days, so not much meat in my upper arms to absorb the medication.

I had no reaction to the first vaccine other than a sore arm and an ugly bruise at the injection site. After the second, I had a vaccine reaction, felt like I had the flu for about three days, and the injection site swelled up painfully but did not bruise. Still glad I did it, though! Last thing I need is a painful, debilitating illness that can show up repeatedly.