Not on the Equinox

[sandypail]

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I did attempt to get the shot last year, but didn't want to spend $200. PENNY WISE...POUND FOOLISH.

[phoenix_dream]

That stinks and hope that you feel better soon. I never had Chicken Pox so I haven't experienced Shingles but I know a few people who have and it was very painful. December will be here soon and I hope that you have a great cruise.:)

Just a word of advice to consult with your doctor on this. I thought I never had Chicken Pox either. When I was a kid all my brothers had it but I never got it - or so I thought. When I was pregnant with kid #3, kids #1 and #2 got horrible cases of it. The doctor checked me (some kind of test) and found out that I had an immunity to it, which likely meant that while I thought I did not have it I must have had a very, very slight case of it. Which means I could get shingles - so my doctor advised I get the shot which I did.

 

I read also that it is only 50% effective or so, but supposedly if you do get shingles anyway, you are very likely to get a much less serious case and unlike non-shot folks are not likely to get any serious complications.

[sn2792]

Sorry to hear about your shingles. I got it at age 50 but caught it early. I thought I had bug bites on my lower back and called the Dr. He called in a prescription for Valtrex and I ended up with a very mild case. If you can get on Valtrex within 72 hours of the breakout, it may reduce the severity. My insurance will cover the vaccine but my Dr. Said if I ever got it again, it would probably be a mild case.

 

I know what the symptoms are, so if it happens again, I will know it and get a prescription right away.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

My insurance covers it at the doctors office but no doctors have it around here. It has to be frozen and none want to handle it in their office. I had to pay at a Pharmacy minute clinic.

 

We were lucky then because we use different doctors and both were able to give us the shots. We did have to schedule in advance so that they could obtain and thaw the vaccine.

 

Mary Lou

[Blue Eyes]

My mother had shingles before the shot became available...she says to mortgage your home if you can't afford the shot...our friend did not heed her advise....7 months into shingles and he is still on pain medication

[jackdiamond]

My mother had shingles before the shot became available...she says to mortgage your home if you can't afford the shot...our friend did not heed her advise....7 months into shingles and he is still on pain medication

That is terrible. I have a son in law who acquired it when he was a cop, before becoming a DEA agent; and, he was off the street. and at home for a month or two, and then was confined to desk duty for 3-4 months. By the way, he was only in his late 40s.

[dkjretired]

That is terrible. I have a son in law who acquired it when he was a cop, before becoming a DEA agent; and, he was off the street. and at home for a month or two, and then was confined to desk duty for 3-4 months. By the way, he was only in his late 40s.

 

I had it in June of 2012 and all the marks have not gone away. They don't hurt anymore but I do have them on my leg.

[youwash]

Last year, at 57 years old my husband had shingles. One day he showed me about 6 little red dots on his upper arm, and he says "I think I have shingles" so I asked him does it hurt and he says no--not at all. So then I said I don't think it is because shingles HURT. It never did hurt. The red spots were still there about a month later when he went in for his yearly check-up and pulled his sleeve up and the Dr. says-Yup that's shingles! So-Ok-Dr. Mom is wrong again. (we always tease that as soon as you give birth you become a Dr.)

[JonnyGUofD]

I was stricken with Shingles the day after we started our 14 day Eclipse sailing last November. Went through the normal 2 week cycle during the entire vacation. All OK now but my DW got the shot as soon as we got home.

[CruisinCadie]

Dear OP,

 

Sorry you had to cancel your trip, but glad you had insurance.

 

Just a warning to everyone. Unlike chicken pox, shingles can recur. Just because you had it once doesn't mean you won't get it again. So if you've already had shingles, be sure and get the shot.

 

Kathy

[jackdiamond]

Dear OP,

 

Sorry you had to cancel your trip, but glad you had insurance.

 

Just a warning to everyone. Unlike chicken pox, shingles can recur. Just because you had it once doesn't mean you won't get it again. So if you've already had shingles, be sure and get the shot.

 

Kathy

Correct.

[sandypail]

If the blisters were any where but on my face I probably would have sailed. Because they are on my eye it can become a threat to my vision. That's not something I'm willing to risk. I'm being checked everyday by my specialist, And you can bet that as soon as I recover from this bout I'll be running to get the shot.

[goofysmom99]

I've had shingles four times. Last one was after the shot but it was nowhere as severe as the others. DS also got them after the shot. Not as severe either. If they're near your eyes, they can be very dangerous - my dad had to be hospitalized. I can't recommend the shot enough!

 

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

[dread_pirate]

So sorry about your trip! I asked my doc about the shot. My insurance will pay, but I'm still too young. I'll wait a few more years.

[USVI-4-me]

We have Medicare A and B. They don't cover the shingles shot.

 

Our BC/BS plan did cover the shot in full at CVS (2013), with a doctors prescription.

 

Maybe, Medicare Part D covers the Shingles shot?

 

-Marisa

[jackdiamond]

We have Medicare A and B. They don't cover the shingles shot.

 

Our BC/BS plan did cover the shot in full at CVS (2013), with a doctors prescription.

 

Maybe, Medicare Part D covers the Shingles shot?

 

-Marisa

We have Medicare A, B and D and also AARP; and, I still paid $90.00.

What is BC/BS?

[dread_pirate]

What is BC/BS?

Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

[jackdiamond]

Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Thank you.

[GreatLakes]

Correct, doctor asked me last year if I wanted the shot and it was like $200, I told him no, I'll wait until December of last year when I went on Medicare. Wound up six months short. Medicare does cover it though.

 

 

To my knowledge, Medicare only pays for a portion of the shot. You still pay out of pocket. My dr's office also charges a $75 administration fee for any shot; you can get flu, shingles, pneumonia or any of those shots at a pharmacy such as Walgreens for a lesser cost and they do not charge you the administration fee. The pharmacy will give you a certificate or paper with the batch number of the vaccine, date and dosage. You can then give that to your dr. for your chart.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I had singles the end of May, I guess I was lucky where was only a couple of spots on my leg

My hip hurt like crazy and could not sleep, that is what made me go to emerg

Got some pills all better in a week

In Ontario , the shot is about $125 , get it at the doctors office

I will know the true cost in a weeks time when I get it

I will send the bill into my benefit plan and see if they cover it

But it cost me $125 just to have a stealship (car dealship) look at the car, so spending that kind of money on me is OK :D

[charlielinda]

For those out there reading this thread that are over 50 please talk to your doctor about the vaccine. If it costs you $200 or $2,000 please get the vaccine. I would have paid any amount of $$ not to go through what I have the past nine months.

 

I developed shingles in my right eye and never experienced pain so severe. It took a week of pain (and nine doctors) before the lesions appeared and it was diagnosed. I was immediately put in the hospital and there for seven days and I was out of work for two months. In addition to the eye it affected my ear and I lost 50% of the hearing in my right ear. Because of the inflammation and steriods I developed a cataract in my right eye and am having cataract surgery on Friday. This has been an ordeal.

 

We did have to cancel a vacation to Mexico but I have to admit that I was in such pain I just didn't care. The one thing I can say though is that I'm grateful that I developed the shingles which has many side effects but something that is not life threatening.

 

I strongly suggest you speak with your doctor and get the vaccine no matter the cost.

[bloomcruisers]

My husband had shingles twice so was very excited when the vaccine first came out. When he tried to get it however, the Dr said that though (at the time) it was fully covered by our insurance but was only recommended for use in patients over 6o yrs of age. If it is not a medically recommended usage the insurance companies are not required to pay.

Since DH had a few years to go to hit 60, he waited to get it. Then of course as soon as he turned 60 they changed the age recommendation to 50 yrs and older, but also made the process more complicated in order to get it covered by the insurance. He could not just go to the Dr's office and get the vaccine.

He had to order and pick it up at the pharmacy where it was fully covered, then take it himself to the Dr's office to be administered. I think he did have the small office copay for that part. Similar to GreatLakes' experience, so apparently a process used by insurance companies to make it difficult enough that patients won't bother.

 

So, if you are under 50, the odds are that your insurance will not cover any part of it since it is not "recommended" for your age group. They will not be swayed by how many times you have already had shingles.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Not to flame anyone because I think the same way

It is funny what people ( or me) will spend money

$40 for a bottle of wine a couple times a month at a restaurant or oil change on the car for $150 no problem

A one time vaccine for $150 , to much money , insurance will cover it in a couple of years

[jackdiamond]

I had singles the end of May, I guess I was lucky where was only a couple of spots on my leg

My hip hurt like crazy and could not sleep, that is what made me go to emerg

Got some pills all better in a week

In Ontario , the shot is about $125 , get it at the doctors office

I will know the true cost in a weeks time when I get it

I will send the bill into my benefit plan and see if they cover it

But it cost me $125 just to have a stealship (car dealship) look at the car, so spending that kind of money on me is OK :D

What is a stealship? Also, what do you receive for the $125.00?

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbalancer

I had singles the end of May, I guess I was lucky where was only a couple of spots on my leg

My hip hurt like crazy and could not sleep, that is what made me go to emerg

Got some pills all better in a week

In Ontario , the shot is about $125 , get it at the doctors office

I will know the true cost in a weeks time when I get it

I will send the bill into my benefit plan and see if they cover it

But it cost me $125 just to have a stealship (car dealship) look at the car, so spending that kind of money on me is OK :D

 

What is a stealship? (car dealship):D Also, what do you receive for the $125.00? Shingle vaccine