Your Questions About Shingles

Any bad experiences from getting the vaccine for SHINGLES or for PNEUMONIA?

My parents both had horrible sessions with Shingles in the 80’s – Mom’s was all in her nether orifices and she suffered for months. Pop was luckier – his was in his scalp, ears and one eye. He was luckier because my sister recognized the symptoms and made sure his eye doctor and medical doctor would look at his lesions quickly after they appeared. All of us children had Chickenpox when we were very young, and, my children also had Chickenpox when they were very young.

I work at an airport where I am exposed to over 500 travelers and 200 airport workers every day. It has been suggested that I get vaccinated for both Influenza and Pneumonia. A friend in Florida recently became infected with Pneumonia when a friend visited him – that same friend died from Pneumonia a short time later.

What can you tell me about your experiences?

My doctor just let me kow that the vaccination for Chickenpox (Shingles later in life) will cost over $300. I live in a remote area.
I meant to say that my parents were both in their 80’s when they were infected – Pop’s infection was in 2006, Mom’s in 2005.

eye infections?

over the past 3 months or so, everyone has had some type of eye infection. I had shingles in my eye for over 2 months. My 14 yr old had pink eye for just a couple of days ( i got rid of it using antiviral drops). My husband got an eye infection a few days ago that left his eye swollen underneath. I washed his eye out and did the same for him as with my daughter and it is going away. Are these eye infections a symptom of some illness? I had a fever about a week ago for a couple of days. I haven’t gotten a fever in years. My 5 yr old has had a low grade fever as well on and off for a couple of days.

Do eye viruses have long term affects?

I recently suffered from a virus that caused body aches, high fever (101.3), chills, vomiting, violent headaches, and terrible throat pain. I went to the doctor and she told me it was a virus. The next day I lost all the symptoms except for the violent headaches (that seemed worse) and severe coughing fits. This continued until the next day when I got ear pains, they left the following day but I woke up to find my eyes swollen shut completely. There was heavy discharge from them and they were VERY red. I went to the doctor and she told me it was pink eye, but I was skeptical because I didn’t think it could occur in both eyes simultaneously. She gave me drops telling me they would help. The next day (today) my eyes are no better and we contacted an eye doctor and she said it wasn’t pink eye but a virus in the eyes and that it was extremely contagious and there was no medicine for it- it should heal on its own. I’ve never heard of such a thing before, but I’m worried that there could be long term affects with a having a virus/infection in your eyes (kind of like how after you get the chicken pox, you later stand a high risk of developing shingles). Am I only over reacting, or is it something serious.

Could these symptoms be connected to one disease or am I a hypochondriac?

Off and on severe headaches for 3 1/2 years. Eye pain/pressure in both, but always the severe pain is in the right side/eye. They have now increased over the last 3 months to approx 2 – 3 x a week now. Diagnosed with migraines, tension headaches, and sinusitis. Had MRI 1 month ago and found “multiple” lesions 3 mm up to 1 centimeter in various parts of the brain. Radiologist’s report states it is most likely MS or something like it.

Extreme fatigue off and on much more in last 6 months. Can’t even run for exercise anymore.

The right eye gets very red. Very painful.

Blisters that itch & burn off and on for 15 years. Mostly on joints – wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees. Diagnosed with shingles, dermatitis herpetiformis, and Pseudoporphyria

Blisters in mouth first time 8 – 10 years ago. Happens about 1 – 2 x year now. No diagnosis.

Off and on I have had protein in my urine. First morning urination is so cloudy it is almost white, like milk. Blood tests normal.

High blood pressure.

Positive RA factor. Very slight joint changes.

Positive Hep C. Antibodies only, no viral load ever. Was told I cleared it.

I feel like a hypochondriac because of so many complaints, but symptoms are affecting my life more and more. I used be quite active, running 3 to 5 mile per day, lifting weights, etc…. Now I just don’t feel well enough.
I don’t know how to add an answer to your question, “have i had a lumbar punture yet” Hope this works…. No I am seeing a neurologist in September. Radiologist suggested that on the MRI report.

What is causing me to feel like I always have something in my eye?

There is nothing there that I can see, and if I rub it, I don’t feel anything moving on my eye. It is only in my left eye.

I have noticed that the normal morning “eye-crusties” have become a white, stringy, almost web-like booger (for lack of a better word). It seems to go the whole length of my eye along the top and bottom of my eyelids. I get these through-out the day, not just while I sleep. Most of the time, it feels as though my eyelids are sticking together when I blink.

I also, feel as though my peripheral vision is somewhat lacking in this eye, compared to the other. But, I’m not sure if that is related, or if I’m just going blind.

Other than being annoying, gross, and uncomfortable, my eye feels dry and looks a little bloodshot (probably from constant rubbing). It also gets irritated more easily than the other eye.

I did the symptom checker on WebMD, (web-like booger wasn’t a choice) and some of the possible choices are glaucoma, shingles, and corneal cancer. I am 25 and doubt highly that any of these are what is driving me nuts. Pinkeye was also a choice, but I’ve had pinkeye before and this is nothing like it.

I have noticed lately, that some of my eyelashes are trying to curl up into my eye and sideways into the tear duct corner. Could it just be wacky eyelashes causing all of this? Or, something serious?

I have always had 20-20 vision, so I don’t have a regular eye doctor. I don’t even know what kind of doctor to see about it.