- Joined: December 1998
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Post Count: 2,069
I don't have it, but a friend does. He's on the west coast and I'm in Arkansas, so I'm not going to catch it from him. I'd be interested in your experiences with this disease. My friend has been having a very rough time as it produces a lot of pain and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. It's been going on for over 3 months and nothing the doctors have done have really relieved the pain.
If there is any personal knowledge here that I can pass on to my friend, please let me know. His wife has told me there is a shingles vaccine, it doesn't really prevent shingles but will make occurrence of the disease much milder. I'm thinking of asking my doctor about getting one. She says anyone over 60 should get the vaccination.
Johnny
www.teamfurr.org
Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...
- Joined: October 1998
- Location: Boise ID
- Post Count: 7,206
Did you have chicken pox as a kid? It's the same virus, which remains dormant inside you for decades.
Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.
- Joined: January 2005
- Post Count: 1,575
Yep, I had them back in March and it took about three weeks to get rid of them, according to the doctor, I had a mild case. I took Zovorix and Loratab for the pain. Some people have excuriating pain, mine was more of a burning sensation when clothes touched the bumps. I will probably have scars on my side for a long time if not forever from the worst two places.
Like Mike,I believe that mine was caused by stress. I had been training in a different position and with a difficult person for about a month when mine started.
I know enough to know I don't know enough!
- Joined: June 1999
- Post Count: 33,002
I had them in 1996, also got the zovirax treatment. Haven't seen them since *knock wood*.
"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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- Joined: December 1998
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Post Count: 2,069
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michelle Schmid 
I'm not a Dr. either (but I do work for several). The shingles vaccine is used to reduce the risk of shingles in adults over 60 who have previously had chicken pox. It is not against chicken pox. Although there is now a vaccine for that as well. Notice is it to reduce the risk, not eliminate it. Even after being vaccinated you can still get shingles--but if you do it is more likely to be a milder case that doesn't last as long.
Even if it did cover both, you would not want them to charge double--this is a $200+ vaccine here in our office and most insurances do not cover it.
I had an office visit yesterday and asked my doctor about the vaccine and he essentially told me what you just stated. The vaccine will cost me $250 and even if my insurance says they will pay for it, I will have to pay the doctor up front. This is because they've already had trouble with clients saying their insurance will cover it, the insurance doesn't, and than they have to collect from angry clients. So I'll have to pay up front and if insurance pays, they'll refund the money to me.
The more I think about it, the more I realize the hell that my friend is going through, even if I have to pay, I'm going to get the vaccine. It reduces my chances of getting shingles and it reduces the severity of the disease if I do get it. He also told me that someone in my age bracket should assume he's had chicken pox. I know as a child that I have a disease that broke-out all over my face, but I can't remember if that was chicken-pox, but it probably was.
Johnny
www.teamfurr.org
Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...
- Joined: October 1998
- Location: Boise ID
- Post Count: 7,206
Sometimes ad-hoc "clinics" charge less because a vaccine is delivered in bulk - say 20 dosages - and they have to use it up quickly since it goes bad in a few days. A doctor's office may have to charge you for the whole bottle since they are less likely to use it up during office visits. Getting a flu shot at Costco is cheaper than at your doctor's office.
This is certainly true in the vet business.
Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.
- Joined: December 1998
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Post Count: 2,069
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michelle Schmid
Our office actually advises patients to have this done there as it is MUCH cheaper than having it done here. The vaccine itself is most of the cost as we only charge around $17.50 for the lab to give the injection. I do not know why there is such a large discrepency in cost for the patient as I do not work in claims. As an added bonus some insurances will pay for it if it is not done in a physician's office. I don't know why that is, either.
I called my insurance company yesterday and they said I was covered. To be covered I needed to be over 60 (check) and have the wellness benefit (check). They will cover it for one vaccination per lifetime. It will cost me the office copay ($20). The gal told me on the phone to be sure the physician supplied the vaccine. She said that some physicians have the patient get the vaccine from a pharmacy and and bring it to the office to be administered. In that case it would not be covered. So I'm in the opposite position that you wrote about.
Oddly, when I went to the cashier I was not even asked to pay for the office call or the vaccination. They would file the insurance and bill me for what they don't pay. I asked are you sure? I had been told I would have to pay upfront and she had a policy statement tacked up on the wall telling her what to do. I had signed a form promising to pay if the insurance did not.
Johnny
www.teamfurr.org
Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a wornout coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that...
