Questions about osteoarthritis.

@lioness
What I had was not related to Bell's Palsy at all.
It was just the Shingle's virus that travelled to my eyes.
Other than the 2 little dots behind my ears, I didn't have any other spots and no breakouts anywhere else.
I don't know anyone else who had my experience.
Ronnie

Grandmar yes I dont either glad your o.k. Now have you gotten your show ngles shot?ask your Dr about it ,if not

@lioness
Good Morning!!
First off, please 'call' me Ronnie. Thank you!
It's funny because when I actually got the Shingles, my hubby and I were waiting for the doctor to get the shot in. It came in during all this and gave it to us then.
Our doctor informed us that there is a new Shingles shot for us to take. It is a two parter. You get one part, wait a few weeks and then get the other part.
We got the first part. We went back, when we were told to, for the second.
Would you believe that they haven't gotten it?
Apparently, they are making something like a million dosages in a clip and distributing using a lottery.
No one around here (Central Florida) has the part 2 dose!
The second part has to be given within 4-6 months and it's already been 1 month.
Isn't that interesting?????
Oh well, it is what it is!

Have a wonderful and pain free day!
Ronnie

@lioness
Hi!
It was really strange! I used to be an elementary school principal.
It was at the end of the day and my students were trying out for our yearly talent show.
I went into the all-purpose room (that is what they build now, a catch all room....lunchroom, gym and auditorium) to watch.
My vision was blurry and I had a headache over my brow.
I thought I was tired and that my allergies were bothersome.
I went home and I was OK.
The following day, I was driving to work when all of a sudden I felt my eyes crossing and I had to work hard to uncross them.
I got to work. Thank goodness it was around the corner from where I lived.
When I got to work, my eyes were blurry and I had a hard time focusing, even with my glasses.
Later on in the morning, I was walking down the hall and I felt my eyes crossing and I was not able to uncross them.
I made an emergency appointment to see the eye doctor.
He was the one who said he thought I had Shingles in my eyes.
No rash and not really painful, just blurry and weird.
He suggested I see my primary care doctor, which I did.
She was puzzled. I didn't have a rash. I did, however, have 2 little pimples behind my right ear that was irritated. I thought from my glasses.
She took a culture and told me to keep in contact with her.
The following day she was very worried and sent me for a brain scan. I was terrified.
When I got the call and they said everything was alright, I broke down and handed the phone to my hubby.
Things did not get any better for a couple of days so I was sent to an eye institute in Philadelphia.
They looked at all the scans and took a ton of blood.
They said I had 6th Nerve Palsy.
Two days later, the results from the culture...…..I had Shingles!
Apparently, the virus part (ONLY) of the Shingles went into the nerves of my eyes.
It took about 3 months for my eyes to straighten out. It made working difficult!
As a result, I have a difficult time tracking when I read, I lost some peripheral vision, and sometimes my eyes move involuntarily.
I am told that it is possible that the palsy can return, especially if I get another virus that goes into my eyes.

Interesting? Huh?
Have a pleasant evening!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@lioness
Good Morning!!
First off, please 'call' me Ronnie. Thank you!
It's funny because when I actually got the Shingles, my hubby and I were waiting for the doctor to get the shot in. It came in during all this and gave it to us then.
Our doctor informed us that there is a new Shingles shot for us to take. It is a two parter. You get one part, wait a few weeks and then get the other part.
We got the first part. We went back, when we were told to, for the second.
Would you believe that they haven't gotten it?
Apparently, they are making something like a million dosages in a clip and distributing using a lottery.
No one around here (Central Florida) has the part 2 dose!
The second part has to be given within 4-6 months and it's already been 1 month.
Isn't that interesting?????
Oh well, it is what it is!

Have a wonderful and pain free day!
Ronnie

@grandmar

Good morning Ronnie,

I was also thinking about the newest Shingles vaccine however, I found that my insurance didn't cover very much of it and my portion was going to be nearly $200. Is it the same price in Florida? My insurance, Medicare Part F, usually covers everything.

Hi @hopeful33250, @grandmar, @lioness and everyone else. My doctor told me about the new shingles vaccine earlier this year. I had the old one a few years ago but he recommended getting the new one also which is a two shot series like you mentioned. I found out I could get it at my local Sam's Club Pharmacy and that's where I found out it wasn't covered by Medicare or my Minnesota UCare plan. I'm still on the fence on getting the shot but I know how painful shingles is from relatives and friends so I will probably get it this year. Here's some info that may be helpful:

Mayo Clinic Q and A: New shingles vaccine recommended for most adults over age 50
-- https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-new-shingles-vaccine-recommended-for-most-adults-over-age-50/

What are my options for the shingles vaccine? If I've already had shingles, should I get the vaccine so that I don't get shingles again?
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/expert-answers/shingles-vaccine/faq-20057859

John

My insurance company told me they would not cover the shot if I got it at a clinic or hospital. They would cover it if I got it at a pharmacy outside of a clinic or hospital but I would still pay about $85.

Bonnie, Was this your prescription plan that said that or your Medicare supplement insurance?