I had it yesterday and I hate today that is all.
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.
Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.
Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!
Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.
When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson
Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.
Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.
When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.
Fear or fury? The choice is ours.
We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.
Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.
“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”
My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.
Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”
Not loving this new fraud based economy.
The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.
Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.
White supremacy is terrorism.
Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.
Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.
Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.
Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.
Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.
Only Democrats have agency, apparently.
TxTiger
Mr. TxTiger can relate. It took the wind out of his sails the way none of the COVID shots (1, 2, or 3) did.
glc
Fair enough. I think my #2 was worse than my #1.
Should be better tomorrow though. And from what I hear, a good deal better than shingles, not that I would know, or want to know.
Rob
I hope you feel better tomorrow!
#1 was worse than #2, and even then, since I got it on a Friday afternoon, I took the weekend slow and took a couple of afternoon naps.
Skepticat
I’m having sympathy pains. I started out having a very uncomfortable time with the second of the two-shot doses, but icing and massage helped a great deal. I’d recommend trying that. The shots are worth it, though. Hope you feel better soon.
Mart
I hear you I had my second yesterday and was just on the company website taking a PTO.
RSA
Earlier this week I did a double, COVID booster and the second shingles shot, one in each arm. (A doctor friend said she would have spaced them out, but I had had no advice otherwise in advance, so…) Side effects: A tiny bit of nausea, though that could have been the take-out I had later the same day. Mostly it was aching shoulders, as if I’d gone overboard lifting weights, enough to wake me up a couple of times the first night. Pretty minor. Glad to be done with it for now.
Matt McIrvin
Yeah, it packs a wallop. Glad I got that over with.
Scout211
@Rob:
My #1 was worse than #2, also. I armed myself with lots of water and Tylenol every 6 hours for 24 hours after the second shot and that seemed to help. Or maybe #2 was just milder for me.
I was unprepared for the first Shingrix because I was expecting the two shot series to be like the Moderna series (#1 mild, #2 awful). It was just the opposite for me with the Shingrix.
I’m sorry you feel awful today Mr. Cole. I’ve been there. Take some Tylenol and drink lots of water. I hope you feel better tomorrow.
Kristine
Yup–leveled me for 2 days. I checked the list of possible reactions on a medical website and had most of them. Nausea was the worst b/c it was so unexpected. First time I ever had that reaction from a vaccination.
FlyingToaster
I’ve been spacing out my shots, because I always react. Mostly I get just massively sore arm, but both COVID and flu wipe me out. So I had a Flu vax in September, my tetanus booster in October, am getting my Moderna booster week after next, and first Shingles in February. Because that’s when I can space them between other shit I gotta deal with.
Ohio Mom
Just read on my AARP newsletter that the shingles vaccine may not be completely covered. And it’s not cheap, $200 per dose.
Of course I’ll still get it but once again, why is Medicare so convoluted and unpredictable? So many different plans, all with different variations of what is covered and what not.
As far as I can tell though, other vaccines (pneumonia, hepatitis b, flu) are completely covered in all plans. Though claiming to cover flu shots, what’s that about, you can get them for free.
Now I am wondering if the tetanus shot is. I think I have around eight years before I need another one, so I’ll table that worry.
KBS
Hope you feel better soon! My second shingles shot knocked me OUT for two days. :(
Honus
No problem with all three Modernas and the first shingle shot. After the second one I thought I had covid (got the second shingles shot in December 2020 before the vaccine was out). Good news is the reaction only lasted about a day. You should be fine tomorrow afternoon.
Scout211
@Ohio Mom:
Shingrix is paid under Part D. I don’t know why. So how much is covered for your Shingles shots depends on which part D plan you have. They all have their own versions of copay, deductible and cost share. You have to look up the plan that you have to find out how much they pay for the Shingrix.
Kristine
@Ohio Mom:
I’m still on regular insurance and when I asked about getting a tetanus booster at the drug store where I got my flu shot, I learned that insurance would only cover it if I got it at my doctor’s office. No idea why.
Shingrix was covered, however. Can’t wait to start negotiating Medicare and supplementals. I’m 63 and already getting emails.
Chetan Murthy
John, you pushed me out of my beanbag chair; I’m gonna get it tomorrow, right after my swim. B/c after that, the gym’s closed for the w/e, and hopefully I’ll be recovered by Monday.
Jim Appleton
No problem with either shot.
I wouldn’t want the least effects of actual shingles.
Scout211
@Ohio Mom:
I just looked it up on the Medicare site. Tdap is covered under Part D. So again, it depends on what your Part D or Advantage plan pays and at what rate.
eclare
Somehow never had chicken pox. Got the vaccine when it came out in the mid-90’s, and a booster about ten years ago.
Hope you feel better.
Soprano2
That one kicked my ass but it’s still 100 times better than having shingles. I had a co-worker miss over a month with shingles.
Ramona Rosario
Eek! I am scheduled Saturday for my second Shingrix and Moderna booster. Hope you feel better sson!
Grover Gardner
Yup. My wife got it and it was rough. But only for a day.
Bonnie
Boy, am I with you on this. Yesterday was one of worst days I have ever had since I retired in 2008.
Eric K
Yeah the 2nd Shingles shot is the only time I’ve ever had more than a sore arm from a vaccination, I spent a night freezing with shivers even with two comforters and was pretty out of it for a day.
But from what I’ve heard about Shingles I’d take another shot if they said I needed it
MisterForkbeard
Covid booster 4 hours ago and my arm is starting to ache. Hoping I don’t need to take work off tomorrow if the reaction gets stronger.
Probably fine, though.
The Oracle of Solace
I am woefully underinformed about medical issues. TIL there is a shingles vaccine and a chickenpox vaccine. Can’t wait for the Red Caps to start protesting them and all childhood vaccines.
Heidi Mom
Sorry you’re feeling poorly, John. And thanks for the heads-up, everyone; I’ll get my first shingles shot next Tuesday.
Juju
@MisterForkbeard: I had the Pfizer for the first two and chose Moderna for the booster. I had a rough time with both Pfizer’s, the second one especially. The Moderna wasn’t quite as bad and the side effects lasted 48 hours almost to the minute. According to the CDC you get your boost after only 48 hours. That was pretty neat.
LeftCoastYankee
It were bad, but only for a day or so. Fortunately it was before the Covids so I managed to forget how shitty I felt after shot 1 by the time I had shot 2.
That said, Shingles was way the fuck worse when I had it some 15 years ago or so. Even after it cleared up I had the phantom nerve pains across my back for another year or so after.
The shingles vax is supposed to now be 10 years so it’s worth it.
frosty
Congratulations! I was trying to get a shot in 2019 when no one had the vaccine and in the mean time I got a (mild) case of shingles. Glad to hear you dodged it.
frosty
@Kristine: Negotiating Medicare was a huge headache for us. Guess what? If you live in one state and all your docs are just across the border in another, there is no Medicare Advantage plan that will guarantee you can get covered. On top of that, my docs couldn’t figure out if they could be covered out of network.
So we went with Medigap, which you pay for, but it doesn’t have a network and is nationwide. Turned out to be a good choice when both of us needed Urgent Care on our last road trip.
Ohio Mom
@Scout211: Thanks. Already chose my Plan D, based on the list of meds I take. Probably just as well I did not know enough to plug in shingles shots too.
Jharp
I’ve done poorly to piss poorly after all three Moderna shots.
And I’ve always had strong reactions to vaccines.
And now it’s about time for the shingles vax. Ugh.
I am not looking forward to it.
Kristine
@frosty: I definitely intend to talk to friends and gather data. So many options/places to slip up.
Anotherlurker
Both Moderna shots + the booster kicked my ass. Achy, lethargic etc., etc..
1st Shingles shot effected me the same way, but only for 24 hours.
All the vaccine reactions are fine by me, especially if it prevents or mitigates another round of Shingles. My experience with severe Shingles, on my face, was by far the sickest I’ve ever been. In my case, Shingles came and went in 3 month cycles, lasting a year and a 1/4.
RepubAnon
@glc: I had a friend that got shingles. Terrible, burning pain for many months – he never did get over it.
Kalakal
I’m with you. Had my second on Tuesday. Felt very rough until a few hours ago. Arm still a bit sore but otherwise now ok. The first just had a sightly sore arm for a few days
terry chay
Got my second shingles shot on Monday. Low fever the next day. Going to get my 3rd COVID shot on Friday!
gwangung
November was shot month. Almost weekly. Flu shot. Booster (Pfizer). Shingles #2. Very mild fever. Could have worked if I needed to…fortunately, I didn’t.
But glad I have all of them.
Dan B
@terry chay: Whee! I did booster, flu, and shingrex in 24 days start to finish. I felt lousy for two days after each one. Immune system said go away nasty bugs! Couldn’t persuade it that these were just the instruction manuals.
Dan B
@gwangung: Beat me to it. Interesting echo in here…*
*side effect of commenting on a JC post, not a reaction to the jabs. Fortunately.
trollhattan
Had the first, one-jab shingles thing what, ten years ago? She gave it to me, put on the bandaid and I was on my way.
Back in the car my arm suddenly felt like it had taken the venom of a hundred bees–liquid, hot pain. IDK how long I sat there wondering what I’d done to deserve being stung in one spot by a hundred bees, but sit there I did because that was the sum of what I could do.
Hated, hated, hated that one. Have not volunteered to get the new, improved two-jab edition.
Ruckus
The shingles shots did not bother me at all.
Shingles on the other hand was a stone bitch. Face and neck.
I’ve never had a shot that came close to having shingles. Including my #2 Pfizer. And that includes the time I came within about an inch of having a .357 magnum hollow point shot through the side of my head. That one was more far more angst than physical though.
My take away is that you don’t want shingles any more than you want a .357 magnum hollow point through the head. One would make you dead instantly and the other came closer by far than anything else in my life to making me wish I was.
MisterForkbeard
@Juju: I had Moderna for the first two shots and Pfizer for the booster. No idea how that’s gonna go, but my reactions to Moderna were pretty mild. Crossing fingers.
featheredsprite
@eclare: You lucky so-and-so. I still remember the chicken pox, and that was 60 or so years ago.
Jharp
@One would make you dead instantly and the other came closer by far than anything else in my life to making me wish I was.
Food poisoning for me. Gravely ill.
All you can eat crab legs circa 1985.
Have not eaten them since.
Ruckus
@Jharp:
Bad food isn’t fun that’s for sure. Bad food poisoning can have all kinds of interesting, and less than fun reactions. I’ve had mild, severe does not sound like something I want either.
cthulhu
Both doses of Shingrix gave me mild cases of shingles, that is an itchy rash along a nerve bundle on my back. Both times I was like “What the heck is going on? Oh duh.” Far, far better than a full case of shingles which I have watched other people suffer through.
I worked on a secondary analysis of the first shingles vaccine and that one had few adverse events but also failed to work for a sizable percentage of patients and had fairly quickly waning protection. Since working on that project, I’ve always appreciated a decent reaction to a vaccine, especially second doses, as being indicative of doing the job properly.
frosty
Reading you all, my Shingles case was nothing. Pain and blisters on my back below the shoulder blade. Cyclovir got rid of it after I got a scrip from Urgent Care while on the road.
Since then, I’ve had some reoccurring pain in the same general area. I’ve read up on PHN and keep wondering if that’s what it is. My doc says it’s muscle related and the type of pain and circumstances of reoccurrence seems to back her up.
Anyway, you all have my sincere sympathy. I can’t imagine getting this on the face. For the rest of you, GET THE SHOTS!!!!
Comrade Colette
@Jharp: I had my first Shingrix shot a couple of weeks ago and I was freaked out about possible side effects, but all I had was a moderately sore arm for a couple of days. Many jackals here had the same experience and that helped calm me down. I hope it goes as easily for you – but even if it doesn’t, it’s still a damn sight better than shingles. My dad had it and was out of commission for 3 months.
COVID booster tomorrow – woohoo! I know that one’s gonna make me sick for 24 hours and I don’t care
ETA: feel better fast, J Cole! In the meantime, great excuse to nap with the critters.
JoyceH
You can only get shingles if you’ve had chicken pox. So – shouldn’t we call shingles ‘long chicken pox’?
Mike S
Got my second shot at 10 am and at 7:30 I was whimpering on the couch. The next day I had the worst flu ever. My whole body ached so I took a double shot of nyquil every time I woke up and slept until the next day. I was at about 75% until the next day.
Traveller
I am one of the really sad cases of Shingles…really affecting one’s life. I got shingles 11 years ago when knowledge of and the vaccines were little appreciated. 2~5% percent of shingles cases end up with PHN, Postherpetic neuralgia, and all these years later I am still taking anti-elliptic medication 4x a day to control the constant charlie horse muscle spasms.
Since we tried a spinal block on me, (a very odd, Nazi like surgery), to no effect, I am certain that the damage was to my mid brain still sending out these convulsive signals…
So, be happy the inconvenience is only 48hours or so.
This is not to say that life still isn’t grand and every day it is great to wake up alive…but even in winter I can’t sleep with covers over my upper body that might touch my back.
So we adjust.
Be Good and Best Wishes, Traveller
Ruckus
@Traveller:
I have no idea what was causing my constant neuralgia, if it was the shingles I had about 18 yrs ago or aging or the meds I take or my brain just getting old. But I was told I might have Parkinson’s, except that 2 yrs ago I was told that I did not and shown why. So if shingles can give constant neuralgia, that might be the cause. But. And it’s a big, firm, round but, I started taking an enzyme that seems to help greatly. It’s called CoQ10, it’s available over the counter, I take 200mg in the morning, 100mg at night, and the vast majority of my neuralgia is gone. I sleep a lot better, I’m not in constant pain and it went away in a day and a half of starting the enzyme. Check it out, I’ve read of several actual medical studies that have shown that it works well for some, it might help.
lowtechcyclist
@TxTiger:
Same here. Each of the three Moderna shots made my shoulder sore, and that was it. Each Shingrix shot gave me low-level fever and chills for about a day.
@glc:
Let’s just say I’d rather have fifty shingles shots than have shingles again.
Raven
@lowtechcyclist: Fucking A, I had it in my eye when I was in the final stage of my dissertation. I ran to get it when it came out and when they came out with the new one.
What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us
@Eric K: I had the same chills after both Shingrix shots. Nothing other than a sore arm after both Pfizer jabs but the Moderns booster had me feeling slightly blah for several hours the next day, and the arm soreness lasted a lot longer – about 5 days.
Betty
@Scout211: This screams out the need to fix Medicare for real. Playing around with one or two benefits while private insurers still take advantage of seniors and disabled people isn’t getting the job done.
SFAW
I’m supposed to be getting my booster shot today. Just some tiredness following #1 and #2, so I’m hoping tomorrow will be uneventful.
But I also need to get my Shingrix shot, hope to do so in the not-too-distant future, so thanks for the heads-up, John.
TriassicSands
Whining about transient reactions to vaccines is childish. It just feeds the overall irresponsibility of Americans regarding vaccines. They sometimes cause side effects. Sometimes, rarely, people even die as a result. None of that is at all relevant to whether people should be vaccinated.
glc
@lowtechcyclist:
Some version of this got through to me. I don’t recall my doctor’s phrasing when he first raised the matter, perhaps less eloquent, but clear enough.
@lowtechcyclist: