My Second Shingles Shot

Getting my second Shingles vaccination.

I want to share an update on my shingles shot story from this summer.  As a reminder, the shingles vaccination consists of a two-shot series spaced over three months.

This summer, I had the first shot, and it knocked me out cold with aches, fever, and chills. I was down for the count for several days. It was a terrible experience, made bearable only by my steadfast Nurse Maisie.

My second Shingles shot was on Saturday and I was up and moving around comfortably by late afternoon Sunday.  I believe the difference in the two experiences was because I took Tylenol this time and didn’t just try to gut it out.

Generally, I avoid taking pills and prefer to let my body fight off any illnesses.  I do take medicine for infections but try not to overmedicate myself.  When I get a cold or the flu, I hunker down, drink copious amounts of water, and sleep.

This time I decided to make Tylenol my friend and took it Saturday night before I went to bed.  Even though I woke up with chills in the middle of the night, it did not prevent me from getting back to sleep after taking another dose of medicine.  Repeating Tylenol every four hours until Noon Sunday left me achy but functioning.

While sitting downstairs and working on a blog Sunday afternoon, I was amazed at the difference between my reactions to the first and second doses of Shingrix.

Whether you are getting your first or second shingles shots, make sure that you take Tylenol or another fever and pain reliever that first night.  Continue taking it the second day until you no longer feel it is necessary.