Fearing an 'Alien'-like shingles attack, readers learn from my mistake

I wrote about how I put off getting my shingles vaccine and ended up with a nasty case of it, one that settled in my eye and blurred my vision.

After taking one look at the shudder-inducing pictures, some of you heeded the warning.

“Just wanted to add my name to the list of many readers who finally got a shingles vaccine because of your articles." Connie Irvine wrote in an email. "I’m 67, so I’ve known for 17 years that I really ought to get that shot.

“The pharmacist at Walgreens told me they had been running out of that vaccine ever since your first article about it. I was lucky; Walgreen’s had just received more of it the morning I went in to get it! Ow, my arm still hurts though.”

(The pain is totally worth it, I promise.)

Michael Urlich wrote, “I got my first shingles vaccine today and even talked my mother-in-law to get hers as well. Thanks for the heads up on this nasty malady.

“I even got flu and pneumonia shots as well. The only downside is my arm feels like I got punched by my wife, which happens too often as it is. Glad I waited until after our Vegas vacation, so I could better enjoy the casino taking our money.”

(At least you had enough money left for the vaccine.)

Peter McEvoy, who lives in Spokane, Washington, wrote how a co-worker’s wife had shingles and, unsure about how the virus spreads, he immediately got the vaccination.

“I guess I’ve seen too many sci-fi movies with unwitting carriers. … 'Alien comes to mind,” he wrote.

(I did feel like I was under an alien attack from my worm-like nerves. Thank goodness they never tried to escape.)

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.”

I’m glad you learned from mine.

For more Karina Bland, subscribe to her newsletter. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @KarinaBland.

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