As a specialist in neurology and pain, I often treat a very serious illness – shinglesor as it is known by its medical name – Herpes zoster. Although the disease is not fatal, one does not die from it, but one dies with it, and often in severe agony that does not go away. It is difficult to find a balm for her, the pain is excruciating, burning, stabbing and does not respond to medication, even the strongest of them. As the person suffers from the disease at an older age, the risk of its presence and the intensity of the nerve (neuropathic) pain that accompanies it increases. The suffering is so great that there are those who want to end their lives.
Shingles is a late complication of chicken pox. The disease does pass, but the varicella zoster virus, which causes it, remains dormant and nests in our bodies, until for some reason there is a decrease in the strength of the immune system. Such a decrease may come as a result of illness, drug treatment, steroids, chemotherapy or just advanced age, since it is known that with age the immune system also ages and weakens. At this stage, shingles may break out in the form of intense pain in a certain area of the body, as a belt with blisters – painful, burning, and excruciating smallpox, which although pass after a few weeks, but the pain remains.
Shingles in the neck (Photo: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Fortunately, in recent years, vaccines against the disease have been developed, and they are available at the health insurance funds with a deductible ranging from 300 to 400 shekels. If you ask me – worth every shekel.
About 12 years ago, when the vaccine was released to the public in the United States, I asked a fellow doctor for a prescription, paid about $400 and injected myself with the vaccine. I received a repeat vaccination about six to seven years ago, and now it’s time for another vaccination.
About a year ago I went to the family doctor, who wrote me a prescription, but the “drug inspector” refused to give it to me, since in his opinion it was too early. The cash register didn’t bother to check if I had antibodies – I was simply rejected. Go argue with the bureaucracy. This year the prescription was renewed for me, But due to medical problems I did not apply to receive the vaccine, and when I approached after about a month, they refused to vaccinate me on the grounds that “a month has passed, sir!”.
So what if it’s been a month? This is a vaccine, not a monthly medicine that I came to take late. The health insurance company’s interest is to give me the vaccine, because if God forbid I get shingles, the treatment and medicines I will need will be tens of thousands more expensive, not to mention the pain and suffering that will fall on me.
Where is the logic behind the unnecessary rambling? Of course, the computer is to blame! But when it comes to preventive medicine, whose goal is to protect the client, I would expect human logic to rise above the computer software.