I learned today that my mom has shingles. What can you tell me about your experiences with it?

Shingles is really painful. My mom had a bout with it.
There's a now vaccine now for people 60 and over, and since most people had chicken pox as a child, they still harbor the virus, so it's probably wise to get vaccinated since the virus comes out as shingles in older years.

The nerve pain from shingles, for some people, lingers and can be really horrible. She needs medical attention and likely some pain medication. Good luck. As if one more thing was needed!
Carol