Shingles and Flu Shot

Infections
21

Kathryn,

I would get the Antivirals and take them with me. Travel is a huge stressor, and you should always have a supply with you, anyway, plus the analgesics.

There is a connection between the influenza vaccine and getting Shingles, but has not been published in scientific journals. The CDC has become very political and I do not always trust their findings, especially from another organization, Infectious Disease Society of America.

That being said I do get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia with Pneumovax and Prevnar.

I have become too ill with influenza not to get the vaccine, and have attended two funerals of a 32 year old lady and 7 year old girl (family friends) who each died of staph pneumonia 3 days after contracting the flu. They were not vaccinated.

Do have fun in your trip!

Bon Voyage! Merry Juliana

22

Thanks so much for your help and the compassion that I see with which you spend time helping so many. A thought occurs to me. This does seem to be some kind of revival of the shingles, so far very mild. The one blister itches and there is mild pain where I used to get it worse. If I wake in the morning and it is no worse, but stays like that, I am not sure if it would be a good or bad idea to take anti-viral meds. Of course, if I wake with worse symptoms it will be obvious. When I go away there will be no Dr I could really ask. Really not sure, as when I start taking it, I must complete the course.

23

Kathryn, When you stated in your earlier post it itched, it sounded much more like Shingles to me. I don't think your Physician was listening to your history.
As there is a revival or recurrent Shingles vesicle-blister at the same location as the first episode, and it hurts and itches, it is Shingles. You can wait til tomorrow morning, but definitely take the Antivirals. If it waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is indeed.... Shingles! You will abort the worst of the shingles, by starting the Antivirals early. I speak from experience. Also, this is no time to scrimp on expense when traveling. Make sure to go easy on yourself....Hire a porter, if necessary.
Have a fantastic time! Merry Juliana

24

I have recurring shingles. The recurrences are always mild but I always have antivirals to hand so that I can start them as soon as the symptoms appear - usually a slight rash - and I always have antivirals with me when I travel.

My rash usually itches like crazy and I feel 'shingly' - I get a fizzy sensation that makes me feel very edgy. It's quite unmistakable. If you've had shingles before, you'll know your own symptoms: trust them and take the antivirals.

I'm just 12 days into the latest outbreak and I'm so glad that I had the antivirals to hand.

David

25

Dear David,

My recurrent Shingles now has extended to include my right scalp.
I have found that a steroid nasal spray for allergies, Flonase, followed by Bactine spray, which contains 2.5% Lidocaine, has helped enormously for the severe itching fizzy feeling. I need a liquid formation due to my hair.

As the episodes of shingles were intensifying, I decided to get the Shingrex. One injection seems to have slowed the intensity and recurrent episodes way down to one mild case, even before the antibodies have even maximized.

I hope you and your family are doing well, as we all prepare for the holidays and winter.

Best Wishes Merry Juliana

26

I recently got my flu shot and with in one and a half weeks I developed shingles. I am 29 years old and haven't been under any real stress. I do suffer from UC so my immune system isnt 100% perfect but my doctor said that it is definitely rare in people my age. My doctor also said that the flu shot could have overworked my immune system because it was bust creating antibodies for the flu and that it could have created a perfect environment for the shingles virus to resurface. I looked online and have been shocked by how many people, especially young people have gotten the flu vaccine and then gotten shingles within 1-2 weeks. I cant believe this isnt better documented.

27

My doctors ran a variety of tests to determine whether my immune system was weak, but found no issue. I finished a course of prednisone weeks before developing shingles, which likely was the cause. I had shingles for over a week before the doctors figured it out too.

28

Sorry, not buying the “coincidence” explanation. Clearly there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and developing shingles. No one is saying the flu vaccine itself directly gives you shingles. We’re saying that it causes your immune system to weaken as antibodies are focused on protecting your body from the flu virus (even though it is inactivated!) and thus it provides an opening for the dormant herpes zoster virus to awaken and thus cause a shingles outbreak. THAT is the connection between the flu shot and an outbreak of shingles and there is NO medical evidence to the contrary. In fact, it has been proven that a weakened immune system definitely DOES increase your odds of getting shingles. And the introduction of the flu virus (even though it is no longer alive!) via a flu shot DEFINITELY temporarily weakens your immune system against fighting off other viruses – such as the dormant herpes zoster virus. So there IS a connection between getting a flu shot and then developing shingles soon after. It is NOT simply “coincidence”. Having said that, it is still important to get a flu shot because the flu can be deadly. What we need to do is figure out how to bolster our immune system while it’s busy building defenses against an invasion of a live flu virus in the future. That will decrease the odds of a dormant herpes zoster virus from producing an outbreak of shingles until our immune system is back to full strength.

29

received the shingles and flu shots the same day on different arms of course, other than a sore arm did not have any flu symptoms.

30

Agree, the flu can be a very risky business and even if I knew that I was going to get shingles after it, i would still have the shot. You cannot overlook the fact that so many of us have had this happen or have this in common. Research includes gathering this type of evidence otherwise why have they even studied that it doesnt trigger shingles....must have been other incidences. it is very interesting and really surprised me. I am a certified immunization nurse myself !

31

It is our flu season very soon here in Australia. I have just had our annual mandatory flu shot this week and next morning woke up with what I'm pretty sure is shingles. i was relieved to find that others have had similar happen as i will be notifying the vaccination nurse know so she can gather statistics. i have had shingles before and so I recognized it. i would say it was a trigger affecting the immune system. Last year i had it without problem.

32

Hello
I would like to know if you git shingles just once last year? Where was the rash located? I believe that a flu shot triggered your shingles! There are many people here in this forum who have reoccurance! I had shingles for the first time in February 2018! I get them back every 4-5 months! I take antivirals when i have them! I an 65 years old abd I got the shingles on my scalp! When its on the scalp it takes longer to leave and can stay for a longer time! Ialso got never pain called PHN

The new shingrex, I will not have it because many people here have taken it and still developed shingles!!! There are people here who has have bouts for many years! There is no cure yet!
Hoping you are better!

Best regards,
Myrna

33

I had shingles once, last Sept, with blisters spreading across left chest to underarm, and pain across back , trigger unknown other than my age, 68. Eventually, blisters cleared up but pain took longer. I did notice that each time I thought I was back to normal, I caught infections and colds much more easily compared to before. I had my flu shot not long after it all cleared up. Less than 24 hrs later, there was a blister in exact spot shingles blisters started. It began to itch and then the pain returned across back. I went to GP in bit of panic as I was due to go to Spain and feared being ill abroad. I wanted anti-virals to take with me, in case. GP insisted this was only a pimple, ignoring my subjective symptoms and recent shingles history. I insisted that I should get a prescription and wouldn't leave without it. I woke up next morning and blister had faded a bit and other symptoms with it. By Spain, it had vanished (much faster than a pimple would have). I took Merry's advice and don't travel without anti-virals now, just in case, but so far have not needed to use them. It was only a flare-up rather than return of shingles. At last, others are catching colds and viruses round me and I'm not, and I think having the flu shot helped that. Just got back from Spain visit no. 2 and shingles was far from my mind, but anti-virals remained in my suitcase, where they now live.

34

I was hospitalized in October 2017. During my stay I was accidentally give 2 flu shots in a 3 day period HAD SEVERE PAIN WHERE SHOTS WERE ADMINISTERED INCORRECTLY which led to a frozen shoulder as if that was not painful enough I developed a horrible case of the shingles yes I think a double dose of flu vaccine administered to high in my should compromised my immune system I was not conscience during the first shot but the 2nd was given during my release HURT so bad and just got worse. NO WAY A COINCIDENCE

35

I got a flu shot mandated my my job in healthcare and I got diagnosed with shingles 6 days later. it happens too often there is some connection.

36

yes, seems too many cases but as mentioned also, the immune system must be getting a big kick :/

37

I received a flu shot this past Thursday, after had a headache all day. Then that Saturday, started to feel pain and sensitive to touch on left side kind of below my armpit. I felt it all day and all day Sunday (today). Even when no pain i feel something there, Yet no rash. Idk if it is shingles and the rash has not appeared yet? Not sure if i should wait to call my doctor?

38

If you are concerned it is better to go even if everything is fine, they should take a record of these types of reactions. I also didnt see a rash but exactly the same burning, tingling and lump on my neck all which resolved in about 2 wks. I reported the reaction also to our staff immuniser and the GP at work said he felt it was a reaction from the shot. Take care.

39

Thanks for your reply. Did you have to take any medication or did it go away on its own?

40

Heather,

Individuals can experience pain before the rash appears, usually up to three days. Some individuals with Herpes Zoster-Shingles experience pain without the rash, Zoster Sine Herpete. In any case, you need to see a physician to get evaluated, and be placed on an antiviral, if necessary.
Usually, with Shingles, accompanying symptoms could include headache, aches and pains, chills and sweating, regional swollen lymph nodes.

Please let us know what is going on with you. We care. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States. Best Wishes. Merry Juliana