Shingles question

[JDinNC]

Well, I am having my first bout with shingles. I guess the stress has finally taken over. I've tried in the past to get a shot but my insurance wouldn't cover it or they needed a doctor's prescription and it soon became an after thought. I've been researching all my symptoms and repeatedly read that if a person has HIV, cancer, on chemo or radiation and pregnant. We should not get the shot because it compromises our immune system. Has anyone recieved a shingle shot and had a bad reaction? Once I get pass this, I'm considering the shot because I will not want to go through this pain again.

[DH2Sleen]

You might want to ask your doctor about Valtrex. I don't know if there would be any concern about interaction with chemo drugs, but it helped me (i'm a caregiver, never had chemo). Also, I know that there are steriods that help, but again, ask your doc... they can interfere with immunotherapy.

[Nik Colon]

I don't have an answer, sorry. I had shingles when I was very young (which is rare) I remember the pain tho!

[Snapfish]

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this on top of everything else. I had shingles, and it was -- and still is on occasion -- brutal. I still feel it now, and I had the rash 2+ years ago.

I asked my doc about getting the shot after the rash healed, and he said that it wouldn't have eliminated the chances of getting shingles but it might have lessened the severity. I am pretty sure I also remember him saying that once you've had shingles, the shot was mostly moot, but maybe I made that up in my brain. I have no clue whether a person on chemo could get the shot or not so sorry I can't help there. I think the concern for those with compromised immune systems is if the vaccine contains a live virus.

The best advice I can give you is to let go of the stress, as post-herpetic neuralgia is pretty horrid and much more likely if you/your body is stressed. Easier said than done, I know.

-snapfish

[orcasres]

I got the shot at age 60; I had finished chemo about two years earlier but even to this day (I will be 63 next week) my WBC runs low and I am assumed to be somewhat immune compromised. I was still encouraged to get the shot since it is about 50% effective in preventing shingles, but if you get shingles after having the shot it will be a milder version. I did get a slight reaction. No fever or other symptoms except a rash on my arm and a few chicken pox type lesions. I wore long sleeves in July till those cleared since it is possible to give chicken pox to someone if you break out who has not been immunized and has never had the disease. I have not had any problems since with shingles. I really believe it was a good idea for me to do it.

Lois

[tdsamal]

I had wanted to get my shot but haven't been NED long enough to get it. I was told that I couldn't have it because I was on chemo and needed to wait at least 6 months before it could get it after chemo. They did tell me that it is only about 50 % effective but I just didn't want the pain associated with it. If I get a chance I'm still want to have it done. Sorry you are going thru this also.
Tammy Malby

[SugarBubbie]

I recently completed chemo for my second bout of breast cancer and I got a shingles outbreak every single time...ugh. My onc prescribed Valtrex. I took it for 7 days initially, then she had me stay on it for the remaining infusions. It did help with the severity. I have had shingles for most of my life and I usually would take l-lysine for it. It causes me less stomach issues, but onc said there's no research on it not interferring with the chemo, so Valtrex is all I could use. I do know that peanuts and watermelon can trigger an outbreak along with stress. Good luck