Shingles vaccine... Yay or nay???

Heady · Post by **Heady** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:47 am

I am considering getting the shingles inoculation. Just thought I should ask if vaccines have any impact on MC.

Post by **tex** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:06 am

A few members who have significant mast cell activation issues and who are sensitive to eggs, have had serious adverse reactions (anaphylactic reactions) to certain inoculations, particularly the flu shot. But that type of reaction is very uncommon. Most of us don't have problems with injections, and so far no one has reported having an adverse reaction to a shingles vaccine. Most of the members here who have to be cautious about inoculations tend to have somewhat regular symptoms associated with chronic mast cell issues, such as frequent rashes, flushes, tachycardia episodes, etc.

Tex

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:38 am

I had the shingles vaccine without any problem. The flu vaccine doesn't bother me either.

Jean

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:57 am

Flu vaccine doesn't bother me. WAY less than if I didn't get it because when I didn't i got the flu and was sick for 4 months.
I just had shingles. Now I am getting the vaccine. I do NOT want it again. I have had it a number of times, but only small patches. This was all over my thigh. It was awful.

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:27 am

Lesley wrote:Flu vaccine doesn't bother me. WAY less than if I didn't get it because when I didn't i got the flu and was sick for 4 months.
I just had shingles. Now I am getting the vaccine. I do NOT want it again. I have had it a number of times, but only small patches. This was all over my thigh. It was awful.

I too had shingles several years ago and firmly believe that it triggered my LC. I have debated getting the vaccine but have not yet. Has anyone here received the vacinne and has it worked? I'm curious if it will work for you Lesley. I think I need to do some more research on it.

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:05 pm

Cathy,

I don't know whether the vaccine has worked but I do know that I have never had the shingles so it hasn't not worked.

Jean

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:52 pm

I had shingles very bad a couple of years ago - on my back. After suffering and getting over it after 6 months and had the shot with no reaction and not a recurrence. Would suggest the shot over the pain of shingles any day.

Love, Maggie

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:09 pm

MaggieRedwings wrote:I had shingles very bad a couple of years ago - on my back. After suffering and getting over it after 6 months and had the shot with no reaction and not a recurrence. Would suggest the shot over the pain of shingles any day.

Love, Maggie

Thanks for that Jean and Maggie. Maggie, I too had it across my back and it was very painful.

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 3:52 pm

My GI doctor advised me not to get it. I think it may because I am taking Imuran. My PCP couldn't understand why I couldn't get it. When I go back to him in July I am going to talk to him about it and see what he says. He did push the flu shot and that was before going in for my shoulder surgery. I agreed, but did not get it this past winter and don't usually.

Nancy

Post by **tex** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:07 pm

Nancy,

An immunocompromised (suppressed) immune system can't identify and fight bacteria or viruses the way a healthy (unsuppressed) immune system can. That means that you may be able to handle vaccines that contain weakened or killed microbes, but you have to be very careful with certain live-virus vaccines. The MMR and varicella vaccines fall into that category, so I would assume that the shingles vaccine might also involve a live virus (but I'm just guessing, because while I had measles and chicken pox and all that stuff as a child, I've never had the shingles vaccine).

Anyway, that would be the most likely reason why your GI doc wisely advised against it. The flu vaccine supposedly contains a killed virus, so it should be safe for you.

At least that's the way I see it.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:12 pm

Heady,
In MC world things are not so black and white, yes or no, good or bad.
Majority of things are 'it depends' and it is various shades of grey in between.

Depends on where you are at in your gut repair journey
Depends on what other health issues are going on -thyroid, mast cell/histamine etc etc
Depends on your medical history etc
Depends on risk factors of lifestyle etc.

Generally it is not the vaccine that is the issue, it is the inactive ingredients that can cause issues.
And if you have the vaccine if you are in flare or have heightened histamine activity (ie the inflammation levels in the body when you have the vaccine)

Sorry that there is no clear cut answer ( the sucky part of MC world...)

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:59 pm

We did a poll on this a while ago. I'm still on the fence trying to decide. Deb
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... t=shingles

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:38 pm

Because I am IgA deficient, I can get the flu vaccine ( because it's not live), but can not get the shingles vaccine because it IS LIVE… which means I would be giving myself shingles because my body wouldn't make the antibodies to it!

Leah

Heady · Post by **Heady** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:45 pm

What should my vitamin D levels be at to consider taking the shingles vaccine.i am booked next week at the lab for my long list of tests.

Post by **tex** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:51 pm

Well, of course it would be desirable to have a vitamin D level {the 25(OH)D test result} at least in the sufficient range (30—100 ng/mL), but as long as your level is not in the deficient range (0—20 ng/mL), you should be able to handle the vaccine without any concerns.

Tex