Shingrix shot for shingles

[Martha]

Has anybody gotten the Shingrix vaccine for shingles? If so, did it have any unpleasant effects on your MC?

I got the Zostavax shot a few years ago, and had no problem with that. The Shingrix is more effective at preventing shingles. A friend just got it, and had a lot of pain in her arm, which seems to be a common side effect of Shingrix. I'm just wondering if anyone with MC had experience with the Shingrix vaccine.

[Rosie]

I got the two dose Shingrix shot a few months ago and didn't have much of a reaction, just a slightly sore arm and no digestive problems. I was especially nervous because I had shingles about a year ago and still have post-herpetic neuralgia, which is very slooooowly getting better. I had the zostovax shot about 5 years ago, and it didn't keep me from getting shingles. My doctor recommended that I get the Shingrx shot, as it isn't uncommon to have shingles more than once. Believe me, you don't want to get shingles, as it is a miserable experience, with a very high chance of getting the dreaded post-herpetic neuralgia. Even a somewhat severe reaction to the shot is nothing compared to what you go through with shingles!!

Rosie

[Harmony33]

Hello Martha,

I had the first Shingrix Vaccine in September and will have the second in a couple of weeks.

I went to bed thinking the only reaction was a sore arm, but slept badly then woke the next day with a fever, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain and—for lack of a better description—tingly, restless legs. By 4 pm that day I was much better. The next day I had only a mildly sore arm.

I had no MC or GI reaction at all.

My husband, who does not have MC, had the exact same symptoms in the same order. From what we hear from friends who have had Shingles, our one bad day of “fluish” symptoms seems worth it.

By the way, I had the Flu Vaccine in October, and had NO side effects, not even the sore arm. (Dr wanted to give my immune system a month in between.)

Hope yours goes well.

[Martha]

Thank you for your replies, Rosie and Harmony. I'm glad to hear that neither of you experienced any ill effects MC-wise.

I think I'll check with my insurance to see if they will cover the Shingrix shots.

Martha

[tommyboywalker]

Hi Martha,

I received the regimen of 2 Shingrix shots for prevention of shingles.

The first shot I only had a very mildly sore arm for about 2 days at the site of the injection. But the second shot left me with a very low grade fever for about a day and just a feeling of malaise or out of sorts for a little over a day but it quickly cleared. These effects from the second shot were though, significant enough for me to report them (there is an organization that handles that).

The above being said, the Shingrix shots had zero effect on my Colitis for which I am thankful! My shots were covered by insurance but I will tell you that even with good insurance (Medicare with a high end Medigap policy), they are the most expensive vaccinations I have ever received. Each one was over $200, can't remember the exact price. Your insurance results may vary.

I am very glad I went ahead with the Shingrix vaccinations though. I have a neurological chronic pain condition (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) which leaves me more susceptible to something like shingles according to my Neurologist and I have seen what a few folks have gone through with having shingles with no underlying conditions and it can be pretty tough. You can even be left with "postherpetic neuralgia", which Rosie mentioned above, a not so uncommon complication of shingles that can cause a burning pain long after the rash and blisters disappear.

All the best to you with your decision and please update us on how things went for you should you decide to go ahead with them!