shingrix and AF hows the mix? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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shingrix and AF hows the mix?

agnostic1 profile image
24 Replies

Hi, I was searching for some experiences with the shingles vaccine and AFib but only found a post with no replies from a year ago. Am looking to get the vaccine at some point. Cheers and thank you in advance.

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agnostic1
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24 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Never affected me adversely when I had it all those years ago. Silly not to have it.

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

I had it ,no probs

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn

Sorry I can’t comment on the vaccine as I’m not in the bracket to be offered it, but when I had shingles, not only was it excruciating, but the antiviral meds I was given did give me a reaction (a rash and irregular heartbeat). So although I’m wary of the effects of a vaccines on my heartbeat, for myself I think I’d be inclined to have the Shingles vaccine as a preventive measure worth taking. Good luck with your decision :)

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I had Shinrix vaccine about 18 months ago but I’d also had COVID + Flu jabs all within a few weeks which I didn’t react well to therefore difficult to judge. I’m glad I got the Shingrix as I’ve had 3 shingles outbreaks since & although I had some lasting nerve pain from one outbreak it could have been SO much worse.

My immune system is wrecked at the moment and I do think too many vaccines in a short period of time was part of it.

I would be far more concerned about Shingles than AF.

francesw47 profile image
francesw47

Never posted on here before, but been a member for years. The shingles jab has changed - it used to be a 'live' vaccine and so could make people feel quite poorly for a couple of days. Nothing mega, just a bit under the weather. Jab now a different preparation and no longer 'live' and so unlikely to make all but a few feel unwell. You need two jabs, three/four months apart. Its an intramuscular jab, so can make your arm quite sore for a couple of days (paracetamol will sort) but other than that.....pretty amazing really. Had mine a couple of months ago - and in my world this is better than shingles which can be devastating.

JezzaJezza profile image
JezzaJezza

I’m in Ireland and 55 and have SVT controlled with Multaq and bisoprolol.

I’ve had Shingles twice and the last time 9 months ago was horrible. I’ve just had the first shot and arm was sore for 4-5 days but no other symptoms or impact on the heart. I go back for the second shot at the 2 month interval.

Honestly you really don’t want shingles - I recommend you get the vaccine.

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Excuse my total ignorance but who is most susceptible to Shingles (age, mixing with a lot of people, comorbidities or?) and is it on the rise?

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply tosecondtry

It flares up from a previous attack of chicken pox.If you've had chicken pox, it lies dormant in your nerves (I believe) ready to pop up when it feels like it.

You cant catch shingles from another person but if you've never had chicken pox, you can catch chicken pox from someone with shingles ....... hope that makes sense.

secondtry profile image
secondtry in reply toDucky2003

Thanks Ducky, will do some more searching.

solarjdo69 profile image
solarjdo69 in reply toDucky2003

My read is that like Ducky said above, it may lie dormant for years. I had it many years ago. Very painful! Like tiny needles in your skin. Any skin movement like from clothing aggravates it and it is very excrutiating. That said, I do believe that the so called Covid vaccines reduces ones immunity so that previous issues such as shingles, rear their heads do to the suppressing effect of the vax which was required to allow the vax to do it's "work." I've had no vaccines since 1982 and somehow I am magically alive.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply tosolarjdo69

I had chicken pox as an adult and it was bloomin horrendous so I'm hoping the shingles stays dormant as I'm quite a bit to young to get the vax on the NHS. The private cost is very expensive.

DiyChas profile image
DiyChas in reply tosecondtry

I was very active and in excellent health when I got shingles at age 50.At the time, I determined it might be from stress.

I did have chicken pox, when very young.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003

Thats strange as why I put"shingles" or "shingles vaccine" into the search bar into the search community bar at the top, quite a few posts pop up.

Silvasava profile image
Silvasava

I was offered the shingles jab a couple of years ago but didn't want the live vaccine. I ended up getting it done a year later with the two stages version, no issues at all.

BrotherThomas profile image
BrotherThomas

I had the first shingles jab about 6 months ago and am due for the second next month. The first caused me no problems except for a little soreness at the injection site, which lasted a couple of days.

Having seen how much a friend of mine suffered with shingles, I'd say go for it.

Crystalbowl profile image
Crystalbowl

Unfortunately, when I had the shingles jab the NHS was still only giving the older Zostervax vaccine even though I asked to have Shingrix as it is supposed to be more effective. However, I do not recall any problems with AF after it. I did have a massive outbreak of shingles before I had the jab and still have pain from it nearly 6 years’ later so I think it is worth the risk of having it and wish I had had it sooner.

Puma2 profile image
Puma2

I had both the pneumonia and shingles vaccinations only a few weeks ago and it has not affected my AF ( which is very slight). I felt a little under the weather for a couple of days after, but it was very mild.

Visigoth profile image
Visigoth

I had the vaccine and was absolutely fine

destiny234 profile image
destiny234

I had the shingles jab earlier this year, the second part of it set off my AFib which had been dormant since my ablation in 2020. So I now have persistent AFib. I know the misery of shingles having had it in 2016 but to be honest , given the choice again (knowing it boot started my AFib) I would not have the jab. I’d rather look after my heart.

Thomas45 profile image
Thomas45

I had no reactions. Not having Shingles, which I've had twice, long before the jab, is an awful illness, so the jab is well worthwhile.

PrinzMongo profile image
PrinzMongo

Had the two-shot series with no problems with AFib.

The vax did give me significant "flu-like" symptoms (fatigue, fever, achiness) so I went to bed for a day. Back up-and-running the next day and fully past the injection the day after that

agnostic1 profile image
agnostic1

Thank you everyone! :)

gladliz profile image
gladliz

Don't think I had any problems, but I had it on it's own and left a couple of months before having any of the others that are recommended. I never have 2 at the same time, prefer to let my body adjust before subjecting it to another foreign substance.

Madscientist16 profile image
Madscientist16

Had both jabs for shingles and no issues here.

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