Have been diagnosed with shingles. Is... - Gluten Free Guerr...

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Have been diagnosed with shingles. Is there a link to CD or am I just unlucky?

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6 Replies
meanioni profile image
meanioni

Unlucky. Shingles is a an ailment triggered by the Herpes virus (normally from dormant virus remaining in the body following an earlier infection, usually from chicken pox or cold sores - not to be confused with the sexually transmitted form of the disease Herpes). The shingles virus tends to attack nerve pathways, usually in the face or torso.

If your immune system is compromised (e.g. if you are run down, stressed or ill) it can increase the chance of shingles occurring. So whilst not directly causing shingles, it may be if you have been badly glutened and/or are stressed it may increase the risk of it occurring.

ladyshelly profile image
ladyshelly

i lived a life riddled with a rolling cycle of mouth ulcers/cold sores with the occassional outbreak of impetigo thrown in until diagnosis....i know i am run down & need to pay more attention to my immune system if i get a cold sore these days....fill up on vitamins & treat yourself well & hopefully it will pass soon & maybe there will be warning signs you can learn to spot in the future...good luck x

lsrxao profile image
lsrxao

Poor you, hope you feel better soon. Just before I got diagnosed with coeliac I got shingles and I think this is because my body must have been running below par for so long. As the previous replier said the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells and will activate if the immune system runs low. This also happens more readily in the elderly. In theory if you are gluten free there shouldn't be a link between shingles and CD. But shingles can flare if the immune system runs low. If it happens regularly it's worth bringing this to the attention of your GP. Get better soon.

carona profile image
carona

Hiya Stephan iem, Sorry to hear you have Shingles, not a nice start to 2012!

I know, as have had it few times over the last 3 years. Always in the 1st few months after Christmas..

I still get the itchy nerve ending type pain, in the same area each time. If run down or stressed. Agree that another trigger can be that it seems to reappear, after I have been 'glutened' . But think that's more to do with the fact that I have on going problems with Anaemia. So doesn't take much to tip the balance & become run down again! I also have the(DH) blisters on my feet, mouth ulcers & cold sores if stressed.

My GP gave me some antiviral tablets on prescription, when I had Shingles the 1st time.. Didn't even known you could have those! I'd originally gone to see my Doctor after developing what we both thought, was a frozen shoulder. Have had to have injections to relieve that problem on several occasions. Had been taking the anti inflamitory meds for a week, before the drive me mad with itching... blisters appeared across one shoulder blade, under my arm & around half of my chest. Having an Ouch.. Moment just thinking about it.

Currently recovering from an acute exacerbation of asthma, which put me in hospital from Boxing Day, till yesterday. So think the multi vits, fruit & eating lots of 'greens' will be a must for a 2012 resolution!

Waffle over ; D

Carona

Lynxcat profile image
Lynxcat

I was advised many years ago that a person only contracts shingles if their B1 levels aren't adequate. This therefore could be attributed to having Coeliac Disease as you may well be depleted in all vitamins, especially the 'B' range for many of those are obtained from grains. People still contract shingles who have not been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease.

Here are the guide lines and foods suggested by the NHS for a healthy range of B vitamins: nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-...

Jacks profile image
Jacks

Hi there, before I was eventually diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis I was covered with a "shingles" style rash. (Of course it wasn't shingles, it was DH.) Developing that rash was the start being diagnosed with CD.

If you do have shingles you should be able to be prescribed anti-vital medication.

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