Chickenpox

Just found out my niece now has chickenpox so all my family is trying for not to make us come into contact just Incase I come down with shingles or become very ill..... Has this happened to anyone else or anyone managed to get shingles with lupus?

[Hidden]

Hi Leanne,

You can't catch shingles from chickenpox. To develop shingles you need to have had chickenpox in the past, the virus remains in the roots of your nerves and can be re activated as shingles.

If you have had chickenpox in the past you should be immune to it however if you are on immunosuppressants ( eg prednisolone, methotrexate, Azathioprine etc ) then you can ask your GP for a blood test to check your immunity. If you don't have immunity and come into contact with chickenpox whilst on these drugs then it's a good idea to get a course of prophylactic anti virals such as aciclovir.

Hope that helps!

[nurse_ratchet]

You can always speak to your md about the vaccine 'zostavax', which is to protect fr shingles. Depending on your age, health and meds your are on-it could be a good fit. It doesn't mean you will be entirely protected from developing shingles, but should you ever come down with shingles, it would be a much milder version. Shingles can be quite painful and at times a concern depending on which nerve that chicken pox virus decided to "take a nap" on.

Again, like Keyes mentioned, you would have to come down with chicken pox first ,at some point in your life, to ever be able to develop shingles.

If you never have had chicken pox-you may want to consider the varicella vaccine, something to discuss with your doctor.They are both live vaccines.

Take care,

Gen

[farmerfeste]

Hi Leanne I've had shingles twice with lupus not pleasant had to stop the methotrexate

For a month both times and had a course of an anti viral didn't last to long but get some pain where rash was

Take care g

[foxglove in reply to farmerfeste]

Would you kindly tell me if you still have pain where rash was? If so what do you do to relieve it? Thanks

[farmerfeste]

Not much at all every so often the rash will try and appear I take pregabilen for it her things so I suppose it will stop pain from nerve

[joanne27]

Leanne21bull

I have had chicken pox 3 times and then shingles it does seem to be problematic with lupus sufferers i- i still get pain from shingles in my scalp when i have a flare - I am worried as my son has had chicken pox twice and it is very unusual

[Wendy39]

Hello. Like Keyes says above, you cannot catch Shingles from your niece with Chicken Pox. If you have had Chicken Pox in the past this stays in your nerve endings. Shingles seems to develop when you are run down and I guess then for Lupus sufferers this could be a weakness, with an impaired immune system. I had Chicken Pox as a child. Then 3 months after my Lupus diagnosis had what I think was a mild dose of Shingles. I posted at the time. I had great responses and some people had had Shingles numerous times. I guess it's like anything else for us, we have to manage our illness and do the best we can not to over-do things, leaving us vulnerable to flares and shingles etc. Best wishes.