Shingles

Hi can anyone tell me if it's safe to be around ppl with shingles with lupus sle? I'm abit worried as my sis in law has shingles about 3 days into it didn't tell me until I got there spent 3hrs there. Thks

[Krock1]

My understanding is a person is contagious until the sores become encrusted. So it sounds like you have been exposed. You should see your doctor soon rather than waiting to see if you become symptomatic. Hope it ends up being nothing for you.

[Florence91 in reply to Krock1]

Agree esp if you are immune suppressed on methotrexate or the like. They can give you antiviral meds

[HazelW]

I was advised by my GP to steer clear of chickenpox & shingles. Have now reached the grand old age of 72 so have had the shingles jab , so presumably not such a problem any more. Certainly think you should see your GP to be in the safe side.

[Oshgosh]

Go see your GP, your s in law doesn’t sound very empathic. Hope you’re ok

[Hidden in reply to Oshgosh]

Thks thts families comes with the territory 🤣 I'll give the out of service a call. Thks.

[happytulip]

Fromy experience you need to start antivirals (acivlovir) within 48 hrs of exposure otherwise it will be too late. So if you are still within that time see an on-call GP.

It does depend if the shingles are "wet" or "dry". Wet is when the blisters are new and the fluid underneath is still wet and dry is when the shingles have totally dried up. Wet will be when you are at greater risk of passing shingles on.

Either way it sound like your family need a bit of education about your condition and about how you must avoid contagious infections etc. Are you on any mine suppression?

[PMRpro in reply to happytulip]

No, not exposure, within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. Acyclovir only works on the active virus, it doesn't work prophylatically.

[happytulip in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for clarifying. Yeah, I guess my experience was different because I had symptoms.

[PMRpro in reply to happytulip]

Loads of people get it confused - it is confusing!! And they don't explain in the literature telling you not to be in contact with people with CP or shingles - just make it sound terrifying. Added to which - you can be on the bus and someone with a cold sits next to you. Are they really in the 24-48 hours pre first CP blister when even they don't know? Because that is when they are most infectious.

[Hidden]

I'm on hydroxycloriquine if tht helps. X

[Hidden]

Thks guys for the advise on shingles.

[PMRpro]

I would say speak to your GP asap but it isn't really an OOH emergency until any symptoms appear. Then you need antiviral medication to reduce the severity of the attack.

You can't "catch" shingles - it is caused by you having had chicken pox earlier in life and the virus becomes dormant in nerve endings. Something triggers the virus to reactivate and you develop shingles. If you never had chicken pox - you can't get shingles.

What theoretically can happen is that if you have not had CP you could get it from close contact with someone with shingles as it is the same virus. However, it is very unusual, even for people who are immunocompromised. It would require you to have been in contact with the fluid in the shingles blisters - once they are crusted over, as with CP, the risk is gone. Patients with shingles don't shed the virus in their breath/secretions as with CP. Since shingles is usually around the waist, they are covered and you have little chance of such contact.

But there is a small risk - so you need to be in contact with your GP and ask for immediate antiviral drugs if you show signs of symptoms.

[panda2 in reply to PMRpro]

Was writing the same thing at the same time! Sorry for the repeat below. ☺️

Px

[PMRpro in reply to panda2]

No apology needed - great minds think alike It's called reinforcement of the lesson objective

[panda2]

Hi 12derby,

Please don't panic. You actually cannot 'catch' Shingles. I've just had it in July along with another couple Lupies here. Take a look at the NHS website on shingles to ease your mind. It talks about contagion, so it feels misleading, but the contagion has to do with Chicken Pox, not the actual Shingles virus.

The only way you can catch the virus (which is Chicken Pox originally and you have to have this first) is if you've not had Chicken Pox before. Most of us have. And even then, if you're one of the extremely rare ones who hasn't, you will not catch Shingles, only Chicken Pox. And that would only be if you're exposed to the Shingles blisters which have not scabbed over via touching, using same towels, bedding, etc.

I was told that Shingles is a reactivation of the original Chicken Pox virus that we carry around and this happens by internal factors, rather than external ones. Should you have extremely low white cell counts like someone on chemo, or meds after a transplant or you have cancer then that is totally different and GP would be advised.

If we get Shingles the antivirals need to be started within 72 hours of producing blisters (the earlier the better). Where it really counts for us is once we have the virus. We then have to be extra vigilant and aware because our condition can (and did for me) make Shingles exponentially worse.

Hope this helps some...

Panda x

[Hidden]

I've had CP as a child thks for info. Can always rely on this site. I'll contact GP.

[panda2]

☺️ Sounds like you will likely be absolutely fine. The panic though, hey? It's hard to avoid with us...

P x

[MissusTee]

If you've had chicken pox already you'll be ok. Shingles is non contagious to those who have had chickenpox. I think some of the comments here are a bit alarmist.

[Hidden]

Thank you so much 😊

[Poshcards]

my consultant advised to stay clear of any bugs and shingles, also if you have SLE, not to have the shingles vaccine , as it is a live vaccine, can cause nasty flare ups x

[Cas70]

I have had shingles on and off for the last 2 decades or so - it was that which eventually led me to a diagnosis of Lupus/Sjogrens. You would have to TOUCH the shingles almost to be in danger - or have a kiss on the lips etc. It is not likely to affect you if you were just in her company. I would avoid any kids that might have chicken pox. Honestly, I could write a book on shingles- you can’t CATCH it. I am on 200mg of Aciclovir daily to keep it at bay, so Aciclovir can be a prophylactic but only if like me, you have it recurring. Relax and don’t worry - shingles is not a virus that floats in the air like flu.

[NeuronerdDoaty]

Any immune suppressed should not be around anyone in any stage of shingles/ herpes simplex. Also ours may not look the same if we get it. It can be unilateral so it’s frequently misdiagnosed in suppressed immune systems or overactive immune systems.

Talk with your doc. A round of antivirals might be necessary.

Best of luck to you.

Doaty💛

[Hidden]

Hi guys I've spoke to 111 she said shouldn't have been there in first place and to look out for any symptoms and to let them know asap just on the side of caution. So hey hey nice little drama for the weekend as if we don't have much to deal with in first place 😡. Just when you get over from been ill from the last couple of wks something new to look out for. Fingers crossed it'll pass and it'll be fine really can't do with more setbacks. Saying that I do see my rheumy on 10th.

Anyway thks again everyone for all your advise. 😘. Xx