shingles

[galp]

Two weeks in of pmr/ GCA? and pred and am fearful a small blister on my abdomen may be the start of shingles

I have had in this area before, this looks a little different but being that prednisone

lowers your resistance I am worried.I will call dr asap in morning.

Has anyone contracted shingles on prednisone

Gina

[Gb2613]

Hi Gina,

Sorry to hear your concern. Having had shingles in May and still suffering nerve pain as a result, my advise would be to see GP for confirmation so that you can be put on correct medication immediately (really important if it is shingles). Hopefully it is not and just a blip. Good luck.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You don't "catch" shingles - it is a reactivation of the virus that stayed in nerve ending after having chicken pox as a child. and it can happen easily enough even without a dodgy immune system in PMR or with pred.

You need to see a doctor asap - no waiting for an appointment, as you should be put on antiviral medication within 48 hours of the rash appearing if it is shingles.

[galp in reply to PMRpro]

Hello

Yes thanks you are so right, I worded that wrong.

If it is , it would be my third bout in my lifetime, I was just wonderering if pred which lowers our resistance , helped it pop thru again. Was going to get vaccine, but have to wait a year before having it and my bout was 8 months ago.

I will have it looked at today, It looks a bit different but Sadly another blister this am , same spot as last time, so need to get on anti viral, although that med helped keep it at bay last time , had to come off early due to side effects, Hoping its compatible with pred,

Be well

Gina

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to galp]

I don't think they really know if it has anything to do with it - the pred makes it more likely your own immune system won't pounce on it though!

I wouldn't get the shingles vaccine - it mentions something in the datasheet about possibly triggering PMR! There is a post about it somewhere.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[galp in reply to PMRpro]

Yes i have always been hesitant of vaccines of any kind. I had a reaction to flu shot, which I never take but had to for a job in healthcare, and had a week of joint pain and fatique, and have never taken another one or gotten the flu.

I was working on a neuro unit back in the 70 s when we were seeing guillian-barre over and over after the flu shots , Everyone says its not a live vaccine now ,like it was then, but I know it caused that reaction, so I have been leary about the shingles vaccine.

I will read the link, thank you

[SnazzyD in reply to galp]

The flu shot may not be live but I've seen a couple of neurological damage as a result in recent years. The shingles vaccine is not to be given to anyone immunosuppressed because it is a live vaccine. There is a Pred dose above which one is considered too suppressed to have the vaccine and anyone giving it should have those dose thresholds at their finger-tips.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

In the case of the shingles vaccine it is 20mg - below it has been claimed it is safe. We do this discussion every few months!

[S4ndy]

I had shingles in February. In my mouth and face. I am on 12mg of Pred and was given antivirals as my GP recognised the sores as Shingles. I am glad I got the meds quickly. I did feel a little worse while taking them with more fatigue but glad I took them as I think it shortened my suffering. Still have a bit of numbness/tingles in my lip and inside my mouth but U know this type of thing takes time. Hope if it is shingles you get the meds quickly.