Fingers crossed further update

[Griggser]

So after developing opthalmic shingles and spending 6 nights in hospital I am now at home with a cart load of drugs and eye drops. My vision in my right eye is pretty blurry so I’m hoping that will clear up! The postherpetic neuralgia on my forehead down to the tip of my nose and around the right eye is very irritating and annoying. I’m not up to doing much but having plenty of rest and being well looked after by my wife.

I do wonder if the Astra Zeneca vaccine I had about two weeks before kicked the shingles off as nothing else has changed in my life. I have registered it on the yellow card scheme.

The one benefit is that because my steroids were increased to 40mg, from 12mg, for a few until reviewed back to 25mg I have hardly any PMR pain that I’ve been putting up with for many months. I was obviously on too low a dose!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Glad to hear you’re back home - and good to hear the increased Pred has helped out - and a reminder that much as we think we’re on the right dose, sometimes we aren’t!

Interesting about vaccine & shingles - may be linked/maybe not- but you’ve highlighted it.

Hope you soon feel better with a bit (or lot) of TLC from your wife - best wishes to her, bet she’s relieved as well. 🌸

[Lizwillis]

Well done Griggser, you are sounding a bit more like your old self! What an awful lot to put up with on top of PMR. Also, as you say, maybe you were trying to cope with too low a dose of Pred to control the pain etc that you were having. I should think you are very relieved to be back at home and with your wife to look after you. I hope you are both able to get in lots of rest. It’s obviously been a very tiring time for you both. Do so hope your recovery from the horrible shingles starts to happen very soon. Take care, both of you.

[Pollyanna16]

Welcome home,you must be pleased to be out of hospital 6 nights is a long time & no visitors! Really hope the eye clears & the pain. I know you have struggled with PMR pain for a long time so that’s some sort of blessing I’m sure. Enough to deal with anyway! X

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Glad to hear they couldn't stand keeping you any longer! One's own bed is a joy after a hospital one isn't it! In the UK I think that also applies to food ...

I said somewhere else - you cannot rule out that a vaccine doesn't shove a precariously balanced immune system hard enough for it to wobble and even fall over. But given what the alternative of getting Covid-19 could do ...

[Griggser in reply to PMRpro]

Oh yes nothing like ones own bed. To be fair the food was on the whole better than I was expecting😃 I agree the alternative of getting Covid is not something I’d welcome. I am slightly concerned about getting the second jab and will have a discussion with my GP beforehand.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Griggser]

I was going to ask that - did you ask anyone about it while in hospital?

I have to confess I enjoy the food in our local hospital - proper 3 course menus and never too much trouble to adapt my automatically gluten-free offer to reduce the carbs! Cooked on site - just served at stupid o'clock: 11.30am for lunch!!! Big plus: no cooking for me I have paid for worse in a restaurant.

[Griggser in reply to PMRpro]

To honest I wasn’t very well at all in hospital and certainly not in a place to think about the link to the vaccine and shingles. My wife was the one who thought about after looking at the timeline of events.

[jinasc in reply to Griggser]

Just been wondering if either of you been near anyone with Chicken Pox?

My shingles appeared after a Grand Mother visited me after looking after her grandchild who had chicken pox. Luckily my GP had warned me, when put on pred for GCA to be careful about going anywhere near anyone with chicken pox.

A day later, pain and redness, called GP and bingo, got the medication which stopped it in is tracks.

[Griggser in reply to jinasc]

Hi Jinsac, to be honest we’ve not been in touch / close contact with anyone for months. We live in a quiet rural village and have our shopping etc delivered. We haven’t left the village more than go to the docs and hospital!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Griggser]

No - we did gather you were a very poorly bunny!!!

[Charlie1boy]

Glad to hear you're back home again, and doing a bit better.Best wishes

Paddy

[Koalajane]

Glad you are recovering, take it easy

[SheffieldJane]

Welcome back Griggser! You had us all worried. Glad you are in good hands. Happy Easter to you both.

[Jackoh]

Welcome home Griggser ! So pleased you are feeling more like yourself and that extra pred has been helping too. Take care x💐

[Pixix]

Happy you’re home & wishing you a quick recovery from the ophthalmic shingles!