My PMR is basically gone, but now I got shingles on my right side of face.

[sdowney717]

All the drugs I took, take lowers my immune system. No prednisone anymore, but Methotrexate lowers immune response. About 4 days ago, got shingles on my face and forehead. It is super pain, bad pain. Before the shingles, I felt like my eyes were infected, eyes and skin all red and sore. Pain not quite as bad as the PMR at it's worst was. Doc gave me Valacyclovir. And an antibiotic as I may also have an infection under my ear. My hands are so much better, they feel more normal and my finger strength is coming back. The shingles is also on my right outer eyelid, but not my nose. The pain is worse when touched or you push on the skin. The last few weeks I have dropped methotrexate down to 4 pills from 6. I think will keep reducing methotrexate.

I have no shingles actually in my eye and they are no longer red. Right ear hurts a lot and a lymph node under the ear is swollen up and very tender.

Ibuprofen actually helps the pain feel less intense.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Have you been offered prescription antiviral drugs which may speed healing and lower your risk of complications. These drugs include:

Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Famciclovir

Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

But think they are required within 72 hours to be most effective..but may be worth checking out.

[sdowney717 in reply to DorsetLady]

I am taking Valacyclovir. I have a weeks supply, take it 3 times a day, a big dark blue pill.

[sdowney717]

I can see how if the pain never went away, this nerve pain would seriously debilitate a person. Extreme chronic pain, that makes you think about pain all the time your awake and it is a pain that does not stop.

Typical 2 to 4 week duration and I about finished a week of shingles already.

The rashed area on my forehead, half is drying up.

I have areas that are red, painful and not rashed yet.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hard luck - shingles is not nice. At least you have the valacyclovir - hopefully it is helping. And hope you have a short episdoe with no post-herpetic neuralgia which is the long lasting really nasty bit when it happens.

[Merryfield]

It is likely too late for sdowney, but I urge all to get the Shingrix shots if possible.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Merryfield]

Once he has recovered it will be worth getting to reduce the risk of another bout.

[Oh-my in reply to Merryfield]

I got my first shot recently but there was a debate between the clinic staff when the next booster should be. They went for 6 months in the end. Not sure if this is correct. Do you happen to know?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Oh-my]

Between 2 and 6 months>

" How long should I wait after giving the first dose of Shingrix to give the second dose?

A: You should give the second dose of Shingrix 2 to 6 months after you gave the first dose. For individuals who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed and who would benefit from completing the series in a shorter period, the second dose can be administered 1 to 2 months after the first."

cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingl....

all the Qs&As about Shingrix anyone needs!

[Oh-my in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro

They booked me in for 2 months then cancelled it and said wait till 6 months. I got they feeling they were very unsure. I had to jump through enough hoops to get the first shot

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Oh-my]

For goodness sake - all they have to do is use google!!!! There really aren't too many excuses these days!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Or read the paperwork that comes with the vaccines...😏

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Google is quicker! But quite - not rocket science is it!

[Merryfield in reply to Oh-my]

six months is right, at least that’s how it was for my shots

[Oh-my in reply to Merryfield]

Thanks Merryfield.

I think it might depend on how much Pred you are on and for how long. They should have a wall chart!

[2013mayo]

poor you, I had eye shingles a few years ago, it was all over my eye, my forehead and scalp and nose, it lasted for about four weeks , then about a year later I got shingles in my eye, on the cornea, that was very painful, I had it again a couple of years later, it’s very painful but it does clear up. Hope you get better soon. I’ve just had my shingles jab so fingers crossed it keeps at bay.

[Merryfield in reply to 2013mayo]

time to get Shingrix

[sdowney717]

I am recommending my family get Shingrix, I read it is 90% effective at preventing shingles. Most people don't get shingles more than once. Seriously, you don't want to risk getting long term nerve pain or eye issues. A very few people actually die from shingles.

For me it never entered my mind I would get shingles. I think for PMR people who take immuno suppressive drugs, like prednisone, methotrexate, just more reasons to get that Shingrix. 1 in 3 adults will get shingles once in their life.

I feel like I am on the mend here with shingles, Forehead, and head, are scabbing over and my eye is much better. I will stop my weekly dose of methotrexate for a while. Before the rash showed up, I thought I had an eye infection. As soon as rash appeared I went to doctor 2 days later. At first rash looked like contact dermatitis, almost looked like early poison ivy.