My husband has just been invited by the surgery to have a shingles vaccination and in a fortnight's time I will become eligible for the same vaccination. I have never thought of shingles as being that serious or even all that common but apparently one in three people will get it after the age of 50 and half of us will get it if we live to be 85. Apparently it can cause long-term neurological pain, which is difficult to manage, along with serious complications and can even in rare cases be fatal.
Obviously I have been doing some research now and have read that people with a compromised immune system should ask their GP if the vaccination would be beneficial or even wise. Am I right in thinking hypothyroidism involves a weakened immune system? What do others on the forum think? Is it a good idea to have this vaccination? I would be grateful for any comments, advice or opinions.
Hope everyone is doing ok and enjoying the lovely sunny weather.
Best wishes
Caroline
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Caroline888
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Thanks for taking the time to reply. That’s certainly not good if you get shingles after the vaccination. I did read that it’s only 35% effective if you are between 70 and 79 and even less effective after the age of 80 which is why it’s not offered after 79. Looks as though we might as well give it a miss. However it is true that both my mum and my mum in law both got shingles in their late 60s so it appears to be true that’s it’s quite common. Supposedly the vaccine makes it less serious.
I suppose I am concerned that since we on the forum generally already have an autoimmune disease (or two or more) we may be more vulnerable to problems with vaccination especially since compromised immune systems are specifically mentioned as a contraindication to the vaccine on an NHS information sheet. Hypothyroidism wasn’t specifically mentioned tho.
Am not sure what to do now. Always feel responsible as I know my husband will follow my lead. He’d rather do his crossword than do any research and reach a decision on his own!
My friend had it rather badly. even in her eye and across her forehead. My husband only got it mildly on one shoulder. I usually also refuse the flu injection, after having it when it first came out and then suffering for nearly a week. I really would sooner take my chances and make sure all my vitamins and minerals were as good as I could get them. My husband never listens to me anyway,so this time he had to suffer. Thank goodness it wasn't too bad.
Pleased to hear your husband didn't suffer too badly with it. I was surprised to read that people who've already had shingles were still being advised to have the jab as it would boost their immunity to the disease. That is odd. I would have thought a jab would be unnecessary in that case as your body should, I would have thought, have naturally developed an immunity to it.
Oh well. I think I'll give it a rest for the time being - I've got a good thriller to read. Much more fun😊.
I had it on one shoulder about 10 years ago during a period of stress and being on immune suppressants for Crohn's. I won't have 'preventative vaccinations'. I prefer to keep my immune system strong, instead, with vitamins and minerals and good food.
I posted my bloods on here and my vitamin D is very high. 400 when it should be max 200. I did go a bit overboard with the supplement, I admit. That said, despite having Crohn's, adrenal issues, and Hashi's, I haven't had a cold, flu, or anything virus-like for years.
I take high-dose C, too.
A strong immune system is the best defence against most things, I think. Wished I'd gone down this route a long time ago, but hey ho. You live and learn (not to trust medical professionals, in my case).
I agree stress makes us more vulnerable to disease and good nutrition can help counteract that to a great extent. We, as hypos, do tend to make an effort with our diets and are generally more aware of the value of supplements if needed. Thank you for pointing this out. It’s good to have something positive to focus on.
I'be had a very nasty time with shingles that kept reappearing further down the nerve. When I was eventually old enough to get an injection I felt relieved that it might well make things easier in the future. I didn't know it wasn't advisable I just thought I don't want to go through that as badly again. I don't have immune problems though so presumably I was ok to get it done?
Am so sorry to hear you suffered so badly with shingles. I know it can have lasting consequences but thought that usually it was something that passed in a couple of weeks or so. I don’t know that the vaccination is ill-advised if we are hypo. The NHS data sheet only said to consult your GP if your immune system is weak and I wondered if bring hypo came under that heading.
I hope you are ok now. Did you in fact have the vaccination then?
Yes I was called in routinely when I was 70. My experience m lasted over a period of I think 9 months and at the end of each bout it came back further along the same nerve. So wasn't pleasant. My then doctor said it couldn't be shingles-notcthat she had seen me as you can't get it more than once but I wasactually diagnosed at the hospital walk in centre! May be my more than once was was classed at the same attract but I had gone to see a doctor at the walk in centre as I've a friend who was battling NHL and not going near anyone with Shingles was important so I wanted a definitive answer rather than a may be asi took him to hospital appointments. This was clarified as not being in contact with the postules so that wasn't an issue. But I needed to check. Thankfully as mine progressed it wasxeither not asvirukent or I was coping better but not scratching was the difficult but! Lacy undies-Not Recommended! Hospital wanted to put some lint over the area but I react to the tape badly.
Your story has gone a long way to convincing me that the vaccine would be a good idea. How awful for you! What surprises me is that they recommend having the jab even if you’ve had shingles before. How can that make sense if you can’t get shingles twice? You should already be immune shouldn’t you? However you’ve proved you can get it twice so I can’t understand how the vaccine can protect you. Oh well, after hearing your unfortunate experience we’ll probably go for the vaccine and hope for the best.
Well I didn't trust that GP with that statement anyway! But having the jab didn't upset me either. This is same person who reported Dr Skinner to the GMC and she lied about that as well. Good job she is retired now or else GMC would have heard the truth of that from me but I didn't know at the time.
Re shingles. You can have it more than once, but the recurring episodes get less and less severe. Both of us have had the shingles vaccine, in my wife's case 6 months after a really bad shingles episode. She was told that if it recurred it would be much milder than if the vaccine hadn't been given. So the vaccine doesn't prevent shingles, it merely reduces the severity if you get it.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I do find it difficult to understand why a vaccine would help if shingles can occur more than once, but the fact that you have had the vaccination does carry a lot of weight with me. Thank you for your help.
Thanks Ellie-Louise for taking the time to reply. It’s really good to hear that you went ahead with the vaccination and that all was ok. I guess we will probably do the same.
I didn’t say anything about getting shingles, (unless that reply wasn’t meant for me) I was talking about the actual vaccination. The nurse told us we only needed it once.
We don’t bother with the flu jab. I don’t see how they would ever get that right given the different types of flu, but I thought the shingles vaccination was too important not to have.
I have never had chickenpox so no I would never have this. More profit for the big pharma. Shingles can be very dangerous, I would leave well alone and say no.
A good friend died late last year from what may have been the result of multiple bouts of shingles. Went home from work fit as anything one night, didn't turn up the next. As sudden as that. So, IMHO, worth having the vaccination, and the more people who do the better. Having said that, if a household contains anybody who has a suppressed immune system, it may be worth waiting for the NHS to start providing a new vaccine called Shingrix. The one the NHS currently uses is a live vaccine, whereas Shingrix is not.
It is possible to get Shingrix privately at a few clinics in the UK. Alternatively, if in the USA for long enough to have the two doses, it's widely available there.
So sorry to hear about your friend. That must have been a real shock. I can see why you would recommend having the vaccination after that. My concern, as you mention, is that the vaccine is live and this seems to cause problems in some people.
Shingrix sounds interesting. Hopefully it will become the vaccine of choice in the future.
Because I have a family member on immuno-suppressants, I cannot have the live vaccine. I will, however, have Shingrix at the first practical opportunity, probably at one of the private clinics doing it in London.
I didn't actually know that shingles was contagious. In line with what you say, my mum had shingles and it wasn't bad at all. Presumably she was just lucky that it wasn't worse.
My Husband had the injection Four Years ago last January .With in a few days he came out in red itchy spots ,at first we did not connect it with the injection .When we mentioned to the GP he said no it,s not that .He went to the Dermatologist and he said it was from the injection .If you have any skin complaint Eczema ETC you should not have .My Husband has had Eczema for years but he was not told about this .For the last Four Years he has had constant itching it drives mad ,he has Four different creams and Two Tablets to stop the itching .Two years ago he got shingles on his forehead and by his eye .Last October he had it on his Arms and hands ,he has had Six times since October .At the moment he is having Radiotheraphy for prostate Cancer and has Two more sessions after today ,he has had 35 sessions and it has stirred the shingles up again his legs and feet are covered in shingles spots .We just hope they they calm down now .
But the thing is You only get One shingles Injection at Seventy ,we have been told it lasts for Five Or Six Years .we just hope it does .He is now waiting to see another another Dermatoligist .It is awful to see how this injection has affected him and he has trouble sleeping because of the itching and spots bleed if he rubs them .When I was asked if I wanted the Shingles injection and I said no and told the GP adout the connection with Skin Complaints she said she did not know this .
Don’t apologise! I’m really grateful you have taken the time and trouble to advise me😊.
I’m so sorry your husband is having such an awful experience. I hope he starts to feel better soon. One thing that concerns me is that this is a live vaccine and from what I am reading here it can result in an actual bout of shingles. I was unsure about the flu vaccine last winter which in the end we both did have. This decision seems to be so much harder to make especially as my husband is so close to the cutoff point of 80 when the jab is said to be much less effective.
Anyway thank you so much for your help. I’m grateful.
Thankyou for your reply ,looking forward to Tuesday as that is Husbands last Radiotheraphy .I am sure it is Stress that has started the shingles of again .We have an Hours Drive each way to the Houspital and he insists on Driving himself .Warm wishes to you
Have you had the chickenpox? I have and my doctor recommended these shots to me. I had them with no bad reactions except for a sore shot site for a day or 2. If you haven't had the chickenpox, I would say not to get them, though, but I'm no doctor.
Yes I had chickenpox as a child - I think most people have. It just seems that in some ways the vaccine just increases your risk of shingles. At least that's the way it looks when you read all the above comments. Also it doesn't actually prevent it and on top of that I've read that it's only 35% effective if you are between 70 and 79 and much less effective than that if you are 80+, so that when you are 80 you don't even get offered the vaccine. My husband is 79 and I am nearly 70. It's certainly a difficult decision to make with all the conflicting advice and taking into account all the different experiences quoted here on the forum. As you can no doubt tell, I am still undecided!
The only reason I took the shots was because my Aunt had them terribly and suffered for weeks with them...and her Son (my cousin) would get them and one time he told me that he was actually thinking about killing himself because the pain was so bad. Thank goodness I had no reaction to the shots....good luck...make the best decision for yourself, of course!
That’s perhaps part of the problem for me: my mum had shingles but it was no big deal. Presumably it was a mild case and it has coloured my view of the disease. I am having to take it a lot more seriously now.
Let me assure you...get the shingrix vaccine! Don’t wait. I was delayed getting it exactly one year ago...several days later I found myself in ER with worst case ever. Yes, some days I was ready to die. Pain 24/7 was unbearable. I took opioids ( to weak to really help, but took the edge off) for a few weeks, but did not want that long term...at 78 doc explained pain is worse and lasts longer! Pain lasted over 4 mo! I spent the first month in bed with worst pain of my life. I still itch in the area one year later. Run, don’t walk to get the vaccine! I have had the first shot, will get second this month. ( you can get it again.) A real curse you can avoid.) Polly
I agree. I have always had mixed feelings about vaccines. Some are undoubtedly live savers, but others, as we all know, have had some very undesirable side effects.
I saw a chap I know to talk to when walking the dog a couple of days ago and the left side of his face was covered in red patches and angry-looking blisters. He said it was shingles. He's been away in Wales and caught the sun and said for him, the sun brings it out on his skin. I'd never heard about that before.
I suggest if you are thinking about shingles vaccine to go with Shingrix. It is not a live vaccine - and there are less problems with that one than with the Zostavax, which is live.
Please note that if you are on anti thyroid medication I.e Tapazole or carbimazole - YOU CANNOT TAKE ZOSTAVAX - it is contraindicated because you are potentially at risk for lower immunity - this the the official labelling on the vaccine from the manufacturer.
Hope this helps to make whatever decision each person feels is right for them. All the best!
I am getting the Shringrix vaccine as anyone who has had chicken pox is susceptible to shingles. They are hell if you get a severe case - permanent nerve damage etc. My brother had it recently - he is 61- felt flu like symptoms for 2 days and then fine.
Your brother's experience of shingles is similar to my mum's in that obviously they both had a mild case so were lucky. It's worrying though to read about the number of people who have suffered quite severe reactions to the vaccine.
Shingrix certainly sounds a much better option. Let's hope it becomes more widely available.
I think the first thing to ascertain is: did you have chicken pox as a child (or young person)? If you did then you are more likely to get shingles later in life. My recommendation then is to get the vaccine. If you are unsure as to whether you had chicken pox then I would still recommend getting the vaccine in case you become into close contact with someone who has shingles. If you did not have chicken pox, then consider all of the factors discussed above.
During the recession I had to work in a big box store amongst very poor people who could not take days off work because they needed the pay (there are no sick days with pay in America - well not at big box stores and the like). As a result I often had to work amongst people who were very sick, often with terrible flu and sometimes worse. One day this poor old man came in with his chest and stomach covered in red blisters, he was in agony. Now while shingles is not infectious like the flu, if you scratch the blisters, get the oil on your fingers and then transfer it to things used by other people (like shopping carts and baskets) then it can be transmitted. I was horrified, I told Personnel and was told it was his choice! I left immediately, went to the docs and got the vaccine. Miraculously I did not get fired - at least, not for that!
Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Until I started looking into this, I never knew shingles was contagious to the extent that you can get chickenpox from someone who has shingles. It does sound as if shingles pain can be horrific and is certainly something we want to avoid.
I just don't feel convinced that a live vaccine which appears to cause bad reactions in some people is a good idea. If Shingrix was more widely available i would have fewer misgivings.
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