Chicken pox and prednisone

The vaccine is a 'live' vaccine and therefore should NOT be given whilst on stroids.

I have had chickenpox once in childhood and again when I caught it from my young son.  I also contracted shingles whilst on steroids.

The most important action for anyone who suspects they might have shingles is to get in very quickly with the anti-viral medication which will shorten the duration of the illness and reduce the risk of any long-term nerve pain.

If you had chicken pox as a child you will not get chicken pox again. Having had chicken pox you are at risk of developing shingles - the virus doesn't leave the body, it hibernated in nerve endings and can re-emerge at any time as you get older. You can't CATCH shingles though. On the other hand, if you haven't had chickenpox before and are in contact with someone who has active shingles you can catch chicken pox from them. There is no evidence that being in contact with someone with chicken pox will make it more likely that you will develop shingles.

If you develop any signs that you might be developing shingles go straight to your GP - if you receive anti-viral medication in the first 48 hours it should make the attack less severe. The shingles itself lasts a couple of weeks - and you can have it with or without a rash. You are infectious to others as long as you have the rash. The long lasting pain we hear about is because in some people the nerve endings are very irritated and damaged and they take a long time to heal.

So watch out for signs and symptoms of shingles - here is a link to the leaflet on this site with all you need to know:

https://patient.info/health/shingles-herpes-zoster-leaflet

My husband had shingles just over a year ago. As I was on steroids for PMR, and in line with the advice given with the steroids, I went straight to hospital (it was after GP hours when I found out he had shingles). The doctor at A&E gave me anti-viral tablets. Apparently there is a chance that if you contract shingles with a suppressed immune system it can go to the brain which is obviously very dangerous. The tablets are very expensive and therefore I believe some doctors are reluctant to prescribe them. 

thanks everyone for all your advise and experiences, now I have more information I feel it's unlikely that I will have contracted the virus, but at the first sign of any symptoms I will seek medical advise.

my reasoning is that its unwise to take any medication 'just in case' and as long as I get medication within a short space of time from symtoms it will work anyway.

i knew I'd already had chicken pox but thought that the pred reduced the immunity I had.

thanks again you lovely people, I've learnt so much

I was leaving the country on a vacation and had an ear ache so thought I sould go to the doc didn't want an ear infection out of country.  The shingles were in my ear channel so not visible but the pain was constant.  She prescribed anti virals immediately and I was feeling much better within a week.  I only had 1 scar that appeared on the outside of my face the rest were in the ear.  Hopefully  that helps, every one has different experiences and obviously different recommendations from their doctors, best to speak to yours.