Shingles and Flu Shot
Posted , 64 users are following.
Last year I developed a case of shingles shortly after getting my flu shot. I read on this forum where somebody felt that their shingles might have been related to getting the flu shot. I have not gotten a flu shot this fall and don’t know if there is a connection between the two or not. I’m 74 and hate to skip getting the shot but I don’t want to risk a shingles relapse either. I also wondered if I should get the new shingles shot, which I heard was more effective than the one I got several years ago. Can anyone else weigh in on either of these issues?
8 likes, 114 replies
bee1353 Goodwater_Betty
Edited
I recently got my flu shot and with in one and a half weeks I developed shingles. I am 29 years old and haven't been under any real stress. I do suffer from UC so my immune system isnt 100% perfect but my doctor said that it is definitely rare in people my age. My doctor also said that the flu shot could have overworked my immune system because it was bust creating antibodies for the flu and that it could have created a perfect environment for the shingles virus to resurface. I looked online and have been shocked by how many people, especially young people have gotten the flu vaccine and then gotten shingles within 1-2 weeks. I cant believe this isnt better documented.
jim19461 bee1353
Edited
My doctors ran a variety of tests to determine whether my immune system was weak, but found no issue. I finished a course of prednisone weeks before developing shingles, which likely was the cause. I had shingles for over a week before the doctors figured it out too.
hope4cure Goodwater_Betty
Posted
received the shingles and flu shots the same day on different arms of course, other than a sore arm did not have any flu symptoms.
michelle56454 Goodwater_Betty
Posted
It is our flu season very soon here in Australia. I have just had our annual mandatory flu shot this week and next morning woke up with what I'm pretty sure is shingles. i was relieved to find that others have had similar happen as i will be notifying the vaccination nurse know so she can gather statistics. i have had shingles before and so I recognized it. i would say it was a trigger affecting the immune system. Last year i had it without problem.
Guest Goodwater_Betty
Posted
Hello
I would like to know if you git shingles just once last year? Where was the rash located? I believe that a flu shot triggered your shingles! There are many people here in this forum who have reoccurance! I had shingles for the first time in February 2018! I get them back every 4-5 months! I take antivirals when i have them! I an 65 years old abd I got the shingles on my scalp! When its on the scalp it takes longer to leave and can stay for a longer time! Ialso got never pain called PHN
The new shingrex, I will not have it because many people here have taken it and still developed shingles!!! There are people here who has have bouts for many years! There is no cure yet!
Hoping you are better!
Best regards,
Myrna
kathryn32101 Guest
Posted
I had shingles once, last Sept, with blisters spreading across left chest to underarm, and pain across back , trigger unknown other than my age, 68. Eventually, blisters cleared up but pain took longer. I did notice that each time I thought I was back to normal, I caught infections and colds much more easily compared to before. I had my flu shot not long after it all cleared up. Less than 24 hrs later, there was a blister in exact spot shingles blisters started. It began to itch and then the pain returned across back. I went to GP in bit of panic as I was due to go to Spain and feared being ill abroad. I wanted anti-virals to take with me, in case. GP insisted this was only a pimple, ignoring my subjective symptoms and recent shingles history. I insisted that I should get a prescription and wouldn't leave without it. I woke up next morning and blister had faded a bit and other symptoms with it. By Spain, it had vanished (much faster than a pimple would have). I took Merry's advice and don't travel without anti-virals now, just in case, but so far have not needed to use them. It was only a flare-up rather than return of shingles. At last, others are catching colds and viruses round me and I'm not, and I think having the flu shot helped that. Just got back from Spain visit no. 2 and shingles was far from my mind, but anti-virals remained in my suitcase, where they now live.
beverly68029 Goodwater_Betty
Edited
I was hospitalized in October 2017. During my stay I was accidentally give 2 flu shots in a 3 day period HAD SEVERE PAIN WHERE SHOTS WERE ADMINISTERED INCORRECTLY which led to
a frozen shoulder as if that was not painful enough I developed a horrible case of the shingles yes I think a double dose of flu vaccine administered to high in my should compromised my immune system I was not conscience during the first shot but the 2nd was given during my release HURT so bad and just got worse. NO WAY A COINCIDENCE
kelly48414 Goodwater_Betty
Edited
I got a flu shot mandated my my job in healthcare and I got diagnosed with shingles 6 days later. it happens too often there is some connection.
michelle56454 kelly48414
Posted
yes, seems too many cases but as mentioned also, the immune system must be getting a big kick 😕
heather05460 Goodwater_Betty
Posted
I received a flu shot this past Thursday, after had a headache all day. Then that Saturday, started to feel pain and sensitive to touch on left side kind of below my armpit. I felt it all day and all day Sunday (today). Even when no pain i feel something there, Yet no rash. Idk if it is shingles and the rash has not appeared yet? Not sure if i should wait to call my doctor?
Merry19451 heather05460
Posted
Heather,
Individuals can experience pain before the rash appears, usually up to three days. Some individuals with Herpes Zoster-Shingles experience pain without the rash,
Zoster Sine Herpete. In any case, you need to see a physician to get evaluated, and be placed on an antiviral, if necessary.
Usually, with Shingles, accompanying symptoms could include headache, aches and pains, chills and sweating, regional swollen lymph nodes.
Please let us know what is going on with you. We care. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.
Best Wishes.
Merry Juliana
heather05460 Merry19451
Posted
After the flu shot that day i had a headache like in the front near eyes/forehead. I dint have a fever, although on Saturday i felt like i did but checked and did not. Ive been having this weird feeling on left upper side of back that i can feel went underneath my armpit to my breast. i see three little pimple like dots but they are not oozing and have not spread. my skin is sensitive to touch. i havent had excrutiating pain but i did have pain this weekend.
heather05460
Posted
idk if it may be a mild case, but i do feel like something is there like tingling a bit. Idk what else it can be.
heather05460
Posted
This is what I have on my side below my armpit.image
michelle56454 Goodwater_Betty
Edited
If you are concerned it is better to go even if everything is fine, they should take a record of these types of reactions. I also didnt see a rash but exactly the same burning, tingling and lump on my neck all which resolved in about 2 wks. I reported the reaction also to our staff immuniser and the GP at work said he felt it was a reaction from the shot. Take care.
heather05460 michelle56454
Posted
Thanks for your reply. Did you have to take any medication or did it go away on its own?
vero71539 heather05460
Edited
Hey there! Trying to figure out how to respond to the original post, so hope this works. I received the flu shot Sept 30th (I work in healthcare) and less than a week later noticed symptoms along the left side of my thoracic spine that extended around to my left breast- throbbing, tingling pain,.The skin started to tingle and feel strange, and I had an inkling it might be shingles. It wasn't until red bumps developed that I was pretty sure, so went in to the md and was diagnosed with shingles and prescribed antivirals. I am a relatively healthy 39 y/o female so was not immunocompromised. Never thought I would get it. I feel that there should be a way to report illnesses that occur after receiving the flu shot so that they may determined if there is correlation or just coincidence, rather than the professionals and cdc just automatically ruling it a coincidence.
kelly48414 vero71539
Edited
sounds just like me. I also work in healthcare so I lost a week of work until I was cleared to return. there should be an Avenue to report this as this is a side effect
heather05460 vero71539
Posted
Hi,
I eventually went to my doctor and was diagnosed with Shingles. i have the same exact symptoms as you...so odd.
kelly48414 heather05460
Edited
I was also diagnosed with shingles and out on antiviral medication. I'm ok now just upset that they don't warn you about it when you are forced to get one because you work in a hospital. I am definitely refusing next year.
michelle56454 heather05460
Posted
Heather I didnt need to take anything other than a panadol or 2 before bed.
michelle56454 kelly48414
Posted
Kelly, as long as we report the reaction they can hopefully improve next years!!! Hopefully!