Advice please before I see dr again

[knitty kitty]

Varicella zoster virus reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination: a report of 3 cases

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8903443/

[knitty kitty]

Herpes Zoster and COVID-19 Vaccination: A Narrative Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658959/

Varicella zoster virus reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination: a report of 3 cases

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8903443/

Herpesviruses reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10413536/

Herpes Zoster Reactivation After mRNA and Adenovirus-Vectored Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination: Analysis of National Health Insurance Database

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37549237/

Edited February 4, 2024 by knitty kitty
Typo correction

[Scott Adams]

Interesting stuff. It appears that Covid-19 infection can also trigger both as well.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318549/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9340059/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9111648/

This study focuses on the importance of being up to date on your shingles vaccine:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10561580/

[ItchDrivingMeCrazy]

On 2/3/2024 at 7:57 PM, knitty kitty said:

@ItchDrivingMeCrazy and @hayley3,

Very curious if either of you had a vaccination for Covid-19 prior to your rashes and itching started.  

I've found some interesting literature where a reactivation of certain viruses (chicken pox (shingles), herpetic viruses, Epstein-Barr virus) have been reactivated after inoculation with Covid vaccines may occur.  Erythromelalgia may occur as well.

Just curious,

knitty kitty

Hi Knitty Kitty

No, I haven't had a Covid vaccine since 2020. 

I did however have Covid around April last year and have been thinking it might have triggered something. I had no rash symptoms or itch when I had Covid. It was at least a month before the first itch started on my leg and it is not similar to how others I have read about have described rashes that were caused by Covid. 

I was just thinking that if it is an autoimmune issue, that that could have been triggered by the Covid infection. 

[ItchDrivingMeCrazy]

On 2/5/2024 at 7:44 PM, Scott Adams said:

Interesting stuff. It appears that Covid-19 infection can also trigger both as well.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318549/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9340059/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9111648/

This study focuses on the importance of being up to date on your shingles vaccine:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10561580/

Hi Scott

Really interesting articles 🙂

As I mentioned in the answer above, I did have Covid at some point around April, and the rash started developing around 4-8 weeks later. I don't think it could be either shingles or chicken pox though. It started in the summer and was still growing when I started the cortisol treatment halfway through December. 

I might be wrong but I thought shingles and chicken pox sort of self-finish after a few weeks. 

I have been thinking that Covid did trigger some type of allergy or auto-immune issue though. Who knows 🙂

[knitty kitty]

@ItchDrivingMeCrazy,

Rashes and neuropathy caused by deficiencies in the B vitamins would begin to appear after several weeks after a depletion caused by fighting Covid.  The eight B vitamins cannot be stored for long.  Deficiency symptoms can appear in as little as two to four weeks.  

Deficiencies in the B vitamins will also cause peripheral neuropathy which can feel like an itchy spot.  Deficiencies in the B vitamins affect the nerves.  As the deficiencies are not corrected, the itching and tingling becomes more intense and wide spread.  

Skin rashes from vitamin deficiencies can resemble psoriasis, eczema, and seborrhea.  

When I had vitamin deficiencies, I had tingling and itching up to my thighs.  I bruised extremely easily wherever I scratched.  I had bumps and scales and flaky patches.

Vitamin C deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency and zinc deficiency also cause these symptoms.  These are vitamins that are depleted after an illness.

My doctors did not recognize these symptoms as being related to vitamin deficiencies.  When their pharmaceuticals failed to help, they sent me home without answers.  Relying on my university courses microbiology and nutrition, I started supplementing with these vitamins and minerals.  My neuropathy resolved and my skin rashes healed.  Doctors are not given sufficient training in how nutritional deficiencies affect our bodies! 

The B vitamins and Vitamin C are water soluble.  If not needed, they are easily excreted through the kidneys.  The best way to tell if you are deficient is to take the vitamins and look for health improvements.  The B vitamins are safe and nontoxic.  

At least talk to your doctor about trying supplementing B vitamins to rule out this possibility.  

Edited February 7, 2024 by knitty kitty
Typo