Shingrix Vaccine for UK Coeliacs?

[cristiana]

Just to let UK Coeliacs know that today I was given part one of the two part Shingrix Vaccine and was told it was because I was a coeliac.  I am in my mid-fifties, had I not had coeliac disease I would have had to wait until I was 65.   

I wondered if any other UK coeliacs reading this have been offered Shingrix?  I cannot say whether this is now standard practice (NHS care varies enormously across regions) or perhaps I'm just part of a trial, but if it does become widespread, it will be one of two jabs now being offered to diagnosed coeliacs, the other being the Pneumococcal jab.

I was told there is one more jab to follow, and then that's it - the nurse said I'd not need another.  I have had three run-ins with suspected shingles in the past and I would prefer not to get it again, so that's great news as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Scott Adams]

I can't answer your question about Shingrix in the UK, however, I did get the 2 Shingrix vaccines around five years ago because I had a shingles outbreak when I was in my mid 40's. It was such a horrible experience that I had to bother my doctor for over a year to get the vaccines before I turned 50. The Shingrix vaccine is very effective, and I've not had another outbreak (knock on wood!).

[cristiana]

I didn't realise you had had shingles, Scott.  Some years ago someone posted on this forum ( @Mimsy)  that they had had repeated bouts of shingles as a child.   I wonder if coeliacs are more prone to it? 

My first two suspected episodes did not have the accompanying rash (therefore it could have been zoster sine herpete) but during a third bout my doctor found suspect lesions along a dermatome but the swab was done too late. 

The vaccine hit me quite hard with aches and chills and I had to go to bed the following day but so much better than months of burning pain.

[Scott Adams]

I hope you recover quickly! 

[icelandgirl]

Hi Cristiana!

It's an interesting thought whether Celiacs are more likely to get Shingles. 

In the US, once you turn 50, you are able to get the Shingles vaccine.  My Dr was bugging me about it for 2 years and I was worried about the side effects.  This was during Covid too where we were getting boosters and such.  I finally got my first shot in September and I felt really terrible for a couple of days.  I do need to get 1 more by early March and I'm dreading it.  But I've known people who've had Shingles and the pain of that sounds much worse.

[Scott Adams]

I've tried to describe it to people as follows (it affected the right side of my head): It was as though someone sprayed the side of my head with lighter fluid, let it burn for about a minute, then put it out--for two weeks it felt just like my skin had been severely burned. I could not sleep without pain killers, and could not concentrate on anything or get much work done. Oh, and this was after going to the doctor on the 1st day and getting anti-viral meds for it.

[cristiana]

@icelandgirl  It will be interesting to see what the booster is like!  Mine is in February so I'll beat you to it and will report back!  

@Scott Adams I agree, my experience of it is a burning pain along the lines of bad sunburn which interestingly sometimes comes back from time to time.  I had it yesterday.  Do you ever find it comes back, too?

Edited December 29, 2023 by cristiana

[Scott Adams]

For years before my outbreak I had a strange tingling sensation that shot along the same exact nerves where my shingles outbreak happened. I always thought  that it was a pinched nerve in my neck, and even had an MRI done at one point to try to figure out what was going on. This tingling continued after the outbreak, but it was less frequent. It has not happened once since I was vaccinated.

I'm about 90% sure that the "dormant" varicella-zoster virus was the cause of my tingling issues, and only wish I would have gotten the vaccine before my outbreak occurred.