Longtime Lurker Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 I had covid almost three weeks ago. Last night I had an odd sudden headache. Today I have a strange ache in one part of my back that reminds me of how my 2016 bout with shingles started. Now I read that "older people" (50 and older, which I am, barely) have an increased risk of shingles for 6 months after having covid. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/19/shingles-and-covid-over-50/ Has anyone had any experience with this? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 3 minutes ago, Longtime Lurker said: I had covid almost three weeks ago. Last night I had an odd sudden headache. Today I have a strange ache in one part of my back that reminds me of how my 2016 bout with shingles started. Now I read that "older people" (50 and older, which I am, barely) have an increased risk of shingles for 6 months after having covid. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/19/shingles-and-covid-over-50/ Has anyone had any experience with this? No but I know someone recently who had cold sores reactivate for the first time in years after covid and apparently that’s a thing. There is some evidence that covid is doing something whacky to the immune system so it makes sense that latent viruses can reactivate. Either way, I really hope you get better soon! Shingles is no fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtime Lurker Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said: No but I know someone recently who had cold sores reactivate for the first time in years after covid and apparently that’s a thing. There is some evidence that covid is doing something whacky to the immune system so it makes sense that latent viruses can reactivate. Either way, I really hope you get better soon! Shingles is no fun. I really hope I don't have shingles. I have been recovering well from covid, but I've been tired so maybe the ache is from general fatigue. It's just so oddly specific. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 2 minutes ago, Longtime Lurker said: I really hope I don't have shingles. I have been recovering well from covid, but I've been tired so maybe the ache is from general fatigue. It's just so oddly specific. Can you get the early medicine for it at all? I don’t know what it is but I know it made a huge difference for my Dad when he got it a second time. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSera Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 42 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said: Can you get the early medicine for it at all? I don’t know what it is but I know it made a huge difference for my Dad when he got it a second time. Absolutely this. If there's any thought it's shingles, I would get the antivirals asap. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 If it isn’t shingles I would get the Shingrix vaccine as soon as possible. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyLady Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 The person with shingles in my life can trip off an episode by being too hot, stressed, busy, sick, etc. It’s the worst. I’m so sorry! I hope you get well soon!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Longtime Lurker said: I really hope I don't have shingles. I have been recovering well from covid, but I've been tired so maybe the ache is from general fatigue. It's just so oddly specific. 1 hour ago, Ausmumof3 said: Can you get the early medicine for it at all? I don’t know what it is but I know it made a huge difference for my Dad when he got it a second time. 30 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said: If it isn’t shingles I would get the Shingrix vaccine as soon as possible. Get that Shingles medicine asap, and get the vaccine asap. I turn 50 this year and I will be getting that vaccine on my birthday as my birthday present to myself. You’re overdue if you over 50! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 Not me, but this happened to a friend. He was the first person I knew to have Covid - clearly acquired before anyone knew it was circulating - he was sick during the first week of the shutdown and then beyond. He got really sick for quite awhile. Got better, and then got shingles. He said he felt like his immune system was just way out of whack. He's totally healed now though. He said it seemed like it was a mild case from what he read. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtime Lurker Posted May 20, 2022 Author Share Posted May 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said: Can you get the early medicine for it at all? I don’t know what it is but I know it made a huge difference for my Dad when he got it a second time. 1 hour ago, KSera said: Absolutely this. If there's any thought it's shingles, I would get the antivirals asap. 1 hour ago, Garga said: Get that Shingles medicine asap, and get the vaccine asap. I turn 50 this year and I will be getting that vaccine on my birthday as my birthday present to myself. You’re overdue if you over 50! 1 hour ago, Jean in Newcastle said: If it isn’t shingles I would get the Shingrix vaccine as soon as possible. If I have any concrete signs of shingles (i.e.- rash), I will get the antiviral right away. Last time it took 2.5 days from the odd achey back to the rash and then I got the antiviral immediately. I woke up, saw the rash, thought "That's odd," and then it clicked 😞 I had a really mild case with no lasting effects. And, yes, I should get the vaccine, This summer would be a good time since I will have time off work. DH got both of his doses already. 34 minutes ago, Farrar said: Not me, but this happened to a friend. He was the first person I knew to have Covid - clearly acquired before anyone knew it was circulating - he was sick during the first week of the shutdown and then beyond. He got really sick for quite awhile. Got better, and then got shingles. He said he felt like his immune system was just way out of whack. He's totally healed now though. He said it seemed like it was a mild case from what he read. This is really interesting. I think the odds of my actually having shingles are low. But when the odd localized backache reminded me of the shingles ache, I started googling and discovered there may be a link. So I'm interested in the science in general. There are other explanations for my headache last night (the weather dropped 20 degrees yesterday and then jumped back up 20 degrees today with humidity) and also for the backache, so I am currently more interested in the covid/shingles link in general than in my own potential shingles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blossom'sGirl Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 I had COVID in Feb of 21 and the CV vax in April of 21. I then got shingles in August. I was 51 then. I did get the anti viral which seemed to stop the progression of it. I'm not planning on anymore COVID vax and I may not get the shingles one either. It seems like several people in my life have had shingles in the past year. Maybe it's just more on my radar. I have wondered about a connection with COVID. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookbard Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 I know two people who got shingles post covid, one very mildly, one not mildly at all. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeriJ Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 I got shingles 6 months after my covid vaccine. No idea if that's a connection. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 I had shingles early in the pandemic presumably from stress 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 I have had shingles though not Covid. If it is indeed shingles, please get to urgent care and get a prescription for the antiviral and painkillers. I got it on Friday night and waited until Monday for my doctor’s office to reopen and it was hellish and I almost missed the 72 hour window to take the antiviral medicine. This year, my son’s tutor got shingles and she’s said that Sambucol works effectively if taken as soon as the symptoms appear. She used both sambucol and the prescription medicine. Hope this helps. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtime Lurker Posted May 21, 2022 Author Share Posted May 21, 2022 On 5/20/2022 at 2:16 AM, mathnerd said: I have had shingles though not Covid. If it is indeed shingles, please get to urgent care and get a prescription for the antiviral and painkillers. I got it on Friday night and waited until Monday for my doctor’s office to reopen and it was hellish and I almost missed the 72 hour window to take the antiviral medicine. This year, my son’s tutor got shingles and she’s said that Sambucol works effectively if taken as soon as the symptoms appear. She used both sambucol and the prescription medicine. Hope this helps. It seems that I do not have shingles! The odd ache in one spot of my back is better, although not gone. I have still not developed any form of rash at all. I am attributing Wednesday evening's headache to the insane temperature/humidity swings we have had here this week. I am still watching carefully for a rash just in case. When I had shingles 5 years ago, 2.5 days elapsed between the backache and the rash. Googling tells me that the antiviral needs to be started within 72 hours of rash development (last time I got it within 24 hours of rash development and my case was very mild), so I will be sure to go in to urgent care immediately if I develop any rash at all. I felt good yesterday and today, so I am no longer particularly worried. However, I have discovered that I need to be careful not to overdo even 3 weeks post-covid. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 This happened to my BIL. And the shingles has never really gone away, a year later he still has flare ups. DH and I went and got the shingles shot (had to pay out of pocket, no insurance, $200 each.) So we haven't got the second shingles shot yet because we are broke. 😐 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtime Lurker Posted May 22, 2022 Author Share Posted May 22, 2022 14 hours ago, goldberry said: This happened to my BIL. And the shingles has never really gone away, a year later he still has flare ups. DH and I went and got the shingles shot (had to pay out of pocket, no insurance, $200 each.) So we haven't got the second shingles shot yet because we are broke. 😐 It is terrible that the shot is so expensive 😞 I am sure that one shot gives much more protection than none, though! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernBeth Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 This just happened to my uncle as well.. recovered from Covid and a few weeks later suddenly developed shingles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 The shingles shots were the most painful vax I’ve ever had. Majorly sore arm for many days. But I am very glad to have gotten them. I am over 50, so my insurance paid for part of the cost. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 (edited) I got shingles two weeks after my second vaccine. I realized what it was as soon as I got the rash. I took the antiviral. My case was what I would consider mild, but it was still rather miserable for several days, and exhausted me for a couple of weeks. I had gotten the old vaccine when it was recommended, but had not gotten Shingrix. I actually didn't realize that there was a more recent vaccine. ETA: I'm 62 Edited May 22, 2022 by Jaybee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 On 5/21/2022 at 7:07 PM, goldberry said: This happened to my BIL. And the shingles has never really gone away, a year later he still has flare ups. DH and I went and got the shingles shot (had to pay out of pocket, no insurance, $200 each.) So we haven't got the second shingles shot yet because we are broke. 😐 When did you get it? You have to get the second 2-6 months after or you may have to start over with the series. I am sorry for your insurance and financial situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 16 hours ago, scholastica said: When did you get it? You have to get the second 2-6 months after or you may have to start over with the series. I am sorry for your insurance and financial situation. Yes, we missed the window. It was a year ago. I've been trying to find out if I have to get two more now or what. I got sick with it so I'm really hoping not two more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 I’m so sorry you are in this situation. American healthcare is such a mess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 On 5/22/2022 at 11:28 AM, ScoutTN said: The shingles shots were the most painful vax I’ve ever had. Majorly sore arm for many days. But I am very glad to have gotten them. I am over 50, so my insurance paid for part of the cost. It must depend on your insurance? My insurance paid for it all. In fact I don’t remember any kind of vaccine where I have had to pay anything. Wait. I take that back. I did have to pay for my typhoid shot when traveling overseas. But never for illnesses that are common in the US. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 I have a friend who recently had shingles and never got Covid. People in that demographic are going to get it Covid or not. I wonder if the rates are higher than normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted May 24, 2022 Share Posted May 24, 2022 (edited) NM. Duplicate info Edited May 24, 2022 by scholastica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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