Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
dear michelle, a 76 year old friend recently had a flu shot and developed a case of shingles. any connection? coincidental? thanxs so much
Jean
Has anyone ever heard of this or had this happen to them?
Michelle
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment366 Comments
Anon,
The doctor who gave you the shot probably wasn't aware of any possible connection because the CDC hasn't found that connection. Our readers here are sharing information because it helps others and because together, we may help raise awareness of any possible link.
Does your right shoulder hurt where your shot was given? Or higher than that? Is the pain in your shoulder, back and lung area all connected?
Please consider going to your doctor for this pain. Unless you can connect it to some recent physical activity in which you lifted too much or exerted too much, I worry that you are having possible heart symptoms. (Heart trouble can have very different symptoms in women than it has in men.) Don't panic, because it may be nothing at all. But with pain like you're describing -- where it's spread among different areas -- it's always good to have it checked out.
Will you do so, and come back and update us?
November 9, 2009 - 10:18amThis Comment
I had not registered here until now, and wrote about my shingles-flu shot connection as anonymous.. As far as seasonal flu, I last had flu in Jan 1969, and had never gotten the shot until this past year. At the end of a physical exam, the nurse appeared, saying, "Here is your flu shot." I had not asked for it, but took it. This year I got it at my pharmacy thinking I should.
I am 65, but have no health issues and no prescribed medications. Until now, that is.
The opthamologist I use is very highly trained and regarded. She and her nurse were the ones who pointed out the possibility of a connection between the flu shot and shingles. Re my vision, so far I am okay there, but the ongoing pain and all the future possibilities sound awful. I have discovered I am now a candidate for Bell's Palsy, and 40% more likely to have a hemmoragic stroke.. thanks to shingles in this part of my head.
November 6, 2009 - 11:20amThis Comment
I am 65yrs old and two weeks after a flu shot I got shingles on the left side of my face and head, which is now two more weeks. Today my opthamologist ask about the flu shot, and I was made aware there might be a connection. Reading all this makes me really angry that there has not been more research and that there are not more warnings. Ironically, I, also, just heard that the flu shots universally given this year are totally unnecessary, since only the H1N1 is active, not the virus in the shots.
November 4, 2009 - 4:51pmThis Comment
Anon,
i am so sorry this has happened to you. Shingles is so painful. And you must have involvement in your eye(s) if you are seeing your opthamologist?
Please don't think, however, that this year's seasonal flu shots are totally unneccessary. So far, 95% of reported flu cases have been H1N1, but we are not yet into the worst of winter. We may see both strains this winter. H1N1 is of particular risk to young children, pregnant women, health care workers and people with underlying health conditions, because as a population we don't have any immunity to it. The seasonal flu is another strain entirely. At 65, especially if you are vulnerable to the flu or have any underlying health condition, you made a good decision. It just didn't turn out well.
I am very interested that your opthamologist asked you about your flu shot, because up until this point, most professional opinions (as well as that of the Centers for Disease Control) have been that there is no connection between flu shots and shingles. We at EmpowHer truly hope that gathering this data will help if that connection needs to be researched and made.
Thanks so much for writing. I hope you feel better soon, and that your vision is not affected. I would love to read an update in a couple of days if you feel up to it.
November 6, 2009 - 8:29amThis Comment
hi. 36 year old male here. came down with the h1n1 flu (full array of symptoms) and also noticed a small rash on my left wrist. it actually appeared a day before my serious flu symptoms hit. i thought it was a spider bite or something. after a few delirious days of the flu, i finally looked closely at my wrist and the rash had devolved into those little white blisters. that sent me to google, and info about shingles, and this page. i had chickenpox as a kid but have never had a shingles outbreak until this one.
October 26, 2009 - 12:00amcc
This Comment
Anon,
I'm sorry to hear that. I have had shingles (I too had chickenpox as a child) and I know how painful it can be. You said the flu you got was H1N1, but had you had any shots? Even for the seasonal flu?
November 6, 2009 - 8:23amThis Comment
Yes, it had happen to my Father.. I dont think its a good thing to get the FLU SHOt AT ALL.
October 24, 2009 - 5:45pmThis Comment
Here is a thought. Shingles develops in people with a lowered immune system. Perhaps it is not the flu shot that 'causes' shingles but the immune system is compromised fighting the low dosage of flu injected in the system and it allows the shingles to surface.
October 23, 2009 - 10:48amThis Comment
Well, we all know that. No one is saying the flu shot actually creates the virus that causes shingles. Most of us are saying further study is needed, to see why this is so.
October 23, 2009 - 12:49pmThis Comment
I can't believe the number of posts -- and to hear that it is just a coincidence???
I am a very healthy woman, had my physical and blood test a day before getting the flu shot and it all came back as normal. 10 days later I developed shingles!
Silly me. I had not had the flu shot before and I have never had the flu. Just thought to do it to be safe. Never again.
October 22, 2009 - 10:29pmThis Comment